Barbacil Comunicacion y Eventos La Gastroteca, Zaragoza, Spain:
Featured Panel Speaker on Spanish wine & gastronomy
2016
Grand Central Oyster Bar NY:
Judge for East Coast vs West Coast Oyster Pairings with Wine. Other panel judges include: Donatella Arpaia (Restaurateur/TV Personality & Michael Whiteman (Baum & Whiteman Restaurant Consulting).
2016
Southern Wine & Spirits NY:
Guest lecturer for recently hired salespeople. How to convert wine knowledge into sales
2015
James Beard House NY, NY:
Speaker for Israeli All-star Chefs, and the wine pairings
2010, 2011
James Beard Award winner Chef Ken Oringer's Clio Restaurant in the Eliot Hotel, Boston MA:
Featured Speaker on Rioja wine
2014
Pebble Beach Food & Wine Classic CA:
Featured Sommelier serving "Farewell to Foie Gras" luncheon with Chef Chris Cosentino (Incanto), Chef Michael Ginor (Lola of Great Neck), Chef Amos Hayon (Pastry Chef Lola of Great Neck), and Chef Andre Bienvenu (Joe's Stone Crab).
2012
Tom Schaudel Radio "Playing with Fire" NY:
Spain, Spanish Food & Wine.
2012, 2016
Martha Stewart Radio Interview, Sirius Radio:
How to select wines for wine lists.
2008
Rainbow Room, NY, NY:
Featured Speaker on Israeli wine. Hillary Clinton was Keynote Speaker.
2000
Johnson & Wales; Miami, FL:
Featured Speaker on Israeli wine with Chef Todd Weisz of Turnberry Isle.
2000
French Culinary Institute NY:
Featured Panel Speaker on Israeli wine.
2000
What his restaurant customers and the wine trade have to say:
"Brad's knowledge, experience, leadership, and integrity are exemplary. He is what I believe industry legends are made of. Decades of experience you surely would benefit from. It's not always that you meet someone who has such passion and integrity in this business.""
Kenneth McClure
Vice President / Managing Partner
Corporate General Manager,
Hospitality Holdings Inc.,
New York, NY
"Brad's background may weigh heavily toward wine, but his insight into restaurant operations made our work seem easy. He knows how to make a concept for a restaurant that fits the theme; completely. His experience with systems, familiarity with equipment and products, how to create more profitability, are all great assets.
I believe his greatest asset may be analyzing thoroughly, creating a sound plan, and communicating in a very digestible manner for his audience. He listens well.
On a personal level, I completely trust him. He is a person of integrity, and I know that his work will be intentional and precise. He is a pro."
Nick Sarantidis
Former General Manager Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center
New York, NY
Former General Manager Loeb Boathouse in Central Park,
New York, NY
"I was very impressed with the wine lists for Brad's clients. His approach to listing the country in the left-hand column with the headings of the grape varieties is an excellent way to make a wine list more accessible to the consumer and easier for the staff to understand. I also agree with your pricing strategy and all of your selections...I think the presentation of the menus and wine lists are spectacular."
Kevin Zraly,
Windows on the World Wine School,
James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award Winner,
Author and Educator of Windows on the World Complete Wine Course
"Brad's style and methods of teaching are from positive reinforcement. His knowledge of restaurants makes him an asset to understand the environment he is in, and build an action plan to maximize sales, and minimize purchases. He later helped to open my second restaurant, Saltaire, and did the opening wine list as well as Chef's tasting meetings. He built the beginning wine list and has remained a consultant to my two restaurants since that day in 2006 when he convinced me to upgrade. Brad is honest, direct, and a pro. His knowledge about food, wine and systems makes the restaurant he is working in, better than it was."
Leslie Barnes,
Owner,
London Lennie's
Rego Park, NY
"Brad is a longtime friend and colleague. He is an experienced leader who understands clearly defining objectives; and proactively accomplishes them. His management style is organized, positive, friendly, and successful. His initial experiences in the back of the restaurant purchasing for Windows on the World, and later simultaneously for Locke-Ober Cafe (Boston, MA) and The Clarke Cooke House (Newport, RI) taught him systems that he has modernized, but still uses as a foundation today.
His career journeyed into the wine trade, where he studied, traveled, and excelled. I sat on the Board of Directors of one company he was a principal in; the Spanish Artisan Wine Group and learned firsthand the intricacies of organizing a wine import company.
Brad is a leader with character, who has genuine concern for team members. He estimates that in his career he has consulted 40 to 50 restaurants and will use this experience to your advantage. He has told me the first objective of consulting was to make the owner of the restaurant tell him the "mission statement" of the restaurant. Then he can make sure every detail fits within the mission statement. He is a great asset and will make sure that your brand remains respected and in the best of hands."
