Sardine Factory Restaurant Hosts 100th Restaurant Roundtable

The California Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association and Ted J. Balestreri, Chairman and CEO of the Cannery Row Company and co-owner of the Sardine Factory, hosted the 100th Restaurant Roundtable of 2017 at the Sardine Factory in Monterey, California. Congressman Jimmy Panetta was the featured guest at the event.

Panetta, son of former Secretary of State Leon Panetta and Sylvia Panetta, represents the 20th congressional district which includes all of Monterey and San Benito Counties, and parts of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. He said he was pleased to be able to meet with the restaurant owners and discuss the industry he worked in as a youth. Topics covered included health care and immigration reform, along with some discussion about tax reform.

Congressman Panetta said, "Hearing directly from small businesses provides me valuable information about the issues they and their employees face. Congress should work to foster an environment that encourages job growth and economic prosperity, as small businesses work to expand employment opportunities in our communities."

National Restaurant Association started the Restaurant Roundtables program in 2015 to ring restaurateurs and lawmakers together and provide the opportunity for elected officials from both parties to hear directly from restaurant owners about the challenges they face and to discuss how regulations and legislation could help or hurt business. Along with State Restaurant Association partners they hosted 15 roundtables in the first year, 70 in 2016 and 100 in 2017.

In 2017, 700 people representing 33 states have participated, including 10 senators and 90 representatives. Lawmakers attending the events this year include U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.). U.S. House of Representatives include Congressmen Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Martha Roby (R-Ala.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Bradley Byrne R-Ala.).

Balestreri said, "As a former National Restaurant Association Chair and CEO of the Sardine Factory, it was a special honor to host the 100th roundtable of 2017 and welcome Congressman Jimmy Panetta."