Show Wrap-Up: 2008 CRFA Show
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2008
TORONTO –The 2008 CRFA Show lived up to its billing as Canada’s largest hospitality event during its three-day run at the Direct Energy Centre March 2-4.
The show brought together the well-known HostEx and Canadian Food & Beverage Shows and featured more than 1,700 exhibit booths representing 700 of Canada’s most innovative food, beverage, equipment and service providers. Hundreds of new products – from trans fat-free oils and exotic chocolate to eco-friendly cleaners and compostable take-out containers – made their debut at this year’s show, which attracted nearly 12,000 industry professionals.
“The Canadian foodservice industry was hungry for an event that would bring together foodservice suppliers and buyers in a dynamic new setting, and we’re pleased to say that this year’s CRFA Show delivered,” says Steve Barber, Vice President of Expositions with the show’s producer, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA).
“This new show debuted with unprecedented industry support and strong attendance, due in large part to the the great line-up of demonstrations and seminars that took place each day. We’re confident that we’ve raised the bar for foodservice events in Canada and we’re looking forward to an even greater event next year.”
IRON CHEF ACCELERATED RESULTS
Jason Bangerter (Executive Chef, Auberge du Pommier, Oliver Bonacini Restaurants) took top prize, beating out Jason Rosso (Executive Chef, The Boiler House Restaurant, The Distillery Restaurant Group) in the first-ever Iron Chef Accelerated competition, which took place before a live audience on March 2.
Both chefs were challenged to create five gourmet courses in less than 40 minutes, using accelerated cooking equipment from Garland Canada (Merrychef 402s ovens and 2.5 kW induction cookers).
The competition was judged by chefs from two of Canada’s leading culinary schools – George Brown College and Humber College – and was hosted by Toronto’s own Kevin Brauch, host of The Thirsty Traveler and floor reporter for Iron Chef America: The Series.
CELEBRITY CHEF PRESENTATIONS
Visitors to the 2008 CRFA Show were treated to a stellar line-up of Canada’s top chefs and food personalities, appearing on the Kraft and Garland stages throughout the three-day show. This year’s line-up included:
Stephen Beaumont
John Bishop
Michael Blackie
Kevin Brauch
Massimo Capra
Domenic Chiaromonte
Robert Clark
Lynn Crawford
Christine Cushing
Cameron Dobranski
Donna Dooher
Normand Laprise
Mark McEwan
Gurth Pretty
Michael Stadtlander
Jenn Stone
Zoltan Szabo
On Tabasco’s Bar Chef Stage, master mixologists Tony Abou-Ganim and Gavin MacMillan kept the crowd informed and entertained, sharing the latest trends in cocktails and demonstrating the difference that fresh quality ingredients and proper technique can make in preparing and serving cocktails.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The 2009 edition of the CRFA Show will take place March 8-10 at the Direct Energy Centre in downtown Toronto.
The CRFA Show is a trade-only event owned and operated by the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association and sponsored by VISA. CRFA is Canada's largest hospitality association with 33,000 members representing chain and independent restaurants, hotels, caterers, bars, institutions and foodservice suppliers.
NOTE TO EDITORS/REPORTERS:
CRFA now offers an online gallery for the 2008 CRFA Show, featuring high resolution images from the show, suitable for print publication.
Please visit http://crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/photogallery/crfashow.asp to view and download the photos.
- 30 -