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<\/a>Just one of the crazy fun sights you’ll see at the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
I\u2019ve been attending it for a couple of decades now, (really,) and it\u2019s the one event I won\u2019t miss. I went to it two years ago despite just breaking my ribs; four years ago the day before my first hand surgery (when I couldn\u2019t even use either hand!); and have come back early from, or postponed, travels for it. It\u2019s that fun, and important, of an Expo.<\/p>\n
Even though I don\u2019t review restaurants exclusively anymore, I still like to keep up with what\u2019s happening with them, in all aspects. And the Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo is definitely the place to learn about all the innovations in those worlds. (And, really\u2014who\u2019s more hospitable than I<\/em>? Haven\u2019t met them!)<\/p>\n This event is both fun and educational, but most of the participants, on every level, often tell me it\u2019s a success for them. \u00a0I always discover wonderful items, in not just the edible<\/em> category, but in every<\/em> area of the food and hospitality industry, so I\u2019m really looking forward to what this year\u2019s expo will bring. (One year, I brought a young chef pal with me, and he was amazed by the cutlery<\/em> choices!)<\/p>\n The CRA “respite room,” as I call it. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n One of my favorite parts of the show is the California Restaurant Association\u2019s \u201cVIP Room\u201d right in the middle of the convention floor! \u00a0If you Cali restaurateurs ever needed another reason to join the association, this would be it!\u00a0 They always have a wonderfully comfortable area for their members to take a break from working, and just relax in comfort and privacy. The area features snacks, beverages, and even a few little gifts. But the best perk in the past few years is that they have a masseuse doing chair massages!\u00a0 And trust me\u2014every person in attendance is grateful for that wonderfulness.<\/p>\n I think this year\u2019s Expo just may be the best one ever. That\u2019s because there are so many new special attractions this time. Here are a few of them:<\/p>\n 1) Since August is National Sandwich Month, (who knew?,) the theme of the Rapid Fire Challenge<\/strong> will be\u2014guess what?–sandwiches! Three chefs will face off in that category on Monday. I just hope that some of them will be on whole wheat bread, so I can sample them! (The sandwiches, not the chefs, of course,)<\/p>\n 2) Keeping with the \u201cwhat Karen can eat\u201d theme, there will also be a \u201cHealthy Pavilion<\/strong>.\u201d (Do you think I should let those organizers know that the correct word is \u201chealthful,\u201d not \u201chealthy?\u201d The latter is what people<\/em> are, and the former is what foods and lifestyle<\/em> are. Maybe they\u2019ll read this and correct it themselves for next year\u2019s<\/em> Expo. Fingers crossed.) I\u2019m pretty sure that the group who\u2019s bringing the Pavilion to us used to publish a book that I promoted on my television show many years ago, so I\u2019m glad to see them still helping health-conscious diners, such as moi.<\/p>\n Curtis Stone.<\/p><\/div>\n 3) Then we have the sixth annual Culinary and Cocktail Clash<\/strong>, which will take place on Sunday. It\u2019s an event that will bring together teams from several restaurants \u201cto battle it out in the ultimate show of skill and mettle.\u201d That sounds like a food fight<\/em> to me!!!<\/p>\n 4) Perhaps best of all is that on Monday, Curtis Stone is being honored with the Torch Award<\/strong>, which was created to \u201chonor talented chefs for the purity of their knowledge, the clarity of their vision, and the brilliance of their careers.\u201d I have to admit that I\u2019ve never eaten at any of his restaurants, but I\u2019m glad he\u2019s getting this award because of his gorgeous face, charming personality, and oh that Aussie accent! (You all do remember that I\u2019m shallow, right?)<\/p>\n Those are just a few of the reasons I\u2019m looking so forward to this<\/em> year\u2019s Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo. I hope to see every member of the California restaurant industry there, on August 27-29, 2017. I consider it to be a \u201cdon\u2019t miss\u201d event.<\/p>\n For the official info on it, please check-out their site, here:\u00a0www.westernfoodexpo.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WESTERN FOODSERVICE & HOSPITALITY EXPO 2017 PREVIEW One of my favorite events of any year, the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, will finally be here in Los Angeles this week-end, at the LA Convention Center downtown. And I cannot wait! I\u2019ve been attending it for a couple of decades now, (really,) and it\u2019s the one<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>