2007 National Restaurant Association Restaurant

2007 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show to Bring Star Power With New NRA Show Celebrity Bookstore

To: TRAVEL EDITORS

CHICAGO, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association today announced a new feature at its Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, to be held May 19-22, at McCormick Place in Chicago -- the NRA Show Celebrity Bookstore. Top celebrity chefs and star restaurateurs will sign their latest books and share their expertise with Show attendees throughout the Show. Attendees will also be able to browse the onsite bookstore for a full range of industry-related books, in addition to books by the appearing authors.

"Chefs and restaurateurs have more star power now than ever, as Americans discover the restaurant industry's finest through the Food Network, consumer foodie magazines, network and cable television shows, and many other channels," said William C. Anton, FMP, convention chairman for the 2007 Show, and chairman and founder of Anton Airfood, Inc. "While cooking traditionally happened 'behind the scenes,' it is now taking center stage. We are excited to feature some of the most well-known industry celebrities and provide Show attendees with the opportunity to meet them."

The full schedule of celebrity chefs and restaurateurs is expected to be finalized later this spring. To date, individuals to appear in the NRA Show Celebrity Bookstore include:
Rick Bayless: an award-winning chef and restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality, Bayless has done more than any other culinary star to introduce Americans to authentic Mexican cuisine and to change the image of Mexican food in America. Host of Mexico-One Plate at a Time on PBS, he owns and operates two of Chicago's hottest dining spots Frontera Grill and Tobolobampo. Bayless' new book -- Authentic Mexican: Regional Cooking from the Heart of Mexico, the Twentieth Anniversary edition -- will be available at the 2007 Show.

Tom Douglas: the chef and owner of five of Seattle's most exciting restaurants: Dahlia Lounge, Etta's, Palace Kitchen, Lola, and Serious Pie. Over the course of more than 20 years, Douglas has been the Seattle chef who has helped to define the Northwest Style in restaurant and home cooking. His creativity with local ingredients and respect for Seattle's ethnic traditions helped him win numerous awards and accolades including the James Beard Award for Best Northwest Chef in 1994. Douglas' new book -- I Love Crab Cakes!: 50 Recipes for an American Classic -- will be available at the 2007 Show.

Gale Gand: the executive pasty chef and partner of the acclaimed restaurant Tru in Chicago. She is the host of Sweet Dreams, which was the Food Network's first daily show devoted entirely to baking, Gand was named Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year by the James Beard Foundation in 2001. Gand has her own root beer company and recently launched a new line of bakeware, available on the Home Shopping Network and soon at Macy's. Gand's new book -- Chocolate & Vanilla -- will be available at the 2007 Show.

Thomas Keller: widely regarded as one of America's finest chefs, Keller is chef and owner of The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Bouchon Bakery, in Yountville, CA; Bouchon in Las Vegas, NV; and Per Se and Bouchon Bakery at The Time Warner Center in New York City. Keller is the first and only American- born chef to have two restaurants (The French Laundry and Per Se) with a three-star rating from the Michelin Guide since the guide's inception in 1900. Keller's new books -- The French Laundry Cookbook and Bouchon -- will be available at the 2007 Show.

Danny Meyer: the president of Union Square Hospitality Group (which includes Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Tabla, Blue Smoke, Jazz Standard, Shake Shack, The Modern, Cafe 2 and Terrace 5 at New York City's Museum of Modern Art, and Hudson Yards Catering), Meyer, his restaurants and chefs have earned an unprecedented 17 James Beard Awards. Meyer's latest book -- Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business -- examines the power of hospitality in restaurants, business and life, and will be available at the 2007 Show.

Steve Raichlen: a multi-award-winning author, journalist, cooking teacher, and TV host, Raichlen is the man who gave barbecue a college education. His bestselling Barbecue! Bible cookbook series (more than 3 million copies in print) and Barbecue University television show on PBS have virtually reinvented American barbecue. Raichlen's new book -- Raichlen on Ribs -- celebrates what for many people is the most iconic and quintessential barbecue in all their global glory, and will be available at the 2007 Show.

Art Smith: a contributing editor to O, the Oprah Magazine and Oprah.com, and has appeared several times on The
Oprah Winfrey' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Oprah Winfrey Show. He is featured regularly on television programs, appearing nationally on NBC's The Today Show and serving as a regular tasting judge on Food Network's Iron Chef America. Smith's newest cookbook -- Back to the Family: Food Tastes Better Shared with the Ones You Love -- which features recipes stress the importance of recognizing old food traditions, as well as creating new and healthier food traditions, will be available at the 2007 Show.

Rick Tramonto: the executive chef and partner of Osteria di Tramonto, Tramonto's Steak & Seafood, RT Lounge, and Tru, Tramonto has garnered international attention and a host of prestigious awards for his work at Trio, Brasserie T and his renowned four-star, Relais-Gourmand restaurant Tru in Chicago. Tramonto has a history of television work, including Oprah, NBC's The Today Show, CBS This Morning and the Food Network. Tromonto's new books -- Amuse-Bouche: Little Bites of Delight Before the Meal Begins and Tru: A Cookbook from the Legendary Chicago Restaurant -- will be available at the 2007 Show.

To produce the NRA Show Celebrity Bookstore, the Association partnered with Chicago-based Barbara's Bookstore, whose original store opened in 1963 and who now operates in the Chicago metropolitan area, Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Minneapolis. One of Chicago's most successful bookstores, Barbara's focuses on hand-picked book selection, knowledgeable service, and author events. For more information, visit http://www.barbarasbookstore.com.

Now in its 88th year, the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the Western Hemisphere's largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals. As the industry's premier business venue, it offers attendees the best opportunities of the year for networking and exploring new trends, as well as insight on myriad industry issues via seminars and special events. The 2006 Show hosted 73,500+ attendees from 110 countries, and a record-breaking 2,080 exhibitors in 600,000+ square feet of display space. The 2007 Show is set for May 19-22 at McCormick Place in Chicago. For more information, visit the Show Web site at http://www.restaurant.org/show.

The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 935,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 12.8 million employees -- making it the cornerstone of the economy, career and employment opportunities and community involvement. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.restaurant.org.

SOURCE National Restaurant Association