Floored! NRA Show 2009 News

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

 
On his 48th birthday, Prez O's likely gearing up for the meal of a lifetime, but if he was in Chicago we know what he'd like to chow down on:

Hyde Park's Caribbean-focused Calypso Cafe, along with the now defunct New Orleans-inspired Dixie Kitchen, is a favorite of the First Family. They recently added some of the more popular dishes from Dixie Kitchen's menu—which just happened to be the President's faves—including peach cobbler, fried green tomatoes and the Southern Sampler (Jambalaya, gumbo, red beans & rice).

Italian Fiesta, in South Shore, had the honor of serving its thin-crust pizzas at the inauguration. This is the way a pizza's supposed to be: indulgently greasy and bursting with flavor from hearty toppings. Obama's guilty pleasure is the cheese-only pizza.

He's fit as a fiddle and his waistline is trim and slim, but we love that he's not afraid of chowing down on an occasional sandwich loaded down with mounds of corned beef. He caused quite a scene when he ordered several, and paid cash, at Manny's Deli right after the election.

Capturing Wind In A Beer Bottle

 
Ah, the sights, sounds and smells of Memorial Day weekend (that unofficial start to summer) from concerts, festivals, parades and, oh yeah, barbecues. And what complements your favorite holiday BBQ edibles to nosh more than beer.

With food and beer alcohol pairings on the rise*, 2009 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event exhibitor New Belgium Brewing Co. really does put “new” back in all-things beer, food, flavor and fun (responsibly, of course). Are you still searching for the perfect beer and backyard barbecue recipe pairing? Check out New Belgium’s “fat” –- yes, these guys and gals are the makers of Fat Tire ale -- menu of pairing suggestions to make this Memorial Day a frothy splash.

New Belgium Brewing gets high marks from us for becoming the first wind-powered brewery. Kudos to these brewmasters for their trailblazing efforts to go and grow “green.” Learn how you too can help the planet.

For starters, trade in your car, tap the inner-cyclist in you and hit the Tour de Fat trail blowing into a city near you soon. Find out this year’s schedule. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Chicago, July 11th (who knows, perhaps Portland, Ore. too, August 15th).

If you’re in search of a frenzy of flavors and taste pairings beyond beer, scope out these other food-alcohol match-ups.

Source: National Restaurant Association's "What's Hot in 2009" chef survey

Chicago is an Olympics kind of town

Chicago is our kind of town.

That's why the NRA Show has been coming here for 59 years, and it's why we want the Olympics to be here in 2016.

So we visited the Chicago 2016 booth at the NRA Show and donned black, green, yellow, red and blue Olympic ring bracelets that say, "Chicago 2016 Candidate City."

Eight volunteers a day are manning the booth, where videotaped messages from Oprah, Barack Obama, Michael Jordan and other favorite sons and daughters of the Windy City sing its praises.

"We're letting people know we're here in support of Chicago's bid," says volunteer manager Shannon Danforth. "October 2 can't get here soon enough."

And the "Hot Chef" Is...

  
Kristina Vanni. She was selected the second annual NRA Show Hot Chef Grilling Challenge winner by YouTube™ users. Vanni will receive a trip to NRA Show 2009 in Chicago, May 16-19, and a cooking demonstration in the Culinary Scene area. She'll join celebrated chefs including Rick Bayless, Stephanie Izard, Marcus Samuelsson, Chris Cosentino and Radhika Desai –- stay tuned for more Culinary Scene action in tomorrow’s Floored!

Vanni's winning YouTube video featured a delicious maple-Dijon glazed grilled Arctic char with a cucumber, fennel and radish salad, grilled bread cheese with cloudberry preserves (to die for!) and a lingonberry-cardamom martini. You’ve gotta try making these recipes for yourself…we did...amazing!

Kudos to her for utilizing so many of the Association's What’s Hot in 2009 chef survey food and beverage trends (blogger's note: the latest food and beverage trends will be showcased on this year's NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event show floors).

Be sure to catch Vanni’s cooking demonstration on Tuesday, May 19 at 1:30 p.m. in the Culinary Scene.

If you’re not yet registered for NRA Show 2009, get on it now!

Vote for Your Hot Chef

 

The Hot Chef Grilling Challenge competition is heating up now that all systems are go for YouTube™ users across the country to vote for their favorite three videos. Don't delay, voice your choice, make a decision and vote through Thursday, April 30th.

You could be sending the lucky winner to sweet home Chicago for a cooking demonstration showcase in the Culinary Scene area at NRA Show 2009.

Happy voting!

Not yet registered for NRA Show 2009? Register today and see the Hot Chef Grilling Challenge winner in action and so much more!