Page 10 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Summer, 2024

Show Of Appreciation
WaterView Casino Hotel was recognized for its 2023 support of the Mississippi Gators Youth Sports Development Initiative. The Jackson-based nonprofit provides the opportunity for youth to participate in extracurricular
activities, including tutoring, football, basketball, cheerleading, and mentoring. Coach Christopher Walker presented a plaque of appreciation to WaterView General Manager Penny Bankston.
Top Contributor
Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa was the top contributor for the United Way of Washington County’s 2023-2024 campaign drive. The Greenville property placed first among other employee campaign contributors in the county. Harlow’s continues to support the community and sets the pace for team community involvement.
Island View F&B wins big at oyster cook-off
GULFPORT — Island View Casino Resort’s Beach Blvd Steamer participated in The Oyster Cook-off and Festival in Biloxi in March and came away big winners. The annual event, which is judged by a panel
of chefs, writers and oyster experts, showcases the tastes and talents of the best restaurants and chefs from Florida to Texas.
Executive Chef David Crabtree and his culinary team from Island View took home the People’s Choice Award and
two first-place awards in Best House Specialty and Best Raw categories. Along with Crabtree, this year’s team included Trey Cowan, banquet chef; Calvin
Lipe III, room
chef, Dockside
Deli; Bobby
McBride, sous
chef, C&G Grille;
Matthew Baker,
sous chef, C&G
Grille; Penny Rush, sous chef, The Buffet; Dominic Caranna, lead cook, Carter Green Steakhouse; and volunteer Mary Crabtree.
Island View won first place with a dish composed of raw oysters with smoked oyster aioli, cucumbers, fish sauce mignonette, Thai basil, caviar and chili crisp, and garnered another top award with shrimp Rockefeller topped with hollandaise
Island View Casino Resort’s Beach Blvd Steamer team took home the People’s Choice Award and first place in Best House Specialty and Best Raw at the Oyster Cook-off and Festival. Team members pictured are (from left) Trey Cowan, David Crabtree, Mary Crabtree, Calvin Lipe III, and Matthew Baker.
sauce.
“The View team opened, cooked and
served over 1,800 oysters between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.,” said Crabtree. “We hardly had a chance to look up the entire contest, but when I was able to, it seemed the line of guests was a mile long. All teams involved worked feverishly to feed the hungry crowd of oyster lovers.”
Special Recognition
Beau Rivage was recognized at the March 19 Biloxi School Board meeting for positively impacting education on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for 25 years. There was a special presentation by longtime partner Excel By 5, an early childhood community initiative designed to improve a child’s overall well-being by age 5. Beau Rivage has supported the organization through volunteerism and community grants since the inception of the program.
10 MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS
SUMMER 2024