Find all your basic information about the upcoming National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago here, on The Food Channel. Live reports start on Friday night!

WHAT:
National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show®

SHOW LOCATION:
McCormick Place
Chicago, Illinois

DATES:
Saturday, May 16, Tuesday, May 19, 2009

2009 highlights:
The International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB), held May 17-18, in conjunction with the NRA Show, is the industry’s only exclusive beverage alcohol industry trade event with vintner, distiller and brewer tastings, demonstrations and education programs. IWSB will provide restaurant and hospitality operators with the information, services and products they need to grow bar program sales and profits.

The Culinary Scene area will showcase proteins as a critical success factor in foodservice, featuring butchers and chefs showcasing the use of new or lower-priced fabrications and culinary ideas for beef, pork and lamb.

Tuesday, May 19, is Chef Day, celebrating the culinary artists of the restaurant industry. All chefs in attendance are encouraged to wear their chef’s coats. Chef Day presents an opportunity to network with top chefs from around the world, view cooking demonstrations, and find the latest trends in food, beverages, ingredients, equipment and food safety techniques.

The Technology Pavilion will showcase state-of-the-art resources, products, and hands-on demonstrations. Attendees will discover the latest technology available to industry professionals, and learn from hospitality technology experts. The Pavilion will also offer an Internet cafe with computer stations and free Internet access at the Cyber Cafe.

Highlighting the increasing popularity of traditional international cuisine in the U.S., the International Cuisine Pavilion will focus exclusively on international and traditional products. The Pavilion will host both international and U.S. exhibitors, showcasing authentic food and beverage products from around the globe.

The exclusive Kitchen Innovations Pavilion continues to gain popularity and will again be featured at the 2009 Show. The 2009 Kitchen Innovations Award recipients, selected by an independent panel of experts, will showcase the most innovative kitchen equipment on the market.

The Organic & Natural Pavilion will highlight exhibitors offering natural and certified organic food and beverage products. Organics is one of the hottest menu trends right now.

The American Food Fair will feature regional specialty foods from across the United States. This special section of the Show floor provides attendees an opportunity to explore the best from all regions of the country.

Each year, more new products and services are introduced on the NRA Show exhibit floor than at any other industry event. They range from state-of-the-art technology items, to the hottest food trends, to the current fashions in foodservice attire and design.

The annual International Reception is an exclusive opportunity for international guests to network and build relationships with restaurant and foodservice professionals from other countries while enjoying food, cocktails and music.

The joint annual Hennessy/Hill Awards Breakfast will honor the special achievements of service men and women at U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps foodservice facilities worldwide.

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) annual Salute to Excellence event is a day-long celebration of education in the restaurant and foodservice industry. The Michael E. Hurst Student Forum will be held during the day at McCormick Place Saturday, May 16, and the Awards Gala and Banquet will be held at the Hilton Chicago in the evening.