Floored! NRA Show 2009 News

İBravo! ‘Top Chef Master’ Rick Bayless

 
Congratulations to Bravo TV’s first-ever “Top Chef Masters” winner, Chicago’s very own chef/owner – an NRA Show audience favorite – Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill/Topolobampo). Viva the black mole sauce master!

Top Chef Masters pitted 24 accomplished chefs against each other as they competed for the “toque-n” crown. NRA Show supporter and participant Bayless was also joined by fellow NRA Show regular/”Masters” contestant Art Smith (Table Fifty-Two) in the finals, but Smith was cut in the second round.

Bayless’ $100,000 prize goes to Frontera Farmer Foundation, which helps support small, sustainable Midwestern farms.

Fiesta like acclaimed master chef Rick Bayless who had only two words to say on Twitter – “Party’s starting.” Check out these upcoming parties with a Bayless connection.

Glamorama, Chicago’s highly anticipated fashion event at the Chicago Theatre kicks off Friday, August 21 at 8 p.m. The post-party bash lands at Macy’s on State Street (an NRA Show 2009 International Back-of-the-House Tour participating restaurant) - home to Rick Bayless’ upscale, quickservice restaurant Frontera Fresco.

Award-winning restaurant Frontera Grill along with several other participating restaurants will cater StreetWise Under-the-Stars, a benefit for the publication that provides an income source to homeless Chicagoans. (Friday, August 21 at Rooftop Sculpture Garden, 117 N. Jefferson, fourth floor). Tickets available here.

Last but not least, meet the “Top Chef Master” at NRA Show 2010 (May 22-25, 2010 at Chicago’s McCormick Place). Visitors to the NRA Show always enjoy interacting with him in the Celebrity Book Signings area and other Show features. Registration opens soon!

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.

Bits & Bytes Heard at NRA Show 2009

We have you covered on things overheard from the show floor at this year's NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event.

Restaurant and hospitality industry operators consistently reported NRA Show 2009 was the place to find solutions and inspiration in this economy.

• "This is the place to come and see everything in one shot.” -Robert Forrester, Restaurant Industry Solutions
• “I’ve already found some ideas that I’m going to take back and take a very serious look at.”
  - Kim Lopdrup, Red Lobster
• “When you come here, you come to be inspired.” -George McNeill, Ritz Carlton Hotels
• “Look at this, it's great! Even in this ‘recession,’ this place is doing well. It's good to see this many people at this year’s NRA Show.” -Ming Tsai, chef/owner of Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Mass.
• “Now more than ever is the time to get busy on our business. We can't shut our doors. At this point, it’s all about the competition and staying ahead and this [the NRA Show] is a great resource.”  -David Starr, operating vice president of restaurants, Bloomingdale's
• “Within the restaurant industry, it is about creating brand differentiation for your customers. In other words, what will make your restaurant and brand stand out from the competition. The National Restaurant Association show provided this year’s attendees with strategic insights into achieving that brand differentiation - a critical must-have in today’s environment.” -Bill Whitman, Jr., vice president of communications, McDonald’s USA

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.

Not yet registered for NRA Show 2009? Register today and save some clams!

Eat Your Heart Out

 

We all know Valentine's Day is one of those days that men love to hate and women, well, just love. It's a day that holds special meaning for the young and old at heart. And dining out is one of the most popular ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. So, embrace your love for this day and flirt with these restaurant ideas for a romantic night on the town.

This Valentine's Day enjoy a 3 course tasting menu with a sparkling wine toast at celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson's C-House in Chicago (check out Aquavit in New York too). The winter pear crisp with walnut ice cream and concord grape at C-House is our personal fave.

It comes as no surprise to us Chef Samuelsson made an appearance in the Celebrity Book Signings feature at the NRA Show in 2007. Celebrity chefs such as Mario Batali, Rick Bayless, Cat Cora, Grant Achatz, Thomas Keller, Ming Tsai, Gale Gand and many more have had a love affair with the NRA Show as the industry's trend-setting destination for years.  

Also, The Signature Room at the 95th in Chicago's John Hancock Center will take your romance to new heights. Their lavish 4 course dinner includes a glass of Moët & Chandon champagne. As a participating restaurant in the International Back-of-the-House Restaurant Tour at NRA Show 2009, international guests attending this year's show are in for a treat.  

What are you waiting for? If music be the food of love, play on...or make a reservation at your favorite restaurant today!

The Art and Soul of Thanksgiving

Art and Soul is visionary Art Smith's new dining venture, which opened in Washington, D.C., last month. The NRA Show mainstay recently shared some thoughts about branching out to the nation's capital and his favorites with Washingtonian.com.

• Regarding rumors he will serve fellow Chicagoan and President-Elect Barack Obama as White House chef—"'They’re just rumors, but it’s nice to hear those rumors,' is all he’ll say." Not a bad gig, if you ask us.

• Regarding how he starts his day—"'I love a good breakfast—I think it’s my most favorite meal... I love a good crab cake and an egg for breakfast.'" 

• Regarding Thanksgiving—"'In the South, we don’t stuff a bird—we dress a bird. My favorite thing is my cornbread dressing... I use all cornbread, but we all use the holy trinity, which is celery, onion, and bell pepper. You need a really good, strong broth, no bouillion in there. I like to throw in turkey sausage and apple for a little sweetness. And you’ve got to have killer gravy with it.'"

And yes, he will be working his magic in-person at Art and Soul Thanksgiving night.

Are you hungry yet? Well, until you can satisfactorily satisfy your cravings tomorrow... NRA Show 2009 wishes you a very happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Mario Batali jets from NRA Show to Spain

Mario Batali has been a very busy man since the last NRA Show. One of the many projects on his plate is the PBS reality series Spain - On the Road Again, which premiered last month.

First, there's the scenery. Spain's countryside and the towns that have withstood numerous tests of time is the stuff storybook tales are made of.

Then there's the food. The restaurants featured are not your run-of-the-mill tapas joints. Check out the official Web site, which lists recipes for delicious dishes such as clams and mushrooms with egg yolk.

Finally, there's the wine, shown perfectly paired with whatever this intrepid group is sampling.

You can download episodes on iTunes. For even more Mario, flip through our NRA Show 2008 Flickr photos.