Show NEWS By NRN

It's A Wrap - Some of What You Missed or More of What You Long For

2010-05-25T16:14:00.005-04:00

Charlie Rose, host of “The Charlie Rose Show” and keynote speaker of this year’s National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, noted that restaurants are key meeting places for Americans’ most important conversations and experiences. Fittingly, the foodservice industry’s largest annual gathering once again brought operators together to learn how to serve their businesses and

Better Than 'Going for the Gold?'

2010-05-25T11:45:00.014-04:00

Winning it. Villanova's Timothy J. Dietzler last night was presented the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Gold Plate during a reception at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. Dietzler, center, is shown receiving the award from Norb Mayrhofer, left, IFMA chairman and vice president, global, for Procter & Gamble Professional, and Larry Oberkfell, right, IFMA president and

Using His Head, Feet, Tail...

2010-05-24T22:24:00.015-04:00

Chicago chef-restaurateur Rob Levitt, of Mado, on Sunday demonstrated techniques for butchering a whole pig. Levitt recently staged a series of butchering demonstrations at his North Milwaukee Avenue eatery. Attendees paid $50 each but went home with a sampling of pork cuts. An advocate of using the whole animal, his current menu includes marinated pork tongue, spicy pig head stew and

Producing in School

2010-05-24T16:32:00.020-04:00

Jeffrey McClure of Sodexo discusses using more fresh produce in school meals at the National Restaurant Association’s World Culinary Showcase, a cooking pavilion at the show that will be featuring more demonstrations today and tomorrow. -- Bret Thorn at bthorn@nrn.com --

The respect tip

2010-05-24T14:56:00.003-04:00

The respect tip is bigger than the flirtatious tip, according to Mark Hanby, director of franchise development for The Tilted Kilt, a Scottish-Irish-English-themed pub and sports bar based in Tempe, Ariz. He’s the gentleman in the picture, flanked by Lauren Muscolino (left) and Heather Green, two servers at a local unit of the five-year-old chain. There are currently 34 Tilted Kilts scattered

Author: No Kidding - Healthier Foods for Children a Serious Matter

2010-05-24T12:12:00.009-04:00

The list of restaurant chains offering healthier kids meals is growing, but there’s still a lot of work to be done, according to Pam Smith, a registered dietitian and founder of Shaping America’s Health in Orlando, Fla.Smith, a panelist during Sunday’s session “The New Kids Meals: Kid Tested, Nutritionist Approved,” pointed toward such chains as Legal Sea Foods and Red Lobster as moving in the

Drinking up show reconnaissance...

2010-05-23T19:55:00.003-04:00

Observations from Sunday’s show floor: Beverages are big. Lots of cool machines, some using touch-screen technology, to let restaurateurs and/or customers customize their own drinks. You want to dial up the espresso and down the milk in your latte? No problem. Tried delicious fruit drinks, sodas, flavored ices and smoothies. Come to think of it, food was harder to come by. Best one-liner:

It's just pickled vegetables

2010-05-23T15:20:00.006-04:00

“I don’t want any dog in mine,” said a visitor to the kimchi stand at the NRA show’s Korea pavilion, and he laughed and laughed. Get it? Because Koreans eat dog. Ha ha ha.I wanted to tell him that dog is a delicacy in Korea and they wouldn’t try to just sneak it into your food, but I’d just have been reinforcing a stereotype. Besides, David Lee and Jennifer Chon of BCD Food Incorporated didn’t

New McCormick work rules expected

2010-05-23T14:10:00.011-04:00

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, left, was expected to sign legislation Monday that would overhaul McCormick Place work rules and give Chicago convention center exhibitors more rights in setting up their displays, media outlets were reporting Sunday. A spokeswoman for the National Restaurant Association, which is only committed to Chicago for the NRA Restaurant, Hotel & Motel Show through 2011, said

Cathy in full command

2010-05-23T09:22:00.002-04:00

S. Truett Cathy was on fire last night at the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's annual Salute to Excellence. His acceptance speech for the 2010 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality distinction was at turns heartfelt and sincere, insightful and informative.But I had no idea how funny the man is. He had two pretty good jokes in his remarks, the first of which dealt

NRN@NRA Chat - Audio

2010-05-23T03:19:00.010-04:00

Geoff Alexander, of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises' Wow Bao division, was a double dipper Saturday, as he was part of two NRA Show educational sessions dealing with technology. That's Geoff, at left, checking out, what he said was one of several iPad, iPod and iPhone plays for foodservice POS. (Photo by Irene Kijak Photography) Listen to what he had to say about his sessions. PLAY NRN@NRA

