CRA’s 2024 Golf Classic Sees Success

On Monday, June 24, the Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) welcomed 260 golfers and more than 300 dinner guests to Lyman Orchards for a day of golf, food and drink at the annual CRA Golf Classic and Chef Farm Dinner.

The Golf Classic, presented by Sysco, is the CRA’s second-largest event of the year and attracts attendees from restaurants and food-service businesses from across the state. Hosted at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, the event takes over both Player and Jones courses, and includes food and drink pit stops throughout the players’ rounds.

This year’s on-course features included drinks from Pernod Ricard with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, Dockside Brewery, Opici Family Distributing with Meili Vodka and Hedlum Brewing, as well as beverage carts stocked with Brescome Barton-sponsored brands and refreshments.

Following a day out on the course was the Chef Farm Dinner, sponsored by Performance Foodservice. Each year, the Golf Classic features top Connecticut chefs, who cook up a storm for guests with a stunning, bespoke four-course meal. Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, along with Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon, were provided by Trinchero Family Estates and Connecticut Distributors, Inc.

This year’s featured chefs were David Mitchel of The Brushmill by the Waterfall in Chester, Macarena Ludena of Coracora in West Hartford, Johan Jensen of Whitecrest Eatery in Stonington and Damon Sawyer of 29 Markle Ct in Bridgeport. Pierluigi Mazzella of Fatto a Mano in Westport also provided a sweet treat to end a brilliant dinner.

The chefs also received support from some of our ProStart students from a variety of Connecticut schools. The students showcased their skills and helped prepare to place each dish for the 300 guests, making this event extra special as the chefs were able to pass on their wisdom to the next generation wanting to enter the industry. ProStart is one of the programs supported by the CRA’s charitable arm, the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation.

The CRA team would like to extend a huge thank you to all of this year’s sponsors, golfers, chefs, vendors, in-kind donors, the Lyman team, the DORO Catering team and everyone in between who supported this incredible event! We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support to our cause. It was a fantastic year, and we can’t wait for the next one!

SAVE THE DATE: The sixth annual CRAZIES Awards will take place at Foxwoods Resort Casino on December 9. More details to follow!