Excitement was especially high at the Los Angeles Convention Center,
where the ARAMARK Convention Center and Cultural Attractions team once
again helped to enhance the experience of the MusiCare charity dinner.
After
months of planning, taste testing, and deliveries of the finest china
and silverware, Eric Ursua, ARAMARK Director of Catering, and his team
hosted the MusiCares charity dinner in honor of Grammy-winning music
icon Don Henley, the 2007 MusiCares Person of the Year. The National
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which organizes the
Grammy Awards, was very pleased with ARAMARK's work at last year's
MusiCares dinner that they invited team back for this year's event.
Ursua
had more than 230 servers on staff for the event to manage the cocktail
hour with butlered hot hors d’oeuvres, followed by a full course
dinner.
“Because this is such a high profile event that is
being taped and is followed by a concert, it’s critical that we are
prompt with the courses throughout dinner,” said Ursua. “We had 60
minutes to serve approximately 2,200 guests a salad, entrée, wine,
dessert and coffee. And the most important thing to remember is that we
make this an enjoyable experience for them. It’s a charitable, fun
event so we want to make sure that carries through with their dining
experience.”
A menu of sustainable items included an Organic
Carnival Cucumber Salad with White Balsamic Raspberry Vinaigrette and
Basil Infused Olive oil, Hearst Ranch Grass Fed Tenderloin Filet
Mignon, Free Range Breast of Chicken with Pomegranae Glaze, and a Vegan
entree option of Portobello Mushroom Steak and Marinated Grilled Tofu
with Locally Grown and Organic Vegetables.