KIDS KALEIDOSCOPE

WANTED! PRE-TEEN GM FOR BADRUTT'S PALACE HOTEL

Barely 12 years old and already general manager of one of the world’s most renowned traditional hotels: for the 2014/15 winter season Badrutt’s Palace Hotel introduces the position of a Junior GM, aimed exclusively at ambitious 5 to 12 year old 'managers'. The chosen candidate will work alongside Hans Wiedemann, examining the hotel’s offering for children, contributing suggestions for improvements and above all, representing the interests of the youngest guests – after all, there are many families among the 70 percent of repeat guests who have stayed at St. Moritz’s legendary grand hotel for three or four generations.

This will be the dawning of a new era for the 520 members of staff when the junior general manager, who is probably no more than 4 feet (1.5m) tall, whirls through Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in December 2014. Such a young Junior GM will be a novelty even for resident manager Angelo Martinelli – the man who just celebrated 50 years of service in the hotel, and who no longer considers such special requests as an elephant in the lobby, sea lions at a pool party or an exclusive pop concert in a guest room, to be anything out of the ordinary.

The planned event for VIKs (very important kid) will take place on January 10, 2015, when the chosen Junior GM will invite children aged 12 and under to the Kids' Pyjama Party in King’s Club, Switzerland’s oldest nightclub. The bouncers will only admit VIKs who adhere to the strict dress code (pyjamas only!) and who are not afraid of a fun-packed evening and a very long pillow fight.

The young advisor’s visits will be a new experience for Hans Wiedemann, managing director & delegate of the board, with points on the agenda such as check-in for kids, guests’ feedback to the Kids Concierge and the Junior GM Palace Game.

“We are known the world over for glitz and glamour. However, we want to show how even our smallest guests feel on top of the world in Badrutt’s Palace Hotel – and that is precisely where the Junior GM will help,” says Wiedemann, adding with a laugh, “I wonder how many quality control tastings there will be of our Palace chocolate towers? This position is definitely all about fun…we’d better not forget to bring the Palace cuddly toy, a kids’ cocktail and plenty of sweets from the Palace Patisserie to the meetings with my little partner”.

Applications for the position of junior general manager are open from September 24, 2014 to all boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 12, who speak German, English or Italian. In order to be considered, candidates need to download the questionnaire from the hotel’s website and complete the questions with their parents, as well as creating a short video (2 min max) about themselves, their hobbies and their family – all to be sent to the Junior GM Office by November 17, 2014. In terms of 'salary' the successful candidate can expect not only a Junior GM business outfit, travel and room costs, and half board for themselves, their parents and two siblings on both visits during the winter season 2014/15, but also an additional week of relaxation for their family during the summer season 2015 (seven nights’ stay including travel costs and half board) plus many exciting activities and surprises.

The final candidate will be chosen by a jury of hotel experts* and will be officially presented to the press with hotel director Hans Wiedemann on December 12, 2014 during their first tour of the hotel.

*Jury members from Badrutt’s Palace Hotel are Hans Wiedemann (managing director & delegate of the board), Yves Gardiol (general manager) and Anna Nücken (PR manager); and external members are Allegra Gucci (mother and socialite), Hans Amrein (editor Hotelier) and Karl Wild (journalist, author and hotel tester for the Swiss hotel ranking published for the SonntagsZeitung).

JUNIOR GM
 

• Period of application from September 24 to November 17, 2014
• For more information, application forms and trailer go to www.badruttspalace.com/JuniorGM
• Press conference (followed by a tour of the hotel with the Junior GM and Hans Wiedemann) on December 12, 2014
• Junior GM weekend with journalists and their kids from December 12 to 14, 2014
• Kids’ Pyjama Party in King’s Club on January 10, 2015 from 5.30-9.30pm (registration via Email to events@badruttspalace.com)
• Junior GM video: http://www.badruttspalace.com/en/

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Spooky Spuds That Are Frighteningly Delicious

Idaho Potato Commission Offers Seven New Recipes For Ghouls and Goblins of All Ages!

Idaho® potatoes have been transformed into spooky spuds like these Idaho Potato Candy Spiders with the help of seven new Halloween recipes.

Eagle, ID, October 16, 2014 – Not many think of stocking up on potatoes for Halloween, but this year the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is offering seven new reasons to make sure spuds are at the top of the grocery list.

This season, the IPC sourced recipes from two new partners: the Sunday Supper Movement, an online community dedicated to bringing back Sunday Supper around the family table, and food blogger Nicole Presley. The Sunday Supper members and Nicole Presley created unique and delicious Halloween recipes that are as fun to eat as they are to make. 

