A Week of FOOD!

It's an exciting time in FOOD at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. Today is the first day for the NRA Show (that's restaurants, not rifles!) & the 2nd Annual International Wine, Spirits, and Beer Event. These two exciting events showcase "What's Hot in 2009" for the Food & Beverage Industry.

Many high profile culinary and hospitality aficionados will be attending the NRA Show including Stephanie Izard, the first female winner of Bravo TV's Top Chef, Charlie Ayers, former Google Inc. chef, Rick Bayless, award-winning author, chef, and TV host, as well as Top Chef Season 5's Radhika Desai, and more! See the full line up of keynote speakers, education sessions, book signings, demonstrations and more as well as read the NRA's blog, "Floored" here. The NRA Show has a Twitter account and while #NRAShow09 is the official hashtag for the show, other attendees are using #NRA09 and #NRAShow. The National Restaurant Association also has a tweet up planned for Monday evening, May 18th from 5-8pm at Quartino's (626 N. State). @NRATweetUp can keep you up to date on the details or you can view the TwtVite.

One of the most exciting moment of the NRA Show so far, for me, was getting to see the clever promotion executed by SaniHands. The staged protest of their own booth by GermsUnite was really creative! Visit their website- each Germ has their own bio and you can view pictures and videos of their protest! After seeing the action outside the hotel by the McCormick Place cab line, I had to run over a take a picture! Below (left to right) are Ryan O'Virus, Lizz Teria, and Ann Fluenza.

Moving on from the Germs, immediately following the National Restaurant Show, we welcome the All Candy Expo, the largest Confectionery, Cookie, and Snack Show in the Americas! Over 450 snack companies will be in attendance!


Here's a video live from the show floor from the 2008 All Candy Expo. You call follow the All Candy Expo on twitter and the official hashtag is #ace09. Our very own Mx Lounge is hosting the All Candy Expo tweet up on Wednesday, May 20th, from 5-7pm. We're serving up plenty of Candy-themed drinks including Butterscotch Martinis, Chocolate S'more Martinis, Mint Chocolate Mojitos, and the $7 Special is the Big Rock Candy Martini! RSVP here. We'll see you there!

We are very excited to welcome all the exhibitors and attendees of these shows. As hospitality professionals themselves, we know they know the game, and we want to be equally sure that each and every guest is being treated with true Hyatt hospitality. It's our goal to ensure complete satisfaction! If you have a comment about your stay, please feel free to send us your feedback through one of our many customer service outlets we have available: Twitter, Facebook, email, or mention it to one of our associates. We want to hear from you!