Thu, Jun 11
|Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City
An Evening of Trends & Transformation at Historic Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City
From timeless traditions to tomorrow’s tech! This exclusive dinner event will blend heritage & innovation at Tampa’s iconic Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City (Florida's oldest operating restaurant!). Full dinner, great networking and a fantastic special guest presenter.
Time & Location
Jun 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City, 2117 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605, USA
Guests
About the event
Columbia Restaurant
Florida's Oldest Operating restaurant
An unforgettable evening of networking, exceptional dining, and forward-looking insights at the
Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.
We'll start the evening with cocktail-style networking & business connections among food industry professionals. We’ll enjoy an amazing dinner featuring the authentic Spanish-Cuban cuisine that has made the Columbia one of Florida’s most famous and respected restaurants for over 117 years.
Following Dinner:
OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Jaime Reeves
Chief Technology Officer Mattson Co.
Jaime will be presenting “Mattson’s Macro Trends”, an insightful overview of the major consumer, product, and cultural movements shaping the food and beverage industry in 2026 and beyond.
Covering Four Key Macro movements:
01. The Protein Predicament — Unpacking the uber nutrient, with all its positives and predicaments. It’s more complicated than people think.
02. The New Grocery Experience — Younger consumers are choosing stores like Aldi, TJ’s, and Costco as primary destinations, drawn by discovery, community, and fun that traditional supermarkets can’t touch.
03. Vice is Back! — After years of moderation and moralizing, Americans are unapologetically leaning back into their favorite vices: Beef, tobacco, nicotine, Diet Coke, and more.
04. The Remixed Flavor Era — The Remixed Flavor Era implies a bold evolution of taste where flavor is constantly in flux, shaped by culture, creativity, and collaboration.
Our Door Prize Tradition!
We love prizes! (Who doesn't?)
So please consider bringing a small gift or prize
(such as chocolates, wine, branded items, gift cards)
and at the end of our event we'll proudly announce all door prizes as donated by you and your company!
This is a fun way to make connections & build your brand!
Columbia Restaurant is recognized Florida's oldest restaurant, and a true trip back in time to Old World Florida!
We'll savor authentic Spanish-Cuban cuisine amid hand-painted tiles and old-world charm,
while networking with industry leaders.
A must-attend for food industry leaders & professionals!
Tickets
Exclusive Individual Ticket
Includes iconic Columbia Restaurant dinner, and keynote speaker. Thank you! Your contribution supports our student scholarships and initiatives. **Door Prize Tradition: Please consider bringing a small gift or prize (such as chocolates, wine, or branded items) for our end-of-event door prizes -- we'll proudly announce it as donated by you and your company!
$69.99
+$1.75 ticket service fee
Emeritus Member Ticket
Includes iconic Columbia Restaurant dinner, and keynote speaker. Thank you! Your contribution supports our student scholarships and initiatives. **Door Prize Tradition: Please consider bringing a small gift or prize (such as chocolates, wine, or branded items) for our end-of-event door prizes -- we'll proudly announce it as donated by you and your company!
$59.99
+$1.50 ticket service fee
Student Ticket
Includes iconic Columbia Restaurant dinner, and keynote speaker. Thank you! Your contribution supports our student scholarships and initiatives. **Door Prize Tradition: Please consider bringing a small gift or prize (such as chocolates, wine, or branded items) for our end-of-event door prizes -- we'll proudly announce it as donated by you and your company!
$35.99
+$0.90 ticket service fee
Silver Event Sponsorship
Thank you for your generous support! Sponsorships support our student scholarships and initiatives. **Please note this is not a "ticket", but an additional Sponsorship over-and-above the normal ticket price. Thank you!
$200.00
+$5.00 ticket service fee
Gold Event Sponsorship
Thank you for your generous support! Sponsorships support our student scholarships and initiatives. **Please note this is not a "ticket", but an additional Sponsorship over-and-above the normal ticket price. Thank you!
$500.00
+$12.50 ticket service fee
Platinum Sponsor Table of 4
This sponsorship includes 4 Dinner Tickets - Thank you for your generosity, your contribution supports our student scholarships and initiatives. **Sponsors will be promoted online, on social media, and at the event -- Thank you!
$1,000.00
+$25.00 ticket service fee
Total
$0.00