NRA Show Blog

Share Your NRA Show Story contest rockets to the moon

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The National Restaurant Association’s annual NRA Show is as inspiring as a trip to the moon, according to last year’s “Share Your NRA Show Story" contestant Sharon Ako of Inspiration Corporation in Chicago.

Sharon Ako's NRA Show story: "I currently work for Inspiration Corporation located in the Uptown area of Chicago. I never attended an NRA show until I began working at my current job. My husband and I...are always impressed with the new food items, equipment and presentations. I have many memorable moments like the year when we purchased salt and pepper shakers that were actually on Oprah's favorite thing's list. Most of all I delight in sharing all the new innovative ideas with my culinary classes so they also can share in my culinary experience and know what the future of culinary holds. It's like going to the moon and coming back to tell all the Nasa students what it was like."

How has the NRA Show or International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event inspired you? The National Restaurant Association wants to hear your success stories from its NRA Show and IWSB. Tell us how the NRA Show or IWSB has made a difference to your business on the official NRA Show Facebook page and win—the story with the most votes will receive a Kindle Fire!

How restaurants are balancing traditional word of mouth and social media

 
An original video by The Food Channel: Social media in action

Apps, apps and more apps! It truly is about the user experience whether it be from traditional methods to a smartphone or a tablet. The Food Channel discovered what happens when the technology world collides with the restaurant world. Every year, the National Restaurant Association hosts a big show [the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show] inside McCormick Place in Chicago—set for its new dates May 5-8. It's where food vendors, manufacturers, marketers and, really, anyone who's in the business of food comes to find out the latest, greatest, and biggest new products and ideas. 

According to the National Restaurant Association's 2012 Restaurant Industry Forecast, 93 percent of all adults questioned said they likely would choose a restaurant to dine in based on recommendations from family or friends.

New education sessions focus on franchise issues at NRA Show 2012

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (held at its new dates May 5-8 at Chicago's McCormick Place) has teamed up with Franchise Times to host a series of education sessions designed to provide insight into current industry issues affecting restaurant franchisees and franchisors. 

Top industry leaders and experts will gather to discuss trends, strategies and best practices addressing everything from how to franchise your restaurant and pros and cons of being a restaurant franchisee, to how to grow your restaurant business and how the modern day franchise model is changing.

“Together with Franchise Times, we’ve assembled top experts and thought leaders to address concerns impacting restaurant franchising today,” said Jack Crawford, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2012 and President and CEO of Ground Round Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC. “Our hope is that by offering this series of sessions, we can provide attendees with the tools and insight they need to succeed and thrive in the foodservice industry.”

NRA Show 2012: Tips for the international attendee

By Tatiana Vieira Green, International Contributor

Every year, product innovation, culinary knowledge and big ideas are found around every corner at the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and its sib event the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB). NRA Show 2012 is set for its new dates May 5-8, IWSB will be held May 6-7, at Chicago’s McCormick Place. 

With show-goers from more than 100 countries, international attendees now have access to valuable information about this year’s events and attractions, speakers, as well as helpful tips on how to book travel arrangements in several languages: Chinese (Traditional), English (British), French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

Big Bite Chicago: International Flavors at NRA Show

 
An original documentary series by The Food Channel: Classics from the [NRA] Show Floor

Interested in learning more? Register and save up to 50 percent for the 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB).

You can also find the NRA Show and IWSB on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.

Big Bite Chicago: Inside the NRA Show

 
An original documentary series by The Food Channel: Classics from the [NRA] Show Floor

Every year, the National Restaurant Association hosts a big show [the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and its sib event the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event] inside McCormick Place in Chicago. It's where food vendors, manufacturers, marketers and, really, anyone who's in the business of food comes to find out the latest, greatest, and biggest new products and ideas. 

The Food Channel has produced this documentary series in order to give you a little of the behind-the-scenes flavor of the show. We'll tell you the history as well as the trends that we saw emerging on the show floor, and perhaps whet your appetite for more trade information from those in the know. Enjoy, learn, and experience the National Restaurant Association at its best! 

For more information, and to register for up to 50 percent savings for NRA Show and IWSB 2012, go to www.restaurant.org/show or www.winespiritsbeer.org. You can also find the NRA Show and IWSB on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.

Reposted from The Food Channel

Oneida serves new dinnerware, flatware designs

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Just in time for the 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show−Oneida is serving up four new tableware designs for luxury, fine and casual dining. The new patterns arguably expand on the success of the tableware titan’s powerful product portfolio. 

“We’re especially excited about the visual and tactile elements of these designs and of their ability to enhance the dining experience,” said Oneida Senior Vice President Design and Advertising Paul Gebhardt.

• Surrey is the company’s newest addition to the luxury dining Wedgwood Collection. Timeless and contemporary, Surrey's warm Maxadura body color presents generous plating surfaces. 
• Circa is the newest addition to the fine dining category’s Sant Andrea Collection. Circa is simply beautiful and elegant on any tabletop. 
• Atlas is one of two new patterns in the casual dining category. Atlas is a pairing of a design-forward hammered finish and a classic architecturally inspired border.
  
• Acclivity is a pattern that showcases both form and function, with a recessed element at the handle center that stands out with a bright mirror finish. The brightly polished teardro handle creates both visual and tactile appeal.

Visit Oneida at NRA Show 2012, set for its new dates May 5-8 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

For more information, and to register for up to 50 percent savings for NRA Show and IWSB 2012, go to www.restaurant.org/show or www.winespiritsbeer.org. You can also find the NRA Show and IWSB on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.

Top Chef stars Blais, Mendelsohn and Viviani to host Restaurants Rock

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Three of Bravo’s Top Chef reality show’s biggest stars – Richard Blais, Spike Mendelsohn and Fabio Viviani – will be harnessing their star power to help raise funds for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) ProStart program at Restaurants Rock. The three celebrity chefs will host the second annual party held on Sunday, May 6, 2012 during the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (set for its new dates May 5-8 at Chicago’s McCormick Place), and will conduct live cooking demos on the NRA Show floor in the World Culinary Showcase on Sunday, May 6. 

Restaurants Rock is the official all-industry party of the NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) and will celebrate the spirit of the restaurant and hospitality industry. The event, sponsored by Crown Imports, will feature Bravo’s Top Chef stars Blais, Mendelsohn and Viviani, live music, as well as an action-packed live mixology competition to crown the IWSB Star of the Bar. Proceeds from Restaurants Rock will support the NRAEF’s ProStart program – a nationwide, two-year program that unites industry and the classroom to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice leaders.

On the menu: A red-hot Valentine’s Day recipe

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

While dining out remains a popular choice for Americans to celebrate Valentine’s Day, new National Restaurant Association research shows that nearly one-third would also like to receive a restaurant gift card on February 14. However, men show a much stronger preference for restaurant gift cards as a Valentine’s Day gift than women do at nearly half. 

“Celebrating the occasion with a special meal will be on the menu for one-quarter of Americans this February 14, but those who opt to give restaurant gift cards as gifts will, in a sense, extend the holiday to have a special meal another day,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the National Restaurant Association.

Given a list of six Valentine’s Day gift options and asked which one they would most like to receive as a Valentine’s Day gift, 31 percent of adults favored restaurant gift cards, followed by jewelry, clothing/apparel, flowers, chocolate and perfume/cologne.

When broken down by gender:

• 46 percent of men favored restaurant gift cards
• 16 percent of men opted for clothing/apparel
• 12 percent of men desired chocolate
• 37 percent of women preferred jewelry
• 23 percent of women favored flowers
• With restaurant gift cards coming in third at 13 percent

Honoring innovative restaurant operators

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The National Restaurant Association will honor operators who drive the industry ahead with passion and commitment during the 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, set for its new dates May 5-8 at Chicago's McCormick Place. From now through March 7, you can nominate outstanding operators (including yourself) for these first-ever awards.

The industry-first awards will celebrate the best the industry has to offer in innovation in five distinct categories: 

• Technology Applications
• Sustainability
• Menu Development
• Food Safety
• and Health & Nutrition

An independent panel of industry experts will narrow nominations down to three finalists in each category. During Destination:Celebration, the must-attend after-party (Saturday, May 5), the winners in each of the five categories, as well as the Innovator of the Year will be revealed.  

Learn more and submit your nominations. For more information, and to register for up to 50 percent savings for NRA Show and IWSB 2012, go to www.restaurant.org/show or www.winespiritsbeer.org. You can also find us on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedinand YouTube.