TMHC Honors the Best of the Best
AREA’S MULTIFAMILY HOUSING INDUSTRY
The area’s multifamily housing industry celebrated its achievements at the Tidewater Multifamily Housing Council’s Annual Awards of Excellence Celebration July 17 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. More than 625 members and guests gathered for the event, which is now in its 30th year.
Merit Awards were presented to individuals for outstanding performance and Awards of Excellence were given to outstanding apartment communities in South Hampton Roads, competing in categories based on when they were completed. Two new awards were also presented this year: the Residents’ Choice Award for the community garnering the most votes in an online competition and the Diamond Award for the community with a perfect score from the judges.
MERIT AWARDS
Nine individuals were honored at the banquet for their performance in the multifamily housing industry this past year. They include:
· Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard Waitzer, Signature Management Corp.
· Multifamily Executive of the Year
Barry Tomlin, The Breeden Company
· Regional Property Manager of the Year Award
Lana Wilder, The Lawson Cos.
· Property Manager of the Year Award
Jamie Kane, The Breeden Company
· Leasing Consultant of the Year
Angela Nelms, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
- Maintenance Supervisor of the Year Award
Scott Crumbly, Kotarides Property Management
- Maintenance Employee of the Year Award
Jesse Myers
The Breeden Company
Alexandra Hinman, Ripley Heatwole Co. Inc.
Katie Dickinson, First Atlantic Restoration Inc.
- Residents’ Choice Award (given to the community garnering the most votes in an online competition.)
Belmont at Freemason, Kotarides Property Management
AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
In addition to the Merit Awards, the winners of the 2014 Awards of Excellence were also announced. This year, 97 communities competed for the honors in 11 award categories. The recipients were:
· Subsidized communities
Gold: The Rivers, The Lawson Cos.
Silver: Braywood Manor, W.H.H. Trice & Company
Bronze: Park Terrace, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
· Senior communities completed between 1975 and 1999
Gold: Stonebridge Manor, Frye Properties Inc.
Silver: John Knox Towers, The Lawson Cos.
Bronze: Holland House, Ripley Heatwole Co. Inc.
· Senior communities completed between 2000 and 2009
Gold: Wesleyan Place, Ripley Heatwole Co. Inc.
Silver: The Cottages at Great Bridge, Ripley Heatwole Co. Inc.
Bronze: Brenneman Lakes, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
· Communities completed between 1940 and 1949
Gold: Archer’s Green, Signature Management Corp.
Silver: Mariner’s Watch, Frye Properties Inc.
Bronze: Sterling Oaks, Frye Properties Inc.
· Communities completed between 1960 and 1969
Gold: TIE -- Pinewood Gardens, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.; and
Park Towne, S.L. Nusbaum Realty
Silver: University Gardens & Terrace, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
Bronze: Cambridge Manor, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
· Communities completed between 1970 and 1979
Gold: Weblin Place, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
Silver: Kingsbridge, The Lawson Cos.
Bronze: Chartwell, The Lawson Cos.
· Communities completed between 1980 and 1989
Gold: TIE -- Ashbrook, The Breeden Company; and
Columbus Station, The Dragas Cos.
Silver: TIE -- Ghent Village, The Lawson Cos.; and
Woodbriar, The Breeden Company
Bronze: Shoreline, Clark Whitehill Enterprises
· Communities completed between 1990 and 1999
Gold: Campostella Commons II, The Lawson Cos.
Silver: Taylor Pointe, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
Bronze: Woodbridge, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
· Communities completed between 2000 and 2009
Gold: Belmont at Greenbrier, Kotarides Property Management
Silver: Midtown at Town Center, Ripley Heatwole Co.
Bronze: Brenneman Farm, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
· Communities completed as of 2010 and later
Gold: Cambria at Cornerstone, The Breeden Company
Silver: Belmont at Freemason, Kotarides Property Management
Bronze: Monticello Station, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
· Diamond Award of Excellence (receiving a perfect score from the judges)
Park Towne, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
Pinewood Gardens, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
The banquet also honored the graduates of TMHC’s Registered in Apartment Management (RAM) program. The graduates completed a 40-hour basic RAM training program in on-site management, the first step to acquiring the RAM designation, a Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved certification program.
