Savannah Red Restaurant at Charlotte Marriott City Center Reports James Beard House Dinner Success

CHARLOTTE, NC - September 11, 2009 – Cooking dinner at the James Beard House restaurant in New York City is every chef's dream, and any one of them will tell you they will do whatever it takes to make that dream a reality.

When Jean-Pierre Marechal, Executive Chef at Savannah Red Restaurant at the Charlotte Marriott City Center, was invited to cook dinner at the James Beard House last month, he literally moved a good portion of his Charlotte City Center restaurant to New York City in order to undertake what he considered to be the greatest honor of his - and perhaps most every chef's career!

The James Beard House dinner menu included Brandy-Scented Lobster Cobbler with Chive-Basil Phyllo Cups, Chive Cornbread with Kudzu Jelly Butter, Duck Confit with Savory Waffle and Maple-Orange Gastrique, Caramel-Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly with Anson Mills Grit Fries and Flash-Roasted North Carolina Vegetables, and Peach-Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Macerated Local Peaches and Cognac-Chantilly Cream.

With his team of five (including Jason Gray, Billy Brown, Chuck Herrick, and William "Shea" Gottshall), Chef Marechal rented two refrigerated vans and drove from his restaurant in Charlotte City Center, North Carolina to New York.

The menu that they prepared at the James Beard House was borne from the cuisine served at Savannah Red Restaurant, where the Belgian-born Chef Marechal has put an elegant twist on traditional Southern cuisine making it more upscale for a fine dining restaurant.

The James Beard House dinner, which was sold out, was described by diners in attendance as "sheer perfection."

ABOUT SAVANNAH RED AT THE CHARLOTTE CITY CENTER MARRIOTT
Savannah Red is a unique, upscale restaurant in Charlotte City Center that elevates the time-tested flavors of traditional Southern cooking to new heights. Perfectly fusing imagination and wit into the standbys of Southern cuisine, Executive Chef Jean Pierre Marechal creates a culinary experience as striking as the interiors. The bold use of color and modern furnishings - as well as superb service - will set the tone for a truly unforgettable meal at Savannah Red. Savannah Red's menu has its roots in the Old South with an added twist of New South sassiness in its offerings. With awe-inspiring dishes, the restaurant has something that will please the most discerning palate. For additional information, visit www.MarriottCityCenter.com.