When we made the decision to hold the Eat It and Like It Foodie Awards it was with one single purpose in mind. To reward what we thought was Savannah’s best. Certainly there are hand full of annual “best of” parties in the Savannah area, so how was ours going to be different? Pretty simple, really. We were going to solicit votes from the public, and put that up against our panel of writers and then include the input of myself and my business partner, Senea Crystal.
We set out to eat quite a bit. Gauge our own opinions against the input of the others and frankly discuss it. Sometimes those discussions can get heated, other times they are pretty easy. We try to hold finalists to a pretty high standard. I’ve seen burgers knocked down a couple of notches, frankly, because of the bun they use. I’ve personally gone to bat for a particular award because of the consistency over the particular taste. Everything is in play. It is our obligation, we believe to put our best foot forward and represent what we feel is our area’s best.
You may not agree and that is fine. Guess what? Sometimes my favorite isn’t the winner. I said it last year and I will say it again. This isn’t a list of my favorites. If I am out voted and given good reasons why I am out voted, then I am absolutely fine with that. There were a number of winners last year that were absolutely deserving of their award. No question. But it wasn’t my personal favorite.
That is what we think makes our award unique. Yes, winners get a beautiful (and heavy) Academy Award type statue to place in their restaurants, but they also get the satisfaction of knowing their award was part of a process.
There are no nods to advertisers. At the time of our Foodie Awards last year, only one winner was a sponsor of Eat It and Like It. That winner became a sponsor AFTER they found out they won.
So that’s the process. What about the party?
This not a long, drawn out awards show. Not at all. This is the after party. Winners are notified in advance and asked to attend this event to snap some photos, eat some fantastic food provided by The Mansion on Forsyth Park and spend a little time enjoying a reward for their hard work. I can tell you my proudest moment last year was seeing all of those chefs, restaurant owners and their families being able to enjoy themselves, catch up with those they hadn’t seen in a while and just relax with great food and drink. You are invited to that party as well.
Tickets are available to the general public. We sold out last year and are expecting to sell out again this year. Anyone and everyone is invited to join us celebrate Savannah and the Low Country’s best. Yes, this year we’ve included some of our friends from over the bridge and invited them to join us as well.
Tickets are only $35 plus tax and shipping. That includes all the food and desserts you can handle and (2) drink tickets. There will also be a cash bar provided by The Mansion.
The minute last year’s event was over, a handful of us sat in the marble garden at The Mansion discussing how to make this year’s event even better. There is no question we are going to do that. For a look at what you can expect, click here at our preview video. Otherwise, what you waiting for?
See you on TV.
Jesse
Here are the details:
2015 Eat It and Like It Foodie Awards
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
The Mansion on Forsyth Park
7:00pm
Tickets $35 include food and 2 drink tickets.
Cocktail attire.