“No other season demonstrates the versatility of Idaho® potatoes better than Halloween,” explained Frank Muir, President and CEO, IPC. “What other nutrient-dense food in the produce aisle can be transformed into a skull, a spider, or a mummy, and still taste delicious?”

Sunday Supper members submitted their creatively disguised potato dishes and the IPC selected six to share with spud lovers across the country. Several of the recipes are even grab-and-go snacks that make perfect nibbles for busy trick-or-treaters:   

- Chocolate Idaho® Potato Skull Cake by Renee Dobbs, Magnolia Days
- Devilish Idaho® Potato Mummies by Bobbi Burleson, Bobbi's Kozi Kitchen
- Idaho® Potato Candy Spiders by Liz Berg, The Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Loaded Mashed Idaho® Potato Spider Web Casserole by Courtney Rowland, Neighbor Food
- Stuffed Idaho® Potato Spiders by Isabel Reis Laessig, Family Foodie
- Twice Baked Idaho® Potato Graves by Renee Goerger, Kudos Kitchen by Renee

Halloween is one of Nicole Presley’s favorite holidays and it’s evident in her latest Presley’s Pantry webisode, where she demonstrates how to make Mexican Poutine Smashers. Not only does she successfully masquerade smashed fingerling potatoes, she’s barely recognizable by the end of the video! Check it out here: Mexican Poutine Smashers from Presley's Pantry.

About the Idaho Potato Commission
Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is a state agency that is responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho®” seal, a federally registered trademark that assures consumers they are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain–fed irrigation and rich volcanic soil, give Idaho® potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance. These ideal growing conditions are what differentiate Idaho® potatoes from potatoes grown in other states.

For more information, visit www.idahopotato.com
Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/famousidahopotatoes
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/idahopotato
Follow us on Pinterest: Pinterest.com/idahopotato

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DON'T LET YOUR KIDS BE CAUGHT WAITING IN THE RAIN - GET YOUR CARPOOL GROUP SET UP & ORGANIZED!
 
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BubbleBum’s Grainne Kelly Shares her Best Tips for Making Carpooling Easy and Stress-free

1. Keep a written schedule of who is responsible for picking up kids and dropping them off.  Create a carpooling calendar each month and provide a copy to each parent in your carpool group.  Be sure to include pick and drop off points to avoid confusion.
    
2. Keep a few toys in the car to keep younger kids occupied. Select toys that don’t make much noise to keep the distraction level to a minimum while driving.  If you have a DVD system in your vehicle, consider playing sing-a-longs to keep the kids engaged and happy.
    
3. Set ground rules with the kids at the beginning of the school year to minimize disagreements and confusion. Sit down as a group to get everyone on the same page. Take notes of the discussion.  Pass out a copy of the agreed upon rules to each parent to set the baseline for a successful school year.
    
4. If you choose to allow snacks in your car, use individual snack size baggies and don’t overflow to prevent spillage. Try to keep the snacks nutritious by only providing cut up fruit, cheese sticks, or sliced vegetables.
    
5. If you are transporting older children, after school activities can often run late. Have each parent provide a schedule with contact information to locate kids who don’t come out on time. Have a pre-set amount of time each parent will wait before leaving the school without all of the children. Help teach kids responsibility by making them accountable for showing up on time or contacting the carpooling parent if they are running late, as it is not the carpooling parent’s  responsibility to chase down kids who are late.
    
6. Music can be a hot button in some homes, be sure to discuss music preferences at your initial parent carpooling meeting. Only play age-appropriate music. Avoid music with negative connotations.
    
7. Assigned seating can reduce conflict when it comes to who sits where. If you are transporting kids with motion sickness take that into consideration with child placement. Taking turns sitting in the front seat will help cut down on fighting over riding shotgun.
    
8. Have a predetermined place to meet the kids each day. Younger kids can get frustrated and stressed out if they don’t immediately see a car they recognize. Have a backup plan in case you are late to communicate to the kids as to where to meet you. Update school officials with a list of children each parent is responsible for transporting.
    
9. Notify the driving parent if your child is sick or goes home early due to a doctor’s appointment so they are not left waiting.
    
10. Be aware of car seat requirements in your state, and ensure you have proper car seats for each child you are transporting. If the child does not require a car seat, make sure they are properly belted in.

Having a successful carpooling group takes planning and coordination.  Keep in mind that rules are not set in stone and can be changed if they are not working for your group.  Keep communication open and be respectful of each other’s time and commitment and you’ll be off to a successful stress-free year!   www.bubblegumus.com.