NORWALK, CT January 12, 2007 – Restaurateurs and foodservice industry professionals will have several new features to discover, demo, taste and source from during the upcoming International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York.  Among the new attractions are PMQ’s New York Pizza Show; a preview of the inaugural New York Wine Expo; the Ultimate Barista ChallengeTM; and the new Japanese Demonstration Theater and Pavilion.  The Show will be held March 4-6, 2007 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

“We are excited to be able to bring the benefit of these four new feature areas to the more than 18,000 industry professionals who are expected to attend this year’s Show,” said Ron Mathews, Event Director for the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York.  “Each year we work with leading industry partners to develop features that will bring valuable business benefits to our attendees.”

The first of the new features is PMQ’s (Pizza Magazine Quarterly) New York Pizza Show, the premier showcase for pizza-related products and services. Now co-located with the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, the New York Pizza Show will attract owners, operators and managers of pizzerias and other restaurant professionals with a significant pizza component from across the United States and other parts of the world to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.  “In joining forces with the Northeast’s largest restaurant and foodservice Show, PMQ will bring thousands of pizza operators to the metro New York area,” said Steve Green, publisher of PMQ Magazine.  PMQ’s New York Pizza Show will feature pizza business seminars, the pizza industry information center, America’s Plate Competition, the U.S. Pizza Team Trials and exhibitors specific to the pizza industry.  For PMQ’s New York Pizza Show exhibitor information, please contact Nadia Ahmed at (662) 234-5481 ext. 136, or visit the official website at www.thepizzashow.com .  
Another new feature, a preview of The New York Wine Expo, produced by the organizers of the Boston Wine Expo – the largest consumer wine event in the country, will also debut at the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York. For the first time on the Show floor, attendees will be able to sample and gather detailed information on the latest offerings from a wide variety of wineries.  Special Wine Expo hours are Sunday, March 4 and Monday, March 5 from 12:00 – 4:00 pm, and Tuesday, March 6 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm.  This event is a preview of the larger NY Wine Expo debuting in 2008.  If you are interested in exhibiting at the New York Wine Expo, contact Judith Knudsen at Judith.knudsen@resource-plus.com or (617) 385-5533. 
 
The premiere event for professional baristas also joins the line-up of new attractions at the 2007 International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York.  The Ultimate Barista ChallengeTM comes to New York after preliminary rounds in Los Angeles and Orlando.  This exciting event is produced by Whole Cup Coffee Consulting.  The Ultimate Barista Challenge will take place on the exhibition floor and highlight the business benefits of featuring creative and quality coffee on a menu.  Attendees are invited to watch as baristi prepare their own inspired espresso beverages for a panel of professional judges. Competitors will participate in a showdown of three flights of espresso frappe, espresso cocktails, and beautiful café latte art to establish the definitive Ultimate Barista! 
 
The Japan External Trade Organization’s (JETRO) Japanese Demonstration Theater and Pavilion will make its debut at the 2007 International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York.  This showcase of 25 vendors will feature demonstrations of historical food preparation techniques and highlight the new trends and innovations in Japanese cuisine.  The subtle flavors and texture of Japanese premium rice and richly marbled wagyu will be available to sample along with artisanal kelp and shochu.  Participants will experience regional delicacies while seeing them prepared on stage before their eyes.  Many of the 25 exhibitors will be making their international debut at the Show. 

On Monday, March 5 the NYSRA Educational Foundation will honor Nick Valenti, Chief Executive Officer of The Patina Restaurant Group during their TY Awards Dinner.  Nick joined Restaurant Association 37 years ago right out of school as a trainee; was named President of RA’s restaurant group in 1980 and Chief Executive in 1993.  Under Nick’s leadership, RA grew to be a truly bicoastal boutique restaurant and foodservice company.  Nick actively serves on the board of Citymeals-on-Wheels, the New York City chapter of NYRSA and is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees at the Culinary Institute of America.  The Industry Partner Award will be presented to The Coca-Cola Company, for its immeasurable contributions to the foodservice industry. For additional information on registering to attend the dinner or purchasing an advertising page in the journal please visit www.internationalrestaurantny.com/TY. 

The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from Sunday, March 4 through Tuesday, March 6, 2007. The Show is produced and managed by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading organizers of trade and public shows and owned and sponsored by the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA).  For more information on exhibiting or attending, please call 888-334-8705 or visit the official event website at www.internationalrestaurantny.com.