Food Truck Spot

2010-05-22T19:44:00.006-04:00

I promised a peek at the new Food Truck Spot on the NRA Show floor: The Ludo Fried Chicken truck, on the top, is one of the first from new firm Mobi Munch (learn about the industry players behind that venture here), and climbing in was my first behind-the-scenes look at how mobile cuisine can work. With standard kitchen managment technology, POS systems, and room to spare for at least four

Which ’Wich to open R&D Center

2010-05-22T17:09:00.007-04:00

Jeff Sinelli, founder and boss at Dallas-based sandwich chain Which Wich, stopped by the NRN booth and, when I asked to take his picture, he immediately walked over to the promotional poster for this year’s MUFSO conference and posed in front of it. Yes, Jeff knows how to show gratitude. He’s the only restaurateur to have won two Hot Concepts awards from us, one for his Genghis Grill and the

Steve Carley stops by the booth

2010-05-22T16:06:00.004-04:00

I had a good chat with El Pollo Loco chief executive Steve Carley when he stopped by NRN’s booth this morning. He’s psyched about the chain’s steak offerings that were launched at the beginning of the year and that now account for 25 percent of the Fresh Mex section of the chain’s menu. Earlier this month the company launched the first sandwiches that they put on their permanent menu (they’ve

Restaurateurs floored!

2010-05-22T14:45:00.007-04:00

Okay - so the headline is a bit dramatic. But here's the show floor earlier today. Scott Windus Photography

Words matter

2010-05-22T14:45:00.002-04:00

While I didn't get a chance to catch their session, Tom Denari and Charlie Hopper of advertising firm Young & Laramore graciously met with me in the hallway to catch me up on the highlights of their advice for selling more with well-written menus.Just like advertising creative, marketing messages on the menu need to be concise as well as creative, Hopper and Denari told me, and cliches are to be

Twitter Patter

2010-05-22T13:36:00.005-04:00

Social-media topics are rising from nearly every corner of the NRA Show in Chicago this year -- in this case: literally. Twitter-using attendees who are posting news and observations from the show floor with the hashtag (anything preceded with a hashmark like this "#") were published instantly to flat-screen kiosks throughout the convention floor. Consultant Aaron D. Allen, founder of the

It's all happening

2010-05-22T13:31:00.003-04:00

Only three hours in and it's a foodservice frenzy.With more attendees than last year -- and what feels like more action -- operators, suppliers, and even just taste-testers have flooded the show floor Saturday morning. On tap so far, we've heard about sales-building strategies from Jamba Juice, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and Street-Za Pizza, a food truck sensation from Milwaukee. Street-Za is

NRN and the NRA

2010-05-21T17:22:00.004-04:00

New product and deal announcements are a big part of the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel & Motel Show tradition. So it seems fitting that an announcement about an upcoming strategic alliance between Nation's Restaurant News and the NRA would be made in Chicago on the eve of NRA SHOW 2010. CLICK HERE to catch the full report at NRN.com.

Windy City Eatin', Drinkin' & Thinkin' Spots

2010-05-20T14:52:00.014-04:00

Here is an abridged list of NRNer picks for dining, drinking and concept snooping in Chicago. Llink to the full NRN.com spread below. Robin Lee Allen, executive editor: While I’d still recommend such longtime favorites as Bistro 110, there are several restaurants I’m eager to visit [including] Sunda... Mark Brandau, Chicago bureau editor: Sable Kitchen and Bar — Heather Terhune’s new

Gearing up for NRA Show 2010

2010-05-19T20:22:00.003-04:00

We're getting ready for our coverage of the NRA Show this weekend in Chicago. Stay tuned here and on NRN.com ... See you there!

2010-02-24T23:09:00.000-05:00

Networking @ FSTEC

2010-02-23T18:52:00.004-05:00

Chris Ramer (left) and Brett Weiss (right), both of StreetSavings, were first-time attendees to this year's FSTEC.Why did they come? They work with both the hardware suppliers and the end-users, in this case restaurants, to help deploy seamless mobile coupons and other online loyalty programs. They were thrilled to be at FSTEC, where both suppliers and restaurateurs were in one place. Recent

Online ordering boosts check averages

2010-02-23T16:36:00.003-05:00

Restaurateurs attending FSTEC in Long Beach, Calif., sang the praises of online and mobile ordering, particularly when it has the effect of hiking check averages.Paul Valle, chief information officer for Papa Gino's, said orders placed online at its namesake chain run 70 percent higher than the chain's standard check average. At D'Angelo, another Papa Gino's concept, online checks are running 54

A Quick Bite to TwEat?

