Restaurant Marketing
The hospitality industry plays an important role in food tourism and provides farmers with a venue to sell products locally and in volume. While serving as director of public relations and special events at New England Culinary Institute, Pam Knights helped to establish the Vermont Fresh Network as a means of connecting chefs with farmers—an organization that has since become a national model for farm-to-table dining. Pam’s passion for local food, regenerative agriculture, and the working landscape continue to inspire her work.
Featured PKC Client Examples
The Inn at Baldwin Creek & Mary's Restaurant
Pioneers of Farm to Table Dining
After branching out on her own, Pam Knights had the honor of working with Chef Doug Mack and Linda Harmon, former owners of the Inn at Baldwin Creek and early adopters of farm to table cuisine. PKC worked with them to create their logo and branding, and to develop and promote their series of Farmhouse dinners, Table Talks, cooking classes, Feast of our Farms dinners, and handcrafted getaways.
Clearly defining your brand and crafting your marketing to bring it to life is a recipe for success. Figuring out what that sounds and looks like can be challenging and often difficult for those closest to the business. Businesses that achieve longevity, especially restaurants, have worked hard to define their identity and remain true to their brand promise over time.
Defining Your Brand
The Wayside Restaurant- Yankee Cooking at its Best Since 1918
The iconic Wayside Restaurant on the Barre-Montpelier Road has been in continuous operation for over 100 years. Staying true to their commitment of serving Yankee cooking at affordable prices hasn’t changed. It continues to be a privilege to work with owners Brian and Karen Zecchinelli, 2019 Vermont Restaurateurs of the Year, to assist them in promoting their green initiatives, social mission, and many milestones to include their 100th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Ice Cream Social. Pictured r to l: Jay, Karen & Brian Zecchinelli, Senator Patrick and Marcel Leahy, Governor Phil Scott, Margaret Cheney and VT Representative Peter Welch. Photo by Pam Knights
Our strengths are in cooking and serving tasty food at an affordable price. When it comes to designing a website or doing public relations for our 100th Anniversary we value Pam’s professional expertise. We’ve known Pam at Pam Knights Communications for a long time. Her ability to get the Wayside connected to the technological world is just what we needed. Her patience with us during this on-going process will ever be appreciated."
– Brian and Karen Zecchinelli, Wayside Restaurant co-owners
It’s very exciting to watch small businesses grow; especially those PKC has worked with! In 2014 Saap owner Steve Morgan approached Pam Knights Communications about developing their brand and creating marketing tools for the new restaurant they were about to open. Fast forward to 2022 and Saap chef and co-owner Nisachon (Rung) Morgan has been awarded the coveted James Beard Foundation Award for Northeast: Best Chef 2022, no small accomplishment! Pam was thrilled to come back on board to help manage some of the buzz around the award.
Saap Restaurant
James Beard Award Winner—Best Chef: Northeast
Rung and Steve Morgan at the James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony in Chicago where Rung was awarded Best Chef: Northeast 2022. Photo by James Vitullo courtesy of the James Beard Foundation.