Floored!, the official blog of the National Restaurant Association ...

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Three of Bravo?s Top Chef reality show?s biggest stars ? Richard Blais, Spike Mendelsohn and Fabio Viviani ? will be harnessing their star power to help raise funds for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation?s (NRAEF) ProStart?program at Restaurants Rock. The three celebrity chefs will host the second annual party held on Sunday, May 6, 2012 during the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (set for its new dates May 5-8 at Chicago?s McCormick Place), and will conduct live cooking demos on the NRA Show floor in the World Culinary Showcase on Sunday, May 6.?

Restaurants Rock is the official all-industry party of the NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) and will celebrate the spirit of the restaurant and hospitality industry. The event, sponsored by Crown Imports, will feature Bravo?s Top Chef stars Blais, Mendelsohn and Viviani, live music, as well as an action-packed live mixology competition to crown the IWSB Star of the Bar. Proceeds from Restaurants Rock will support the NRAEF?s ProStart program ? a nationwide, two-year program that unites industry and the classroom to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow?s restaurant and foodservice leaders.

?NRAEF programs like ProStart are developing a stronger workforce and building the next generation of restaurant and foodservice industry leaders,? said Lynette McKee, executive director of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. "As the industry convenes in Chicago to celebrate food, drink and hospitality, we?re excited that Richard, Spike and Fabio are joining with us at Restaurants Rock to raise funds needed to put rising ProStart stars on the path to success.?

Restaurants Rock ? to be held at Chicago?s LaSalle Power Company - runs from 9 p.m. to midnight, and entry is limited. Registered NRA Show attendees may purchase tickets for $50 each and limited to first-come, first-served. IWSB registrants may purchase tickets for $25. After March 30, tickets increase to $60 for NRA Show attendees and $35 for IWSB attendees.

Blais, Mendelsohn and Viviani will also be conducting demos in the World Culinary Showcase on the NRA Show floor. The cooking demonstration theater provides event attendees an interactive setting to soak up the passion, innovation and inspiration shared by world-class culinary masters who perform live on stage all four days. In addition, show-goers will have the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these stars and others including Chefs Rick Bayless and Stephanie Izard during celebrity book signings and other exclusive Show-only events.?

For more information, and to?register for up to 50 percent savings?for NRA Show and IWSB 2012, go to?www.restaurant.org/show?or?www.winespiritsbeer.org. You can also find us on Twitter?@NRAShow,?Facebook,?Linkedin and?YouTube.

Source: http://nrashow.typepad.com/flooredblog2010/2012/02/top-chef-stars-blais-mendelsohn-and-viviani-to-host-restaurants-rock.html

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