2013 New England Food Show

I’m excited to check out the New England Food Show and the Social Chefs keynote tomorrow. If you are in the Boston area over the next few days, this is definitely an event to check out.

The Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA) announces the official lineup for the 2013 New England Food Show (NEFS), the region’s largest retail and foodservice market-based event. Attendees can expect an entertaining and educational three days at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), Sunday, March 10 through Tuesday, March 12.  The high profile lineup of keynote speakers will include keynote speaker Regis Philbin, a panel focusing on Boston’s top “social chefs,” and a panel discussion with locally-based restaurant critics. With over 500 booths, attendees will experience the very latest in industry advice, foodservice equipment, food and beverage, technology, and services.

The NEFS will kick off Sunday, March 10 at 10 a.m., with the first keynote presentation at 1 p.m.: Social Chefs: Using Your Followers to Build a Following. Boston’s top social chefs – Jamie Bissonnette (Chef/OwnerCoppa and Toro and 2013 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Northeast),  Joanne Chang (Chef/Co-owner Myers + Chang, Pastry Chef Flour Bakery + Café, and 2013 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Northeast), Brian Poe (Executive Chef Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake, Chef/Owner The Tip Tap Room, and Owner Estelle’s), and Jason Santos (Chef/Owner Blue Inc. and Abby Lane) – will share some of their tips and tricks for converting virtual “followers” into regular customers. These local celebrity chefs will discuss social media strategies and tactics, how the cyber world is affecting the Boston restaurant scene and the culinary industry as a whole, social media crisis control, and much more.

On Monday, March 11 at 1 p.m., Regis Philbin, who has engaged audiences by the millions over the years, will discuss his incredible career. Joe Piantedosi, from Piantedosi Baking Company, will join Philbin on stage to discuss the similarities between entertaining audiences and pleasing customers in the Food and Beverage Industry.

The MRA’s Annual Awards Dinner will take place Monday evening, March 11, at 6 p.m. at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. At this reception and dinner, the MRA will honor the 2013 restaurant industry’s standout leaders. This year’s honorees are: Restaurateurs of the Year, Seth Woods, Matthew Burns and Jeffrey Gates of The Aquitaine Group; Purveyor Executive of the Year, Fred Casinelli of Sysco Boston LLC; Salesperson of the Year, Louis DiPrete of Hobart (a division of ITW Food Equipment Group); Chef of the Year, Daniel Bruce of the Boston Harbor Hotel.

The keynote panel, “Once a Critic, Always a Critic,” will wrap up the NEFS on Tuesday, March 12 at 1 p.m. A trio of Boston’s most influential and talented food writers – Amy Traverso, senior editor, lifestyle of Yankee Magazine, Jolyon Helterman, Independent Writing and Editing Professional, and Mat Schaffer, Principal, Mat Schaffer Consulting – will be sharing personal anecdotes from their careers as food critics and writers. They will hold an open discussion on their opinions of what makes a great restaurant, as well as explore the new trends in dining, what trends should end, and more.

The NEFS will also feature various educational seminars and culinary demonstrations. It will take place Sunday, March 10 and Monday March 11 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Tuesday, March 12 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the BCEC, located at 415 Summer St., Boston. The Annual Awards Dinner will take place on Monday, March 11 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, located at 606 Congress St., Boston.