Floored! NRA Show 2009 News

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!

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.

NRA Show 2009 Housing & Travel Update

You don’t need us to tell you that we 're all facing economic challenges. You can just go to Bloomberg, CNN or read your local paper  to get that sort of info. So, when you come here to Floored!, we hope to share with you some good news instead.

Well, we have some for you. Several hotels have lowered their rates to pre-2008 levels. Both attendees and exhibitors can take advantage of these discounts. For a list of hotels, visit the NRA Show 2009 Travel Desk Web site. Be sure to check back often for regular hotel & travel updates.

Speaking of NRA Show, have you registered yet? If not, do so now! Attendees, sign up here. Exhibitors, secure your space today. We look forward to seeing you in May!

Top Five Reasons to Attend NRA Show 2009

 

Members of the press, it's time to register for NRA Show 2009. It's where food trends emerge, new products launch and culinary superstars shine. Your stories practically write themselves at the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals in the world.

There are so many reasons to register today, but here are our favorite 5.

5.) You can mingle with celebs like Mario Batali. Or, you just might discover the next hot chef.

4.) The Kitchen Innovations™ Awards will impress you.

3.) The Culinary Scene is where it's at — interactive culinary demonstrations presented by top industry trendsetters. There's just no better source for culinary inspiration.

2.) The International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event is the premier beverage alcohol event with the latest brands and labels from emerging and established producers.

1.) People love to read about and look at food almost as much as they love to eat it. Almost!

Get ready to be Floored!

Follow the NRA Show's blog "Floored" and be in on the exciting happenings already taking place in preparation for 2009's big event.

Actually, right now attendees can take advantage of our early-bird special:

• $30 for NRA Show
• $85 for NRA Show and IWSB

So, you can get your badge now through Dec. 1 for 25 percent off the regular price of admission. Now that's a deal if we ever saw one.

Press and exhibitors - registration opens for you on Nov. 3. Stay tuned for details.

In the meantime, check out all the fabulous things Floored! covered at NRA Show 2008.