Heiss Benefit Dinner

PKG for 2002-02-08 - RUNS 1:45

Intro

The Gordon Heiss Benefit Dinner at Santa Fe's El Dorado Hotel provided gourmet cuisine and helped promote New Mexico State University's hospitality program. Anna Maria Pérez-Wright reports.

Video	Audio
	About 150 people enjoyed fine food, wine and warm hospitality during the 5th annual Gordon Heiss Benefit Dinner in Santa Fe. The one hundred dollar-a-plate dinner benefited New Mexico State University's hotel, restaurant and tourism management department. Gordon Heiss's son, Burton, says the elegant six-course dinner celebrated the late restaurateur's love for promoting tourism and supporting students in NMSU's hospitality program.
Insert title at :27-:38 Burton Heiss Son of Gordon Heiss	"He had such a boundless energy for the business and such an enthusiasm. I think the only place he could find an equal or a match for that was in people that were young and fresh and energetic, because he never sat still and was constantly striving to find ways to improve and really striving for perfection."
	The dinner, prepared by renowned chef Dominic Geraghty of the El Dorado Hotel, featured dishes such as truffle-infused lobster soup, Moscovy duck salad and herb-encrusted roasted veal tenderloin.
Insert title at :58-1:08 Dominic Geraghty El Dorado Head Chef	"It's about a six-course menu, so we try to balance it out so there's not too much of any one course. So by the time they get to dessert they can, uh, everybody's not overstuffed and can feel like they've had a lovely, uh, lovely dinner."
	Head of NMSU's hotel, restaurant and tourism management department Mike Cerletti says proceeds from the dinner will be used to provide students with more hands-on training.
Insert title at 1:19-1:26 Mike Cerletti HRTM Department Head	"We're going to be using those funds to build our laboratories there in the Gerald Thomas Hall at the university, a kitchen laboratory, hopefully a technology lab."
	Heiss started several businesses in New Mexico, including La Casa Sena, the Blue Corn Cafes and the Santa Fe Chocolate Company.
	For N-M-S-U's College of Agriculture and Home Economics, I'm Anna María Pérez-Wright.