2010-02-23T14:45:00.007-05:00

FSTec attendees tuned into Twitter on Tuesday were getting a backyard example of how the short-form social-media service could be used for local-store marketing, especially for building business amongst the transient conference crowd. Bouchees Bistro in Long Beach, Calif., where the conference was being held, advised Twitter attendees that the restaurant was just a convenient two-minute walk

Need a job? Join IT

2010-02-23T12:28:00.004-05:00

The restaurant industry hasn't been immune to the nationwide job cuts, as chefs, research & development execs, marketing personnel, and countless servers have lost their jobs in the weak economy.But there are opportunities out there -- at least in IT.Three restaurant executives said they had actually increased headcounts in their respective IT departments last year, and continue to look for more

Carino's hot for HotSchedules

2010-02-22T17:37:00.003-05:00

The Carino’s Italian casual dining chain in May is scheduled to roll out the use of a new advanced sales forecasting and labor scheduling system in partnership with HotSchedules. Outlining the system in a break out session Monday, Ray Gallagher, senior director of operations for Austin, Texas-based Carino’s Italian, said the system has been tested in eight stores, where

Books worth tweeting

2010-02-22T15:26:00.002-05:00

In his overview of the ever-changing world of social media, Todd Michaud, vice president of information technology for Focus Brands, recommended three recent books that rocked his world: “Why Now is the Time to Crush It” by Gary Vaynerchuk“Socialnomics” by Erik Qualman“Trust Agents” by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith. --Lisa Jennings

PCI Concerns

2010-02-22T14:01:00.003-05:00

Richard Del Valle, director of Restaurant Systems for Friendly Ice Cream Corp., voiced concerns during an FSTEC 2010 panel that Payment Card Industry policy makers could force a dramatic change in the way restaurants conduct business. Restaurants are one of the few retail environments where a customer hands a credit card to a complete stranger, and then the stranger temporarily disappears with

Texting the new e-mail

2010-02-21T18:11:00.004-05:00

At the opening session of this year's FSTEC, Todd Michaud, vice president of IT at Focus Brands, the multi-brand franchisor, said a new SMS text campaign has resulted in restaurant traffic increases that are "leaps and bounds" over typical e-mail campaigns. Even more, Natasa Christodoulidou, as assistant professor at California State University, said recent studies have shown that 5% of those

Social Media: Tweet Music To Analyst's Ears

2010-02-17T20:08:00.011-05:00

FSTEC Keynoter Sounds Off In Audio InterviewNigel Fenwick, Forrester Research vice president and principal analyst, will be presenting the keynote address, "Positioning IT to Drive Growth & Differentiation," on Tuesday, February 23 at the Long Beach Convention Center.Click here for a sound piece of Nigel's mind.(Come on back when you're done listening.)

15th Anniversary of FSTEC

2010-02-17T20:07:00.002-05:00

Launched in 1996, FSTEC shares its 15th Anniversary with other tech milestones. 15 years ago, Japan welcomed the introduction of DVDs—the Java programming language was released—the American Pathfinder was launched to Mars—email eclipsed snail mail in usage—the world was introduced to Ebay—the first FSTEC was held in Dallas.At FSTEC 2010, the possibilities burn bright.

2009 - Show NEWS By NRN

2009-12-31T18:26:00.000-05:00

Norman Brinker Tribute - VIDEO

2009-11-17T16:57:00.014-05:00

TRIBUTE VIDEO LINK HERE (Loading of separate video player window may take a few minutes, depending on Internet connection speed.)Former NRN publisher Jim Doherty, left, Toni Brinker, center, and NRN publisher Tom Larranaga, right. (Photo by Scott Windus.) During the recent 50th Anniversary MUFSO conference in Dallas, long-time associates of Norman Brinker honored the renowned business leader,

MUFSO Keynote Roundup - Random Maverick Service

2009-10-21T18:59:00.003-04:00

Random Maverick Service - We don't know if there is such a thing, or if there is, if we'd like to be subjected to it or have it associated with our business. But each one of those words does sum up the primary theme of one of our trio of MUFSO keynote speakers. Their presentations are recapped at NRN.com and accessible by CLICKING HERE.Here are a few lines from Taleb's talk:“The debt level

Multimedia MUFSO Memories II (VIDEO)

2009-10-17T21:40:00.007-04:00

This is the full length, higher definition version of the MUFSO Memories presentation shown on the massive multimedia wall built for MUFSO 2009 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. A much abbreviated version is found two posts below. The presentation was created by Image Zone Inc. from NRN archival issues and MUFSO videos and photos. (Give it a minute or two to load, depending on your Internet

MUFSO - The Movie (VIDEO)

2009-10-12T13:59:00.006-04:00

If the hand-cam video and purloined audio tracks posted elsewhere at this site suggest the production values of the "Blair Witch Project," then the quality of this footage capturing some of the purpose and fun of MUFSO 50 will have you thinking "Gone with the Wind." CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Change & Opportunities (AUDIO)

