Calling All Chefs: Get discovered and win a trip to Spain!

Calling all chefs! Want a chance to showcase your culinary skills and win a trip to Spain? Join the Discovered Culinary Competition – sponsored by Discover, Nella Cucina and the CRFA Show -- and you could be training at a two-Michelin-star restaurant in sunny Spain.

About Discovered Culinary Competition:

·     Starts on Nov. 21 and runs on Mondays in November, January and February

·     Mystery box challenge where four Canadian chefs compete against the clock to create an appetizer, entrée and dessert.

·     The winner of each Monday night goes on to compete live on stage at the CRFA Show, held March 4 – 6, 2012.

·     Two winning chefs will also be flown in from our sister show, the BC Foodservice Expo, in Vancouver.

·     Friends and fans of the competition can vote for two “fan favourites”.

·     Altogether, 16 chefs will compete in the finals to determine the winner of the Discovered Culinary Competition.

In addition to bragging rights, the winner will spend a week cooking at a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Spain.

The Discovered Culinary Competition is open to all Canadian chefs employed in the hospitality/foodservice industry. You must be at least 19 years old to compete.  There is no entry fee.

For more information and to apply, go to the Discovered Culinary Competition page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/discoveredchefs. Complete the application on the “Info” page and send it to events@nellacucina.ca as soon as possible. The first round of competition starts on Monday, Nov. 21.

Discovered Culinary Competition is sponsored by Discover® and presented by Nella Cucina and the CRFA Show.

The 2011 CRFA Show in review

The 2011 CRFA Show attracted thousands of industry professionals who discovered fresh ideas to help promote, manage and grow their foodservice and hospitality businesses. Held March 6-8 at the Direct Energy Centre, the 2011 CRFA Show added up to a resounding success with:

• 13,000 visitors
• 1,200 exhibit booths
• 31 educational seminars and workshops
• 38  chef demos

“Our thanks go out to everyone in this innovative and dynamic industry whose participation made the CRFA Show such a tremendous success,” says Garth Whyte, President and CEO of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association. “The feedback from visitors and exhibitors has been outstanding, and the wheels are in motion to build on the success to make next year's show even better.”

The 2012 CRFA Show will return to Toronto’s Direct Energy Centre on March 4-6, 2012.

Plan your visit with “My CRFA Show”

My CRFA Show is an online, interactive event planner that will help you make the most of your time at the CRFA Show. You can browse through our exhibitor listing or search for specific exhibitors and products. You can also save and print your favourites by creating a personal profile. To check it out, click here.

Best Seminar Line-up Ever!

This year, the CRFA Show has over 50 seminars, presentations and demos - the most ever. From learning how to make more money and work with social media, to cooking with beer and the secrets of the perfect macaron, you'll learn new strategies, tips and ideas to take away with you that will help you promote, manage and grow your business.

Foodservice Interchange by Food and Consumer Products of Canada

FCPC has partnered with CRFA to bring Foodservice operators, distributors and manufacturers two unique shows under one roof for even greater value!

You can't afford to miss this year's event. You will learn:

• The industry's most pressing government, policy and business issues for 2011, with insights from Garth Whyte, President & CEO, CRFA
• Industry-specific data on economic trends, the economic forecast and a consumer spending outlook from Kenrick Jordan, Senior Economist, BMO Financial Group
• The U.S. economic crisis forced businesses to think creatively to stay in business.Darren Tristano, Executive Vice President, Technomic, Inc. reveals what solutions are working in the U.S. the biggest opportunities and how obstacles are overcome
• What will entice consumers' taste buds? Suzanne Roy, Director of Business Development, McCormick Canada will share the key flavour trends for the next 18 months
• Learn how to overcome one of the biggest issues our industry faces; developing talent and sustaining a high performance culture presented by Stacey Allerton, Vice President, Human Resources, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited
• New research highlights on what drives customer satisfaction, consumer habits and intentions from The NPD Group, Inc. specific to Full Service Restaurant segment (FSR) from Robert Carter, Executive Director, Foodservice Canada
• Plus, a special guest motivational speaker who will inspire you to stay focused, overcome obstacles and achieve your best both personally and professionally, Chantal Petitclerc, Paralympic Champion & World Record Holder

Monday, March 7, 7:30 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Allstream Centre (adjacent to the Direct Energy Centre)

Click here for more information about FCPC’s Foodservice Interchange conference and to register online.

NEW! Fresh Ideas for Foodservice: Meeting Market Trends with Anna Olson

Guelph Food Technology Centre and Grow Guelph present: On Sunday, March 6 and Monday, March 7 – Watch cooking demonstrations and book signings with celebrity chef Anna Olson.

On Monday, March 7 – Learn from keynote speaker Anna Olson and a trio of Healthy Menu educ...ational sessions: Local, Sustainable and Organic Menus; Sodium Reduction for Healthier Menus; and Healthy Menus for Kids. Learn about the latest health and wellness market trends in foodservice.

Brought to you in partnership with Foodland Ontario, Gay Lea Foods, Taste Real/Guelph Wellington and OnTrace. Limited seating – reserve when registering for the CRFA Show.

For more info or to register online, go to www.crfashow.ca

Canadian Restaurants 2011: Trends and Directions Conference by Technomic

Canadian Restaurants 2011: Trends and Directions Conference by Technomic
Tuesday, March 8, 8:30 - 11 a.m.
Allstream Centre (adjacent to the Direct Energy Centre)

The Canadian Restaurants 2011: Trends and Directions Conference is an executive conference designed exclusively for restaurant industry leaders. Gain valuable insights from keynote presenters and network with your peers. Learn more about consumer attitudes and insights, menu hot spots and strategic local marketing. More Canadian content this year!

Separate registration required, $245 per person.

For more info and to register, click here.

If you’re coming to the CRFA Show from out of town, book your hotel room now!

If you’re coming to the CRFA Show from out of town, book your hotel room now. The reservation deadline is February 11, 2011. With other events in town, it will be very hard to find a room in Toronto after this date. Special arrangements have been made to offer a block of hotel rooms at reduced rates during the CRFA Show. For the most recent information on hotel room availability, click here.