I am currently meant to be at work and doing a promotion downtown for Patron Tequila. But, I cricked my neck this morning and I am in so much pain and can hardly move my neck. So, I thought that instead of being at work I would blog about what I am meant to be doing!
I want to blog about my work at the
Hart Agency for several reasons. The first is that I don't think a lot of people actually know what a promotional model actually does. I think it would be interesting for people to read what the work consists of. Secondly, working for Hart has actually been really helpful in my pursuit of a career in Food and Wine. I have also met some wonderful people and made great friends through the agency, for which I am really thankful!
I have been working with the Hart Agency for nearly a year and a half now and I have learned so much about the top wines and liquors on our shelves. I have been fortunate enough to work for and with some of the most prominent names in the business. Not only is it interesting and informative work, it is also a whole lot of fun! A promotional model at the Hart Agency is there to represent a certain brand, inform consumers about the product and give feedback about their responses. I mainly work at bars all over the city and promote liquors such as Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Patron, Ultimat Vodka, Pinnacle Vodka and other infamous brands. However, I have also been lucky enough to work at some really fun and special events, which have actually worked out well for my blog and my first few baby steps into the industry. Some of these events included;
The Taste Of the Upper West Side,
New York Food and Wine Festival and my favorite one to date;
The James Beard Foundation Awards at the Lincoln Center (this is like the Oscar's of the food world!) Through these events I have met some very influential people in the business such as Food Journalist Adam Richman, as well as many editors of magazines like Bon Appétit and Food&Wine Magazine.
The bars and events that I have promoted at are all over the borough of Manhattan and even though I have lived in New York for so long now, I am still finding amazing venues and bar spots that I didn't know existed. For example, I worked many promotions at the Roosevelt Hotel, which gave me inspiration for an
article I wrote for Miss A Woman's Online Magazine.
The Hart Agency has a team of fun, professional and hard-working people and I don't know many people who have such a good time at their work! Being part of the Hart Team also means you are invited to great parties and events that are held around the city; in the summer there was a Hudson River Cruise and every Christmas and Halloween parties for the models and their guests are organized.
The training is also one of my favorite parts of the job. Promotional models also learn to host Wine Tastings and many of the training programs mean we are given the opportunity to taste and sample a huge variety of wines, (it's an extra plus most of these trainings include cheese, crackers and even pizza!) I have learned so much about red and white wines from all over the world, which will be so useful to me in my future career.
Any of you who are reading this and want to be a part of the fun, email daryl@hartagencyny.com or take a look at the
facebook page.
Here are some photos of me working --- not a bad job, eh?
I first moved to New York around this time six years ago, and I thought I was pretty clued up by now about the best places to eat and drink in the city. I guess that is what I love about New York – the fact that there is always a new restaurant or a new bar to be discovered! However, when it comes to The Plaza Hotel I assumed I knew everything about it – I love the architecture, the rooms, the furnishings, the shops, the banquet halls, the wedding’s held there and of course, the food and drink. But, as it turns out I was missing out on one of the best contributions the Plaza has given to New Yorkers: The Plaza Food Hall. I was a huge fan of The Oak Room, which unfortunately has closed for now, and I have really missed getting all dressed up and having an elegant evening drink with friends.
I was given the best present the other day when my friend introduced me to the Plaza Food Hall. Hidden downstairs on the ground floor of the hotel is a large hall with high bars and chairs in the center. Surrounding the seating area is a huge array of delights; I didn’t know where to start! The Food Hall invites you to try everything they have to offer. Whatever you desire, they will have it. There is a sushi bar, a dumpling bar, a bakery, pizza, cheese and charcuterie, a grill, a market and a wine bar! Of course, I wanted to try everything but I settled with a Bellini, a two-way tuna roll and a slice of red velvet cake. The Bellini came in a very generous sized glass and could rival the Cipriani Bellini easily, the sushi was so fresh it melted in my mouth and the red velvet cake was so delicious I nearly cried – Magnolia Bakery has competition! But what was even more fantastic were the prices. Yes, the Oak Room was ridiculously expensive, but that is to be expected when dining at the Plaza’s infamous restaurant. Yet, the Plaza Food Hall gives you the sophistication and elegance but without clearing out your bank account. It is also has a much more welcoming and cozy atmosphere than you would expect and whether you are decked out to the nines or all cuddled up in a knit sweater and your Ugg boots, you will still feel at ease.
With the Holiday Season coming up I cannot think of a better place to warm up and treat yourself or even take home their goodies to enjoy at home with your friends and family. I cannot wait to go back and try some more!
WHERE:
The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English
One West 59th Street, Concourse Level
New York, NY 10019
Ph. 212-986-9260
HOURS OF OPERATION: Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
