Flying Away to Thanksgiving Day? Carve Time for HBF Eateries at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

If your turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie are preceded or followed by a trip through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, plan on landing at a Hojeij Branded Foods (HBF) restaurant to grab a bite to eat or toast making it to the right concourse on time. Look for HBF fast-casual eateries, chef-driven restaurants offering top-notch cuisine, wine, beer and cocktails, and sports bars where fans on the fly can catch those Thanksgiving weekend games. On Concourse A, find Boar’s Head, Piece of Cake, LowCountry New Southern Cuisine, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Great Wraps, P.F. Chang’s, Chick-fi-A, TAP, Atlanta Hawks Bar & Grill, Cat Cora’s Kitchen, Gordon Biersch, Varasano’s Pizzeria and Goldberg’s Deli. Arby’s, The Bar, Freshen’s Yogurt, Nathan’s, Qdoba Mexican Grill and Villa Pizza provide quick sustenance on Concourse E. Honing in on a couple of full-service options, Cat Cora’s Kitchen is open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks, and focuses on using fresh and organic ingredients for its innovative tapas and intriguing cocktails. Varasano’s Pizzeria makes and flash-bakes brick oven-style pizzas to order from 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and tames nerves with craft cocktails, beer or wine (more details here). Board the plane, buckle in and rest up during your flight with a satisfying HBF meal and drink under your belt.

Airport Travelers, Try this New Wine Blend: HBF and Premier Airport Wine Bar Chain Vino Volo

Life’s a journey. If your journeys fly through airports across the USA, drop this info pin in your oenophile notebook. Atlanta-based Hojeij Branded Foods (HBF) is joining forces with Vino Volo, a premium wine bar with more than 40 locations in 32 airports across the U.S. and Canada. Vino Volo (Italian for “wine flight”) provides a sophisticated and relaxing wine experience for airport travelers who want to enjoy wines from around the world by the glass while waiting for their flights. In Vino Volo wine shops, travelers can select high-quality wines -- perfect for that last-minute gift. The merger is a natural blend. According to HBF CEO Regynald G. Washington, “Both HBF and Vino Volo are widely recognized for operational expertise, top-notch guest service and a strong commitment to employees.” Like HBF, Vino Volo has received extensive accolades from the industry, counting 34 "Airport Revenue News" awards including "Food Operator with Highest Regard for Customer Service" 11 years in a row and “Best Airport Wine Bar” at the Airport Food & Beverage awards. The coupling of HBF and Vino Volo embraces and enhances the spirit of HBF founder Wassim Hojeij’s vision of “enhancing the passenger’s dining experience, one airport at a time.”

HBF Becomes First Airport Concessionaire to Earn IMAGE Certification to Reduce Unlawful Employment and Promote Public Safety

Hojeij Branded Foods (HBF) is the first airport concessionaire in the country to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s IMAGE certification process. IMAGE is designed to reduce unauthorized employment and minimize the use of fraudulent identity documents to abate potential homeland security and public safety risks. HBF’s participation and feedback will help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shape future worksite enforcement policy. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) created the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers program (IMAGE) in 2006 to minimize unlawful employment and help employers develop a more secure, stable workforce. The program enhances education and training pertaining to hiring procedures, fraudulent document detection, use of E-Verify employment eligibility and avoiding discrimination. Atlanta-based HBF operates more than 75 restaurants and bars with 40+ widely known national, regional and local brands in the U.S. 

Look Forward to Airport Dining AND Your Vacation, Thanks to HBF Restaurant Options

Summer air travel means tackling the world’s busiest airport when it’s even busier. For a more relaxing start to your vacation or business trip, arrive extra early to allow time to snake through security lines then breathe easy and enjoy the amazing dining options at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Look for the “HBF” logo designating Hojeij Branded Foods restaurants, which include local favorites and celebrity chef-driven locations in Concourses A, B and E. Tempting dining menus and cold beer, cocktails and wines soothe frazzled nerves at table service venues including Atlanta Hawks Bar & Grill, Cat Cora’s Kitchen, Gordon Biersch, LowCountry, P.F. Chang’s, TAP Gastropub and Varasano’s. Goldberg’s Deli offers sit down and to-go. Need to grab and go? Run by Boar’s Head/Piece of Cake, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Great Wraps, Chick-fil-A, Arby’s, Freshen’s Yogurt, Nathan’s or Villa Pizza for healthy or hearty in a hurry. Wendy’s will open on Concourse B this summer, adding another option for fly boys and girls and families with little ones begging for burgers. Ah, seems like that vacay has already begun.

HBF Partners with Delta Air Lines Day of Hope to Benefit American Cancer Society May 10

Hojeij Branded Foods (HBF) takes flight with Delta Air Lines as the official food and beverage partner for Wednesday’s annual Delta Day of Hope supporting the American Cancer Society. When flying into or out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday, May 10, visit any of the HBF restaurants to donate to the cause. Donating is fast and simple, unlike fighting cancer, and every dollar helps. Look for HBF employees wearing special Day of Hope shirts. Dip your credit card into the donation jar at checkout at these quick food options to donate $1 to the cause: Arby’s, Boar’s Head/Piece of Cake, Chick-fil-A, E Piano Bar, Freshens Yogurt, Goldberg’s, Great Wraps, LowCountry, Nathan’s, Qdoba Grill and Villa Pizza. HBF restaurants that are donating a percentage at Hartsfield include Atlanta Hawk’s Bar & Grill, Cat Cora’s Kitchen, Gordon Biersch, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, TAP and Varasano’s Pizzeria. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will be the site of a Relay for Life event this year -- although not on the runways!

