NRA Show Blog

Hurricane Sandy: 'Waffle House Index' Guides FEMA

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Two red, two yellow.

What sounds like a child sorting Halloween hard candies this year doubles as something a bit more important to state and federal disaster-management officials: the Waffle House Index for Hurricane Sandy.

Two Waffle Houses near Allentown, Pa., were closed, and two in Maryland were open but serving a limited menu, according to Waffle House spokesperson Kelly Thrasher. All were without electricity; the open ones had gas and water. At this time, all four restaurants are open on generator power, with fully restored power soon.

Thrasher summarized the Index: when an official phones a Waffle House and the restaurant is open and serving the full menu, the index is Green. When the restaurant is open but serving a limited menu, it's yellow. When it's closed, it's red.

Federal Emergency Management Administration head Craig Fugate devised the index after leading Florida's response to several hurricanes in the 2000s. Based on the 24-hour restaurant chain's hardy reputation and presence across the Southeast, it is an informal yet handy way to assess an area's post-calamity condition.

This allows officials to do quick disaster-relief triage: red areas need help first, and fast.

Disaster help available for restaurants affected by Hurricane Sandy

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief   In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, many have suffered property damage, and millions of individuals and businesses on the East Coast have lost power, with New York and New Jersey among the states hardest hit by the storm. With winds registering in the 80-mile-per-hour range, "Sandy" made landfall Oct. 29 in New Jersey, wreaking havoc from the Jersey shore to Atlantic City to Hoboken. Along the entire Eastern Seaboard, heavy flooding and other damage has caused a number of small businesses, including restaurants, to shutter at least temporarily. President Obama has declared states of disaster in New York, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia, and has allocated federal emergency aid to assist individuals in those areas. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, funding is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures. Other assistance could include low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.

TGI Follow Friday Frenzy: $25 iTunes Gift Card Up for Grabs

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief



TGIF! Do you feel the energy in the crisp, fall air? That curiously awesome vibe? That’s right. It’s Friday. And whether or not you worked hard this week, you deserve a drink — responsibly, of course. What beverage will you reach for when the 5 o’clock whistle blows? Tell us at the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show Facebook page for a chance at a $25 iTunes gift card (ends Sunday, 10/28 at 3 p.m. CST).
 

Plus as a bonus, foodservice professionals who register online today only (Friday, 10/26) can save up to 60 percent with the early-bird discount, and be entered for a chance to win a $150 American Express cash card. 

NRA Show 2013: $150 cash giveaway ends Oct. 26

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The National Restaurant Association's NRA Show 2013 and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event are giving away a $150 American Express cash card to one lucky guy or gal who registers by Friday, October 26th. 

Six $150 winners so far... Hattie Roberson, Erical Group, Inc. Rocco Zaccardi, Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants Rocco Agostino, Gioir Sempre Gian Ricco, Stout Risius Rpss Nancy Elsworth, MMMMM... Cheesecake Grace Cuttle, Jake's Boathouse Pat Lee, Phonatic Vietnamese Your Name Here

NRA Show 2013: A Rich Opportunity for Food and Beverage Distributors

By Derrek J. Hull and Aaron Adams



The annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show has held distinction as the biggest foodservice trade show in the world for nearly a century. This comes not just from the sheer quantity of exhibitors and attendees, but the breadth and depth of distributors, operators, manufacturers, industry experts, press, bloggers, plus more who converge from all corners of the industry and the globe. It’s given the NRA Show a reputation for featuring everything and anything foodservice professionals could be looking for — plus a host of serendipitous opportunities one could never plan.

With attendance trending upward for the last several years, NRA Show 2013 (taking place May 18-21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place) promises one of the biggest turnouts yet. And this creates a particularly rich opportunity for distributors. 

Why rich? Because one of the best places a distributor can be is plugged into the very latest trends — or even better — ahead of them. And the NRA Show is the single greatest opportunity to:

• Experience trends first-hand and learn directly from the people behind them
• Interact with large, well-known names alongside emerging innovators for the very first time
• See, touch and taste what they believe is the next big thing – and there’s only one place that happens 

Get to Know Your Chef: Live Online Chat with Chef Homaro Cantu

via campaign.r20.constantcontact.com

Just hours from now Chef Homaro Cantu of Moto and iNG restaurants fame will answer your questions live online.

Sign up for free to tune into Cantu conducting a live chat with the team at the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show today (Oct. 23rd) at 3 p.m. Eastern / 2 p.m. Central / 12 p.m. Pacific.

Register now.

Oct. 23rd: Live Q&A with Chef Homaro Cantu

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

 

Chef Homaro Cantu led the foodservice industry's elite on a psychedelic, scientific, gastronomic journey at this year's National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. Now he's inviting you to learn more about Miracle Berries "flavor tripping" in a live online chat and re-broadcast of his World Culinary Showcase demonstration at the NRA Show.

Join us tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT, Tuesday, Oct. 23, for this free event. Register today. 

Related articles

Cooking as alchemy: Homaro Cantu + Ben Roche on TED.com

NRA Show, International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event Extend Run in Chicago Through 2021

Food and Beverage Innovators: The 2013 FABI Awards are open

Editorial: At Charlie Trotter's, a vision of greatness, a memory of perfection

Restaurant News: Moto Gets TV Show, Homestead Closes For Season

Four $150 winners so far, four winners to go

Follow Friday Frenzy contest: Your top Halloween treat

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief



This Friday's Follow Friday Frenzy question is brought to you by Halloween.

QUESTION: What is your top Halloween treat for fright night?

Participate by clicking here and you could win a $20 Amazon gift card! Plus, if you have a recipe for your favorite spooktacular treat, we’ll share it with the foodie universe right here at the NRA Show blog. 

(Ends Sunday, 10/21 at 12pm CST) 

Spider Cupcakes

1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 pound black shoestring licorice 
1 (16 ounce) can white frosting
48 pieces candy corn
48 cinnamon red hot candies
1/4 cup orange decorator sugar

Restaurants, patrons invited to share examples of outstanding community service

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

  

Restaurants’ charitable contributions are estimated at $3 billion annually, and more than nine out of 10 restaurants are actively involved in community service. To recognize these efforts, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) encourages the nation’s nearly one million restaurants to apply for its 2013 Restaurant Neighbor Award. 

The Association is also accepting nominations from patrons who have seen first-hand how restaurants support their communities, including patrons and employees.

The NRA and Restaurant Neighbor Award founding partner American Express developed the award to raise awareness about the restaurant industry’s contributions in local communities. Application/nomination forms are accepted online at Restaurant.org/Community until January 7, 2013. The NRA will also accept nominations through its social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter. 

The annual Restaurant Neighbor Award is presented to restaurants that exemplify the industry’s community support and philanthropic spirit. Four national winners will each receive a $5,000 contribution to their charitable projects. The national winners will be presented the awards in Washington, D.C., in April 2013, and be recognized on the NRA’s website. 

Food and Beverage Innovators: The 2013 FABI Awards are open

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Until now the National Restaurant Association (NRA) has called it the Food and Beverage Product Innovations Awards but because they figure you're busy innovating — those crazy kids at the NRA have made it faster and easier to say. Now called FABI Awards, it's the same coveted award, with a more memorable, user-friendly name.

A panel of who's-who restaurant operator experts representing all commercial and non-commercial segments is on the hunt for bold imagination in food and beverage products — be it a new flavor concept, improved nutritional profile or increased cost/labor efficiencies.

Award recipients represent the most innovative consumable products in the market today. The awards will be presented in front of the restaurant/foodservice universe at the 2013 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (set for May 18-21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place).