Connie Ruel
As a first generation American of Italian descent, Connie was weaned on Chianti and Italian cuisine. She grew up in her family’s famed Italian restaurant, “Casa D’Amore” and “The Villa Capri” in Hollywood, California, which kindled her passion for the restaurant industry. She interned and managed in restaurants for 9 years in Switzerland where she honed her knowledge of food and wine. After returning to the United States, she oversaw many successful restaurants and hotels in the Pacific Northwest.
Driven by her passion for wine, Connie took a position as Hospitality Director at “Sokol Blosser Winery,” an innovator and pioneer in the Red Hills of Oregon’s Yamhill County, known for its Pinot Noir. She appeared before thousands as speaker at wine festivals throughout the U.S. and educated hospitality students at the Mt. Hood Community College.
Beginning in 1998, she opened and managed a succession of her own restaurants. “Laslow’s Broadway Bistro,” “Laslow’s Northwest” and “Malanga Cocina Cubana” quickly became established as benchmark eateries in Portland Oregon. “Laslow’s Northwest” was named one of “America’s Best Restaurants” by GOURMET magazine and THE OREGONIAN’S 2002 Restaurant of the Year. During this time, Connie traveled to Manhattan to represent Laslow’s at the James Beard House. She also further established herself in the industry by frequently judging at professional wine and food competitions. In 2003, she was touted by the OREGONIAN as having “...one of the Northwest’s best palates.”
In 2005, Connie moved to Colorado to continue her food and beverage ventures. She developed and opened the unique concept of “TUTTI, a restaurant for everyone.” By 2012, after the successful sale of all her restaurant ventures, she developed curriculum for the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado. In addition to teaching the art of wine and food to the home cook and the professional, she recently honed her talent of cake design and established “Cake’s Ruel” to broaden her exposure into pastry arts. And finally, with “Follow the Ruel,” a restaurant consulting, education and specialty dinner company, she uses her decades of experience to enhance the lives and business of others.
As a first generation American of Italian descent, Connie was weaned on Chianti and Italian cuisine. She grew up in her family’s famed Italian restaurant, “Casa D’Amore” and “The Villa Capri” in Hollywood, California, which kindled her passion for the restaurant industry. She interned and managed in restaurants for 9 years in Switzerland where she honed her knowledge of food and wine. After returning to the United States, she oversaw many successful restaurants and hotels in the Pacific Northwest.
Driven by her passion for wine, Connie took a position as Hospitality Director at “Sokol Blosser Winery,” an innovator and pioneer in the Red Hills of Oregon’s Yamhill County, known for its Pinot Noir. She appeared before thousands as speaker at wine festivals throughout the U.S. and educated hospitality students at the Mt. Hood Community College.
Beginning in 1998, she opened and managed a succession of her own restaurants. “Laslow’s Broadway Bistro,” “Laslow’s Northwest” and “Malanga Cocina Cubana” quickly became established as benchmark eateries in Portland Oregon. “Laslow’s Northwest” was named one of “America’s Best Restaurants” by GOURMET magazine and THE OREGONIAN’S 2002 Restaurant of the Year. During this time, Connie traveled to Manhattan to represent Laslow’s at the James Beard House. She also further established herself in the industry by frequently judging at professional wine and food competitions. In 2003, she was touted by the OREGONIAN as having “...one of the Northwest’s best palates.”
In 2005, Connie moved to Colorado to continue her food and beverage ventures. She developed and opened the unique concept of “TUTTI, a restaurant for everyone.” By 2012, after the successful sale of all her restaurant ventures, she developed curriculum for the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado. In addition to teaching the art of wine and food to the home cook and the professional, she recently honed her talent of cake design and established “Cake’s Ruel” to broaden her exposure into pastry arts. And finally, with “Follow the Ruel,” a restaurant consulting, education and specialty dinner company, she uses her decades of experience to enhance the lives and business of others.