Recently the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) gathered at Navy Pier in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association activities. The Food Channel was there and talked with guest host Chef Robert Irvine, star of the new Food Network reality series, Restaurant Impossible. We asked him about the state of the restaurant industry from his viewpoint, trends in food, and what he’d like to see change.
During the IFMA event, guests sampled appetizers from top Chicago chefs including Rick Gresh of the David Burke’s Prime House; Nick Lacasse of The Drawing Room; Dale Levitski of Sprout and Carol Wallack of sola.
In addition, IFMA announced the donation of $10,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that helps raise public awareness and support for injured service members.
In the new primetime show, Chef Irvine tries each week to rescue one of America’s most desperate restaurants from impending failure in just two days with only $10,000. He revamps the menu, retrains the staff–tries to do whatever it takes to turn around the place. The show airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