2017 Taste of the Nation Showcases Celebrity Chefs and Atlanta Faves April 20

Atlanta’s annual Taste of the Nation is always one of the city’s most highly anticipated culinary events. This year promises an even greater abundance of chefs, restaurants, surprises and an intimate VIP Dinner Experience at the Thursday, April 20 extravaganza filling downtown Atlanta’s Southern Exchange at 200 Peachtree. TV personality and restaurateur Cat Cora, who opened Cat Cora’s Kitchen at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in partnership with Hojeij Branded Foods, will serve as the event’s honorary chef. Aria chef Gerry Klaskala, Umi chef Fuyuhiko Ito and Gunshow chef Kevin Gillespie take their talents to the tables for the ultra-exclusive VIP Dinner Experience featuring a multi-course dinner prepared tableside by the chefs and fine wine pairings. Guests opting for the 7-10 p.m. Grand Tasting experience will sample signature fare and spirits from more than 50 of Atlanta’s premier restaurants -- including Cat Cora’s Kitchen, Chicken and the Egg, 5Church, Gypsy Kitchen, Marlow’s Tavern, Seed Kitchen & Bar and Umi -- along with the excitement of auctions, wine tastings and live entertainment. “Cat Cora’s California Trip” is sure to stir a feeding frenzy of hot bidding in the live auction. Taste of the Nation events are held in more than 30 cities across the nation. Proceeds support Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in the U.S.A. Buy Grand Tasting experience tickets here, $250 per person.
 

Dine on the Fly – Land at Varasano’s in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for Brick Oven-Style Pizza in a Flash

Varasano’s Pizzeria tames the rush, rush of getting to the world’s busiest airport and through security lines with the sensory rush of sitting down to a time-conscious, first-class meal just off the “main drag” of Concourse A traffic. Varasano’s makes and flash-bakes brick oven-style pizzas to order from 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Delicate, thin crusts avoid the “extra baggage” of heavy dough. The all-natural, crisp-crust pies wear just the right amount of sauce and fresh toppings to nourish both carnivores and vegetarians without weighing anyone down. Those keen on greens can happily munch away on one of several salad selections. Order your favorite craft cocktail, beer or a relaxing glass of wine and feel the stress meter drop while listening to a pianist play live music at the piano bar and watching flight comings and goings through the huge window wall. Or, choose a TV view for news or sports. Like the original Varasano’s Pizzeria in Buckhead, the airport location slices into a big share of pie pride accolades, being recognized in USA Today as one of the 2016 Best Restaurants in the 10 Busiest U.S. Airports (#1 in Atlanta) along with similar recognitions by Condé Nast Traveler, Fox News, Serious Eats and others. Varasano’s is one of the high-quality Hojeij Branded Foods airport eateries satisfying travelers in Atlanta and other major U.S. airports. Stop in at HBF eateries and pass on the peanuts and pretzels.

Georgia Restaurant Association Recognizes Good Neighbor Restaurants, Including Ray’s Restaurants, Sterling Spoon Hospitality, Hojeij Branded Foods and Willy’s Mexicana Grill

The word’s out, the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) has announced the 2017 Restaurant Neighbor award state recipients. We’re not surprised that Ray’s Restaurants, Sterling Spoon Hospitality, Hojeij Branded Foods and Willy’s Mexicana Grill comprise four of the five Georgia winners. Congratulations to these restaurants for being, well, such good neighbors in Georgia communities.

Ray Schoenbaum and Ray’s on the River have supported Fragile Kids Foundation each year since 1988 through events at the riverside restaurant, including the Tastings Under the Tent fundraiser and an annual Santa breakfast. John C. Metz and Sterling Spoon Hospitality have raised more than $730k for Special Olympics Georgia since the partnership began. The 2016 golf tournament alone raised $95k. Nourishment ranks high on the list for Metz and Sterling Spoon, evident in hosting fundraising events for the Atlanta Community Food Bank and participating in the annual Hunger Run/Walk as well as the annual dine-out event for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign. In 2015, Regynald Washington of Hojeij Branded Foods gave a $1 million endowment to the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business to go toward graduate student scholarships, enhancing global experiences and expanding teaching technology. Since 2014, Willy Bitter and Willy’s Mexicana Grill have actively sponsored the Boys & Girls Club, supporting the annual “Salsa, Salsa” culinary challenge and Healthy Lifestyles Garden Program. When Willy’s anniversary rolls around, the restaurants raise money for the Boys & Girls Club, pulling in $20k in 20 days in 2015 and $21k in 21 days in 2016.

From all state winners, three national Restaurant Neighbor Award winners are chosen by industry professionals and are honored in Washington, D.C. in March 2017 during the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference.