| SAUGERTIES, NY (July 20, 2007)-- HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce a partnership with renowned chef and Clean Food educator, Ric Orlando, to bring a unique dining experience to the VIP Oasis Club at the 2008 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California.
Ric Orlando, chef and owner of New World Home Cooking Co. (an exhibitor favorite in Saugerties, New York), has an impressive culinary resume which spans nearly three decades and includes numerous awards and accolades. His cultural roots stem from the late 1970's through 1980's in New York, New Haven and Boston.
As his bio proudly touts, Orlando has been a punk rocker, a fashion model, a poet, a music video producer, and now an accomplished chef, author and educator. He gathered his experience at groundbreaking restaurants such as the Elm City Diner in New Haven, (the original) Harvest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Wild Goose in Boston, Sugar Reef in Manhattan and Yates Street and Justin's in Albany, New York.
In addition, Orlando has cooked in the kitchens of some of the most widely respected chefs in America, including Bob Kinkead, Jake Jabobus and Emmett Fox. He's received numerous awards including the Zagat Award of Distinction, Culinary Institute of America Best of the Hudson Bon Vivant Award and America Culinary Federation 1993 Culinarian of the Year. Most recently, New World Home Cooking Co. was the recipient of the 2006 Sante Restaurant Award for Innovative Cuisine.
"I relish this opportunity to bring my unique style of cooking to a new audience and a new part of the country," said Orlando."Our plan is to bring to the HITS Desert Circuit Asian and South-of-the-Border influences with a Southern California twist using my trademark Global Heritage and sustainable Clean Food."
Orlando, a champion of and educator for the Clean Food lifestyle, notes that the breakfast and lunch menus for the VIP Oasis Club will feature plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fish and meats, and homemade soups and salads all using lower fat and chemical-free foods. A soup station and a sushi bar will be featured daily, in addition to a varied menu that will change from week to week.
"Last year was our first time offering daily meal service in our VIP Club," said Tom Struzzieri, CEO and President of HITS, Inc. "That proved to be a great learning experience, convincing me that our VIP audience is looking for something that no other horse show offers and Ric is the perfect answer. He's an amazing and creative chef who is a professional through and through. We are thrilled to bring his talents to Thermal for our VIP customers."
It's been a busy summer for Orlando; he's been contributing to Pride of New York, the New York Dairy Council and Women's Day Magazine and working on a new book, Ric Orlando's Hudson Valley Kitchen with writing partner Jessica Bard. His first book, We Want Clean Food (Clean Food Press, 2003), is a collection of 60 recipes and wildly clever commentary on the increasingly popular Clean Food lifestyle. He's also been making the rounds on the summer circuit in Saugerties, participating in the annual Taste-of-HITS-on-the-Hudson in June. His restaurant, New World Home Cooking Co. is set to host an Equine Art Gala and Exhibitor Mixer on July 26 during Week IV.
HITS has been in discussions with Orlando for several weeks now regarding plans for the winter circuit. HITS' new Vice President West Coast Operations, Fred Bauer, had the opportunity to meet with Orlando in person during his June visit to the East Coast. "Our customers are going to love Ric," said Bauer. "This is just another example of our commitment to making the Thermal facility the best in the world and to ensuring that our customers have the most positive experience possible. I'm not sure who's more excited, us or him!"
"Some of the menu items we are planning include curry mahi-mahi in a pineapple salsa, chimmichurri wild salmon, and tomato mango mozzarella paninis," adds Orlando. "And for the parties, we'll do top-chef-level appetizers with a creative flair...some really fun stuff!"
The HITS Desert Circuit VIP Oasis Club is available by membership only with both weekly and circuit price packages. For more information on the VIP Oasis Club at the 2008 HITS Desert Circuit please contact info@HitsShows.com.
During the off season HITS has been gearing up for its second year at the new California facility and according to Bauer, new cooking is not the only thing cooking at Thermal in 2008. Also on the list are plans to provide a covered ring for the four FEI World Cup Qualifiers, install arena lighting, resurface the Grand Prix ring and add more riding space, just to name a few.
The 2008 HITS Desert Circuit gets underway on Tuesday, January 22 at the new HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California.
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with world-class hunter/jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com
Media should contact Chris Mayone at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com
Renowned chef, Ric Orlando, teams up with HITS for the 2008 Desert Circuit. (Photo provided)
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