Industry Insights

unning a brewery, vineyard, or catering venue doesn’t mean sacrificing cocktail quality. Connecticut RTD producers are redefining smart bar programs with pre-balanced, bar-quality cocktails built for consistency, speed, and ease. No complex recipes. No deep retraining. Just great drinks, every pour. From indulgent classics to modern smashes, these ready-to-drink solutions help venues boost margins, reduce stress, and deliver a premium guest experience—no seasoned mixologist r

They’re the first smile you see, the calm in the storm, and the heart of every great service. The CRA Crazies “Service Team of the Year” nominees represent the best of Connecticut’s front-of-house, servers, hosts, and managers who lead with grace, precision, and heart. They set the tone, bridge the kitchen and the guest, and make hospitality look effortless. #Crazies #HospitalityClub #FrontOfHouse

There’s a special kind of madness in opening a restaurant. You’re equal parts artist, engineer, gambler, and firefighter. You build something out of thin air, a dream, a menu, a crew, and then you hope it all holds once the doors open. The CRA Crazies “Restaurant Newcomer”  category celebrates the ones bold (or crazy) enough to chase that dream in real time. Every name here represents sleepless nights, maxed-out cards, and the hope that passion can become a business. This is

The Culinary Titans are here—Connecticut’s boldest chefs, visionaries, and leaders redefining what hospitality means. These nominees for Chef of the Year represent passion, precision, and perseverance. From fire and flavor to heart and hustle, each one turns chaos into craft, inspiring the next generation to cook, lead, and serve with purpose.

The bar is the pulse of every restaurant—where chemistry, craft, and connection meet. The 2025 CRA Crazies Bar & Beverage Team finalists represent the heart of Connecticut’s cocktail culture: Drift, I Know You Know, Hartford Flavor, Perfusion Bar, and Beauty & Essex. These teams turn every pour into poetry and every shift into art. Read more at The Hospitality Club. #CTCrazies #HospitalityClub #BartenderLife

There’s something electric about this time of year in Connecticut—the hum of full dining rooms, the smell of bourbon and citrus, and the buzz of the CRA Crazies Awards. Love them or hate them, tonight we celebrate the names on the list. From chefs to bartenders, dishwashers to dreamers, this is our time. Read The Hospitality Club’s Crazies Series and meet the people shaping Connecticut hospitality. #CTCrazies #HospitalityClub

Great hospitality isn’t just service—it’s curiosity. Asking questions, noticing details, and remembering preferences turns small moments into unforgettable ones. A guest mentions a favorite coffee, and suddenly it’s served tableside. That’s curiosity becoming care. With guests and teammates, curiosity sparks connection, innovation, and loyalty. People don’t just remember what you serve—they remember that you see them.

In the chaos of kitchens, humor isn’t just a coping mechanism—it’s a survival skill. From savage sarcasm to dark, twisted one-liners mid-rush, restaurant workers laugh through the burnouts, the last-minute six-tops, and the cosmic joke of hospitality. It’s therapy, it’s connection, and it’s how we keep showing up shift after shift. Laughing in the dark is what keeps the lights on inside.