2009-10-11T22:35:00.008-04:00

Nation's Restaurant News publisher Tom Larranaga, shown at left, welcomed MUFSO attendees with a reminder of what a difference a year can make, as he recounted the setbacks and doubts that besieged many in the industry in late 2008 and contrasted that period with today. In an audio excerpt of that Oct. 5 presentation that can be accessed below, Larranaga points to some of the innovative moves by

MUFSO 50 Wall of Memories (VIDEO)

2009-10-09T21:43:00.009-04:00

Using some of its earlier video work and archival Nation's Restaurant News content, Image Zone Inc. created a massive multimedia wall for MUFSO 50. During the MUFSO Golden Anniversary Celebration the wall came to life with the faces of industry leaders, innovators and favorites who attended the event during its five-decade run, not to mention the visages of some famous keynoters and

Husband Restaurateurs Say the Funniest Things (VIDEO)

2009-10-09T01:38:00.004-04:00

MUFSO Pioneer Award recipient Richard Melman of Chicago's Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc., in accepting the award Monday night, expressed his appreciation for many people, including business associates, his late partner Jerry Orzoff and his wife, Martha. He said he was grateful for the love and support of Mrs. Melman and then told a story about himself that illustrated why, bringing a

"My how you've grown..." (VIDEO)

2009-10-07T20:26:00.005-04:00

We're not talkin' about your Aunt Molly's favorite greeting, here, but about the expansion of the foodservice industry in the 50 years its luminaries have been attending the Multi Unit Foodservice Operators conference. MUFSO 2009 program co-chairman and Nation's Restaurant News publisher emeritus James Doherty summed up that progress during the MUFSO Golden Anniversary Celebration Oct. 5 at the

Just Slidin' By... (PHOTOS)

2009-10-07T03:26:00.006-04:00

So far, we've put together two slide shows of MUFSO events for NRN.com: Sunday night's "A Taste of What's Hot: Hot Concepts! Celebration" and Monday evening's "MUFSO Golden Anniversary Celebration." Check them out at the links below.SLIDE SHOW: MUFSO's Golden Anniversary CelebrationPhotos by Scott WindusSLIDE SHOW: Hot Concepts celebrated at MUFSOPhotos by Ron Ruggless

MUFSO book club

2009-10-06T16:14:00.002-04:00

Move over, Oprah. Some of MUFSO's best and brightest have a few book suggestions of their own.NRN editor Ellen Koteff asked three top executives about their favorite business books during the Tuesday morning general session. Here's what they had to say.Clarence Otis, CEO of Darden Restaurants: "Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... and Others Don't," by Jim Collins.Doug Brooks, CEO

Something special on the air

2009-10-06T12:02:00.005-04:00

"Today’s Special." That’s the message the National Restaurant Association is trying to get out. Given the industry’s shrinking top lines and growing competition from forces like Suze Orman and Walmart encouraging people to save money by eating at home, the restaurant industry is facing “a matter of urgency,” said Michael Kaufman, the NRA’s immediate past chairman during

Celebration

2009-10-06T08:08:00.009-04:00

While celebrating his Operator of the Year win last night, Jim Greco of Bruegger's Bagels, and his wife, Valerie, shared one of their favorite business -- and life -- mottos:"As you travel through life, whatever your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole."They said they first came across the expression at the Mayflower coffee and doughnut shops as Jim was first starting in

A Legion of Honorees

2009-10-06T02:15:00.003-04:00

More than 20 past Golden Chain and Pioneer award winners attended Monday night's Golden Anniversary Celebration for MUFSO's 50th year.

Bruegger’s Greco - Operator of the Year

2009-10-06T00:04:00.004-04:00

James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the publication’s 50th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference. Greco, shown accepting the award, was selected from among this year’s six Golden Chain award winners, which also included Chuck Fallon of Burger King, Phil Friedman of McAlister’s Deli, Jeffrey Harvey of

Innovation - A Hot Concept Worth Celebrating (VIDEO)

2009-10-05T23:40:00.000-04:00

NRN's "A Taste of What's Hot: Hot Concepts! Celebration" Monday night during MUFSO provided NRN editor Ellen Koteff the opportunity to ask leading operators about innovation. See what they have to say by clicking on the link below."PLAY ME"

NRN creates award in honor of Norman Brinker

2009-10-05T23:35:00.000-04:00

DALLAS (Oct. 5, 2009) Nation’s Restaurant News announced Monday that it has created a new award, called The Norman, in honor of late industry legend Norman Brinker. The award will celebrate foodservice leaders who have distinguished themselves through the mentoring of tomorrow’s executives, much as Brinker did throughout his career.The first Norman award will be given at next year’s Multi-Unit

