2009 Culinary Scene Wrapup

 
Well, the Culinary Scene, the NRA Show's interactive cooking demonstration area, is done for another year after showcasing master butchers, world renowned chefs and personalities, innovative cuisine and even the winner of our very own Hot Chef Grilling Challenge, Kristina Vänni.

We caught up with Vänni after her demonstration, where she prepared grilled arctic char with maple dijon glaze, a salad of cucumber, fennel and radish, and grilled Finnish bread cheese. Oh and a lingonberry-cardamom martini to wash it down. Vänni said she "really got into it as it went on. So many people showed up!"

Earlier, Vänni enjoyed making the rounds on the NRA Show floor, even scoring a new chef's jacket to wear for the event, but it her biggest kick came from operating in the demo kitchen. "It was an absolute thrill to be up here on this stage that has been shared by so many great chefs," she said. Who did she mean? We're glad you asked!

• Where's the beef? Each day featured a different "profitable protein" theme, showcasing new cuts and new recipes for traditional cuts of meat. Saturday featured butchery demonstrations from Marty Carpenter from the Beef Information Centre and cooking demonstrations from Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill and Tobolobampo and Stephanie Izard, winner of Bravo’s Top Chef.
• Pig out. Sunday the focus turned to pork, with butchery demonstrations from Amy Shoup Mennen of Shoup’s Country Foods, Inc. and cooking demonstrations by Marcus Samuelsson, Aquavit, Riingo and and C-House and Chris Cosentino from Boccalone and Incanto.
• On the Lamb. Monday was the day for dinner dressed in sheep's clothing. Well, until butchery demonstrations from Evandro Caregnato, culinary director, Texas de Brazil, that is. Radhika Desai, Season Five contestant on Bravo'sTop Chef and Aaron McCargo Jr., host of Food Network’s Big Daddy’s House provided the cooking demonstrations.
• Game on. Tuesday was the day for small game, beginning with a butchery demonstration from Coleman Natural Foods followed by a cooking demonstration from Erick Williams of MK The Restaurant and the aforementioned Vänni.

If you missed out on the action and want to be sure your among the Culinary Scenesters in 2010, Sign up for Facebook and become a fan of the NRA Show, Follow us on Twitter or Subscribe to Floored!'s RSS feed to stay in the loop.

See you next year! NRA Show 2010, May 22-25, Chicago's McCormick Place.

Pictured: Aaron McCargo Jr., host of Food Network's Big Daddy's House