NRA Show Blog

Dish with a Food Network Chopped judge, tomorrow (August 21)

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Sign up for our live online Q&A with Celebrity Chef Maneet Chauhan, tomorrow (August 21) at 3 p.m. Eastern / 2 p.m. Central to find out what really goes on at Food Network’s award-winning, nail-biting show Chopped, plus so much more—it costs nada, zip, zilch to participate. 

We will bring you up-to-the-minute blips and quips from the world of food—and dish—served hot and delish from one of America’s star chefs.

Chat with a Food Network Chopped judge, August 21

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Whether you missed Food Network Chopped judge Maneet Chauhan’s standing-room-only culinary demonstration from NRA Show 2012, were at the demo but didn’t get to ask your burning question, or were unable to attend the NRA Show at all, we’re giving you a second chance to learn from the best. 

Join us at 3 p.m. ET (August 21) to watch the rebroadcast of Chef Chauhan’s demo and participate in a live online Q&A, where she’ll be answering your questions throughout the duration of the session rebroadcast—find out what really goes on behind the scenes at Chopped, plus more. 

Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Time: 3pm Eastern/2pm Central/1pm Mountain/12pm Pacific
Cost: $0

Onstage at the World Culinary Showcase, Maneet delivers tips and insights into authentic Indian and Latin flavors and how to achieve them through unique and unexpected ingredients and techniques.

Register now to watch the rebroadcast of Chef Maneet's demo and participate in live online Q&A. 

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New Belgium brewing in Michigan

First ones off the line with the Michigan label...yea!

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

They're at it again. After months of anticipation, select beers from New Belgium Brewing will be available in Michigan beginning August 27. New Belgium will initially roll out 22-ounce bottles of Fat Tire, Ranger IPA, Trippel, Shift and Red Hoptober, as well as Lips of Faith offerings Super IPA (with Alpine Brewing) and Biere de Mars beginning August 27. Draft will follow in October. 

To coincide with entering the Great Lakes State, New Belgium Brewing and Michigan-based Brewery Vivant are launching the first of two collaborative beers. The first, called “Escoffier”, is being brewed in Grand Rapids and will be distributed through Brewery Vivant’s network. The beer is named after the French master chef of the same name, and crafted to go hand in hand with the food-beer experience. 

A Barrel of Drafts

Tavernita's Quixote on tap

Staying one step ahead of the pulsing scene, busy bartenders are keeping crowds happy and generating buzz by mixing cocktails in kegs and dispensing them on tap.

Would you like your cocktail shaken, stirred, or on draft? Taking their cue from the success of wine on tap (see The Tapping Point, June 2010), mixologists have expanded upon the popular practice of batching cocktails, placing their compounds in kegs that can be tapped with the ease of draft beer or wine. For a recent event celebrating the birthday of Negroni namesake Count Negroni at The Shanty in Brooklyn, New York, Allen Katz combined equal parts of his Dorothy Parker American Gin (produced at New York Distilling Company), Cinzano Sweet Vermouth, and Campari, then rolled out a barrel of the drink to a thirsty crowd of more than 260 people.

Read more

Music branding rises as restaurants seek perfect playlists

As more restaurant managers recognize the importance of music selection as part of a diner's overall experience, music-sensory branding firms such as Prescriptive Music are creating highly-tailored, carefully planned playlists that fit the restaurant's mood and theme and help drive sales. "As more restaurants are seeking to evoke all five of their customers’ senses, the right music is critical to provide a complete, elevated dining experience," said Prescriptive Music founder Allen Klevens.

Read more

McDonald's adds breakfast items to menu for night owls

 

Courtesy McDonald's 

McDonald's has started offering its most popular breakfast menu items starting at midnight at its 24-hour stores, including hotcakes and the Egg McMuffin. The fast food chain is also launching a "Nocturnivore" advertising campaign aimed at a younger demographic it hopes to attract through advertising in video games in addition to traditional channels.

Read more

Pop-up eateries provide new model for experimentation

Volunteer Park Cafe has been holding pop-up dnners for almost a year

Pop-up restaurants have become a popular tool for allowing emerging young chefs to get exposure without the investment of starting a new restaurant, and they also allow established chefs to try out new menus and dishes. Eateries typically offer the pop-ups once a month, usually on a Sunday or Monday when the restaurant would be closed. "It’s becoming the new model for lower risk foodservice without the investment required for a traditional restaurant," said director of culinary insights for the Hartman Group Melissa Abbott. 

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How to apply Apple's guest experience model to restaurants

Restaurants can learn a lesson from the customer experience model of Apple's stores, writes Forbes columnist Carmine Gallo. Highly-trained employees provide the best customer service when it comes to friendliness and expertise that can be shared with the customer, which in turn gives the customer a greater appreciation for the product, such as with Apple's one-to-one computer classes in its stores. "The more they know the more likely they are to enjoy the product," Gallo writes.

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Food Network's hit show Chopped now casting former military chefs

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Food Network is looking for its next batch of contestants for a very special episode of its hit cooking competition show Chopped.  

The network is seeking skilled, dynamic and outgoing former military chefs to compete for the coveted $10,000 prize. The episode will feature four service members from any branch who previously cooked in the military and are still involved in the culinary industry.

Chefs will compete before a panel of three expert judges and must take everyday items and turn them into an extraordinary three-course meal. Course by course, the chefs will be "chopped" from the competition until only one winner remains.

Chopped is a game of passion, expertise and skill - and in the end, only one chef will survive the "Chopping Block." Who will make the cut? The answer will be on Chopped!

Do you think you have what it takes to make the cut? Chefs can apply directly online by clicking on the Chopped specials link. To learn more about Chopped, visit Food Network's Website.

Save the date! Chopped judge Maneet Chauhan, also of Iron Chef fame, will be joining us for a live online chat, answering your questions throughout the duration of a rebroadcast of her standing-room-only culinary demo at NRA Show 2012. Registration information is coming soon! 

New Belgium Brewing, G. Love and Alpine Beer Company make perfect IPA harmony

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

New Belgium Brewing’s Lips of Faith Series has proven to be the perfect opportunity for partnerships with other breweries and musicians, too. This year’s third round of Lips of Faith beers includes two collaborative efforts—Super India Pale Ale, created in tandem with Alpine Beer Company and Peach Porch Lounger, which is the result of G. Love’s and New Belgium’s mutual love for beer and music.

New Belgium and Southern California’s Alpine Beer Company came together for the love of IPAs to make Super India Pale Ale. Amarillo, Columbus, Simcoe and Centennial hops bring bitterness to the forefront, balanced with Pale, C-80 and Carapils malts. The tropical and citrus tones of the American hops dominate the flavor of the copper-colored beer (ABV is 9% and there are 70 IBUs).
  
Peach Porch Lounger is the lovechild Saison of musician G. Love and New Belgium. The glowing orange beer is a groovy mix of peaches, hominy grits, molasses and lemon peel with pale and biscuit malts. Brettanomyces yeast brings a bold, sweet nose and the beer ends with a dry finish (ABV is 9.4%).

“The ability to share passions – with brewers, musicians or anyone else – is another reason to love the creative nature of Belgian beer,” said New Belgium brewer Grady Hull.