Doing Social Media Right

2009-10-05T23:29:00.002-04:00

Some restaurant chains are doing social media right, according to Kat Cole, left, of Hooters of America Inc. and Amanda Hite, founder of Talent Revolution. In a Tuesday MUFSO presentation on "New Communication Strategies: Build Your Business with Social Networks and Viral Marketing," the two offered tips for effectively using such social media as Facebook and Twitter. Creating loyalty and

Operators at MUFSO share strategies for tough times

2009-10-05T19:33:00.000-04:00

DALLAS (Oct. 5, 2009) A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.That was the motto of the day Monday at Nation's Restaurant News' Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference in Dallas as keynote speakers, panelists and attendees discussed how best to optimize their businesses during these challenging times. Read Sarah Lockyer's full daily recap at NRN.com

Reach Out and Touch Someone

2009-10-05T10:29:00.005-04:00

William C. Taylor, co-founder of Fast Company magazine and co-author of "Mavericks at Work: Why the Most Original Minds in Business Win," provided MUFSO attendees with a helpful tip for those times when they are caught in phone-mail mazes. Taylor, during his Monday presentation above, said he uses the website gethuman.com to get the secret touchpad codes to reach an actual human for customer

Pumpkin Craving

2009-10-05T07:53:00.004-04:00

MUFSO attendees today will get to sample the seasonal limited-time products from Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc. of Lakewood, Colo. And it's definitely the pumpkin patch: pumpkin bagels, pumpkin cream cheese and "Pumpkin Poppers," which are a bit of pumpkin bagel iced with donut frosting. The LTOs will be available at a refreshment break. We got that scoop from the Einstein crew Sunday, from

All Fired Up!

2009-10-04T16:05:00.004-04:00

Parking-lot pizza (in the rain) was the order of the day as MUFSO got underway. Brian Gojdics, left, and Anthony Ferrara, chefs from Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria of Seattle, Wash., stoked the wood-fired oven in the conference hotel's parking lot in preparation for the Nation's Restaurant News' Hot Concepts gala. Fire regulations did not allow for the oven inside the hotel, so Gojdics and

Golden Standard

2009-10-04T14:32:00.003-04:00

Registrants for the 50th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference began to gather their credentials in the atrium lobby of the Hilton Anatole hotel in Dallas on Sunday afternoon, the first of three days of seminars and events. The first breakout sessions, beginning at 3 p.m., were to cover such topics as maximizing profits and building operator-supplier relationships. In keeping

Dallas & MUFSO - Friends With Benefits?

2009-10-02T13:32:00.005-04:00

MUFSO and Dallas go back a long way and the relationship has as much to do with the market's prominence within the industry and its appreciation for the restaurant business, in general, as it does with "Big D's" geographically central location. Ron Ruggless, NRN's man in Dallas and designer boots, expounds on some of the city's unique characteristics in this excerpt from the Sept. 14 MUFSO

Audio Key Thoughts From MUFSO Keynotes

2009-10-01T13:41:00.000-04:00

CLICK ON LINKS BELOW TO LISTEN:The random musings of Nassim Taleb of "The Black Swan" fameFast Co. magazine founding editor Bill Taylor on "Mavericks At Work"

What Came Before - Links to Earlier MUFSO Coverage

2009-09-30T20:19:00.002-04:00

MUFSO ’69 tough topics were order of the dayPast wisdom shows there’s still a lot to learn at MUFSONRN names 2009 Golden Chain winnersMUFSO continues to recognize industry’s innovative thinkersMUFSO celebrates great leaders

2009-09-30T20:09:00.002-04:00

IN THE BEGINNING...A link to the MUFSO Memorable Moments column about the first gathering of the Multi Unit Foodservice Operators conference clan.

2009-05-19T22:48:00.002-04:00

MenuMasters Quick Pics - SLIDE SHOW

2009-05-19T22:47:00.000-04:00

Photos by Scott WindusAwarding and partying was the order of the night at our May 16 MenuMasters bash. Below is a small slide show of some activities, with more coverage to follow at NRN.com and in weekly Nation's Restaurant News.This year’s winners:* Innovator: David Burke* Best new menu item rollout: Culver’s BBQ Brisket Sandwich* Best menu revamp: Pizza Hut Tuscani Pasta Dinners* Best

2009-05-19T22:46:00.000-04:00

Guts, Garlic or Mayo?

2009-05-19T20:43:00.015-04:00

At left: Chris Cosentino with some of his favorite parts.(Photo by Lisa Hamilton)Menu and food trends analyst and authority Nancy Kruse of Atlanta's The Kruse Co., an NRN contributor and conference partner (See link at bottom), offers up this about a distinctive show activity:Chris Cosentino, exec chef at San Francisco's Incanto and an advocate for offal, did a bang-up job deboning a pig's head

Psst, buddy. I've got some session notes here, real cheap...

