ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2006) – Industry magazine is hosting the first annual “DINING INDUSTRY” Red Carpet Extravaganza­one of the most wildly exuberant gourmet events to ever hit the city­at the Orange County History Center, Friday, March 2, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.  The event combines style, spice, celebrity and prosperity to benefit the Orlando Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as the victims of the recent tornadoes in Central Florida
 
The event will gather the most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, and food lovers in the area to sample the best of more than a dozen trend-setting restaurants, as well as some of the industry’s finest beer, wine and spirit companies, including Van Gogh Vodka, Touch Vodka and Peroni Beer.
 
“We’re thrilled to bring this event to Orlando,” said Matthew Gull, Industry’s Publisher of Industry Magazine. “All proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction will help the Foundation continue its mission to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis as well as to aid those whose lives have been quite literally turned upside-down by the tornadoes of early February.”
 
“We feel so blessed to have the help and support of Industry,” said Penny Seater of the Orlando Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Events such as this are an immeasurable help in improving the quality of life for those coping with the disease.”
 
The Red Carpet event will be co-hosted by Bravo’s Top Chef MC Padma Lakshmi, celebrity chef Jon Ashton of the Daily Buzz and celebrity dietitian chef Bethenny Frankel. The evening will include live entertainment, featuring a summer fashion show, hosted by “Project Runway” runner-up Uli Herzner, introducing the best of the area’s student designers and models from the International Academy of Design and Technology, and a “Dining Industry” chef competition, highlighting students from the Orlando Culinary Academy.
 
The silent auction includes a car from Mercedes-Benz, watches from Gevril, the official watchmaker of the Spanish royal family, and many other luxurious keepsakes. Finally the evening will conclude with a performance set from the Legendary JCs.
 
Tickets are $65, and are available at the door, by phone (407-447-0785, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or online at http://www.industrymagazine.com/OrlIndDiningEvent.htm
 
 
Confirmed Guests:
Padma Lakshmi – Host of Bravo’s “Top Chef”
Uli Herzner – Bravo’s “Project Runway” finalist
Jon Ashton – The Daily Buzz Resident Chef
Bethenny Frankel – Celebrity Dietician
Buddy Dyer – Orlando Mayor
Invited but not Confirmed
Emeril Lagasse and Giada DeLaurentiis (from the Food Network)