Ryan O'Virus, Lizz Teria, and Ann Fluenza.
It's an exciting time in FOOD at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. Today is the first day for the NRA Show (that's restaurants, not rifles!) & the 2nd Annual International Wine, Spirits, and Beer Event. These two exciting events showcase "What's Hot in 2009" for the Food & Beverage Industry.
Many high profile culinary and hospitality aficionados will be attending the NRA Show including Stephanie Izard, the first female winner of Bravo TV's Top Chef, Charlie Ayers, former Google Inc. chef, Rick Bayless, award-winning author, chef, and TV host, as well as Top Chef Season 5's Radhika Desai, and more! See the full line up of keynote speakers, education sessions, book signings, demonstrations and more as well as read the NRA's blog, "Floored" here. The NRA Show has a Twitter account and while #NRAShow09 is the official hashtag for the show, other attendees are using #NRA09 and #NRAShow. The National Restaurant Association also has a tweet up planned for Monday evening, May 18th from 5-8pm at Quartino's (626 N. State). @NRATweetUp can keep you up to date on the details or you can view the TwtVite.
One of the most exciting moment of the NRA Show so far, for me, was getting to see the clever promotion executed by SaniHands. The staged protest of their own booth by GermsUnite was really creative! Visit their website- each Germ has their own bio and you can view pictures and videos of their protest! After seeing the action outside the hotel by the McCormick Place cab line, I had to run over a take a picture!