2009-05-19T15:27:00.006-04:00

If you couldn't get to the noon educational session on technology by Rohit Verma, Ph.D., but suspect your boss may pull a pop quiz, we might be able to help. We ran in weekly NRN and at NRN.com a summary of some of the research about consumer preferences for restaurant technology the good doctor likely covered today. READ ALL ABOUT IT.(We're still not clear, though, on where the researchers

Studied expertise

2009-05-19T10:59:00.005-04:00

Students from the Wilco Area Career Center (above) in Romeoville, Ill., participate in the ProStart invitational Tuesday morning at the NRA Show. About to whip up such dishes as shaved fennel and pear salad with parmesan and apple-herb glazed chicken from the school were, from left: Michael Matejczuk, instructor Tracie Tobin and Whitney Butterfield.Ron Ruggless, rruggles@nrn.com

Golden Girl

2009-05-19T10:12:00.009-04:00

Sally Smith, president and CEO of Buffalo Wild Wings Inc., won the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association’s prestigious Gold Plate Award on Monday night. She received the award from IFMA board chairman Tom Sampson, left, president of Kraft North America Foodservice, and Michael J Licata, president and chief executive of IFMA.For the full story, click here.Ron Ruggless rruggles@

NRN@NRA Chat - Technology Challenges - AUDIO

2009-05-19T05:24:00.006-04:00

David Starmer, vice president of information technology for Back Bay Restaurant Group Inc. of Boston, a casual-dining specialty company, was part of Monday's educational session, "CIO Perspectives," and we asked him to share a few of the takeaways.PLAY NRN @ NRA CHAT(Don't forget to come on back when you're done listening.)

"If the environment is in trouble, we’re in trouble" - Ted Turner

2009-05-18T19:17:00.007-04:00

Above: George McKerrow Jr., on left, on the show floor with his Ted's Montana Grill associate, Ted Turner, center. (Photo Courtesy of NRA)NRA Show 2009 Day No. 3 - Making restaurants greener and workforce acquisition and management were some of the key educational themes and topics of conversation around McCormick Place today.Media mogul Ted Turner and restaurant veteran George McKerrow Jr., the

Celebrity sighting

2009-05-18T16:48:00.014-04:00

Greg Grunberg, best known for playing Matt Parkman on the hit television show Heroes, introduced an iPhone and iPod Touch application at this year's show that customizes digital promotional offers for retailers and restaurants. Yowza!! is a digital coupon delivery application that allows restaurants to customize the promotional offer, the locations honoring the offer and the timing of the coupon

Stove, You're Fired!

2009-05-18T15:43:00.000-04:00

Frank Brunacci, chef for Sixteen and other restaurants at the new Trump Tower in Chicago, tells an NRA Show panel on "Trends in Hotel Fine Dining" that The Donald is himself an excellent cook.

Flavor enhancer

2009-05-18T14:39:00.006-04:00

Coca-Cola North America unveiled its proprietary Freestyle beverage dispenser, which employs micro-dosing technology from the medical industry with style savvy of an Italian sports car designer to vend more than 100 different drink flavors in the footprint of a standard eight-valve machine. Gene M. Farrell, right, vice president in Coca-Cola’s FoodService Division, said Monday that the company

"Envelope please!"- Hennessy/Hill awards winners - UPDATE

2009-05-18T13:02:00.005-04:00

We've updated our earlier post about the annual NRA-sponsored joint services breakfast program honoring winners of the Marine Corps Maj. Gen. W.P.T. Hill Awards and the U.S. Air Force's John L. Hennessy Awards. The link below will take you to the revised post that now includes information about the Marine Corps winners of the honors for the men, women and facilities supporting Air Force and

Key thought from keynote

2009-05-18T00:18:00.012-04:00

Keynote panelists, left to right: moderator Steve Dolinsky, ABC 7, Chicago; Joseph Bastianich, B&B Hospitality Group; Daniel Boulud, The Dinex Group; Steve Ells, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.; Damian Mogavero, Avero LLC; and Sally Smith, Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (Photo courtesy of NRA)Chef-restaurateur Daniel Boulud said his latest restaurant, DBGB, which is set to open soon in New York, will be

Must taste

2009-05-17T18:51:00.005-04:00

Chef Roy Choi with a jar of fresh sesame leaves that taste minty, which makes sense since he said they are in the mint family.Roy Choi, executive chef and co-founder of Kogi Korean BBQ-To-Go, a Los Angeles area operation that has become well known for its Korean "taco trucks," has lines forming in the show's Korean-foods area. Tomorrow, he says, he will be serving kimchee quesadillas. Choi says

Show Floor Buzz

2009-05-17T18:34:00.001-04:00

On the move on the exhibit hall floor during the 2009 National Restaurant Association Chicago confab.

