This was the 4th Summit after Barcelona, Vidago, and Shanghai, and the Summit in Los Angeles saw the roll-out of The Fine Water Society as well as a significant segmentation of the premium category creating the Fine Water designation and the first Fine Water Achievement Award handed to Joachim Splichal of the Patina Restaurant group.
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NAIAD
In Greek mythology, the Naiads were a type of nymph (female spirit) who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of fresh water but distinct from river gods. Naiads were associated with fresh water similar to the Oceanids association with saltwater.
Naiads were worshiped as essential to humans as are the sources of water they represent. The NAIAD - Fine Water Society Achievement Award is a unique piece of art created each year to be presented to individuals and organization that has significantly influenced the Fine Water category.
for Joachim Splichal, Patina Restaurant Group
FineWaters held its 4th Fine Water Summit in Los Angeles from April 9-10th 2015 at the LUXE hotel in Beverly Hills. FineWaters and The Fine Water Society represents the Fine Water category, educating the consumers and the media and F&B professionals about water not just being water.
FINE WATER IS NOT JUST WATER
Fine Water is not a commodity with uniform characteristics but a natural unprocessed product with terroir reflecting the geology of and circumstances of its origins. Many different sources create a wide variety of choices. The experience of drinking bottled Fine Water should be as close as possible to the experience of drinking the water at the source. Gentle bottling of the water at the source is the way of sharing the drinking experience with the consumer. Fine Water is intrinsically connected to the source and not only the natural environment but also the social and cultural environment around the source is respected and protected. In 2015 we will for the first time present an award to the person or organization that has significantly influenced the advancement of the premium bottled water category and helped shape the future of the industry. We are happy to announce and present our first The Fine Water Society Achievement Award to Joachim Splichal for the vision of integrating Fine Water together with food and wine into an comprehensive epicurean experience throughout in his restaurant/catering empire. Joachim’s vision provides Fine Water a place on the table and consumers choices other than the boring “still or sparkling”.
FINE WATER DESERVES ITS PLACE ON THE FINE DINING TABLE
Fine Water is the next wine and it deserves gourmet attention. A wide variety of taste sensations can be matched with food and the bottled water etiquette describes vintage, temperature, food pairings and stemware for Fine Water in an epicurean setting. There is no best water and the broad tasting profiles of Fine Waters allows for water menus and water sommeliers. The exquisite, luxury presentation of a Fine Water communicates the affordable luxury and adds significant enjoyment to the experience. Fine Water has its place on the table next to wine or as the only bottle on the table. Fine Water is a healthy and stylish alternative to wine and alcohol and a much better choice to accompany food then sweet soft drinks. Additionally food, tea, coffee and artisanal crafted cocktails and ice also benefits greatly in taste and story from carefully chosen Fine Water.
Beyond just putting Fine Water on the table Joachim and his team providing new experiences for the customers connecting consumers with Fine Water from many different sources from around the world, educating them about food and wine pairings; bottled water etiquette; enhancing the dining experience with unique waters that are rare and have a strong emotional content.
FINE WATER IS AN AFFORDABLE LUXURY
Fine Waters are an accessible luxury segment within the wider category of premium waters. Fine Water has excellent quality and a very high price compared to value category. Fine Water is limited in its distribution, unique and rare with a strong aesthetic and emotional content. Fine Water has a story, brand history and heritage with a touch of dream value.
Joachim Splichal
One of the country’s foremost culinary masters, Joachim Splichal is widely acknowledged as a major contributing force behind the growth of Los Angeles into one of the world’s premier dining destinations. Over the last 20 years, he has taken his creativity and ingenuity with food and married it to his business acumen to create not only the Michelin-starred Patina restaurant, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, but also, in partnerships with CEO Nick Valenti, the Patina Restaurant Group, which today comprises over 65 award-winning venues coast to coast, as well as a world-class catering division.
In addition to numerous awards and distinctions, the prestigious James Beard Foundation inducted Splichal into their Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America and bestowed upon him the award of “Best California Chef” and two nominations for “Chef of the Year.” Bon Appétit hailed Splichal as one of the nation’s “Legendary Chefs” and he was named Bon Appétit/Food Network’s “Restaurateur of the Year.” He was also honored as a “Treasure of Los Angeles” by former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and the Central City Association.
FineWaters and The Fine Water Society
Founded in 2002 by Dr. Michael Mascha, FineWaters (www.finewaters.com) is the central hub for the Fine Water category educating consumers, F&B managers and the media about Fine Water and the place it should have on an epicurean table. The Fine Water Society was founded in 2015 to create a global forum and to further enhance the visibility of Fine Waters and convey the idea that water is not just water but a natural product with terroir and unique characteristics.
Participants
List of participants in the 2015 Fine Water Summit in Los Angeles.
TOPO CHICO
David De La Garza
AquaMaestro
Brett Spitalny
American Summits
Philip Lajaunie
Andes Mountain Water
Pierre Monie
Antipodes
Simon Wooley
Antipodes
Deborah McLaughlin
Aqua Pacific
Altaaf Jamal
Beverly Hills H2O
Jon Cluck
Clear Alascan
Gregory J Galik
Gutig
Claudia Alexandra
Ice Swan
Carolina van Bebber
iskilde
Jan Bender
Expert
Steve Rowe
Pedras
Ron Salerno
Pedras
Micki McGuire
Peneclara
Juan Carlos,
New Development
Andy Rice
Rugove
Thomas Schöffler
Rugove
Auron Osmanaj
Rugove
Bernhard Fanger
Rugove
Egbert Schnuse
FineWaters
Michael Mascha
Water Sommelier
Martin Riese
Island Blue
Pramesh Sharma
K-GMP
Christine Kim
Kona Deep
Patrick Turpin
Svalbardi
Jamal Qureshi
Totem Glacier Water
Fran Brasso
ONTOP
Avimat Raj Sumargi
Totem Glacier Water
Henning Brasso
Sandra Hidalgo
Jorge Luis Hidalgo
FineWaters China
Nicole Sing
SNO Water
Paul Kincaide
Palomar Mountain
Eric DeJong
Serra da Graciosa
Christiano Loureiro
KRYSTAL
Chou Jonathan
MVS
Byrne Offutt
IFW
Trey