CHICAGO — The 2009 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will explore the hottest restaurant menu trends happening now, as well as the trends of tomorrow. Scores of food and beverage product innovations will be showcased throughout the exhibit floor, in interactive culinary demonstrations and education sessions during the event, May 16-19 at Chicago's McCormick Place. Highlighting these trends, the NRA Show will feature a top-of-the-line culinary demonstration area – the Culinary Scene – which offers viewers an interactive experience with featured chefs and butchers who will perform demonstrations. Under the theme "profitable proteins," the Culinary Scene lineup includes master butchers and top chefs preparing new, fabricated, underused and uncommon cuts of beef, pork, lamb and even alligator. This area also will showcase the winner of the 2009 NRA Show Hot Chef Grilling Challenge.
Also present at the show are several specialty pavilions highlighting some of the hottest food and drink trends, including the Organic & Natural Pavilion, International Cuisine Pavilion and American Food Fair. Held in conjunction with the Show will be the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event, which is dedicated to beverage alcohol in restaurant and hospitality outlets and will be located in an exclusive area of McCormick Place.
Many of the free education sessions at NRA Show 2009 will focus on incorporating the latest trends into restaurant and catering menus. Sessions include:
- Improving Children's Menus, One Meal at A Time – May 17, 2 p.m.
- Sodium and the Healthy Plate – May 16, 2 p.m.
- Gluten Free on the Menu: Expanding Your Customer Base – May 17, 10 a.m.
- Glocalization: Culinology to the Rescue – May 19, 10 a.m.
- On the Menu: What's Hot, What's Not, and What's Next – May 17, 12 p.m.
- Food and Style Trends on the World of Catering – May 16, 2 p.m.
- Translating International Trends into Restaurant Concepts – May 16, 12 p.m.
For a full schedule of culinary events and attractions at NRA Show 2009, as well as the full schedule of more than 65 free education sessions, visit www.restaurant.org/show.