The graduates include:
· BMR Investments: Jessica Carter, Stefanie Guerrero
· Boyd Homes: Candi Bryars
· Clark Whitehill Enterprises: Kathy Boswell, Stephanie Bryant, Lauren Rieke
· The Lawson Companies: Candace Sparrow, Jake Yorks Jr.
· S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.: Shannon Heederik, Mary Nelson Notaro, Rosa Parks, Heather Pinkerton, Seth Norman
· Ripley Heatwole Co. Inc.: Lauren Keneagy, Edward Salyers
· United Property Associates: Wendy Lund, Denise Robinson-Jones
· W.H.H. Trice & Co.: Larrine Brown
· Wirth Development: Jacqueline Chavez
# # #
Jeff Ainslie receives Distinguished Leader award
Jeff Ainslie, a past president of the Tidewater Builders Association and the Home Builders Association of Virginia, and President of Sales, Operations & Finance for Ainslie Group, was honored by LEAD Hampton Roads on Thursday, June 19th. Ainslie received the 2014 Visionary Leaders - Distinguished Leader award. "The Visionary Awards identify and celebrate inspiring leaders who promote, through their vision and actions, a strong and vibrant Hampton Roads. These annual awards are presented to those exemplary leaders among us who embody strength, innovation, perseverance and progress." Congratulations, Jeff!
John Napolitano Installed as 2015 HBAV President
JOHN NAPOLITANO INSTALLED AS PRESIDENT
HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF VIRGINIA
John Napolitano of the Tidewater Builders Association was installed as 2015 President of the Home Builders Association of Virginia on Saturday, June 21st at the HBAV Annual Meeting. He was installed as the 58th President of HBAV by his father, Fred Napolitano, Sr. of Virginia Beach. Fred was president of HBAV in 1967. John's brother, Vince Napolitano, was president of HBAV in 1995.
John is Senior Vice President of Napolitano Homes in Virginia Beach. He has served HBAV as First Vice President, Second Vice President and Membership Chairman. He is a Past President of the Tidewater Builders Association and also served the local association in many other leadership positions since he first joined the HBAV Board in 1996. In 2011 and 2012, John served HBAV as Chairman of the Legislative Committee, as a member of the Executive Board and as an HBAV Build-PAC Trustee.
William E. Roach, Jr
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 01, 2012 Contact: (757) 305-9064 |
|
William E. Roach, Jr |
WILLIAM E. ROACH, JR.
Bill Roach passed away on Sunday, September 2, 2012. He joined Superior Equipment Sales in 1980 as Sales and Marketing Manager, and played a very important role in Superior’s success working with builders through the Tidewater Builders Association.
Formerly, Bill was National Sales Manager for two major HVAC manufacturers: Mueller Climatrol, Division of Fedders Corp., and Chrysler Air Temp, Division of Chrysler Corp., and was Regional Sales Manager for Worthington Corp. He was well-known and respected by all who knew him throughout the HVAC industry.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held on Friday, December 7, 10:00 am at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 712 Little Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA. 23452-5807.
|
Homearama's first bayfront home sweeps Critics Choice Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2012 Contact: Mary Prier (757) 305-9064 |
|
Homearama's first bayfront home sweeps Critics Choice Awards |
|
TBA President Sam Cohen, center, presents the Best in Show Award to Ed Hewitt of Viridian Homes, left, and Jimmy Richardson of Richardson Homes for their entry in the 2012 Fall Homearama at East Beach. Their home, Sweet Virginia Breeze, took top honors in the under 3,200-square-feet category.
|
|
TBA President Sam Cohen, right, presents M.D. Riley of Seaside Homes with the Best in Show Award in the over 3,200-square-feet category. Riley constructed the first bayfront home in Homearama history.
|
A bayfront home constructed by Seaside Homes and the Sweet Virginia Breeze, constructed by Richardson/Viridian Homes took best of show honors in their categories at Tidewater Builders Association’s Homearama showcase of homes at the Critics Choice Awards ceremony Friday, Oct. 12, in Norfolk’s East Beach community.
