For more than a decade, alumni and staff of SUNY Empire State College have come together at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., for a delicious, community-oriented evening that has become the signature event for the Hudson Valley region. Last week’s event was no exception.

SUNY Empire alum and CIA Professor of Wine Studies Michael Weiss orchestrated and narrated the evening, taking attendees on a wine-pairing journey that rivaled that of a five-star restaurant.

In preparation for the spring issue of Connections, the Empire State College community’s magazine, staff members from the Office of Communications and Government Relations were on hand to record the event and interview attendees. The next issue of Connections will focus on food across the state of New York and SUNY Empire’s involvement in it through our alumni, faculty and staff.

If you are an alumnus who works in the food industry, or is involved in the local food movement, we want to hear from you. Contact the Office of Communications and Government Relations to share your story.