East Texas tourism leaders, business owners and local food enthusiasts
will get a literal taste of the area this week as Palestine hosts the
Texas Forest Trails’ Regional Summit, “Taste for Partnership: Culinary
Tourism in East Texas.”
The summit will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Palestine Civic Center, located at 1819 W. Spring St.
“A Taste for Partnership’ will serve as a networking event for every
aspect of culinary tourism in East Texas from local producers and
distributors to chefs and restaurants to tourism and economic
development specialists,” Texas Forest Trail executive director Mary
Turner said. “The event will also showcase the elements of culinary
tourism already present and thriving within our region.”
Thursday’s summit includes profession development and education sessions as well as demonstrations by area chefs.
Serving as keynote speaker during the lunch hour will be Texas Restaurant Association President Bob Westbrook.
Other featured presenters/demonstrators include:
- Jackson York, 2010 Texas Chef of the Year and Owner of Edom Bakery & Grill.
- Marilyn McCray, Public Relations Specialist and Creator of Culinary Tours for Lake Austin Spa Resort, Boggy Creek Farm.
- Mary Kimbrough, Co-Owner of Food Roots Culinary Tourism Company
- Moon Swanson, Creator of East Texas Fresh Farmers’ Market, Proprietor and Farmer of Diamond B Ranch.
- Culinary demonstrators from the East Texas Chefs Association.
Breakout session topics include: Farm to Table: Supporting Local
Farmers and Restaurateurs in their Collaboration; Focus on Food at Food
Festivals: Evaluating Food themed Festivals for Authenticity and
Potential for Success; You’re Welcome: Featuring Hospitality and Good
Business Practices on the Menu at Your Business; Marketing Your Culinary
Destination: How to Effectively get the Word out About Your
Restaurant/Business/Culinary Program; Fuel Your Local Economy with
Veggies: Starting, Certifying, and Promoting your Local Farmer’s Market;
and Your Vacation Starring Food: Creating Tours and Vacation
Itineraries with Culinary Heritage.
A pre-summit social and culinary event, “Flavors of the Forest,” will
take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Diamond B Ranch in Neches.
Sponsored by the City of Palestine, the event offers guests a chance to
visit with friends and colleagues from throughout East Texas while
enjoying a variety of East Texas foods in a scenic, rural setting.
For more information, visit
www.TexasForestTrail.com/conference or call
the Texas Forest Trail office in Nacogdoches at 936-560-3699.