The “Exotic Seaside Retreat” swept most of the top awards in the over 3,200-square-feet category, winning best home in show, best craftsmanship, most creative and best interior design among others. It also garnered The Pilot Media Excellence in Building Award and the Hampton Realtors Association’s Most Livable Home. The home takes advantage of 120 feet of unobstructed Chesapeake Bay living with wrap-around views, three covered porches and a two-story cupola.
Richardson/Viridian Homes was awarded best home in show award in the under 3,200-square-foot category for its entry, “Sweet Virginia Breeze: The Norfolk House. “ It also captured best craftsmanship, most creative, best kitchen and best outdoor living among others, The home features a two-story wraparound porch and a finished carriage house above the garage. The Best in Show silver awards went to Stephen Alexander Homes in the over 3,200-quare-foot category for “Blue River Cottage: The Coastal Idea House” and to Definitive Homes for “Sea Sister” in the under 3,200-quare-foot category.
Homearama, open through Sunday, Oct. 28, features 10 fully furnished and landscaped custom showcase homes ranging from 2,200 square feet to more than 3,800 square feet. Prices range from the mid-$600’s to $1.7 million. The annual event, presented by TowneBank, is designed to stimulate interest in new housing and products for the home.
East Beach is a new urbanist community along the Chesapeake Bay featuring narrow streets, pocket parks and porches, designed to bring neighbors together.
The complete list of the winners follows:
Pilot Media Excellence in Building Award Over 3,200 square feet Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Get Pink with Sentara by ABT Custom Homes
Hampton Roads Realtors Association’s Most Livable Home Over 3,200 square feet Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes
Under 3,200 square feet The Coastal Haven by Charles A. Schmitt Contractor
Tidewater Builders Association Past Presidents’ Favorite Home Over 3,200 square feet Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Sea Sister by Definitive Homes
The Critics Choice Awards were selected by out-of-town judges with professional experience in the home building industry.
Best Home in Show Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes Silver: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sweet Virginia Breeze by Richardson/Viridian Homes Silver: Sea Sister by Definitive Homes
Best Craftsmanship Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes Silver: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sweet Virginia Breeze by Richardson/Viridian Homes Silver: East Beach Retreat by Simpson Builders
Best Kitchen Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes Silver: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sweet Virginia Breeze by Richardson/Viridian Homes Silver: East Beach Retreat by Simpson Builders
Best Master Bath Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes Silver: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sea Sister by Definitive Homes Silver: Sweet Virginia Breeze by Richardson/Viridian Homes
Best Closet Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes, closet by The Closet Factory Silver: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes, closet by Seaside Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sweet Virginia Breeze by Richardson/Viridian Homes, closet by Chuck’s Construction Silver: Get Pink with Sentara by ABT Custom Homes, closet by Closet Factory
Best Master Suite Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes Silver: EVMS Healthy House by L.R. Hill Custom Builders
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: The Coastal Haven by Charles A. Schmitt Contractor Silver: Get Pink with Sentara by ABT Custom Homes
Best Outdoor Living Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes, outdoor space by Renaissance Outdoor Contracting Inc. Silver: The Globe by Strickland Homes, outdoor space by Outdoor Impressions Inc.
