Celebrity chefs dish out culinary expertise at the World Culinary Showcase at the 2015 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and BAR at the NRA Show May 16-19.
“As a chef myself, I have a special affinity for the World Culinary Showcase at NRA Show and the way these celebrities give back to their industry through education,” says John C. Metz, convention chair for NRA Show 2015 and Executive Chef/CEO of Marlow’s Tavern, Aqua Blue, and Sterling Spoon Culinary Management.
“The combination of inspiration gained from these renowned chefs, insights from the over 70+ education sessions, discoveries on the show floor, and countless interactions with industry peers makes the NRA Show 2015 a not-to-miss destination for any foodservice operator," he says.
The World Culinary Showcase, running all four days of the NRA Show, will feature chefs from across the country with a wide range of culinary specialties. This year’s talent includes:
Rick Bayless: Winner of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters and multiple James Beard award winner; author of seven award-winning cookbooks; chef/owner of Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO, and Tortas Frontera; founder of Frontera Farmer Foundation to attract support for small Midwestern farms.
Anne Burrell: Star of Worst Cook in America, Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell, and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef; author of Cook Like a Rockstar and Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire and Empower.
Maneet Chauhan: Chopped judge, Iron Chef challenger, author, James Beard Award-winner, and owner of Chauhan Ale & Masala House in Nashville, Tennessee.
Elizabeth Falkner: Award-winning chef, author, James Beard Foundation award nominee and returning participant on Top Chef, Iron Chef, and Kitchen Inferno.
Robert Irvine: Host of The Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible and Restaurant Express and author of two cookbooks, Mission: Cook! and Impossible to Easy.
Kristen Kish: Winner of Bravo's Top Chef and the second female chef to win the competition.
Jehangir Mehta: Participant on Food Network’s Next Iron Chef and Iron Chef America and chef of Graffiti, Graffiti Me, and Mehtaphor in Manhattan.
Marc Murphy: Owner and Executive Chef of Benchmarc Restaurants and Benchmarc Events in NYC, Chopped judge and Iron Chef America participant, and official spokesperson for Dine Out For No Kid Hungry program.
Barton Seaver: Executive Chef; host of National Geographic web series Cook-Wise; member of the United States culinary Ambassador Corp., and director of the Healthy and Sustainable Food Program at the Center for Health and Global Environment at Harvard.
Fabio Viviani: Chef/owner of Cafe Firenze, Firenze Osteria, and Siena Tavern who appeared on Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, and After Top Chef.
