Taste Trekkers Food Tourism Conference
The nation's first event for people who plan their vacations around food. We show you how to explore the world one bite at a time.
Seth Resler
Providence, RI Food
The Conference: Food + Travel
More info on our website
We are launching the nation's first food tourism conference, designed specifically for people who plan their vacations around food. Our goal is to show passionate foodies how they can explore the world through cuisine by bringing together chefs, farmers, winemakers, and other artisanal food producers from different areas.
Sample foods from different places
Learn the culinary history of different regions
Gain practical tips for planning your own food-based vacation
We will host our first conference in Providence, Rhode Island, which was recently named the nation's top city for food, drink and restaurants by Travel + Leisure magazine.
This conference is for anybody who loves to travel and loves food. It will attract hundreds of food bloggers, travel writers, culinary students and passionate foodies.
Everybody is invited, whether you are a seasoned traveler or looking to plan your first culinary vacation. You do not need to be a food tourism professional to attend, but professionals are welcome and are likely to find a lot of value in this event.
Although we expect that most attendees will come from New England, foodies from all over the country are welcome.
Friday, Sept. 20:
Saturday, Sept. 21:
Keynote Address by Chef Matt Jennings of Farmstead
Tasting Pavilion
Group Dinners at local restaurants
Sunday, Sept. 22:
Food Truck Circle
Culinary Walking Tours
More details below.
Keynote Speaker: Chef Matt Jennings
We are thrilled and honored that Chef Matt Jennings of Farmstead in Providence has accepted our invitation to give the keynote address at our conference. His expertise in the world of cheese, his penchant for snout-to-tail cooking and his commitment to sustainable, regional farmers have earned him many accolades, including:
2011 James Beard Foundation Award Shortlist Nominee, Best Chef Northeast
2009 Winner, Cochon 555 competition
One of Food & Wine magazine's '40 Under 40 Big Thinkers'
One of the Mother Nature Network 'Most Sustainable Chefs'
Read more about Chef Jennings.
Each session will focus on the cuisine of a different region. The sessions will cover regions from all over the country and even the world, but will also include several regions within driving distance of Providence.
Session Topics:
Authentic Bolivian & Peruvian Food
The Chocolate of Madagascar
The History of Rum in New England
Trace & Trust
More to come...
We conducted a survey to see what topics interest people the most. See the results here.
We are currently conducting a call for speakers and will finalize the session lineup in May.
Enjoy food and wine samples from dozens of regional purveyors in the beautiful Biltmore ballroom overlooking the city.
Mingle with other passionate foodies at The Dorrance, the beautifully renovated restaurant and bar in this historic downtown building.
Group Dinners
Get to know your fellow foodies as we break into groups for dinner at different restaurants all over the city. (For people familiar with Mystery Meet social dinners, these will follow the same format.
Sample from the city's finest food trucks in the heart of 'downcity' Providence.
Welcome to Providence
We will host this event in Providence, Rhode Island, which was recently ranked as the nation's top city for food, drink and restaurants by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Read more about why we chose Providence.
Saturday's events will be held at the Providence Biltmore. The Biltmore's Grand Ballroom on the 17th floor provides stunning views overlooking the city.
The cocktail reception will be at The Dorrance, the recently renovated restaurant and bar that boasts stunning stained-glass windows and the city's hottest mixologists.
Future conferences may be in other cities.
We are offering multiple tickets so that people can chose which days they want to attend:
Admission to Saturday's events at The Biltmore (the keynote address, breakout sessions, and tasting pavilion) - $65
Friday's cocktail reception - $20
Group dinners and food trucks priced separately
Culinary walking tours are offered exclusively as Kickstarter rewards
There will be a "combo price package" for people who want to attend the events on all three days.
And More Stuff
Every attendee will also receive:
A gift bag full of goodies from our sponsors
Digital photos from the conference
Access to audio recordings of the speakers
We are working closely with a number of partners, including:
Providence + Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
City of Providence, Department of Art, Culture & Tourism
Rhode Island Tourism Division
Eat Drink RI
Savoring Rhode Island
Newport Gourmet Tours
A Taste of Rhode Island
Food Lovers' Guide to Rhode Island
This event is already generating a lot of buzz in the press:
The Providence Journal
Rhode Island Small Business Journal
630 WPRO-AM
GoLocalProv.com
City of Providence
See more press coverage
Our long-term goal is to produce several food tourism conferences a year in different regions of the county.
Q: Can we attract sponsors?
A: While we aren't banking on sponsorship dollars (we're relying on the Kickstarter campaign to cover our costs), sponsors will ensure that we are able to produce this event in future years. Attracting sponsors for an event is always the most difficult in the first year. However, we have already seen a flood of early inquiries just through social media and press coverage.
Q: Can we handle all the logistics of producing this event?
A: Seth Resler has produced dozens of events, including concerts, restaurant competitions, fashion shows, mixology competitions, business conferences, and more. He has developed extensive relationships with event vendors in Rhode Island. He was even honored with a Citizen Citation from the Mayor of Providence for the last culinary event he produced.
Q: What if there's a Waterfire that night?
A: In the summer and fall, Providence often hosts "Waterfire" on Saturday nights. Waterfire is a beautiful evening festival in which torches are lit down the middle of the river in the center of the city and vendors, artists and musicians set up along the banks. We do not know whether there will be a Waterfire on the evening of September 21st yet, but we are in contact with the organizers and will arrange our conference schedule accordingly. We will not need to change the conference date.
PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE: To thank everybody who donates $5 or more, we will put your pretty faces up on our Thank You webpage. (Sorry, no company logos).
DIGITAL PHOTOS: We'll send everybody who donates $15 or more a mouth-watering set of digital photos from the event. ***AND*** YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
FOR COMPANIES -- LOGO ON THE WEBSITE: We'll include your organization's logo and a link to your website on our Thank You webpage.
FOOD LOVERS GUIDE TO RHODE ISLAND: We'll send you a copy of the brand new culinary guidebook written by Patricia Harris and David Lyon, courtesy of Globe Pequot Press.
***AND***
DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
AUDIO RECORDINGS: Can't make the conference? Don't worry! We're recording the speakers, and we'll give you access so that you can hear on everything that happened. ***AND*** DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
HOME STRETCH -- SATURDAY TICKETS: Pledge $30 will get a ticket to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $65 value.) ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
EARLY BIRD -- SATURDAY TICKETS: The first 10 people to pledge $40 will get a ticket to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $65 value.) ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
JOHNSON & WALES STUDENTS AND FACULTY: The first 20 people with a Johnson & Wales email address to pledge $40 will get a ticket to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $65 value.) ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
SATURDAY TICKETS: Get a ticket to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $65 value.) ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
COLLECTIBLE POSTER: Can't make the conference? No worries. We'll send you a limited edition poster print commemorating the nation's first food tourism conference, designed by acclaimed Rhode Island artist Pete Cardoso of Ghost Town Design House. A legendary rock poster designer, has created posters for everybody from Diana Ross and BB King to Wilco and Elvis Costello. ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON WEBSITE (see above)
HOME STRETCH -- SATURDAY PAIR: Get two (2) tickets to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $130 value.) ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: Get a ticket to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $65 value.) ***AND*** CITY SHUTTLE TOUR: Get a narrated tour of Providence on a comfortable shuttle bus on Sunday, September 22, 2013, courtesy of A Taste of Rhode Island.* **AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Get a ticket to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $65 value.) ***AND*** COCKTAIL RECEPTION: Come rub elbows with other adventurous foodies at our official cocktail reception at The Dorrance on the evening of Friday, September 20, 2013. (Alcohol not included.) ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
SATURDAY PAIR: Get two (2) tickets to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $130 value.) ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
FOR COMPANIES -- INCLUSION IN PROMOTIONAL GIFT BAGS: Reach up to 300 food bloggers, travel writers and passionate foodies by including your promotional material in the official conference gift bags.
FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY: Get a ticket to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $65 value.) ***AND*** COCKTAIL RECEPTION: Come rub elbows with other adventurous foodies at our official cocktail reception at The Dorrance on the evening of Friday, September 20, 2013. (Alcohol not included.) ***AND*** WALKING CULINARY TOUR: Enjoy a guided tour of Providence's legendary Italian neighborhood known as Federal Hill on Sunday morning, September 22, 2013, courtesy of Savoring Rhode Island. ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY PAIR: Get two (2) tickets to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $130 value.) ***AND*** COCKTAIL RECEPTION: You and a guest are invited to rub elbows with other adventurous foodies at our official cocktail reception at The Dorrance on the evening of Friday, September 20, 2013. (a $40 value; alcohol not included.) ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
FOR COMPANIES -- TASTING PAVILION TABLE: Sample your goods and services to hundreds of passionate foodies at our Tasting Pavilion in the Grand Ballroom of the Biltmore Hotel, overlooking the city of Providence, on Saturday, September 21, 2013.
MEET THE CHEF: Get two (2) tickets to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $65 value.) ***AND*** Join us for a special meet-and-greet with our celebrated keynote speaker, Chef Matt Jennings of Farmstead. ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PAIR: Get two (2) tickets to the events at The Biltmore on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (Chef Matt Jenning's keynote address, the breakout sessions and the Tasting Pavilion) (A $130 value.) ***AND*** PROVIDENCE RIVERWALK CULINARY TOUR: Sunday morning, you and a guest are invited to go behind-the-scenes in top kitchens, learn insider info, and at the end, have a full belly and a true appreciation for the Providence food scene. (a $100 value, courtesy of Newport Gourmet Tours) ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
FOR COMPANIES -- SILVER SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE: (1) Your organization's name and logo included on the Thank You page for the Taste Trekkers Website, (2) Your logo displayed on all scrolling projector screens at the conference,
(3) A vendor table at the Tasting Pavilion to sample your goods and services, (4)
Your promotional item included in up to 300 gift bags. (A $500 value.)
FOR COMPANIES -- GOLD SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE: (1) Your organization's name and logo included on the Taste Trekkers Website (all pages) and all email blasts, (2) your logo displayed on all scrolling projector screens at the conference, (3) A vendor table at the Tasting Pavilion to sample your goods and services, (4) Your promotional item included in up to 300 gift bags. (A $1,000 value.)
INTRODUCE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER: On the stage in the Grand Ballroom of the Biltmore, you can introduce Chef Matt Jennings to the entire conference before his keynote address on Saturday, September 21, 2013. ***AND*** AUDIO RECORDINGS, DIGITAL PHOTOS, YOUR PHOTO ON OUR WEBSITE (see above)
Mar 4, 2013 - Mar 30, 2013 (25 days)