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sweet Virginia Breeze by Richardson/Viridian Homes, landscaping by K&D Rounds Silver: Get Pink with Sentara by ABT Custom Homes, outdoor space by ABT Custom Homes
Best Use of Technology Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes, technology by The Sound Shop Silver: The Globe by Strickland Homes, technology by Masters Security
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sea Sister by Definitive Homes, technology by Definitive Concepts Silver: Get Pink with Sentara by ABT Custom Homes, technology by Avast
Best Family Room Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes Silver: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Seas Sister by Definitive Homes Silver: The Coastal Haven by Charles A. Schmitt Contractor
Best Floor Plan Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes Silver: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: East Beach Retreat by Simpson Builders Silver: Get Pink with Sentara by ABT Custom Homes
Best Curb Appeal Over 3,200 square feet Gold: The Globe by Strickland Homes, with landscaping by Outdoor Impressions Silver: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes, with landscaping by Renaissance Outdoor Contracting
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sweet Virginia Breeze by Richardson/Viridian Homes, with landscaping by Winn Nursery Silver: Sea Sister by Definitive Homes, with landscaping by Bryan Ramsey Design
Best Home Furnishings Over 3,200 square feet Gold (Tie): Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes, with furnishings by Exotic Home Gold: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes, with furnishings by Furniture Classics and La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Silver: The EVMS Healthy House by L.R. Hill Custom Builders, with furnishings by Furniture Classics, Smith Interiors, Kenian Imports, Shades of Light, Artee Fabrics and Home, The Globe, Decorum and Designers Workshop
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: The Coastal Haven by Charles A. Schmitt Contractor, with furnishings by Esprit Décor, Daniels Homeport and Curious Cargo Silver: Sea Sister by Definitive Homes, with furnishings by Amish Originals and Artee Fabrics and Home
Most Creative Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes Silver: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sweet Virginia Breeze by Richardson/Viridian Homes Silver: Sea Sister by Definitive Homes
Best Interior Design Over 3,200 square feet Gold: Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes, with interior design by Exotic Home Silver: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes, with interior design by Goodwin Interiors
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Definitive Homes for Sea Sister, with interior design by Batten Interiors Silver: The Coastal Haven by Charles A. Schmitt Contractor, with interior design by Complete Interiors
Best Landscaping Over 3,200 square feet Gold: The Globe by Strickland Homes, with landscaping by Outdoor Impressions Silver (tie):Exotic Seaside Retreat by Seaside Homes, with landscaping by Coastal Landscape and design by Jane Cantin Silver: Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes, with landscaping by Renaissance Outdoor Contracting
Under 3,200 square feet Gold: Sweet Virginia Breeze by Richardson/Viridian Homes, with landscaping by Winn Nursery Silver: Sea Sister by Definitive Homes, with landscaping by Bryan Ramsey Design
Homearama is open from noon to 9 p.m. Oct. 13-27 and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28. Gates open at 10 a.m. Wed., Oct. 24, for Mothers Day Out. Admission is $10 or $17 for a two-day pass. Children 12 and under are free. Military and seniors (62 or better) get a $1 discount Monday-Thursday. Only one discount applies.
Presenting sponsor is TowneBank. Official sponsors are the city of Norfolk, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Sentara, Franciscus Homes, Audi Virginia Beach, Cox Communications, Dominion Virginia Power, Virginia Natural Gas, James Hardie, K&D Rounds and Belgard. Promotional co-sponsors are Hampton Roads Magazine, RSVP publications, ValPak and Pilot Media.