Andy Pforzheimer,
Founder, former CEO
Barcelona Restaurant Group,
Bartaco Restaurants LLC
"I have worked with and known Brad Haskel for many years and consider him a leader in hospitality operations with an expertise in building strong restaurant wine programs with lasting results. At Colonial Williamsburg, Brad was able to tailor a multi-unit wine program with creative training that increased guest engagement and profit.
Diverse wine lists were collaboratively built that invited the guest to have fun and explore. Brad was able to communicate to all staff including bartenders, busboys, culinary, and managers. Brad preached hospitality and the art of serving others along with wine.
He simplified our wine list with a wide range of price points, but increased beverage service and sales. Our wines by the glass increased 38% with menu redesign that was attached to our training. Servers connected to the training as tools to better connect to the guest. Everyone had a role and responsibility and as a result it was a successful program.
Brad has outstanding culinary and wine knowledge, but his ability to get people excited and talking about wine made the difference."
Ted Horan,
Former Director of Guest Experience,
The Williamsburg Inn,
Colonial Williamsburg,
Williamsburg, VA
"Brad's experience makes him most adept at selecting the right kind of wines appropriate to different kinds of restaurants. And he is FUNNY!! Funny is good, not enough funny going around!"
Theresa Ryder,
First Woman to receive WSET Diploma certification in the United States
"Brad offers an open- minded approach to wine and great experienced wisdom of the wine and spirits industry."
Matthew MacCartney,
Wine Director Newport Food & Wine Festival,
Wine Director Ocean House Collection, Rhode Island
"Brad is an industry professional you can trust. His work reflects his experience, engagement in your brand, and a genuine desire to make his labor successful, purposeful and productive."
Ana Fabiano,
Author- The Wine Region of Rioja,
Former US Ambassador to the Wine Region of Rioja
"Brad represents a unique breed of talent in the wine and spirits industry. His experience within every essential facet of the business gives him an ability that is rarely found to assess, plan, and execute a successful strategy for any beverage program looking for improvement, increased profitability and progress. Brad's easy style and accessible manner of education for staff and management alike make him a pleasure to work with and an asset to his clientele. Brad can turn suggestions into dollars for the willing entrepreneur."
Robert Mazurkiewicz,
Former Managing Director
Vision Wine Brands
"Brad's passion and love of the restaurant business has always been inspiring to me. His keen sense for developing a balanced and interesting wine list is right on target. He can structure "user friendly" wine lists that appeal to the seasoned wine geek as well as the novice wine enthusiast."
Danny D'Ancona,
Owner,
The Little Wine Company
"Brad has written detailed training manuals for service staff, he has done intensive training sessions for staff, and he has given very useful insights into purchasing strategies.
He is very knowledgeable about wine, the wine industry, and the restaurant business. Brad has an overwhelming drive to continue to excel within the industry.
Any company looking for an experienced pro that will help systemize training, train staff, and purchase wines, will be fortunate to use him."
Tom Schaudel,
Author of "Playing with Fire" & "A Second Helping". Food Radio Voice of Long Island,
Long Island's Greatest Advocate for Food & Wine,
Long Island NY Legendary Chef
"I have had the pleasure and privilege to know and work with Brad for many years. Currently, Brad works with us through his comprehensive wine consulting company. Brad is honest, creative and very knowledgeable; capable of making any company more money, more impressively than your wine program is currently generating. Owners will see more profit, servers more tips, and most importantly, customers will enjoy the upgraded wine experience and look forward to coming back."
Richard Driscoll,
Recently Retired Executive Vice President/Sales & Marketing,
Winebow Inc.
"To say that Brad has a passion for wine, would be an understatement!!! Not only is his knowledge of wines and regions exceptional, but he also has a true desire to educate and train; making him the perfect business partner to re-work/write a wine program based on specific needs, types, and themes.
Then he takes the next steps to integrate the staff into the mindset of not only the types of wine, but the reasoning behind featuring those wines. Then he trains to make the staff comfortable and assured with selections, and regions and details. This, of course leads to very effectively SELLING wine."
John Shideler,
Former General Manager of the
The Williamsburg Inn,
Williamsburg, VA &
Former General Manager of the
Otesaga Hotel,
Cooperstown, NY
"Brad is one of the true purists in the wine industry. It is gratifying to know there are people like him working on everyone's behalf. His integrity and commitment to quality with respect to the wines he deals with is unsurpassed. His palate is very well regarded. Personally, I have been working with Brad for over twenty years, and he has never let me down. The wine industry is fortunate to have someone as devoted as him."
Stuart Randall,
President/Profile Wine imports,
Former Instructor/Sommelier Society of America