Nine of the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs are recognized across
the categories of craft, community, food, design, technology, sustainability,
garden, style and industry.
HONOREES CELEBRATED AT
THE AMERICAN MADE AWARDS NIGHT IN NYC
American Made
magazine for Thanksgiving food and drink features, the “American Made” story
popped off the pages.
stories that dare you not to be inspired.
optimism, one is hard pressed not to replicate their fuel-injected American
dreams.
the concept are important. Recognize the need to support local businesses.
creators. They are the doers and the dreamers…
awards event held at the very fitting “Crossroads of America:” Grand Central
Station’s Vanderbilt Hall.
space paid homage to the cocktail and awards show, tastings, and showcase for
the artisans and entrepreneurs honorees and their hand made creations.
intimate kick off cocktail reception and the awards showcase http://www.examiner.com/article/martha-stewart-american-made-awards-honors-game-changers
anticipation.
From the “red-carpet” (that was decidedly more green to
gold), I asked the goddess of creative entrepreneurship, Martha Stewart,
“What’s different or changed from last year’s inaugural ‘American Made?’” She thought for a second – all the more time
to admire those glittering Manolos she sported – and then she pointedly quipped,
“This year is a Better American Made. We
grew the number of voters to 5 million and had entries from more than 2,400
candidates.” Martha added, “This shows a
lot of interest for the art of the craft. That makes us feel really great and
really proud.”
included the evening’s co-host, Bravo Network’s, Andy Cohen. He is a good co-presenter as this man
seemingly knows everyone and can talk a blue streak!
Brinkley was also
somewhat curiously, the presenter for the Garden Maker Award…
Yes; Brinkley has
a garden on the East End but still…I hope it’s not cheeky to point out that there
are so many other true gardeners who could have been a presenter. I know, I know – Christie is an avid supporter
of the Land Trust and for that all thank her.
Plus she remains irresistible eye candy.
The Chew’s Carla
Hall was pert and oh-so-much taller than she appears on the small screen.
And the former “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’s interior designer,Thom Filicia was styling and showing that sockless-loafer look.
Conversing the Concourse
that most guests chose; which was to sample and taste the food and drink to the
exclusion of the honorees, I did the over-achiever-girls-do-extra-credit thing
and visited all the showcased Makers, interviewing them and learning what
brought them to this hallowed moment.
still plenty of time to sample the craft cocktails (the whisky cocktail was
wowsy – smooth and nutty in flavor) fresh oysters and other treats.
displayed the honorees in a way that screamed, “More time, please.”
around the perimeter of the “room,” I was able to sample a kaleidoscope of
creators from the guitar-making specialist that got him into wood craft.
His designs
now include adventures in walnut, maple, birds eye woods to Mohawk papers
to Sweet
Too Hills Candy to America’s Oldest Confectionary: Shane Confectionary known
for their buttercream chocolates and clear glass-like creations – they make memories they say.
award-winning Woodberry Kitchens.
their growers should earn them sainthood.
“In a conventional model, so little of the food dollar gets back to the
growers,” says Spike.
grown mushrooms “kits” to give American families the opportunity to grow their
own from – drum roll – food waste! https://www.backtotheroots.com/about-us
The Northern Farmhouse Pasta is crazy good. http://www.northernfarmhousepasta.com
produce to make pastas and raviolis. Dream wild ramp, scape, basil and zucchini
blossom – and more – for fresh and dried raviolis and pastas to melt into pasta
heaven. “We grew own business in Brooklyn from our farm Roscoe, New York
location and the homegrown pastas are available at more than 25 local
Greenmarkets. They work with Cayuga Pure Organics http://cporganics.com
“We pick up 500 pounds of flour at about 2 am
Saturday to make our 100 bags of pasta.”
The McClure family recipe uses their family’s Brooklyn
pickle recipe and local produce: http://www.mcclurespickles.com/pages/our-story
Awards:
Nine of the best garden, craft, community, food, design,
technology, sustainability, and industry makers were recognized at the awards
ceremony and in the November issue of the MSL magazine.
Every category was introduced by a guest presenter – an expert in their field, and a short video preceded their award acceptance.
Archipley – Escondido, California
was founded by combat-decorated Marine Sgt. Colin Archipley and his wife,
Karen, and has demonstrated there is profit, public interest, and a compelling
story in joining one of our country’s most pressing needs—sustainable food—with
our country’s greatest untapped resource—our returning veterans. Archi’s Acres
developed sustainable, hydroponic, organic farming to create opportunities for
returning veterans.
Woodberry Kitchen, Spike & Amy Gjerde – Baltimore, Maryland
relies on longstanding relationships with the
growers of the Chesapeake area to provide the ingredients that nourish and
delight their guests. Founded by Spike & Amy Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen
supports sustainable agriculture that respects the abundance and traditions of
the region while helping to ensure its future.
Portland Meat Collective, Camas Davis – Portland, Oregon
brings
local meat to local people. It’s a network of Portland citizens who are looking
for a cost-effective way to buy meat directly from Oregon’s small ranchers and
farmers. While the PMC draws on meat CSA models that have popped up around the
country, it is also an up-close-and-personal traveling butchery school.
to the Roots, Alejandro Velez & Nikhil Arora – Oakland, California
was founded by Alejandro Velez & Nikhil Arora. Inspired by the idea of
turning waste into wages & fresh, local food, they decided to forgo the
corporate route and become full-time urban mushroom farmers, producing
grow-at-home mushroom kits
welcome from NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg who said she was proud to say she is a
crafter. Nyberg noted she brought her
craft to space with her.
and communities that have turned their passion for handcrafted, well-designed
goods into small businesses. With small businesses in the U.S. creating the
majority of new jobs.
Stewart and Richelle Parhem, vice president and Chief Marketing Officer of eBay
announced details about a new partnership and continuation of the American Made
initiative: the Martha Stewart American Made Market, exclusively on eBay.
and her team at Martha Stewart Living magazine, the American
Made Market on eBay will honor a new generation of American makers who will
sell their products in categories such as crafts, food, garden and more. The
editors at Martha Stewart Living magazine will be scouting for
new makers and new products each week to ensure that the assortment reflects
consumers’ desire for quality craftsmanship and well-designed goods that have
the Martha Stewart seal of approval.”
the web sites of these crafters – a holiday gift from any of them is vote of
love and support for these American treasures.
