Meet the speakers of Catersource + The Special Event!
All throughout January and February we'll be highlighting some of this year's speakers leading up to Catersource + The Special Event, happening February 12-15 in Austin, TX.
Ron Ben-Israel, Owner, Ron Ben-Israel Cakes
When most of the tots his age were making messes in the sandbox, pastry genius Ron Ben-Israel preferred to observe his Viennese mother’s culinary magic as she whipped egg whites into frothy meringue or transformed flaky crust into ethereal apple strudel. “I was enchanted,” he gushes. “Watching a fruit reduction become a gelée was fascinating. But I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that the art and science of baking would become my life’s passion.”
Passion, indeed. Ron is fervent when he talks about baking and creating his extraordinary confections. His dedication to his art is both reverent and joyful at once: Each time he fashions a cake—and he’s designed thousands of stunning, one-of-a-kind gateaux in his career—he’s as thrilled as he would be if it were his first masterpiece. As Ron cheerily observes, “Each cake is like a performance—my team and I feel like we are attending countless opening nights every weekend.”
Ron certainly knows about opening nights: A former dancer, he fell in love with a chocolate-maker while on tour in Canada, and with typical resolve, he traded in his ballet slippers for a whisk and a spatula. Fortunately, the discipline he had acquired during years of scrupulous training and a rigorous performance schedule—and during his military service in the Israeli army—helped him as he pursued his new vocation. Like many aspiring chefs, he traveled to France and apprenticed in Cannes, Beaujolais, and Lyons.
Ultimately, New York provided Ron with the most exhilarating and challenging stage for his culinary visions. His artistry has become legendary and he has truly become America’s cake maestro, the wizard and darling of the industry. “I had originally gone to fine art school to study set design, but then dance took over. And now it’s fondant and cake. I am so pleased that the kitchen and I found each other. I’m where I was meant to be.”
And so today, the master confectioner choreographs in sugar. His specialty and wedding creations are consistently featured in national periodicals, including Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides Magazine and New York Magazine and are also prominently highlighted in books, such as Vera Wang on Weddings. Curtain up!”
A Candid Conversation with Ron Ben-Israel
10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 15
Enjoy unfettered access to celebrity chef and trendsetting cake designer Ron Ben-Israel and bring your questions! From how to run a wildly successful cake business, to opening a second business—cookies!—during the pandemic, to how he became a TV cooking show judge (with times, perhaps on how you, too could become one) to the cost of his cakes, to the construction of his delicate sugar paste flowers, he is here to answer your questions during this delightful and casual gathering.
Sip, Savor, and Slice: Crafting Unforgettable Tastings for Wedding Catering
1:45 p.m. Tuesday, February 13
This dynamic presentation class will immerse you in the world of catering tastings, encompassing not only culinary delights but also the art of crafting memorable wedding and celebratory cake experiences. With a blend of culinary finesse and baking expertise, Robin & Jeffrey Selden, and Ron Ben-Israel we will explore the strategies and techniques to create unforgettable tasting experiences for both food and wedding cakes. From the initial consultation to palate-pleasing presentation, this class promises to transform your approach to catering tastings, including delectable wedding cakes. Join us for a delightful journey through the art of catering for weddings and crafting the perfect wedding cake.
- Tailored Tastings: Discover the secrets to customizing tasting menus that reflect each couple’s unique love story and preferences, ensuring an emotional connection through both food and cake.
- The Art of Presentation: Learn how to create a visually stunning and Instagram-worthy tasting experience for both the savory and sweet components of a wedding, leaving a lasting impression.
- Client Communication: Master the art of effective communication during tastings, making every interaction an opportunity to build trust and solidify client relationships for catering and cake design.
- Upselling and Finalizing: Explore strategies for upselling additional services and finalizing contracts during the tasting sessions, turning a tasting into a booking for both catering and wedding cakes.
Join us in “Sip, Savor, and Slice” to elevate your catering and cake business, and leave a lasting, delectable impression on your wedding clients through exceptional tasting experiences!
Ryan Crafts, President & King of Coffee, Culinary Crafts
Born and raised in Utah, Ryan grew up working in the family catering business, Culinary Crafts. Together with his brother Kaleb, he purchased the company from his mother Mary in 2013. And he's managed to not run it into the ground in the time since! Ryan loves to play the piano, run races with his wife, ski powder with his kids, and drink wine with friends.
Snatching Wellness from the Jaws of Wellness Culture
11:15 a.m. Tuesday, February 13
Insights and best practices for keeping a healthy body, mind, and heart. Maintaining strong well-being is difficult in the overwhelm of modern society. The catering and special event industries don't make it any easier with an all too often dire mix of stress, food, and drink. Although there are miracle cure-all solutions pitched to us at every turn, many of these are snake oil—products and practices that waste our finite and precious time and money, while often only making things worse.
This discussion won't offer any quick fixes. No perfectionism. No false standards or superficial metrics. No fads or extreme diets. No pseudoscience or woo-woo.
It also won't offer any wild promises or guarantees. I'm no life coach, trainer, guru, or prophet. Food and beverage is still my day job!
This will simply offer some straightforward ideas that helped a tired industry veteran, slow middle-aged dad, and cynical post-Mormon atheist reclaim the mental focus, physical health, and even spiritual fulfillment of his youth.
You can see Ron & Ryan LIVE at Catersource + The Special Event in Austin from February 12-15.
