CENTER STAGE AT INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANT & FOODSERVICE SHOW OF NEW YORK TO FEATURE A GREAT LINE UP OF CHEFS AND EXCITING COMPETITIONS Trade Show and Conference Taking Place March 5-7 at Javits Center in New York City
A wide range of international chefs, culinary professionals, and bartending professionals who have appeared on Netflix Pressure Cooker, Bar Rescue, Chopped, Food Network and network television shows will take Center Stage at next week’s International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, taking place March 5-7, 2023 at the Javits Center in New York City. In addition to culinary demos there will be the Hip Sip Bartending Competition and Rapid-Fire Meatless Monday Competition. Brian Connors, Director of Bacardi Center of Excellence and Florida International University, Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management will emcee the action-packed Center Stage during the three-day event. The full Center Stage schedule and registration is available on the Show website.
“We are excited to be featuring culinary dishes from Greece, Barbados, Latin America, and India from several leading international chefs along with two exciting competitions to educate and entertain our attendee’s during their visit to Center Stage,” said Rita Ugianskis, Vice President, Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group. “We have many exciting activations also taking place in Center Stage including a robot from United Robotics who will deliver chef samples, a culinary demo using Waring Equipment from Singer Equipment, a QR code from Ser.vi to order snacks, and arcade games from Kiddieton. We invite all attendees to make time to watch fantastic demonstrations and taste delicious food and drinks.”
Sunday, March 5
· 12:00 pm - Culinary Demonstration with Maria Loi, an internationally renowned entrepreneur, author, television personality and philanthropist working to change the world - one healthy bite at a time. Known as the Julia Child of Greece, she is the founder and face of a lifestyle brand that nurtures a healthy body and soul, melds the inspiration of ancient Greece with a modern approach to the Mediterranean diet. Chef Loi will prepare Avramar Kranios a la Spetsiota - Avramar Greek Stone Bass Spetses-Style, a traditional Greek dish featuring a uniquely Greek fish species with tomato paste, tomatoes, and herbs.
· 1:00 pm - Let's Talk Womxn (LTW) Panel Discussion and Culinary Demonstration with Chef Barbara Sibley of La Palapa Restaurant. Join a dynamic panel of women in foodservice who will discuss the biggest bottlenecks for women entrepreneurs, and what policy changes need to be made to help support women in the restaurant and foodservice industry. The panel will discuss success stories on women champions in the industry and how those champions are collaborating nationally. During the discussion Chef Barbara Sibley will prepare Tostadas de Barbacoa con Guacasalsa. Chile Guajillo Beef Tostadas with Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa. Panelists: Amy Scherber, Founder and President, Amy’s Bread; Maricel Presilla, Chef, Zafra Restaurant; May Abraham Fridel, Founder, Passion for Spices; Naami Tamir, Co-Owner, Lighthouse Restaurant.
· 2:00 pm - Raise The Bar: Elevated Cocktails without the Costs. Top experts in the hospitality industry will take a deep dive into how to streamline operations. These experts will discuss how to take a broad, top-down view of key parts of your bar program to ensure efficiency. Panelists include Art Sutley, Nightlife & Hospitality Expert, Director Of Strategic Accounts Savage & Cooke Distillery; Mia Mastroianni, Celebrity Mixologist, Consultant As Seen On Bar Rescue; and Phil Wills, Owner/Partner, The Spirits In Motion© Consultant As Seen On Bar Rescue.
· 3:00 pm - Hip Sip: Battle of the Modern Bartender Competition – Lipservice Rye Whiskey competition will feature bartenders and mixologists creating the best rye whiskey cocktail. The contestants will be judged on creativity, use of product, taste, presentation, and flair. Art Sutley, Mia Mastroianni and Phil Wells will judge the competition following their panel discussion.
Monday, March 6
· 12:00 pm - Culinary Demonstration by Chef Renee Blackman, A seasoned talent with experience in the culinary industry, Chef Renee has shared her talent on Netflix's PRESSURE COOKER, Food Network's ‘Chopped’ and ‘Kitchen Crash’ and has been featured in the Ebony Magazine, Huffington Post, New York Post, World Pride Guide, and Hamptons Magazine, to name a few. Chef Blackman will prepare Pan seared scallops w/ Argentinian chimichurri & pickled tomato, red onion and golden berry mélange.
· 1:00 pm - Culinary Demonstration Chef James Simpson, Artist. Craftsman at The Chefs Garden, Inc Moderated by Morgan Tucker, Vice President, Marketing at Singer Equipment Company. The Chef's Garden sustainable family farm is the leading grower of artisanal vegetable in the United States. We currently grow more than 600 varieties of vegetables, microgreens and herbs in eight different stages of growth for the world's top chefs.
· 3:00 pm Rapid Fire Challenge Meatless Monday Single Skillet. Chefs will bring their favorite plant-based items or veggies dishes, get creative and be ready for their shining moment. The winner will be crowned the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York Rapid Fire Champion, receive $1,000, bragging rights and gain exposure. Judges are Chef Maria Loi; Chef Renee Blackman; Stratis Morfogen, Brooklyn Chop House; Laura Bray, Social Influencer; and Dawn Kelly from The Nourish Spot.
Tuesday, March 7
· 12:00 pm Culinary Demonstration with Chef Michelle Bernstein Born and raised in Miami of Jewish and Latinx descent, Chef Michelle “Michy” Bernstein is a fixture in the culinary world — both in restaurant kitchens and in the media spotlight — paving the way for bright Latin flavors and standout ingredients in her lively, vibrant cuisine. Bernstein’s style melds taste experiences from her travels around the world into her signature style of exciting, eclectic cooking. Chef Bernstein will showcase the art of laying flavors, how to take a simple dish and make it memorable using a base of a nice puree, seared vegetable or fish and several fun toppings.
· 2:00 pm - Culinary Demonstration with Ali Loukzada Executive Chef of Constellation Culinary Group and President of Boldric chef apparel. Ali Loukzada naturally fell in love with food and cooking throughout his childhood, having spent much of his time working at family-owned restaurants. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Loukzada’s time spent learning to cook with his mother and grandmother as a teenager infused a lifetime passion for cooking. Chef Loukzada will prepare Duck liver mousse with berry compote and crackers.
In addition to Center Stage the exhibit hall all attendees will have access to Coffee Fest and new products and innovations from hundreds of exhibiting companies. The International Restaurant & Foodservice of New York (IRFSNY) is the East Coast's premier industry event drawing significant attendance from restaurant and foodservice operations. Attendee registration is now open. If registering multiple people from the same organization, see the option to add additional team members at the completion of the first registrant. Register six or more team members at the same time and automatically receive a 30% discount off on each.
The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York is owned by Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group and sponsored by The New York State Restaurant Association (www.nysra.org). The Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group also includes, Coffee Fest, The NGA Show, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo. Clarion Events operates over 180 events in 50 countries from 15 offices in the UK, the US, South Africa, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, UAE, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands. Clarion can trace its roots back to 1947 and takes great pride in being one of the oldest independent event organizers in the UK. More recently the firm has developed an international portfolio of brands and now has interests in a number of global vertical industries including energy, security and defense, hospitality, electronics, technology, fashion, retail, gaming and marketing. The teams at Clarion create uniquely effective and stimulating environments that can serve as a platform to build businesses, enhance customer relationships, and accelerate product awareness. us.clarionevents.com.
