Minneapolis --- The fifth annual Charlie Awards, a showcase for our local independent food and beverage community, will be held Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Pantages Theatre (710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis). The Charlie Awards recognize the exceptional contributions of the Twin Cities metro area restaurant, food and beverage industry, including: restaurants, beverage manufacturers, suppliers, culinary schools, chefs, staff and service, craft brewers, and food trucks.

This year’s Charlie Awards will include a trio of tasty events:

An entertainment-packed show featuring hosts Kieran Folliard and Thomasina Petrus at the Pantages Theatre beginning at 3:30 p.m.
The Minnesota Monthly After Party in the IDS Crystal Court, beginning at approximately 5 p.m., will feature live music, specialty cocktails, and sample-size dishes prepared by students at area culinary schools
The culmination culinary masterpiece of the day will be the Chefs’ Dinner featuring the recipes of 2014 Charlie Award winners Kim Bartmann, Vincent Francoual, John Kraus and Alex Roberts. This event will be held at Windows on Minnesota (50th floor of the IDS) beginning at 6:30 p.m.

New this year – the Charlie Awards want to honor those dedicated individuals who make our food and beverage community so successful. Food and beverage businesses are encouraged to tell us who their most dedicated individual is – from the chef to the owner, wait person to a kitchen staffer. The registration form is found on CharliesExceptionale.com. It is free to enter. One honoree will be randomly selected from entries during the Charlie Awards show and win prizes, including a four-day get-away to the Kohler Food and Wine Experience at The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin (accommodations included).

Awards to be announced at The Charlie Awards include: Lifetime Achievement; Community Hero, Outstanding Chef; Outstanding Emerging Chef (a food professional with five years or less of experience); Outstanding Service; Outstanding Restaurateur; Outstanding Restaurant; Outstanding Interior Design; Outstanding Pastry Chef; Outstanding Local Craft Brew, Outstanding Beverage Program, Outstanding Food Truck, and Outstanding Bartender.

Tickets are available at honorthyfood.com; at the box offices of the State, Orpheum and Pantages theatres; or at any Ticketmaster outlet. The cost for the main show and after-party at the IDS Crystal Court is $35 ($25 for industry members). The cost for attending all three events (awards show, after-party and Chefs Dinner) is $125, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Open Arms of Minnesota.

Open Arms is the only nonprofit organization in the state that cooks and delivers free meals specifically tailored to meet the nutritional needs of individuals living with life-threatening illnesses.

Sponsors of the Charlie Awards are General Mills, U.S. Foods, Deluxe Corporation, Land O’Lakes, Bellisio, Randy’s Booth Company, FLY Magazine, Monroe, Moxness & Berg, Dynamic Products Midwest, 2 Gingers, Intermix Beverage Co., Open Table, Minnesota Restaurant Association, Kowalski’s, Trinchero Family Estates, Minneapolis St. Paul Chapter National Association for Catering and Events, Minnesota Monthly, Windows on Minnesota, Marquette Hotel, Minnesota Public Radio, Food Building. Red Table Meat Company, Lone Grazer Creamery, Kohler, Saint Agnes Bakery, Edward Don & Company, J.R. Watkins, Ecolab, Colle + McVoy, Mise en Place consulting, and Caviar.

For more information on the 2015 Charlie Awards, please visit CharliesExceptionale.com. Find us on Twitter @CharlieAwards #HonorThyFood or Facebook (CharlieAwards).

Contact: Molly Steinke, Nemer Fieger, 952-278-3142 or 612-309-1677

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Molly M. Steinke

Nemer Fieger

612-309-1677

@MMSPR