Exhibitors are the show at the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Food, Beverage & Lodging Expo, but several side acts will compete for the attention of between 8,000 and 10,000 attendees.
Eight seminars are planned for the two-day expo, to be held in Baltimore from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 19-20, at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Nationally recognized speakers will discuss a variety of topics designed to help restaurateurs become more successful and improve efficiency. Scheduled topics range from menu engineering and profitability to determining franchise readiness and launching new products — there also is an opportunity for attendees to taste Australian wines.
One very popular attraction for attendees has been the chef demonstration stage, which Licia Spinelli, vice president of marketing and special events for the Restaurant Association of Maryland, likens to "My Cooking Masterpiece Theater."
"It's an opportunity for the people who are really passionate about food and about their food products to demonstrate how they use it, why they think it's a great product and original or new ways to use what are considered older or more tired products," she said. Attendees then may sample what the chefs have created.
Attendees also may witness chefs under pressure in the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Chef Competition, as competitors vie for the top cash prize of $1,000 and the opportunity to represent Maryland in the Great American Seafood Challenge next year.
During the two-day event, each competitor has 60 minutes to prepare a signature fish and crab dish using Maryland Crabmeat and McCormick spices. A panel of three ACF-certified judges will determine who will move on to the national competition.
Another crowd-pleaser is the MHEF MicroBrew Garden, offered through a partnership between the Maryland Hospitality Education Foundation and the Brewer's Association of Maryland. The result is a showcase of some of Maryland's best brewed beer, Spinelli said.
"It's very easy for everyone to get their Bud Lites and their Michelobs and their Heinekens in their restaurants, but this is an opportunity for our operators to check out the growing and very exciting realm of microbrews," she said.
In addition to these events, Spinelli said show management is excited to offer attendees free registration, as well as free parking and shuttle service.
"It's going to be a great show," she said. "There's a ton to see."
For more information or to see a schedule of events, visit the Mid-Atlantic expo's Web site.