Deal done

2009-05-17T15:55:00.004-04:00

Announced at the show:Headline - Private equity firm Warburg Pincus has completed its acquisition of the Enodis global ice machine business from the Manitowoc Co.A little more - The holding company is to be named Scotsman Industries. Its chief executive officer is David McCulloch.

Heard at the Show

2009-05-17T15:48:00.003-04:00

Burger King looks like it’s taking dead aim at the Egg McMuffin crowd. Someone with solid inside information says Burger King Corp., the Miami-based owner and franchisor of 11,800 quick-service units, is planning a major rollout of “brunch” in early 2010. It’s going to be “big,” the insider said, and called it a “huge idea.” Insiders have been told this new menu, using the

Ted's Excellent Adventure

2009-05-17T15:26:00.008-04:00

NRA Show mainstay and former NRA chairman, Ted J. Balestreri, chairman and  chief executive of The Sardine Factory of Monterey, Calif., among other  holdings, on Monday for the first time in many years will miss the  International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Gold Plate awards  banquet. Balestreri, himself a former Gold Plate winner who was in Chicago  this weekend,

Make room for Daddy

2009-05-17T14:26:00.005-04:00

Aaron McGargo Jr., right, host of the Food Network’s “Big Daddy’s House,” gives a big-daddy bear hug to Sheila Bennett, director of Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out, at the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s booth. McCargo, who gave a cooking demonstration Sunday at the NRA show, since February has served as the national spokesman for the

Signature dish

2009-05-17T14:15:00.005-04:00

Daniel Boulud, above left, chef owner of Daniel restaurant in New York City, drew lines of fans Sunday seeking autographs on his books during the National Restaurant Show in Chicago. The French-born chef, who also owns restaurants in Las Vegas and Palm Beach and Miami, Fla., drew an all-American crowd, including Chris Escalante, above right, a lead cook with Sodexo in

Taking the ride at McCormick Place...

2009-05-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

Kaufman honored with Cecil B. Day Award

2009-05-17T11:32:00.004-04:00

Michael Kaufman, chairman of the National Restaurant Association, was honored during the group’s spring board meeting Sunday with the 2009 Cecil B. Day Ethics Award, which recognizes the high ethics of hospitality industry leaders. Florida State University and the Cecil B. Day family present the award to honor Day, who was the founder of the Day’s Inn motel chain. An accompanying $10,000 award

Salute to Excellence

2009-05-17T09:54:00.003-04:00

Amidst sequined gowns, sparkling ties and floating Coca-Cola bottles in a glittering Chicago Hilton ballroom, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation honored some of the industry’s finest at its annual Salute to Excellence banquet Saturday night.New inductees into the NRAEF’s College of Diplomates were Bert Cutino, COO of the Sardine Factory, Julie Flik, founder of Flik

In celebration of MenuMasters

2009-05-17T09:51:00.004-04:00

Nation’s Restaurant News and Ventura Foods on Saturday night celebrated this year’s MenuMasters winners for their innovations in foodservice research and development. Honorees brought their winning dishes for partygoers to sample, and Chick-fil-A even brought its mascot.This year’s winners:Innovator: David BurkeBest new menu item rollout: Culver’s BBQ Brisket Sandwich Best menu revamp: Pizza Hut

Sharing

2009-05-16T19:38:00.014-04:00

Pictured are Richard Rivera, left, and Hans Lindh, right.During today's educational session, “Target and Attract New Customers,” the discussion turned to an American Express analysis that used check size and zip codes to estimate market share along with other competitive information. On the panel were Richard “Dick” Rivera, chief executive of 200-plus-unit Real Mex Restaurants Inc. of Cypress,

"Envelope please!" - Hennessy/Hill awards winners

2009-05-16T17:12:00.007-04:00

The annual NRA-sponsored joint services breakfast program honoring winners of the Marine Corps Maj. Gen. W.P.T. Hill Awards and the U.S. Air Force's John L. Hennessy Awards was this morning at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. Serving as the keynote speaker was U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel. But the real stars of the event were

Feets of grandeur

2009-05-16T16:50:00.002-04:00

One of the most popular seats in the house was right here! After traipsing down miles of aisles, attendees at the NRA Show ’09 took advantage of an exhibitor who allowed them to soothe their barking dogs. Any visit to the restaurant show is no mean feet.rruggles@nrn.com

Cheap and Easy

2009-05-16T16:35:00.008-04:00

Want to come out of the recession on top? Keep pushing convenience and value. Both will still be important to consumers when the economy turns around.That was NRA researcher Hudson Riehle’s take on the industry data he presented Saturday morning to a group of high school teachers and college professors attending the Michael E. Hurst Educational Forum in the Hyatt

WiFi connection? "Check!"

