NRA Show Blog

Tricked Out Halloween Recipes

 
By Kristina Vanni

Are you a Trick or a Treat? With Halloween right around the corner, Floored!'s "Hot Chef Fridays" guest blogger Kristina Vanni serves up delicious "trick" or "treat" recipes to help adults and kids alike get in the spooky spirit. 
 
Adapting what is traditionally considered “kid’s cuisine” for an adult palate was one of the culinary trends for 2009. For today’s ghastly “trick,” we will show you how to transform the Halloween classic, caramel apples, into a more sophisticated dish for adults. Think of this pie as a “grown-up caramel apple.” All of your favorite flavors, no stick necessary!
 
For a step-by-step video instruction on how to prepare this recipe for “Caramel Apple Pie” click here:    (Note Floored! readers: Yep, that's our very own Kristina Vanni in the video serving up tips in the Better Homes and Gardens test kitchens.)
 
Caramel Apple Pie

The ever-popular showstopper

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The National Restaurant Association's annual NRA Show has had its finger on the pulse of moving the industry forward for over 90 years. Celebrity chefs, top restaurateurs and leading industry pros from across the country and around the world (109 countries in 2009) come together every year to see and sample the future.

Are you feeling a bit left out of the mix? Don't be! We encourage you to see and be seen, to listen and learn, to speak and be heard. It's never too late (or early for that matter!) to get in on the action. Keep abreast of the latest news, updates and discussions. Staying connected with the NRA Show, the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) and industry is now possible 365 days a year. Impossible you say? Think again! You can find us in a not-so-distant land we affectionately call "social-media land": Join, follow and watch your community in action.

While you're at it, register and save big on the upcoming NRA Show (May 22-25) and IWSB (May 23-24), held at Chicago's McCormick Place.

On a side note (or dish!), nationally acclaimed pastry chef, cookbook author, TV personality and NRA Show dessert darling Gale Gand offers up this sweet recipe to help temporarily appease your NRA Show craving. Enjoy!

Honey-Almond Crunch Cake

"Hot Chef" Fridays kick-off

by guest blogger Kristina Vanni

Hello, Floored! readers! It is an honor for me to bring you the first installment of “Hot Chef Fridays.” Each Friday for the remainder of 2009 I will be writing about simple and delicious seasonal cuisine, festive holiday fare and, of course, hot trends in the culinary world. 

For the past year I have been drawing upon the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot” in 2009 chef survey results when developing and testing recipes. I can’t wait for the 2010 list!  The Association’s survey of American Culinary Federation chefs is the industry’s ultimate culinary forecast. More than 1,600 ACF professional chefs nationwide ranked nearly 210 culinary items as a "hot trend," "yesterday's news" or "perennial favorite."
 
One of these “hot trends” for 2009 is “new” cuts of meat.  What does this mean exactly?  As far as I know, cows haven’t really changed, so how do we get “new” cuts of meat?  With research and creative innovations, butchers have found ways to break down parts such as the chuck and round into new cuts.  Flat iron steak, Denver steak, and the Petite Tender are just a few examples.  For more information on these new cuts, check out the Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association. There is also a wonderful article from The New York Times explaining how the Beef Board discovered these new cuts.

NRA Show, IWSB convention team celebrates first-ever baby shower

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Happy baby! National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show executive Mary Pat Heftman’s right-hand sidekick Rosemary Murphy and husband will soon be trading sleep for joy.

There’s a reason celebrity chefs, star restaurateurs and leading industry professionals from around the world flock to the NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) annually. These ultimate event planners know how to throw a not-to-be-missed party (er, and first-ever baby shower). 

Congratulations to the proud soon-to-be parents. We hope you enjoy every minute with your little girl.

Re-inventing mobile food one tweet at a time

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Kogi BBQ was a smash hit when it rolled into Chicago for NRA Show 2009 this past May. As we reported in April, Chef Roy Choi and his team have set their sights on re-inventing the mobile food concept in an exciting manner.

The way in which they build their customer following might surprise you. Take note, Kogi was one of the first restaurant concepts (did we mention it’s a food truck?) to successfully harness the power of the social networking site Twitter to attract customers and keep them coming back for more.

Mobile food continues to gain in popularity across the country. With more than 100 known food truck brands now in the U.S., and sustainable customer growth potential in urban markets, this restaurant kitchen on wheels could be set for a long road-trip. Scout out Kogi and other food trucks on Twitter to find out where they will park next.

