Today, the Tourism Team is recognizing the Howard County Tourism Partner who has gone above and beyond for the Howard County Tourism Industry as a whole. This Tourism Partner of the Year Award exemplifies the excellent working relationship with the Tourism Team to our mutual benefit. It was a tough decision to make, with so many partners to consider but we feel that you’ll agree we made the perfect choices…that’s right again this year we have TWO partners of the year. May I have a drumroll please….

One of the Howard County Tourism Partners of the Year is

Joe Barbera of AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar for inspiring the nations first ever BUY LOCAL Restaurant Weeks right here in Howard County, Maryland.

GREAT NEWS!!

If you know Joe, he’s very persistent, and he insisted that 25+ independent Howard County Restaurants could and would partner with 25+ Maryland farmers to GO LOCAL. Together, Tourism and the Economic Development Authority helped Joe’s dream come true of local businesses helping other local businesses, which just makes good dollars and good sense!

Joe Barbera and his whole Italian family, especially Mama Aida & his wife Mary, know that eating in season and eating local like they do in the old country is simply the best. Luckily for all of us, Aida Bistro & Wine Bar’s business plan seven years ago called for creating partnership with Howard County farmers to bring the freshest and tastiest products and produce for their dining guests. Joe & Mary have one day off a week, and on that day you’ll find them at Larriland hand-picking squash blossoms, Roma tomatoes, berries and more.

Last summer, Joe helped Howard County, Maryland be the first county, not a major U.S. city, host a Restaurant Weeks promotion. Hosting meetings with his competitors, soliciting sponsorship from his suppliers and pitching the media are just some of the ways Joe helped Restaurant Weeks happen. This summer, our BUY LOCAL Restaurant Weeks had our County’s top chefs creatively using local products and produce often paired with Maryland wines and beers on prix fixe menus. Again, with Joe and AIDA Bistro leading by example. BUY LOCAL Restaurant Weeks in Howard County celebrates Healthy Howard eating and insures Howard County is a model Green Community. Thank you Joe Barbera!