NRA Show Blog

Noteworthy chefs, restaurateurs talk tech, marketing to today's diners at FOOD & WINE Classic

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Moderated by award-winning journalist Steve Dolinsky, today's Tech Talk: Marketing to Today's Diner seminar included a diverse group of restaurant industry notables, including: José Andrés, Rick Bayless, Bernardo Hernandez and Danny Meyer.

The panelists shared lots of great tips and insights about how they harness emerging technology to communicate their brand and core values. 

Follow me: Catch my live updates from the F&W Classic here on the blog and on our social pages: Facebook and Twitter @NRAShow. You can also follow the F&W Classic and American Express Restaurant Trade Program on Twitter with hashtags #fwclassic and #amextrade.  

Celebrity chef watch: What shall I ask the culinary masters while I'm in Aspen? Comment here. 

Restaurant Trade Program kicks off at FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen

Jacques Pepin, Gail Simmons and Ming Tsai enjoy a glass of wine in the courtyard of the Grand Tasting Pavilion

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Celeb chefs, restaurant and hospitality industry pros are gathering in Aspen today through June 16th for the 23rd annual American Express Restaurant Trade Program. This feature of the Classic consists of a Kick-off Party, two Afternoon Saloons, two Power Lunches, and four panel discussions offering insights from some of the country's brightest culinary stars.  

"For over two decades, American Express has supported and strengthened the restaurant industry year-round through initiatives like the Restaurant Trade Program," said Curtis Wilson, Vice President and General Manager of the Restaurant and Lodging Industries Group at American Express.

I’ll be attending several of the trade program sessions during the Classic.

First on my list is the Tech Talk: Marketing to Today's Diner session, featuring José Andrés, Rick Bayless, Bernardo Hernandez and Danny Meyer. The panelists will discuss how they have harnessed the power of emerging technology such as Twitter or Facebook, e-mail, newsletters or on-premise promotions and events to communicate their brand and core values to guests and impact the bottom line.

10 FOOD & WINE Classic moments to watch this weekend

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

I'm headed to Aspen, Colorado tomorrow to attend the 30th anniversary Food & Wine Classic. This epicurean event will offer food and wine lovers a once-in-a-lifetime experience with ten new exciting features including the first-ever, live music concert, a 5K charity run alongside cheflebrities (yes, yours truly will be running...wish me luck!), as well as a late-night dessert party. 

The annual F&W Classic will give visitors, including newbies like me, lots of opportunities to get up-close and personal with culinary masters and rising stars that I'll be blogging about live from the event, including: Rick Bayless, Mario Batali, Gail Simmons, José Andrés, Giada DeLaurentiis, Danny Meyer, Tim Love, Anita Lo, Tom Colicchio, plus more.

Highlights from this year's line-up to watch include:

• 30th anniversary fireworks display on Thursday, June 14th will welcome attendees to Aspen
• FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen 5K Charity Run hosted by Bobby Flay, benefiting F&W's Grow food Good Initiative, held on Friday, June 15th.
• Buthery for Beginners culinary demonstration with Chef John Besh
• 2012 FOOD & WINE Best New Chefs will be on display in the Grand Tasting Pavilion throughout the entire weekend, giving attendees a chance to meet emerging culinary talents.
• New seminar formats including an audience-driven Q&A with Giada DeLaurentiis and a panel discussion moderated by FOOD & WINE Editor-in-Chief Dana Cowin with Thomas Keller, Tom Colicchio and Grant Achatz.
• The Classic Cook-off (I'm told this is arguably everyone's favorite event), featuring Bobby Flay and Michael Symon vs. Jacques Pépin and Jean-Claude Szurdak
• Last Bite, a late-night dessert party hosted by Gail Simmons, featuring star pastry chef Johnny Izzuni, on Friday, June 15th. 
• A special anniversary concert, held Saturday, June 16th at the Benedict Music Tent. I'll be on the lookout for Mario Batali, José Andrés, Michel Nischan and others who will kick off the evening with a dinner benefitting their charitable initiatives through FOOD & WINE's Chefs Make Change.
• Interactive, hands-on knife skills classes, presented by Sur La Table
• New sponsor Lot 18 is the must-go spot to buy many of the wines that the F&W Classic audience will be tasting and enjoying throughout the weekend. 

The F&W Classic starts Friday, June 15, and ends Sunday, June 17.

Follow me: Catch my live updates from the F&W Classic here on the blog and on our social pages: Facebook and Twitter @NRAShow. You can also follow the F&W Classic on Twitter with hashtag #fwclassic.  

Celebrity chef watch: What shall I ask the culinary masters while I'm in Aspen? Comment here. 

ProStart students benefit from NRA Show exhibitor donations

ProStart students stir it up with Top Chef's Richard Blais on World Culinary Showcase stage

Posted by NRA Show Staff

ProStart students will start the next school year with more professional equipment to enhance their culinary education.

The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show donated four skids of equipment to six ProStart schools in Illinois and northern Indiana. The items included commercial-grade pots and pans, baking sheets, measuring cups and spoons, and storage containers, as well as plastic steam-table pans and Villeroy-Boch plates.

The items were used in cooking demonstrations in the NRA Show's World Culinary Showcase and other culinary events.

Top Chef bad boy Stefan Richter brings no-holds-barred style to stage

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Bravo's Top Chef season 5 visionaire Stefan Richter brought his no-holds-barred style to the World Culinary Showcase stage at the 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show for the second year running.

Presented by Vitamix, Chef Richter, owner of numerous restaurants in Southern California and his native Finland, prepared several delectable dishes, including a decadent foie gras plate. 

For news and updates year-round, join the NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.  

Food Network stars Judson Allen and Malcolm Mitchell join in jingle jam fun

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The wholesome goodness of Simpli OatShakes inspired a whole lot of musical fun at the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show 2012 last month in Chicago. Food Network stars Judson Allen and Malcolm Mitchell joined in a jingle jam session with the singing OatShake sisters. 

 For news and updates year-round, join the NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube. 

Chef Richard Blais, ProStart students team up to present flavor-packed dishes at NRA Show 2012

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Winner of Bravo's Top Chef All-Stars and Chef/Owner Richard Blais of Flip burger boutique, HD-1 and The Spence was back by popular demand at World Culinary Showcase at the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show last month in Chicago.  

Assisted by ProStart students from Southern Wisconsin, Chef Blais presented a selection of flavor-packed dishes to a standing-room-only crowd. And while Chef Blais is known to employ modern techniques and ingredients, he's all about flavor first! 

For news and updates year-round, join the NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.  

NRA Show Photo Challenge: Four Days of Firsts

My first photo with Cheflebrity Todd English at NRA Show 2012

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

In just four days, attendees at the 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and its sibling the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) took with them a year’s worth of new solutions and ideas.

The NRA Show featured demonstrations and book signings by celebrity chefs and well-known restaurateurs throughout all four days at the World Culinary Showcase. 

More than 1,900 companies showcased innovations in technology, franchising, equipment, food and beverages, décor and design, human resources, marketing, payment processing and other services. In addition to the exhibiting companies, the NRA Show and IWSB featured education sessions covering a wide range of topics, as well as several areas promoting specialty products or services, such as Ask the Design Experts, American Food Fair, Conserve Solutions Center, Kids Fare Pavilion, International Cuisine Pavilion, Organic & Natural Pavilion and Technology Pavilion.

Other highlights of the NRA Show and IWSB included the Operator Innovations Awards, the IWSB Star of the Bar Mixology Competition, the Kitchen Innovations Awards, Food and Beverage Product Innovations Awards, and a keynote address by former President Bill Clinton.

While four days of firsts could mean that you snapped a photo with a celebrity chef—such as Rick Bayless, Maneet Chauhan, and Richard Blais, or spotted the latest gadgets and gizmos—you could interpret four days of firsts in many different ways.

How to Enter the Photo Challenge

New York Times, others oppose NYC Mayor Bloomberg's ban on large sugary drinks

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

In an editorial titled "A Ban Too Far," The New York Times joined a chorus of others including the National Restaurant Association and New York State Restaurant Association in decrying New York City Michael Bloomberg's proposed ban on large sugar-sweetened drinks in restaurants.

"Promoting healthy lifestyles is important ... But too much nannying with a ban might well cause people to tune out," the paper said of the mayor's May 30 proposal to prohibit restaurants from selling more than 16-ounce servings of many beverages.

"The administration should be focusing its energies on programs that educate and encourage people to make sound choices," according the the editorial.

Also weighing in: Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Mayor Bloomberg's large-soda ban would "combine the draconian government overreach people love with the probable lack of results they expect," Stewart said.

The National Restaurant Association strongly opposes the proposed ban and has joined forces with the New York State Restaurant Association and other groups to fight it. The proposal will be formally presented to the New York City Board of Health June 12, with a vote expected within three months.

Restaurant industry outlook remains solidly positive for coming months

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The outlook for the restaurant industry remains positive for the coming months, as the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) stood well above 100 in April. 

The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 101.6 in April, down 0.6 percent from the strong level of 102.2 registered in March, signifying expansion in the index of key industry indicators.

“Restaurant operators reported positive same-store sales for the 11^th consecutive month, and a majority of them expect business to continue to improve in the months ahead," said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group of the National Restaurant Association.