Whoa!

Executive Chef Chris Damskey's response to the jab from Executive Chef Asher Miller:

"Hell ya. Talk is cheap just like his picture. He doesn’t need to pay off any of the judges (unless he really is that insecure). Just pay attention to making. Bring your “A” game, fool!"

Watching the two of them go toe to toe is going to be fun!

Who will you be cheering on?

The Gloves Are Off!

Saturday night I ran into Sara Glassman of Star Tribune and she mentioned that if she judges The Duel of The Design, she can't cover it for the paper and she really wants to cover it.

So I sent an email to the participants about the change in judges and it looks like Chef Asher Miller is going to be the first to draw blood!

He responded to the email: "Indeed, thanks for the heads up. I'll have to ask her for the pay-off money back.... Oh wait, just kidding. Like I need to pay off anyone to kick that Schmamsky guy's ass!"

Chef Chris Damskey, care to comment?

Ready. Set. Cook!

I'm not entirely sure what I am more excited about...watching the designers of The Duel of The Design battle it out or watch the competing chefs battle it out. After all, everyone knows I am all about food!

Chef Asher Miller joined Wolfgang Puck's 20*21 in April 2005. He took over the helm as executive chef about a year ago, lending his strong leadership skills and creative talents to the Asian inspired restaurant and Wolfgang Puck Catering.

Chef Miller, a New Hampshire native, seemed destined for a culinary career from childhood. His mother, a school teacher, planned many activities for the children she taught in their home, including one called “mystery cooking.” Chef Miller and the other children experimented with ingredients in tiny tin foil pans using candles for heat. This is his first — and favorite — memory of cooking.

According to Chef Christopher Damskey, he was ultimately destined to work at Chambers Kitchen inside the Chambers hotel. Originally an art major, Damskey finds cooking inside the art-laden hotel gives him an opportunity to express his creativity while being literally surrounded by contemporary masterpieces.

Chef Damskey joined Chambers as Chef de Cuisine when it opened in 2006 and was promoted to executive chef in May 2008. Before joining the Chambers Kitchen team Damskey had worked his way up through the restaurant world working at some of the Twin Cities most critically acclaimed restaurants, including Five, Solera and Aquavit, as well as Goodfellows, W. A. Frost and Table of Contents. At a national level, Damskey has cooked at NOLA’s, Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, and both NoMI and Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago. Damskey has an ACF (American Culinary Federation) degree in Culinary Arts from St. Paul Technical College and attended the Scottsdale Culinary Institute.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the chefs create, as they are so evenly matched from a talent and temperament-level, that it could be a night filled with drama!

Lovin' Warner Music Group

I'll admit it. One of the highlights of my week was accepting a delivery from Warner Music Group.

Boxes and boxes of goodies for The Duel of The Design VIP Gift Bags!

Love it!

The CD's, pins, coasters and stickers are just some of the items that are being included in the bag. Jessica's Cakes cookies, stationery from The Style Laboratory, issues of Metro Magazine and Minnesota Meetings & Events will also be included.

Thanks Warner Music Group! You're always so much fun to partner with on events!

What to Expect?

So what is The Duel of The Design all about?

Well, when I was coming up with the concept, I was thinking it would be a great way to show the general public what it is we event designer/planners do.

Now, some would say that it is just stressful because of performing in front of an audience under a time constraint. However, when you think about it, that is what we do for a living. We design / plan for an audience (guests of the event) under a time constraint (sometimes we are only given a couple of hours to set an entire event).

The designers will find out what party rental items, flowers, food ingredients, beverage options and music selection when they are introduced right before the competition commences.

In other words, they can't really plan anything ahead. They have to come up with a design on the spot.

Last year, the designers came up with such drastically different designs from each other that it was rather shocking. Believe me, when I say deciding on a winner was not an easy task at all! The winning design from Todd of Bungalow 6 Design is below:




It was fun to hear feedback about the designs from the audience.

I think that The Duel of The Design 2.0 promises to be filled with even more drama and surprises than the first duel.

General Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

VIP Seating is $30 in advance, $35 at the door. VIP tickets offer reserved seating and a Event Trend Runway Show Gift Bag (goodies, such as a CD from Warner Music Group, Jane Jenni pins, cookies and much more).

All the guests will have the opportunity to participate in some mini-competitions throughout the night for some great prizes.

I hope to see you there to join in the fun!

Click Here to Buy Tickets.

The Duel of The Design Rematch!

Todd Pinzuti of Bungalow 6 Design will be meeting the Amy's of Mi Mi Design in a rematch!

Todd is an event planner, stylist, visual guy, all around creative sort. Owner of Bungalow 6 Design, an event décor company, he spends his time “making pretty.” While he started his career in visual merchandising and display, Pinzuti moved into photo-styling, then product development, and finally into event design.

While corporate events are its primary focus, Bungalow 6 produces social gatherings and weddings as part of its design services.

As one of Metro Magazine’s four Style Force Guys he regularly passes along tricks of the trade to its monthly readers.

Todd will be defending his winning design title against the talented duo at Mi Mi Design.

Amy and Amy of Mi Mi Design collaborated on numerous occasions for family friends. They discovered they had a knack for creating innovative alternatives to traditional wedding details.

Together, they wanted nothing more but to work for themselves and for an industry that demanded talent.

Hence, Mi Mi Design was born.

The Duel to Take Place at Graves 601 Hotel

Remember all the hoopla when Le Meridien opened in Minneapolis? It was one of the most cosmopolitan moments to happen in the Twin Cities!

Since the hotel opened, it has hosted a fair share of the city's hippest, stylized events. And although, they don't have the name Le Meridien anymore, but rather Graves 601 Hotel, it is amazing how consistent in service the hotel has been since opening.

I'm excited to announce that The Duel of The Design 2.0 will be taking place on March 5th at Graves 601 Hotel. The event begins at 5:00 and promises to be filled with lots of design and drama!

Todd Walker of Fox 9 to Emcee The Duel of The Design

We're thrilled to announce that Todd Walker of Fox 9 has agreed to emcee the next duel on March 5th!

Fox 9's Man About Town, Todd's television experience includes acting as features reporter for Fox 9, on-air host for many different TV related projects including Home Shopping, Infomercials and various TV Commercials. Todd has also worked as an on-air radio host and as a print model.

You may also recognize Todd from his three year run as the host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated TV show “Million Dollar Idea”.