2009-05-16T16:02:00.010-04:00

The Twitter.com phenomenon has added another entry to the celebrity chef's pre-demo checklist. If you have about 2,000 followers on Twitter, as does Mexican cuisine specialist and Chicago restaurateur, Rick Bayless, of Frontera Grill, among other venues, you'll probably add, "Check WiFi or cell service and Tweet." The new entry may come right after "Sharpen knives," but definitely before, "

Heard on the Street

2009-05-16T15:35:00.004-04:00

Chicago is much more like Main Street than Wall Street, but some talk surrounding the state of restaurant financing still can be found at the NRA Show.Bernie Siegel of Siegel Financial Group, along with Lynette McKee, vice president of franchising at Dunkin' Brands, and Dan Stone, director of franchise sales at The Melting Pot Restaurants, gave a state-of-the-state round up of restaurant lending

Get well soon...

2009-05-16T13:53:00.002-04:00

Top of mind and in the conversations of some here is the recuperation from a February heart transplant by Jerry Richardson, a veteran of several industry brands, including Bojangles' and Denny's, and a pro-football franchise owner and former player. Also recuperating is flight-based-foodservice maven Bill Anton, who took a bad fall down an escalator. He reportedly tumbled headfirst and kept

Hearin' about the moves...

2009-05-16T13:24:00.005-04:00

It seems that there are some good signs out there for job seekers. Two industry friends have decided to move onward and upward to new exciting ventures. Jennifer Dodd, one of the highest-ranking women at Dunkin Brands, has left to take over the top spot at MyMenu. This frozen foods specialty retail chain is from the franchisor of Canada’s 460-unit M&M Meat Shops, and is making a push into the U.S

Mini Mac

2009-05-16T13:07:00.003-04:00

When arriving at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, I stumbled across the first down-sized Romano’s Macaroni Grill. It was opened in October 2007, more than a year before Brinker International Inc. of Dallas sold a majority interest in the chain (which was finalized last December). Housed in O’Hare’s Terminal 3, the mini-Mac offers many of the chain’s lunch and dinner items but also has a

I get it now.

2009-05-16T12:57:00.002-04:00

This is my first NRA Show, and while I haven’t yet made it to the floor at McCormick Place, I am already getting an idea of just how big this show is. My first sign was, well, an actual sign, welcoming me and other show attendees flying into Chicago’s Midway Airport. The second was the shuttle van I took to my hotel that was packed full of people all here for the same event. What’s more, everyone

U.K. visitor: Chi-Town confab a source of inspiration

2009-05-15T23:16:00.014-04:00

During a 2 1/2 hour ride on the shuttle from O’Hare airport to the Loop I met John Redfearn, who just flew in from the U.K. for the show. He hasn't attended for three years, but came back this year to scope out new things."I like the fact that you can meet a lot of people with new ideas that have potential and are not on the market yet,” said Redfearn, who owns a quick-service Shake-N-Burger in

Happy hour smackdown - VIDEOs

2009-05-15T17:29:00.022-04:00

Happy hour nears in Chicago and thoughts are turning to beverages and more. Which would you rather have, an artisan whiskey soaked veal chop or a lingonberry-cardamom martini? Before deciding, check out the YouTube.com videos of NRA "Hot Chef Grilling Challenge" winner Kristina Vänni, who will be giving a demonstration at the show, and runner up Stesha Ries. Click on these links to watch: VÄNNI

NRN on the scene at the NRA Show

2009-05-14T19:44:00.000-04:00

The NRA Show kicks off this weekend in Chicago, and Nation's Restaurant News will be there, covering every angle.As operators attending this year's show look for new strategies to help their businesses prosper in these difficult times, those holding down the fort back home don't have to miss out.This year NRN will keep everyone connected to the action.Stay tuned here on our new blog, Show News by

Live and let liver

2009-05-13T21:38:00.002-04:00

Just in time for visitors to Chicago, author Mark Caro has published his new book, "The Foie Gras Wars," which looks in part at the NRA Show host city's battle over the ingredient. "Wars" chronicles the debate over foie gras and Chicago's 2006 ban on the liver, which was overturned in 2008. (Which led Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to ask: "Is this what government should be doing? Telling you what

Pack your galoshes and bumbershoot!

2009-05-13T21:36:00.001-04:00

Chicago weather forecast for Saturday calls for rain and a low of 44 F degrees.Thursday evening update: It looks like the rain is on Friday. Saturday is forecast to be partly cloudy with the low still 44 and a high of 66.

What to do in Chicago

2009-05-13T11:17:00.000-04:00

In preparation for the NRA Show, we reached out to our colleagues for their suggestions of where to eat and drink in Chicago. They came through with a terrific list, which you can view in its entirety here, but here are some highlights:Rivers, for morning meetings and afternoon drinksSmith & Wollensky, for the view and the barThe Four Seasons, for an elegant place to meetThe Publican, for a new