|
TBA installs new officers and directors for 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 06, 2012 Contact: Joyce Hearn (757) 305-9064 |
|
TBA installs new officers and directors for 2013 |
Steven E. “Steve” Lawson, president of The Lawson Cos., a developer of single- and multifamily housing communities based in Virginia Beach, took office as Tidewater Builders Association’s 2013 president in an evening ceremony Dec. 5. His father, Robert A. Lawson Jr., who served as TBA president in 1982, conducted the installation. Steve Lawson is the fifth TBA president to follow in his father’s footsteps as leader of the trade association. Lawson joined TBA in 1993 and was named to the TBA board of directors in 2007. He has served as a member of NAHB’s Housing Finance Committee and Mortgage Roundtable. He has also served as chairman of the NAHB Housing Credit Group, the NAHB Multifamily Finance Subcommittee and the NAHB Affordable Housing Subcommittee. The Virginia Beach resident earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering and an MBA from Duke University. He will serve on the boards of directors of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV). Also installed as 2013 officers were: Dennis M. Graf, president of Graf Construction, is serving as vice president. Graf has been a member of the TBA board since 2002. He built in the 1999, 2000 and 2002 Homearamas and also built the 2001 Homearama Charity House. Graf served six consecutive terms as co-chair of the Charity Golf Tournament Committee and has served as chair since 2009. The Chesapeake resident earned his mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech. William “Toby” Harris , president of New American Mortgage, is serving as associate vice president. He has been a TBA board member for many years and has been very involved with TBA’s membership committee, serving as vice chair in 2012. He also served as a NAHB director in 2012. Harris received the TBA Extra Mile Award at the installation ceremony for his support of TBA and its Homearama awards program. Eric J. Sasser, managing member of Sasser Construction LC, a Portsmouth-based custom home builder, is serving as treasurer. Sasser was first appointed to the board in 2010. He has served as Spring 2010 Homearama Committee chair. He built the Charity House to benefit The Boys & Girls Club in 2010, and has since built two additional houses in the 2011 Fall Homearama. I. Reese Smith Jr., owner of Reese Smith Construction and co-owner of Builder Solutions, is serving as secretary. He has been a TBA member since 2001 and was appointed to the board in 2007. He has been co-chair of the association’s Suffolk Municipal Affairs Committee and chair of the TBA Scholarship Selection Committee. A graduate of George Mason University, with an MBA from Old Dominion University, Smith currently sits on the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Board. The TBA Board’s elected builder directors are: Richard L. “Tuck” Bowie, president and CEO of Terry/Peterson Residential; Scott L. Crumley, president of Crumley Group; Timothy S. Culpepper, vice president of Robinson Development Group; Christopher J. Ettel, partner of VB Homes; Lana L. O’Meara, president of Designs of Distinction; Lucky C. Peterson, senior vice president of operations of Terry/Peterson Residential; Douglas C. Smith, vice president of construction and sales at Hearndon Construction; and Erin Widener Speckhart, president and CEO of The Widener Corp. Peterson and Speckhart will also serve on the Executive Committee as appointees.
Elected associate directors include: Thomas W. Dye, branch manager of Ferguson Enterprises; James R. Ferber, president of Monarch Bank’s Real Estate and Construction Group; Michael P. Healy, president and COO of Superior Equipment Sales; Joseph W. Kesterson; senior vice president of TowneBank; Brenda K. Reid, managing broker and director of the New Homes Division of William E. Wood and Associates; Stephen Rockefeller, residential mortgage officer with SunTrust Mortgage; R. Steve Tinkham, director of outside sales for Cox Communications; and Edward O. “Ted” Yoder, managing director of Equity Development Inc..
Serving as NAHB Directors are: Jeffrey W. Ainslie, president and CEO of Ainslie Group; Scott M. Gandy, president of Kempsville Building Materials; John W. “Chip” Iuliano III, president and CEO of ABT Custom Homes; and Steven E. Lawson.
Serving as NAHB Alternate Directors are: Larry R. Hill, president and CEO of L.R. Hill Custom Builders; Basil O. Kotarides, vice president of Kotarides Builders; Joseph N. Pushak; Mid-Atlantic sales and marketing director of Bonded Builders Warranty Group; and Gary L. Werner, president of Franciscus Homes. Serving as HBAV Builder Directors are: John W. Ainslie Jr., president of construction for Ainslie Group; Steven E. Lawson; John C. Napolitano, senior vice president of Napolitano Homes; John Olivieri, president of Associated Development; and Richard E. Olivieri, president and CEO of Pembroke Enterprises.
Paulette M. Frantz, customer trade specialist with Dominion Virginia Power, will serve as HBAV Associate Director and TBA Past President William H. “Bill” Halprin of S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. will serve as HBAV regional vice president.
