2006 R&I Ivy Awards

By Patricia B. Dailey, Editor-in-Chief -- Restaurants & Institutions, 5/1/2006

Boston College Commander’s Palace Las Vegas mk the Restaurant The Peabody Orlando Stanford (University) Dining Trattoria Dell’Arte Ivy recipes

When Institutions/Volume Feeding magazine—later rechristened Restaurants & Institutions—in 1971 began the tradition of recognizing operations with its Ivy Award, the industry landscape was vastly different. Then, Kentucky Fried Chicken was larger than McDonald’s, a small coffeehouse called Starbucks first opened in Seattle’s Pike Place Market and Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse began a remarkable run that still continues on its course of innovation and excellence. Total annual foodservice-industry sales were approximately $45 billion and the federal debt was $405 billion—less than the $510 billion in foodservice sales projected for 2005.

Not everything, however, has changed in the 35 years since. The first Ivy winners (the award’s name taken from the first letters of Institutions and Volume Feeding) understood and executed the same refined practices that distinguish the operations honored this year. Then as now, exacting standards of hospitality and service, comfort of surroundings and expertly crafted food and menus define the success that leads to Ivy.

A few more than 300 operations have been named to the Ivy Society and R&I is pleased to welcome six more: Boston College, Commander’s Palace Las Vegas, mk the Restaurant, The Peabody Orlando, Stanford (University) Dining and Trattoria Dell’Arte. Though each differs in approach, all share excellence as common ground and represent the industry’s high accomplishments—standards that endure through time and ages.

—Patricia B. Dailey, Editor-in-Chief