The LAWineFest is proud to be in its 10th successful year. This popular event blazed a trail in L.A. to bring wine and people together in a fun, inviting and accessible way. Now a local institution, we’re known to reliably deliver a sun-kissed event that balances fun, exploration and education. Our goal is to help people explore their taste in a festive environment. Our unofficial motto: Drink what you like; Like what you drink!
Dr. Joel M. Fisher – Founder & CEO
Joel M. Fisher, PhD writes or has written for the Culinary Connection of the Chefs de Cuisine Association of California, for the Beverly Hills Courier, and since 2010 for the Underground Wine Letter. From 2007-2009 he taught at Cordon Bleu in Pasadena. Prior to that, he was the wine instructor for the Culinary Arts Department of the Art Institute of California — Los Angeles for seven years and is a founding partner of the educational Wine Vine and Dine, which conducts programs throughout Southern California and Wine Discoveries. Net. A Sommelier for the Escoffier Association of Southern California, he is also a member of The Tasting Panel (formerly the Bon Appetit Tasting Panel) and is a Wine Host for CRN’s What’s Cooking Show.
Dr. Fisher is a member of the Society of Wine Educators, The Circle of Wine Writers (UK), and the International Federation of Wine and Spirits Writers. Awarded a Wine Enthusiast Media Scholarship for 2005 at the Culinary Institute of America, he is the author of the Wine Work Book, now in its 6th edition.
Dr. Fisher co-led a program for chefs and culinary students to the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany and to wineries in Burgundy and Champagne in 2005. In June 2006 he again led a program, “Wine and Cuisine of Iberia,” to Spain and Portugal. Future programs to wine regions are in the works.
Sara Fisher Chapin – Head of Program Development & Strategic Relationships
Sara Fisher Chapin is pleased to have joined the family business in 2012. She has an extensive history as a senior leader in small business development and brand marketing.
WWW.LAWINEFEST.COM
JENNIFER CONNOR - FOUNDER OF MUSTARD GIRL ALL AMERICAN MUSTARDS
MUSTARD GIRL ALL AMERICAN MUSTARDS™ HIT STORES NATIONWIDESee How the Little Gal from Wisconsin Beat the Odds & Is Taking On the Big Boys
Mustard Girl All American Mustards™—an artisanal brand produced in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin—is making its debut in leading grocery retailers from national box stores to the local grocer and neighborhood deli’s. One hundred percent U.S.-made, each mustard variety is a product created from the original recipe, which was originally crafted by hand in small batches on a farm in rural Wisconsin but this exciting new mustard might never have made it to the shelves without Jennifer Connor, the brand’s founder. She really could not imagine a world without these delicious mustards and her determination to bring them to market without knowledge of the consumer packaged goods industry and in a highly competitive category where few new brands survive is a truly an inspirational story.
Mustard Girl All American Mustards began with Sweet N’ Spicey Honey Mustard and has since grown to a full portfolio of flavors that includes Stoneground Deli (spicy brown), Sweet N’ Fancy Yellow, American Dijon and Zesty Horseradish. All varieties are all-natural, contain no preservatives, are gluten-free, fat-free, low in sodium, Kosher, and contain no high fructose corn syrup.
With fresh, bold flavors, one taste is enough to realize this is not your typical bottled mustard. Each bottle of Mustard Girl All American Mustards features an illustration of a smiling blond country girl—and she really does exist. Jennifer Connor is the Mustard Girl, and her story reflects a commitment to delivering a premium product regardless of the challenges she faced in the industry.
Farm-to-Tables All Across America – the story behind the brand
The Mustard Girl story actually begins with a mustard man. While attending the University of Wisconsin, Jennifer discovered a supper club that used the best mustard she’d ever tasted. She learned that the recipe—made using the same Sweet & Spicey Honey recipe she now uses to make Mustard Girl’s version—was homemade by then 80-year-old Dave Rendall at his farm. When Jennifer found out that he was about to retire, she couldn’t imagine the world without his mustard and vowed to take over the business. Despite Jennifer’s persistence, Dave refused to turn over the recipes because he felt her Art History degree was no match for the highly competitive business world. Feeling defeated, she retreated to her family’s cabin in rural Wisconsin to contemplate her future. She felt starting this mustard company was her mission in life, but was looking for confirmation. Jennifer decided to go to church, telling herself that if the preacher mentioned “yellow” or something of the like, she’d know her mustard mission was meant to be; otherwise, she would give up her dream.
What happened next was serendipitous, but true. That day, the preacher’s sermon was about the parable of the mustard seed. From that moment on, Jennifer became more tenacious than ever. Over time, she convinced Dave Rendall to teach her everything he knew about mustard and to share his recipes with her. The impact of the parable on her life has also inspired Jennifer to give back to the community via her contributions to women’s and children’s charities. The rest, as they say, is history. Mustard Girl All American Mustards have a suggested retail price of $3.29 per 12-ounce bottle.
About Mustard Girl All American Mustards
Mustard Girl All American Mustards are an artisanal brand of mustards made in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The company started small, like a mustard seed, and is now available in over 2500 stores and restaurants nationwide. Additionally the mustards are the official mustards of Norwegian Cruise Lines Burger Bars. Mustard Girl All American Mustards are best known for their distinctive fresh, bold flavor and come in five varieties: Sweet N’ Spicey Honey, Stoneground Deli, Sweet N’ Fancy Yellow, American Dijon, and Zesty Horseradish. For more information, visit www.mustardgirl.com.
WWW.MUSTARDGIRL.COM