Hail To The Chefs: Centerplate Proud to Host 2013 Presidential Inaugural Balls

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- To mark the second inauguration of President Barack Obama, Centerplate/NBSE will have the great honor of hosting two official star-studded balls at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Centerplate, America's leading event hospitality partner to the country's top sports venues and convention centers, welcomes Americans from across the country as they share in the inaugural celebration on January 21, 2013. A staggering 35,000 guests and VIPs are expected for the Presidential Inaugural Ball that will span every hall and ballrooms of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Producing Presidential-caliber hospitality at this scale has taken over two months of planning and preparation by Centerplate teams, working closely with Convention Center staff, the Presidential Inaugural Committee, the FDA, Department of Health, a variety of federal and local officials and Hargrove, the show decorator. Food service alone requires over 45 managers, 450 front-of-house servers and 100 culinarians with a total team of over 700 Centerplate staff members.  

"We have been preparing diligently for these special events," said Vince McPhail, Vice President of Operations for Centerplate. "But it has been our honor to provide an extraordinary experience for our guests and national leaders. On behalf of our Centerplate team nation wide, we're privileged to provide a fabulous, unforgettable evening for everyone."

In keeping with the tradition started by President George W. Bush in 2005, The Presidential Committee will honor up to 4,000 brave men and women of our country's armed services and their families at the Commander-In-Chief's Ball. Tickets to the Commander-In-Chief's Ball are free of charge to invited guests, including active duty and reserve service men and women, Medal of Honor recipients, and wounded warriors and their spouses, among others. Troops from around the world will also have the opportunity to join the celebration virtually.

For the Italian-themed menu, the sheer scale of the hospitality service is remarkable. The fare includes 2,100 pounds of tortellini, 1,800 pounds of Italian assorted domestic and international cheeses, 2,100 pounds of penne pasta, 750 gallons of tomato and cream sauce, 30,000 dinner rolls, and 10,000 bottles of Gallo wine. For the event, Centerplate is also proud to work with an incredible list of hospitality partners, including:

• Legal Sea Foods
• Eli's Cheesecake
• Charm City Bakery

Since 1985, Centerplate has proudly served as hospitality host to over 30 official Presidential Inaugural Balls.

About Centerplate

Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in over 250 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues across North America – annually serving over 100 million guests. Centerplate has provided event hospitality services to 30 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 12 Super Bowls, 21 World Series, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. In 2011, the company was named the fastest growing restaurant/ hospitality group in the country by Nation's Restaurant News. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com

SOURCE Centerplate