Members of the Idaho Potato Commission, scheduled to have their annual "Fall Harvest Kickoff" media event at the top of the World Trade Center in New York City Wednesday evening, Sept. 12, are glad they didn't schedule it a day earlier.
Potato Grower magazine staff has learned that the event, one many New York City chefs look forward to, was scheduled at the world-class restaurant "Windows of the World," the legendary NYC land mark at the top of one of the Twin Towers.
At the event, food editors are invited to sample special potato dishes. The Idaho Potato Commission annually hosts the food editors and chefs to sample Idaho's new crop of potatoes and the chef's creative recipes.
Five commissioners and Andersen were scheduled to attend. Only one, Wayne Allen, had arrived in New York. Mel Andersen was in Washington, DC, and was scheduled to take a train into NYC when all bridges and tunnels were closed. On Thursday morning, he had made it back as far as Philadelphia.
New Commission Chairman Benny Blick was stopped in Denver Tuesday morning by the grounding of all aircraft. He made it home Wednesday night. As of Thursday morning, all but Andersen and Allen had made it back home.
It is uncertain, but some of the chefs preparing for the event may have been in the Trade Tower building. The event is more than just one meal, but also a luncheon, which was scheduled for Wednesday at noon, just hours after the explosions and collapse of the Trade Towers.