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.

Media Mogul Leads Green Restaurant Revolution

 
The NRA Show floor was a buzz as media mogul Ted Turner walked the South Hall. The restaurateur (Ted’s Montana Grill) and entrepreneur kept his causes in mind as he greeted people during his book signing, answering questions about the environment, his ranching and how his company employs best practices in sustainability.
 
“We want to see innovation and technology improvements, and make things more efficient and less costly, that’s why we come to the NRA Show,” said Turner. His business partner, CEO and President of Ted’s Montana Grill George McKerrow, Jr., echoed those sentiments, saying, “It’s the small things you do every day. If nothing else, pick up the trash, change a few light bulbs, recycle.”
 
The book, Call Me Ted focuses on Turner’s life story and rise to prominence. His interest in bison, for example, gave birth to the restaurant concept he now owns. He says in the book, “I loved these animals and while it took me awhile to warm to the idea of serving them as food, I realized that helping consumers develop a taste for bison would not only increase the value of my herd, it would be in the best long-term interests of the bison.”

Celebrity Sightings: April Showers Bring May Stars

 

Top chefs and restaurateurs will be out in full force in the Celebrity Book Signings showcase at this year's NRA Show (May 16-19 @ Chicago's McCormick Place). Floored! has the scoop on the star-studded lineup of movers and shakers making appearances, including:

Stephanie Izard (Saturday, May 16, 11:00 a.m.) The Season Four winner of Bravo's Top Chef and owner/chef of The Drunken Goat (opening fall 2009 in Chicago), Izard will be signing Top Chef: The Cookbook. Chef Izard will also be holding a culinary showcase in the Culinary Scene area on Saturday, May 16 at 12:30 p.m.

Charlie Ayers (Saturday, May 16, 12:00 p.m.) Former chef for Google Inc., Ayers is chef and founder of Calafia Café & Market a Go Go which serves up healthful, artisan-style and sustainable cuisine. His book Food 2.0: Secrets from the Chef who fed Google will be available at-Show.

Rick Bayless (Saturday, May 16, 2:00 p.m.) Award-winning chef/restaurateur, cookbook author, and host of Mexico—One Plate at a Timeon PBS, Bayless owns and operates two of Chicago's hottest dining spots, Frontera Grill and Tobolobampo. Bayless is the author of Authentic Mexican: Regional Cooking from the Heart of Mexico, One Plate and Mexican Everyday. Don't miss Chef Bayless also in the Culinary Scene area on Saturday, May 16 at 12:30 p.m.

Daniel Boulud (Sunday, May 17, 12:30 p.m.) Boulud is chef-owner of The Dinex Group, made up of Feast & Fêtes catering company and nine award-winning restaurants, including the renowned DANIEL and the Feast & catering company. Boulud is the author of Braise: A Journey Through International Cuisine, Café Boulud Cookbook, Letters to a Young Chef, Daniel Boulud Cooking in New York City and Daniel's Dish: Entertaining at Home with a Four Star Chef. Be sure to catch Chef Boulud participating in the NRA Show General Session and Keynote Executive Panel on Sunday, May 17 at 2:00 p.m.

Marcus Samuelsson (Sunday, May 17, 1:30 p.m.) Samuelsson is the Executive Chef at New York City's Aquavit and Riingo, and Chicago's C-House, host of Inner Chef on Discovery Home Channel, and corporate chef of Townhouse Restaurant Group. He is the author of En Smakreasa, Aquavit, Street Food and The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa. Chef Samuelsson will be showing off his culinary skills in the Culinary Scene on Sunday, May 17 at 12:30 p.m.

Ming Tsai (Sunday, May 17, 3:00 p.m.) An Emmy Award winner, Tsai is the chef and owner of Boston's Blue Ginger and host and executive producer of public television's Simply Ming. Tsai is national spokesperson for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and his East-West meal solutions can be found in Target stores nationwide. He is the author of Blue Ginger, Simply Ming and Ming’s Master Recipes.

Ted Turner (Monday, May 18, 10:00 a.m.) Business mogul, environmentalist, philanthropist and co-founder of Ted's Montana Grill, Turner is the author of Call Me Ted. Turner will also be discussing green restaurant practices as part of an education session at the NRA Show called "Join the Green Restaurant Revolution" on Monday, May 18 at 12:00 p.m.

Art Smith (Monday, May 18, 12:00 p.m.) Chef and owner of Table Fifty-Two in Chicago and Art and Soul in Washington, D.C., contributing editor to O, the Oprah Magazine and Oprah.com, Smith has appeared several times on The Oprah Winfrey Show and is featured regularly on television programs, including NBC's Today. He is the author of Back to the Family: Food Tastes Better Shared with the Ones You Love, Kitchen Life and Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family.

Takashi Yagahashi (Monday, May 18, 2:00 p.m.) Renowned chef and restaurateur, Yagahashi owns Takashi Restaurant in Chicago and operates Noodles at Macy's on State Street. His first book, Takashi's Noodles, will be available at-Show. Chef Yagahashi will also be appearing in the Culinary Scene on Monday, May 18 at 12:30 p.m.

Gale Gand (Tuesday, May 19, 1:00 p.m.) Gand is the Executive Pastry Chef and partner of Chicago's Tru and host of Food Network's Sweet Dreams. Gale will be signing her new book Gale Gand's Brunch!: Fantastic Recipes for the Weekend's Best Meal, Chocolate and Vanilla and Gale Gand’s Just a Bite.

Joanne Purnell, Domenic Chiaromonte, Tim Lundy and David Peake (Tuesday, May 19, 2:00 p.m.) Eleven International Caterers Association chefs share recipes and their overall philosophy on cooking and food in Inside the Recipe Box of the Catering Chef. Complete with full color photography and the chefs' tips, this is a must-own for every professional culinary master.

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