NRA Show Blog

Falling in Love (Over Food)

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Have you made your dinner reservations yet for Valentine's Day? If not, you'd better get on it right away (time's a ticking!). These restaurants are creating mood-setting recipes to warm your heart.

Acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson's C-House will be stirring up the perfect love potion with a three course tasting menu coupled with a glass of sparkling wine (the menu will be available Friday, February 12 through Valentine's Day).

C-House's sibling rooftop bar C-View is offering a Love Potion 29. For $29 per person (Friday, Feb. 12 - Feb. 14, no reservations required), enjoy: A bottle of Santome Prosecco plus your choice of: Potion #1 - Raspberry - Thyme; Potion #2 - Ginger - Lemongrass (this blogger's personal fave), or Potion #3 - Strawberry.

Pastry chef Toni Roberts of C-House will be serving up chocolates, cookies and confections to pair with your choice of "potion."

Upscale French-Vietnamese Le Colonial restaurant embraces the allure and spirit of 1920s French colonial Southeast Asia. Enjoy a $50 prix-fixe menu, featuring all the favorites and several specials. If you prefer to make it a "bar night," enjoy champagne and Scotch specials and the aphrodisiac bar menu.

For the "Breakfast (out of) Bed" romantic

If you're the type who enjoys Sunday Brunch - after all, Valentine's Day is on a Sunday this year - over the prix-fixe dinner route, then ZED451 holds the key to your heart. The restaurant is offering a $24 Sunday Brunch with a champagne toast for two.

C-House and Le Colonial are participating in the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show 2010 International Back of the House Restaurant Tour set for Monday, May 24 in Chicago.

A Gourmet Way to Embrace 2010

 
By Kristina Vanni

This year I was lucky enough to celebrate New Year's in style at the extraordinary Affinia Hotel Chicago, along with the culinary offerings of celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson's C-House restaurant. 
 
The recently renovated property features custom designed guest rooms with a bi-level entry that creates a residential feeling. I immediately felt right at home, and was very pleased with the array of features offered by the hotel. My favorite was the “pillow menu” (Buckwheat, Swedish Memory, Magnetic Therapy, Sound, Down and Hypo-Allergenic) where guests are offered a la carte sleeping options.
 
Upon leaving the hotel to explore the Magnificent Mile and to grab some lunch at Gino’s East next door, I was greeted by the attentive and knowledgeable concierge. He offered a “fast pass” to the front of the line at the iconic pizzeria, which proved priceless as I passed by the long line of diners waiting outside in the freezing Chicago cold!
 
The highlight of the Affinia Chicago is chef Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant, C-House. After dining at his restaurant Aquavit in New York City, I eagerly anticipated the decadent New Year’s Eve menu and wine pairings.

NRA Show Regular Samuelsson Moments Away From Serving Tonight’s First Obama W.H. State Dinner

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

News just dropped that Marcus Samuelsson, chef (executive chef of C-House in Chicago and others around the country, world) and author of recently published New American Table and a regular participant at the National Restaurant Association’s annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will prepare a largely vegetarian menu at tonight’s first state dinner under the Obama White House in honor of India’s prime minister Dr. Manhohan Singh and wife Mrs. Gursharan Kaur. 

Mrs. Obama worked closely with Guest Chef Marcus Samuelsson and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford and her team to create a menu that reflects the best of American cuisine, continuing the White House’s commitment to serving fresh, sustainable and regional food, and honors the culinary excellence and flavors that are present in Indian cuisine. Herbs and lettuces are harvested from the White House Kitchen Garden.

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.