88th National Restaurant Show

This Year's show attracted nearly 74,000 attendees from 50 states, and 110 countries, to Chicago's McCormick Place. They came to see products and services displayed by a record 2,140 exhibiting companies in 608,000 sq ft. The show ran from May 19 - 22, 2007. There were four days of celebrity book signings, ice carvings, culinary competitions, product demonstrations, and other events. One of the first questions that may have come to mind: is this show opened to the general public? The answer is no. In order to attend you must be affiliated with the restaurant/foodservice or lodging industry. You must also have a tax id number to register for the show. The 2008 show will run from May 17 - 20. The show costs $35 per person if registered before the Early Bird deadline (to be announced) and $70 for each person there after. This is for all four days. Restaurants buzz will keep you informed via our news feed when the Early Bird special begins. We will provide links to the National Restaurant Association's website, also.

This was our first time at the show. I have to admit it was a little overwhelming, in a good way! I was like a kid in a candy store. Due to time constraints, We were only able to attend one day, and I have to admit it was not enough time to check out everything that was going on. The website's FAQ recommends at least two days. Next year I'll attend all four days. We went on a Sunday, and our check in was easy. We paid online the night before, and printed out the paperwork to expedite the check in process. No lines to speak of that day. The show opened promptly at 9:00 AM.

After check in, we picked up the 256 page exhibit guide and program book, and we were on our way. We started on the main floor. It consisted of nine aisles, and each aisle had back to back booths. The first floor also had the ice carving booth. Every day there are teams of ice carvers, with chainsaws, turning blocks of ice into masterpieces.

End part one, more to come soon

--Maverick Chef