We appreciate that Kogi sees themselves as, "just your everyday LA taco truck that happens to use Twitter,” said Kogi BBQ spokesperson Alice Shin. However, this “everyday taco truck” uses social media so successfully, it’s quickly becoming the example to follow on more than just Twitter.

Photo by: Eric Shin

Guy Fieri Crowns "Hot Chef" Grilling Challenge Winner Next "Top Hog"

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

It comes as no surprise to us here at Floored! that celebrity chef and grilling master Guy Fieri crowned Kristina Vänni the National Pork Board’s “Next Pork Personality” after a live grilling showdown at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival. After all, the National Restaurant Association recognized Vänni as the NRA Show 2009 “Hot Chef" Grilling Challenge winner back in May, 2009.

Vänni’s "Hot Chef" Grilling Challenge winning video submitted on the NRA Show YouTube™ channel featured her preparing maple-Dijon glazed grilled Arctic char with a cucumber, fennel and radish salad, grilled bread cheese with cloudberry preserves and a lingonberry-cardamom martini (yum!). Vänni received a trip to the NRA Show in Chicago and a spot in the Culinary Scene among top chefs and master butchers including Rick Bayless, Marcus Samuelsson, Chris Cosentino and many others.

“Not only did Vänni wow the judges with a presentation that would entertain any food fan, but she also brought an ‘off-da-hook’ recipe that really showcased the great flavor and versatility of my favorite protein – pork,” said Fieri.

Chicago Salutes Sodexo Schools President

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Kudos to Lorna Donatone, president, Sodexo School Services and convention chair for the 2009 edition of the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. Donatone was recognized at an October 14 awards ceremony in Chicago by the Chicago Alliance of Women with its prestigious Women of Achievement Award.

Not surprisingly, Chicago has had a love affair with Donatone for many years. Donatone works extensively throughout Chicago. As Sodexo School Services president, Donatone oversees student nutrition programs for more than 40 public school districts in and around Chicago, and close to 500 nationwide.

Donatone’s reach and involvement in Chicago extends well beyond school districts. She is a member of the board for Chicago-based Entertainment Cruises, Inc. and also serves on the board of directors and executive committee for the National Restaurant Association and believes the NRA Show (held at Chicago’s McCormick Place) is the number one place to “find new ideas and solutions to today’s foodservice industry challenges.”

The Price Is Right

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief
 
Housing for NRA Show® 2010, held May 22-25, 2010, and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB), held May 23-24, 2010, in Chicago, Illinois is now open. NRA Show Official Housing is your ultimate go-to source to find great hotel deals that fit any travel budget.

This year’s hotel rates are irresistibly priced. NRA Show Official Housing gives you the ability to quickly and easily customize your search to view exclusive rates, property descriptions and current availability. A reduced hotel rate sheet will allow you to see exactly how much you’ll save over last year.

There are countless reasons that the NRA Show and IWSB will exceed your expectations. As the ultimate destination where the entire restaurant and foodservice industry comes together to discover the future, rub shoulders with industry leaders and megastars, and learn from leading experts and trendsetters, Chicago offers a tantalizing backdrop for the NRA Show.

Bring On The Experts, Trend-Setters

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

As the industry’s most colossal restaurant and foodservice marketplace, industry leaders and trend-setters are encouraged to share their expertise and best practices with attendees at NRA Show 2010 and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB).

Education sessions are an important and exciting part of the NRA Show and IWSB programming, and each year these events strive to provide attendees with a wide range of topics and speakers to help improve their business now and into the future. The National Restaurant Association is now welcoming proposals from individuals and companies, both large and small, to share insights and expertise into the hottest topics of today and beyond.
 
Do you think you have what it takes to engage, excite and inform attendees looking for ideas and solutions? Here are some helpful tips when submitting education session proposals. Remember, ideal proposals should focus on current trends and solutions to help restaurant and foodservice operators succeed while positioning themselves for long-term growth, without highlighting specific products or services. Best practices and expertise are preferred.

NRA Show 2010 and IWSB education session proposals may be submitted in five categories:

Going for Gold, 2016 Olympics

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief
  
Today is decision day for the 2016 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee will select one of four cities in the running: Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo.

Which city do you support? If you're still not sure, take a look at the candidate cities for the upcoming Games and learn more about how choosing a city works. Tell us how you plan to celebrate today's victor.

Watch the IOC voting session live today.

Best of luck to all four candidate cities!