Columbus, Ohio (July 15, 2019) – Cameron Mitchell Premier Events (CMPE) announced today it is joining forces with Flavored Nation, a food event launched in Columbus last year and returning on August 24-25 to the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Flavored Nation showcases an iconic dish from each of the country’s 50 states – most of them prepared by chefs who travel to the event to represent their state so that foodies can taste their creations, prepared locally in kitchens at the event.

“One of the unique advantages of Flavored Nation is that it provides access to other state and regional dishes, spurring culinary discoveries while highlighting talented chefs from Columbus and beyond,” said Melissa Johnson, managing director of Cameron Mitchell Premier Events. “This is a quality event that has great opportunity to continue to grow year over year. It is important for us to support the culinary industry locally and nationally, and guests will love trying all the mouth-watering creations.”

Cameron Mitchell Premier Events will support the event by overseeing the food procurement and management that is needed to assure that each of the 50 chefs has the ingredients and equipment needed to prepare and serve their dish to guests.

“Everything at Flavored Nation will be prepared onsite and fresh,” said Jay Ingram, CMPE corporate chef and operating partner. “We are focused on making the event a success and ensuring the chefs get the support needed to best showcase their talents.”

CMPE also will provide insight on demonstrations in the culinary arts that will appeal to guests – ideas such as a chef knife skills challenge, butchering demonstration and others are in the works.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to support Mitchell Hall at Columbus State Community College, adding to Mitchell’s already committed pledge of $2.5 million for the cutting-edge culinary and hospitality school. Mitchell also will be on hand at the event for a booking signing of his new book, “Yes is the Answer! What is the Question?”.

“We are excited to welcome one of our nation’s preeminent food and culinary art innovators, Cameron Mitchell and his team, to the Flavored Nation event,” said Bradley M. Harmon, president and publisher of Dispatch Media Group, the local arm of GateHouse Live Events that created and produces the event. “Cameron Mitchell Premier Events brings the very highest caliber of food and hospitality excellence to this second-year event, so that together we can delight our guests even more. Come hungry and get excited about tasting foods that make up the tapestry of America — one state and one chef at a time.”

“We started this event as a way to bring foodies together where the public could sample classic, cherished and peculiar dishes from all over the country. Guest feedback was so overwhelmingly positive that we’re making Flavored Nation an annual Columbus tradition,” said Lyndsi Lane, vice president of GateHouse Live. “Guests who came last year will find plenty of new tastes that will delight their palates.”

Tickets include one-day access to the event, plus 10 food samples and six drink samples and are available at FlavoredNation.com for an early bird price of $35. Guests can purchase more tastes inside the event. Early bird pricing will end on July 15 when the online price will increase to $45. The event is expected to sell out in advance, but if not tickets at the door will be $55. Visit FlavoredNation.com for details.

Businesses can participate through a number of limited opportunities by emailing FlavoredNation@GateHouseLive.com for more information. State dishes subject to change.

CAMERON MITCHELL RESTAURANTS
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) is an independent, privately held restaurant group known for developing compelling dining concepts, offering outstanding cuisine complemented by genuine hospitality. Cameron Mitchell founded the company in 1993 on the powerful guest philosophy, “The answer is yes. What is the question?” Today, that commitment to delivering extraordinary guest experiences fuels 36 award-winning restaurants under 15 different concepts, including the nationally-acclaimed Ocean Prime brand, now coast-to-coast in Beverly Hills, Calif., Boston, Chicago (opening spring 2019), Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Naples, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Tampa and Washington, D.C; the Cameron Mitchell Premier Events catering company; and Buckeye Hospitality Construction, responsible for developing and managing the company’s new construction, remodels and special projects. CMR also oversees the growth and development of its sister company, Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern, with 23 locations in six states. CMR celebrated 25 years of restaurant excellence in October 2018.

With a penchant for building tomorrow’s hospitality workforce, Mitchell is the largest alumni donor to the Culinary Institute of America and, as a Columbus State Community College Foundation board member, is a leading contributor to the expansion of the school’s top-rated hospitality management and culinary arts program. Mitchell shares the key to his company’s 25 years of success and the lessons he has learned in his new, tell-all book, “Yes is the Answer. What is the Question?”, now available for purchase at www.CameronMitchell.com. For more information, visit www.CameronMitchell.com and follow CMR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@CMRColumbus), and on LinkedIn.

THE DISPATCH MEDIA GROUP, led by The Columbus Dispatch, encompasses a collection of daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, web sites, apps and live events that inform and engage the central Ohioans we serve. In addition to The Dispatch, our award-winning publications include Columbus Monthly and Columbus CEO, with websites such as Dispatch.com, BuckeyeXtra.com, BlueJacketsXtra.com and ColumbusAlive.com complementing our print coverage. From awards galas to consumer expos, our numerous events take place throughout the year and draw tens of thousands of visitors, exhibitors and sponsors. CONTACT: Stephen Zonars, Vice President, szonars@dispatch.com

GATEHOUSE LIVE EVENTS & PROMOTIONS is an event and media company specializing in delivering world-class events and promotions for the media industry and the communities they serve. We constantly strive to exceed expectations, create unforgettable memories and generate new revenue streams while leveraging our reputable and institutional brands. Our events and promotions inspire pride and progressive innovation throughout the ever-changing media industry, while still relying on core newspaper strengths. We are the industry leader delivering results through events and promotions from coast to coast. CONTACT: Joseph Kappel, Marketing & Creative Strategy Manager, jkappel@gatehouselive.com