Demonstrations included shows by Bravo’s Top Chef Paul Qui and the nationally-renowned Chef David Bull of Second Bar + Kitchen and Congress. Chef Pyles of Stephan Pyles Restaurant and Samar and Chef Perini of Perini Ranch Steakhouse teamed up again this year to showcase their different styles of Southwestern cuisine to entertain and educate the Expo. For cocktail aficionados more than 30 mixologists from across the state competed at the Texas Spirit Bird Challenge ending with $2,200 in prizes for the winners.
“We celebrated Expo’s seventy-fifth anniversary with not only a vibrant exhibit hall, but high-profile keynote speakers, celebrity chefs and an informative education series which helped to draw the decision makers in this industry to the show,” said Mel Forehand, Vice President, Expositions, TRA. “Expo is the one show for foodservice professionals in this region that provides two days of networking, education, selling and buying.”
Expo exhibitors generously donated surplus food to the North Texas Food Bank generating 3,459 pounds of food this year enough to feed 2,883 meals for people in need.
Due to the success of this year’s expo, plans are already being set for next year. The 2013 Southwest Foodservice Expo will be June 23 through 25 in Dallas, Texas. For more information go to www.swfoodexpo.com
About the Texas Restaurant Association
The Texas Restaurant Association was formed in 1937 to serve as the advocate in Texas and the indispensable resource for the foodservice industry. Today, as a leading business association, TRA represents the state’s $38 billion restaurant industry, which is comprised of 35,000 plus locations and a workforce of one million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation, the Association represents, educates and promotes the growing industry. www.restaurantville.com
