Floored! NRA Show 2009 News

"Hot Dog Man" Serves Up 100-Year-Old Birthday Celebration

 

Legendary restaurant biz man Harry Heftman celebrated his 100th birthday at Harry's Hot Dogs in Chicago today along with Mayor Richard M. Daley, family, friends, loyal customers and long-time suppliers Coca-Cola and Vienna Beef.

Heftman's owned the restaurant since 1954 and continues to work at least 4 days a week (extraordinary!) serving good food, cheer and advice.

Floored! recently sat down with Chicago's iconic "Hot Dog Man."

Q: What has kept you going for so long?
A: I enjoy the work and making my customers happy.

Q: What will you do now that you are closing your restaurant? (Note: The building which dates back to the 1870s will make way in April for a city plaza.)
A: I want to take my family on a cruise.

Q: What words of wisdom can you give people who want to open a restaurant?
A: Keep it clean, give the people good food, smile and make them feel welcome.

Thank you very much for being a frequent visitor to the NRA Show over the years.

From all of us at Floored!...Happy Birthday Harry!

300 W. Randolph St. at Franklin Ave. (312-782-7386). Breakfast and lunch (Mon - Fri).

Photo credit: Joe O'Donnell, Chicago Tribune

Feel the Burn...No More

 

We all know restaurateurs are committed to serving up memorable dining experiences to guests through exceptional service and tasty menu creations. At the same time, restaurateurs are dedicated to keeping employees safe from possible hazards.

If you're tired of getting burned, we feel your pain. However, it's not just newbies who slip up when it comes to safety. Celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse have been there too. Whew, what a relief!

Chef Mario Batali, a regular at the NRA Show, uses and recommends Burn Cream MD™ to employees at his restaurants and industry peers. And when we discovered Burn Cream MD will be exhibiting at NRA Show® 2009, we couldn't wait to learn more about this product.

The dermatologist who developed this "magic" in a bottle was influenced by her experience working in the family restaurant during medical school. We love that! After all, nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have worked in the restaurant industry at some point during their lives, and more than one out of four adults got their first job experience in a restaurant.

Go ahead, keep Burn Cream MD on hand (or wherever relief is needed!) for minor burns from house or professional kitchens.

Not yet signed up for NRA Show 2009? Register today and find more products and ideas at NRA Show 2009 to safeguard you and your team.

The Oscar Goes to...Chicago Restaurant Week

The Oscars® are only hours away, but the 2nd Annual Chicago Restaurant Week is already in high gear across the city. Get ready to eat it up at over 130 restaurants through February 27, with three-course prix-fixe menus of $22 for lunch and $32 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity).

America's new president and Chicago's very own, President Barack Obama, enjoys a rich mix of dining spots in Chicago. And Chef Rick Bayless' Topolobampo, the sophisticated sibling to Frontera Grill, both Chicago Restaurant Week participants, is often selected as the Obamas' hot spot for regional Mexican food.

Look for Chef Bayless to make an appearance, as he and many other celebrity chefs always do, at NRA Show®2009 and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) at Chicago's McCormick Place.

Check out 312DD for the perfect spot to dine during the NRA Show and IWSB.

NRA Show and Greater Chicago Food Depository feed the children

NRA Show and the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) have collaborated for over 20 years. Exhibiting companies at last year's NRA Show donated 116,553 pounds of food to GCFD. As one of the largest food donation events in Chicago, the NRA Show 2008 helped provide meals for 87,633 people in the Chicago area.

Furthermore, NRA Show works with GCFD throughout the year. Last week the NRA Show and National Restaurant Association Solutions offices both assisted GCFD with its Nourish for Knowledge initiative.

Nourish for Knowledge, a partnership between GCFD and Chicago Public Schools, provides take-home bags of food on weekends to schoolchildren in low-income neighborhoods. The innovative program ensures children who are eligible for free reduced-price meals have the nutritious food they need outside of school hours. NRA Show and National Restaurant Association Solutions helped prepare nearly 3,000 take-home bags of food during their day of service on Jan. 8.

After all, sharing doesn’t end just because the holidays do. For more information on how you can help eliminate hunger, visit the National Restaurant Association Community Relations Web site.

In the above photo, pictured L to R: Angelica Jackson, Tim Woods, Darlene Fournier, Willie Glispie, Janet Westfall, Debra Hayes, Derrek Hull, Leslie Kelley.