International programs
Steak houses, burgers and cocktail bars of America (New York, Miami)
The «Restaurant and Club Industry Management» RMA program in association with the renowned restaurateur and the owner of the chains Correa's, Black Market, Corner Burger and UDC Isaac Correa have jointly organized an internship, that took place from 2nd to 11th of May of this year in the USA.
As part of the internship program, the participants have visited the most famous outlets dedicated to the traditional American cuisine - steak houses and burger restaurants, conversed with the restaurateurs and executive managers, took part in the master classes, and have thoroughly researched the cocktail offerings at the most famous and trending bars, for which New York city is so well known.
New York:
- Attending of Tribeca Grill restaurant by Robert De Niro, meeting up with the executive of the restaurant Tracy Nieporent, who had talked extensively about the «Star Restaurant's» charachteristic features, as well as how the TriBeCa neighborhood had undergone it's second rebirth.
- Cocktail tasting at the secret bar Painkiller
- Attendance of the Burger Joint outlet at the Meridian Hotel. Getting familiarized with the concept so unusual in Russia: instead of the expensive restaurant a merely 40 square meter outlet was opened up, which now has long queues of customers lining up to it. How it worked and how this idea was originally conceived, was the subject of the presentation by the general manager Matt Griffit and the chief cook Emile Castilio.
- The lecture at The institute of culinary Education titled «Trends of 2012 in the restaurant business of New York. New restaurant concepts»
- Tasting at the bar Employers Only and the presentation of the New York's cocktail culture from the general manager of the bar Eric Lincoln
- Attendance of the cult venue - restaurant Katz's Delicatessen
- The excursion around the meat packing district and the open market - Isaac Correa's Essex Street Market. It is here where the New York steak culture has been originally founded. The excursion lasted three hours and included 6 tastings at the market cafe and restaurants, as well as the dinner at the meat restaurant of the meat packing district.
- The visitation of the Doughnut Plant. The owners - two brothers - had talked about the family recipe, which eventually evolved into a profitable business.
- Attendance of The Standard Grill – the leading restaurant at the Standard hotel, which was opened right in the center of the High Line park – one of the trendy neighborhoods of New York. Chief cook Dan Silverman had received multiple awards in the recent years. At The Standard Grill Dan is using strictly fresh ingredients and relying extensively o his grill to make the classic American meat dishes in the modern interpretation. Meeting with the brand-manager themed: «The concept selection for the opening of the flagship hotel based restaurant».
- The dinner at the Shake Shack – the favorite outlet of many New Yorkers. The participants met up with Danny Meyer, the owner of the multiple award winning restaurants, one of which — Eleven Madison Park was awarded with three Michelin stars. In 2004 Danny opened up the first fast food burger outlet called Shake Shack, which by 2005 had already been awarded with the best burger in town award. His guiding principles are simple: tasty, yet simple burgers from the natural foods, short menu, minimalist design and very quick service.
- Attendance of the Roberta’s pizzeria. Meeting with Italian-American self-taught cook Carlo Mirarki, who single handedly established a trend for the designer pizza. In 2011 he was recognized as the best chief cook in the world. Carlo had talked to the internship participants about the way he turns such simple dish as pizza into a culinary masterpiece.
Miami:
- Attendance of the diner Big Pink – the famous family outlet with democratic pricing of the restaurant group Myles. Meeting with it's director themed: «Designer's culture, peculiar aspects of opening up a restaurant in a restaurant town».
- Attendance of Cheeseburger baby – the oldest but yet still very popular burger outlet on the Miami Beach. Multiple celebrity portraits with this simple outlet appearing on their background suggests that in order to enjoy a tasty and juicy burger many are prepared to tolerate the not-so-friendly service, as well as nowhere near pristine interior.