NRA Show Blog

Travel spending highest in 6 years

The recent announcement that travel and tourism spending has increased means good news for the restaurant industry. International travelers to the United States support more than 1 million travel and tourism jobs.

The Commerce Department recently announced that real travel and tourism spending rose 8 percent in the third quarter of 2010, the greatest quarterly increase since the first quarter of 2004.

The remarkable growth last year is excellent news for small and medium-sized businesses, said Francisco Sãnchez, undersecretary of commerce for international trade. Those businessess represent more than 80 percent of the travel and tourism industry.

Hot Chef Fridays: Fall Flavors in New York City

by guest blogger Kristina Vanni

Local ingredients and organic produce were at the top of the National Restaurant Association's annual list of hottest trends in 2009. For chefs and home cooks alike, there is nothing more satisfying than browsing a local farmers market for the freshest seasonal ingredients. 
 
Chef Brandon Kida’s “Taste of Fall” menu at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in New York City embraces the ingredients of the season. It takes diners on a culinary journey as they soak in the priceless views of Central Park, while floating 35 stories up within the Manhattan skyline. Chef Kida’s contemporary cuisine reflects international influences from his travels and his Asian-American background. 

Chef Kida explains, "While traveling throughout Southeast Asia, I was inspired by the balance of tastes. This balance is always what inspires me when I create my seasonal menus." 

Hot Chef Fridays: The Wine BevBeat

by guest blogger Kristina Vanni

Organically produced foods had a strong showing on the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot” chef survey as one of the hottest culinary trends in 2009. This includes not only organic produce, but also organic wines. Being the intrepid traveler I am, I recently visited the region of Piemonte, Italy and had an opportunity to learn about the unique and diverse grape varieties of the area.  
 
The region is home to 45 Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and twelve Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wines. Are you left scratching your head trying to figure out what I’m talking about? Have no fear (and remember, everything sounds better in Italian!), this is simply an Italian quality assurance label for food products and especially wines. In order to be labeled DOC or DOCG, a product must be produced within the specified region using specific methods and that it satisfies a defined quality standard.
 
Piemonte’s wines are as abundant and distinct as the region’s beautiful landscapes – the shutterbug in you will swoon. From the light and fruity Gavi to the intense, full-bodied Barolo, this region is home to some of the most prestigious and fascinating wines.

If the wine enthusiast in you is thirsting for more about Piemonte’s many varieties, we have them defined here “by the barrel.”

The Price Is Right

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief
 
Housing for NRA Show® 2010, held May 22-25, 2010, and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB), held May 23-24, 2010, in Chicago, Illinois is now open. NRA Show Official Housing is your ultimate go-to source to find great hotel deals that fit any travel budget.

This year’s hotel rates are irresistibly priced. NRA Show Official Housing gives you the ability to quickly and easily customize your search to view exclusive rates, property descriptions and current availability. A reduced hotel rate sheet will allow you to see exactly how much you’ll save over last year.

There are countless reasons that the NRA Show and IWSB will exceed your expectations. As the ultimate destination where the entire restaurant and foodservice industry comes together to discover the future, rub shoulders with industry leaders and megastars, and learn from leading experts and trendsetters, Chicago offers a tantalizing backdrop for the NRA Show.

Now Serving: "Early Bird" Registration

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Have you heard? A special “early bird” $30 discount rate for NRA Show 2010 and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) is now available until December 1. We know what you're thinking, May is so far away, but it's really never too early to start planning your business moves for next year.

Think about it (come on, harder!), with only one trip, you can get a year's worth of ideas, products and solutions to help improve your business. With everything these two blockbuster events have going for them, you can't afford to miss NRA Show 2010 and IWSB.

"The NRA Show is huge and amazing. There's everything I love under one roof," said Stephanie Izard, chef and winner of Bravo’s Top Chef.