Frederick L. Dame, Master Sommelier brings an impressive blend of experience, expertise and enthusiasm to the world of wine and cuisine. He is the first American to have served as President of the Court of Master Sommeliers Worldwide and assists restaurateurs and hoteliers in developing their wine programs in his role as Director of Prestige Accounts for Beam Wine Estates. He is currently the President of the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation.Dame's ability to transmit his passionate interest in wine make him a natural teacher. One of just seventy-three Americans to have passed the Master Sommelier Examination, Dame was the first to successfully pass all three parts in a single year. This feat and his high score won him the coveted Krug Cup of the British Guild of Sommeliers in 1984. Dame founded the American Branch of The Court of Master Sommeliers in 1986 and has played an active role in the expansion of the Master Sommelier program throughout America since that time.
As Cellarmaster of The Sardine Factory in Monterey, California for twelve years, Dame created a wine list which won the Wine Spectator Grand Award. With the many wine events held in the brick and wine lined Wine Cellar, Dame turned The Sardine Factory into a wine destination restaurant of world renown. He is also active in the culinary arts serving as an Honorary Trustee of The American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of The American Culinary Federation. He was awarded the Antonin Careme Medal and was made a Supreme Knight of the Knights of the Vine in 2000. He has been elected to the prestigious National Restaurant Association College of Diplomates for 2004.
A sixth generation Californian, Dame graduated from Washington and Lee University with a degree in journalism and communications. A European trip after high school piqued his curiosity about wine and food. Since then, he has applied his considerable persuasive skills to the service and appreciation of fine wine.
Richard and Michelle Laver - "Kate Farms"
As a former tennis professional and the cousin of world famous tennis legend Rod Laver, Richard Laver and his wife Michelle founded the Santa Barbara, Calif. company Kate Farms for the sole purpose of their daughter, Kate Laver. At the age of four, Kate was failing to “thrive” and was faced with numerous difficulties. The meal replacement beverage her doctors prescribed was overloaded with sugar and dairy for calorie enhancement. As a result, Kate had many complications, including bottle rot, sleep apnea and digestive problems.
With their daughter not living an ideal life, the Laver’s decided it was time to take matters into their own hands. With the help of an industry expert they started to develop their own hypoallergenic meal replacement shake in their very own kitchen. Together they blended 21 superfoods including but not limited to acai, mangosteen, black currants, raspberries, green tea extract, etc., with antioxidants, high protein and vitamin rich ingredients to fuel the body with the nutrition it needs and removed all the things that the body doesn’t need. Within weeks Kate’s condition improved greatly and she no longer needed breathing treatment for sleep apnea, her digestion problems were a thing of the past and her mouth was once again healthy.
“We are very excited to debut Kate Farms at Expo West,” says Kate’s father, CEO and founder Richard Laver. “In today’s hectic world, it’s easy to lose track of what truly matters, our health. Kate Farms functional whole foods is delighted to be at the forefront of the superfood revolution. Combining 21 superfoods in an on-the-go shake was one thing, but to make it taste great is what excites us the most. Superfoods is the future of a healthy diet and we plan on working hard to create breakthrough nutritional products that taste great and optimize the quality of people's lives.”
Natural Products Expo West is produced by New Hope Natural Media and is the world’s largest natural, organic and healthy products trade show, taking place from March 8th – March 10th, 2013 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. For more information on Kate Farms at Expo West, or if you’re attending Expo West and would like to speak with Michelle or Richard Laver directly, please contact Brian McIver or Jacqueline De Berry of 5W Public Relations, 242.999.5585. For additional details and information on the brand, please visit www.katefarms.com.
About Kate Farms: Kate Farms, the world’s first certified made with organic ingredients dairy-free, gluten-free and soy-free ready-to-drink meal replacement shake™ bringing you everything your body needs, including a blend of 21 superfoods with antioxidants and without unwanted ingredients in a convenient on-the-go shake. Kate Farms’ mission is to create breakthrough vegan foods and drinks to ensure the best opportunity for optimum health. The company has been inspired to create products with integrity out of love for the founders Michelle and Richard Laver’s sick little girl, Kate and how much good nutrition has improved her life. The goal at Kate Farms is to help people who are clinically “failing to thrive” get the necessary nutrition they need along with helping healthy people with busy lives get proper nutrition to live life to the fullest. For additional information or to purchase Kate Farms products, please visit www.katefarms.com.