Week three is over and we are now in the final planning stages for the Tutto Toscana! program …current countdown to the NYC events is less than a week! I can’t believe that the first part of the program in Florence has passed us by… 21 days of prepping for what I know will be one of the most exciting series of events in my career.
The past few weeks have really taught me a lot and hopefully prepared me for what lies ahead in New York. Planning for this has not been an easy task, as there are so many elements and details to be accounted for. As part of the event management team, we’ve been responsible for everything from developing menu concepts, writing and distributing press releases, rehearsing for fashion shows and finalizing business plans …the list goes on and on! These last final days have been exciting, but full of last minute details, including the preparation of schedules, reviewing grocery lists and organizing contact sheets and staff arrivals. It is truly amazing how much work and effort is put into these events, as an attending guest may never know or understand what really happens behind the scenes.
In the mix of all the planning and details we have also been very busy learning, and also experiencing, the Tuscan way of life; its geography, culture, food and wine practices. Having been able to live in Florence during the planning of these events has truly aided in a very experiential and hands-on learning process. We are not only organizing events based on Tuscan cuisine and culture, we are actually living and breathing Tuscany, and will now be able to translate those experiences first-hand to our guests at the James Beard, whether it be discussions on pasta and wine variations or stories on walking through the ancient streets of the city.
So it brings me sadness to know that I’m departing such a special place; a school, city, region and country that are now all so dear to my heart. I will miss the daily and nightly planning sessions, the late night pasta fests, Chianti Classico and the after hours bakery. However, I’m eager to head to a new place with my new knowledge, friends, memories and deeper appreciation and understanding for a culture and place that I now feel forever connected. In NYC, I’ll apply the teachings and experiences that I have gained during my time in Florence, but I will also utilize them as tools for the future… true treasures and life experiences that I’m grateful and honored to have been part of.
It’s been said that going to the James Beard house is like going to the Oscars… I am overwhelmed with excitement to be part of this very special occasion along with a group of the most outstanding professionals and students that have taught me more in the last three weeks than I could have ever imagined possible.
Arriverderci Firenze… Hello New York!
– Kimberly Polito, Special Event Management Team