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9 things this editor learned about YOU at NRA

I'm introducing myself as the new Food Editor of this site, as well as starting us off with a handful of my observations about YOU, from this year's NRA meeting in Chicago.

Captain D's Head Chef Jason Henderson was just one of the fascinating individuals I encountered at this year's NRA.

June 1, 2016 by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

In case you haven’t noticed by now, I’m the new Food Editor at QSRWeb.com and pizzamarketplace.com. I imagine that strange "Shelly Whitehead" byline has prompted a few questions over the last few weeks, but nothing to fear, just a harmless old reporter moving into cover your world.

If you are interested, click here for some general details about my background as a TV and print reporter, mostly in the Greater Cincinnati area over the last few decades (Yes, I’ve got some years on me!) But the bottom line with me is that I live and breathe stories about people’s passions, particularly when it comes to the work they do.

I have found absolutely no shortage of that passion in the chefs, restaurateurs and vendors in these restaurant industry sectors over the last few weeks. It’s been invigorating and little dizzying to be truthful. But I couldn’t be happier to be covering this beat and learning more about everything all of you do.

My boss, Cherryh Cansler — because she apparently believes in trial by fire — also sent me to the National Restaurant Association's annual gathering in Chicago in late May, just to "get to know some of the people," as she put it. She failed to tell me there would be about 65,000 people for me to "get to know" at the lakefront meeting in a venue that spanned two convention centers and the space of about 2 miles. 

But as overwhelming as that space was, the people — all of you —  made it so much fun and such an interesting experience. In fact, I thought I’d just get us started here, with my Top 9 observations from my first convention. And I publish these here, along with an invitation for all of you to write me with your tips about covering this industry, as well as your scintillating story ideas.

Now here are a few of my top learnings about restaurateurs from the NRA:

1. You are funny… incredibly funny people.
2. You dress really well — much better than the average sweatsuit-wearing population.
3. You are exceptionally intelligent about food and business.
4. You have a wicked attachment to your phones that can be dangerous in large crowds.
5.  You can — for the most part — really put away some booze.
6.  You are some of the most creative individuals I have ever met both with your concepts and your lives.
7. You are passionate and nothing stops you if you get it in your mind to do something.
8.  You are — and I didn’t expect this — thin, for the most part, and fit, compared to the rest of us
9. You are bold. In fact, you’re insanely bold, almost to the point of bravery. This applies to just about anything you do, but particularly new concept ideas. And although, I'm all for unbridled experimentation when it comes to restaurant fare myself, please be careful when it comes to that approach to things like high cliffs in vacation spots and edible things that are also flammable. (Yes, somebody out here cares.) 

About S.A. Whitehead

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Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb editor Shelly Whitehead is a former newspaper and TV reporter with an affinity for telling stories about the people and innovative thinking behind great brands.