Katharine B. Scott, executive vice president of Signature Management Corp., will be serving as chair of the Tidewater Multifamily Housing Council and Lana O’Meara, president of Designs of Distinction, will be serving as chair of the Remodelers Council. Jack Lane, president of Monarch Mortgage, will be serving as chair of the TBA Membership Committee, and Stephen B. Quick IV is returning as Homearama Committee chair. Also installed were Michael D. Newsome, Clark Whitehill Enterprises Inc., who will serve a tenth term as TBA Scholarship Foundation chair, and C. Grigsby Scifres, Williams Mullen, who will serve as TBA general counsel for the 13th year.
Paul J. Farrell, president of Rosewell Corp. and TBA President in 1988, was installed as a director emeritus. Member of the Year awarded Monarch Bank & Mortgage was named TBA’s 2012 Member of the Year, an annual honor that recognizes a company or individual for outstanding contributions to the association. Jim Ferber, president of Monarch Bank’s Real Estate and Construction Group, and Jack Lane, president of Monarch Mortgage, accepted the award and were praised for their achievements throughout the year. Most notable among those were the 30 new members recruited by Lane and his Monarch team during a spring membership drive and the record number of companies recruited by Ferber for the TBA Cornerstone Foundation. “It’s hard to know where to start when talking about this member. From the annual meeting to Homearama to the charity golf tournament, I can’t think of any TBA function that they haven’t very generously supported,” said Sam Cohen, 2012 President. “They even spearheaded a Happy Hour this fall that turned out to be one of the most popular events we’ve held recently.” Both Ferber and Lane join the TBA Board of Directors for the first time in 2013.
|
Lizard Cafe captures critics' and people's choice awards at Homearama
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2012 Contact: Mary Prier (757) 305-9064 |
|
Lizard Cafe captures critics' and people's choice awards at Homearama |
|
TASTING SUCCESS: Staff from Norfolk’s Lizard Café celebrate their sweep of the Critics’ Choice and Peoples Choice Awards at Hampton Roads Magazine’s Taste Of Norfolk, held during Homearama at East Beach. They are, from left, Michael Robbs, Mary Lancaster, Chef Carol Robbs and Angela Farr. |
It was a sampling of shrimp and grits with a brownie bite for dessert – from Lizard Café -- that won over both critics and Homearama visitors at Hampton Roads Magazine’s Taste of Norfolk event Monday, Oct. 22. The event, part of Tidewater Builders Association’s Homearama showcase of homes, featured 10 eateries from Norfolk, providing sample fares to more than 600 Homearama guests in Norfolk’s East Beach community.
A contingent of local food critics and professional culinarians, led by Hampton Roads Magazine’s food editor, Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton, determined the Critics’ Choice Award and hundreds of Homearama visitors voted for their favorite for the People’s Choice Award.
“We enjoyed each and every bite,” says Evans-Hylton. “Our team visited the hard-working chefs and sampled their labor of love; it took quite a bit of deliberating, as there were so many wonderful dishes served that evening to us and to guests of Homearama.”
Other participating restaurants included:
- The Hubcap Grill – the event’s first food truck – with “bomb me” pork sandwiches
- Veneziano, with mini meat and cheese lasagna
- Rajput Indian Cuisine, with chicken biryani and potato patties
- La Bella in Ghent, with mini chicken meatballs and Tuscan whitebean brucshetta
- Bardo, with shrimp and grits
- 905 Café & Grill, with rum glazed salmon on crostini with mango salsa and she-crab soup
- Bite Restaurant, with duck confit, beef short ribs, and macaroni and Humboldt fog cheese sauce
- Carolina Cupcakery, with assorted mini-cupcakes
- Baker’s Crust, with mini desserts
Evans-Hylton’s panel noted Bite restaurant as a second-place contender and LaBella in Ghent as third-place winner.
Homearama is open from noon to 9 p.m. though Oct. 27 and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28. Admission is $10. Children 12 and under are free. Military and seniors (62 or better) get a $1 discount Monday-Thursday. Only one discount applies. More information and a discount coupon are available at www.homearama.tv or by calling (757) 420-2434.
|