Field Trips!!!

Green coffee beans

Coffee machinery

We had the amazing opportunity of touring two facilities and learning the behind-the-scenes. We started at Omar Coffee Company. Think coffee making is simple? Think again. The process started out with green coffee beans. They are selected from many different regions for their unique taste profiles. They are sent to hoppers where they are held until they are roasted to perfection. Greg Dadinos shared his great expertise on the entire process. He explained quality assurance procedures and took us through the rest of the process. After the roasting process the beans are cooled and saved as whole beans or ground. Kevin McDermott shared how important it is to use the right equipment and ingredients to create a consistent gourmet coffee. Things like type of coffee, minerals found in water, and brewing method all influence the final flavor and quality of the coffee. Shannon Cercone is the fair trade and organic certification specialist. She explained the difference, complications, and objectives of these certifications. We learned a lot about coffee, but also had a great example of a great vendor. Their extensive knowledge in all aspects of coffee and willingness to share this was amazing. Thanks again for allowing us to come into your facility!


Our next stop was to Foxwoods Resort Casino with Chef Mark Genereux. Being a resort, this is a huge operation! There are 38 dining options ranging from fine dining to fast food. We walked through several facilities including the butcher shop, bakery, and numerous restaurants. Unlike most facilities, Foxwoods sends out bids every few weeks. Health inspectors are on site and routinely inspect areas, holding Foxwoods to a higher standard in sanitation. We were impressed by the time saving methods they use for bulk cooking. Foxwoods owns a cook chill system that allows them to make their own sauces and soups in 124 gallon batches to be used throughout the resort. Thank you again to Chef Mark and Foxwoods for this experience!

Cook chill system

Kyla, Chef Mark, and Rachel in the MGM Premier Ballroom of Foxwoods