Updated: February 4
By Nancy Weingartner Monroe
Tattersall Distilling’s second annual Maplefest, a family-friendly celebration of the Midwest’s maple-tapping season, is being held Saturday, February 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tattersall’s headquarters in River Falls, Wisconsin. The cost is $5 online and $7 at the door and includes silver-dollar pancakes and breakfast sausages. Guests will vote for their favorite syrup as part of the festivities.
This year’s event will feature more than 15 varieties of maple syrup, live acoustic music and maple-themed food specials from local purveyors, including Paradise Popcorn, Patti’s Granola, Amy’s Classic Candy and AKS homemade treats. Syrup samples from local and independent producers across the Midwest will include 10 Point Sugar Bush, Spence’s Maple, Stray Cat SAP Maple Syrup, Pittman Maple, Rudesill Maple Syrup, and last year’s winner, Weiss Woods. This year’s winner will receive a trophy, a featured spot in Tattersall’s market and inclusion in a cocktail on the menu.
A maple-barrel-aged Lyndale Brown at 8% ABV, aged in Tattersall’s whiskey maple barrels has been made exclusively for Maplefest by Rush River Brewing Co. Mimosas, Bloody Marys and additional cocktails featuring Tattersall’s maple-barrel rested Birkie WI-SKI will also be available for purchase.
Morrissey Hospitality has signed on to participate in the Adult Career Pathway Culinary Program in partnership with The Saint Paul Hotel, Saint Paul RiverCentre, State of Minnesota-DEED, UNITE HERE Local 17, Minnesota Training Partnership and Saint Paul College.
The hospitality initiative features two culinary training programs designed to empower and employ individuals from targeted populations, providing a pathway to long-term careers in the hospitality industry, according to a release.
Minnesota-DEED’s Targeted Populations Grant for the Minnesota Training Partnership ensures that all costs associated with participation in the program are fully covered, including coursework, uniforms, supplies, parking expenses and public transportation. Each session is limited to 12 participants, providing personalized, hands-on training at Saint Paul College’s state-of-the-art culinary facilities. Participants will gain essential kitchen skills under the guidance of skilled chefs. They can also expect work readiness training, one-on-one guidance from a Program Navigator during the program, networking opportunities with employment partners and union leaders and support services to ensure graduation is achieved.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be offered employment at The Saint Paul Hotel or Saint Paul RiverCentre, and become members of UNITE HERE Local 17, Minnesota’s hospitality union. These jobs will provide competitive wages, benefits and flexible schedules. Graduation ceremonies will be held at The Saint Paul Hotel.
The program consists of two five-week sessions:
- Entry-level program: February 18- March 21, no experience required;
- Skilled program: April 21-May 23, some experience preferred.
Applications are now open. For more information or to apply, visit www.mntrainingpartnership.org.
The Minnesota Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier is accepting applications for women who are studying in the food and beverage industry, including hospitality, nutrition, food science and agriculture. To learn more about the grants and to apply, go to
https://lesdamesmn.org/scholarships-grants/
Les Dames is a philanthropic organization of women whose mission is “to inspire, advance and support women in food, beverage and hospitality to achieve excellence in leadership and philanthropy. “