Restaurants Target Dog Owners For A Good “Paws”

Oct. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Mount Kisco, New York –  Carla Gembescia, culinary director of Via Vanti! Restaurant in Mount Kisco, New York owns one the Westchester County’s highest Zagat rated establishments. The restaurant also sponsors Dogs in Party Hats (DiPH), a contest/fundraiser Carla developed in 2008 benefiting Guiding Eyes for the Blind and the Guiding Eyes Heeling Autism Program.

“A lot of my customers have dogs or have friends who do” Carla explained, “it’s a fun way to entertain but more importantly this contest has the potential to provide a service dog to an adult or child in need. My hopes are to make DiPH a national contest this year.”

Carla houses her “Party Dog Wall of Fame” trophy wall for DiPH winners at her restaurant, conveniently located in the historic Mount Kisco Train Station. In addition each winner receives a year supply of Via Vanti! award winning gelato, and is featured throughout the year as a “Flavor-of-the-Month”special. Most popular DiPH favors this year were Carnivale Caramel Teddy, La Boheme Almondine and Bocker’s Labradoodlicious Swirl.

“As a foodie I see flavors everywhere. I love dogs and have seen them as gelato flavors (their colorings and personalities) for a long time. I see a Pug and I think “Butter Rumba” or a Collie and think “Pumpkin Latte” or a Chihuahua and envision Mojito Spice - as a spunky refreshing sorbetto.”

To enter contestants must visit www.dogsinpartyhats.com and submit a photo of their dog, a delicious name inspired by a gelato flavor along with a $20 fee (100% of proceeds goes to Guiding Eyes).

For contest tips and help with entering the contest Carla has launched an ambassador program this year that trains volunteers on how to turn new contestants into winners. Ambassadors can also help with the online process for those who aren’t tech savvy. For additional information and to see contestant photos follow @dogsinpartyhats on twitter (official hashtag #DiPH11) and visit the facebook community page, a facebook “group” also exists uniting contestants from the previous two years.  


About Dogs in Party Hats (DiPH):  Created and sponsored by Via Vanti! Restaurant in Mount Kisco, New York DiPH is a contest dedicated to raising awareness and supporting Guiding Eyes for the Blind (an internationally accredited, nonprofit guide dog school with over 50 years of providing the blind and visually impaired with Guiding Eyes dogs, training, and lifetime support services). Carla Gambescia, DiPH originator and Via Vanti! Culinary Director/Owner, challenges dog owners to “unleash” their creativity by inventing a gelato flavor based on physical appearance (color, size, breed) and personality traits of their dog - hats and costumes are optional. Contestants can also “dress” their dog virtually using photo editing tools. Twelve winners will be featured year round on the “Party Dog Wall of Fame”, become a featured “Flavor-of-the-Month” and receive a year’s supply of Via Vanti! award winning gelato.  For entry details go to (www.dogsinpartyhats.com).

About Via Vanti!:  Via Vanti! is an innovative Italian restaurant and engaging cultural discovery Venue. Owner and Culinary Director, Carla Gambescia believes that all of us, regardless of our inherited ethnicities, share an “inner Italian” – that part of our nature which is most expressive, festive, spontaneous and fun just waiting to be unlocked. Carla has designed the Via Vanti! experience to be the “key” that unlocks her guests’ “inner Italian” both through her breakthrough and highly praised “improvisational Italian” fare and her dynamic program of cultural, community and charitable engagement. (www.viavanti.com)