Just back from the National Restaurant Association Show held at McCormick Place in Chicago, it’s an understatement to say that PMQ editors and sales staff were inundated with new ideas. The NRA Show attracted more than 58,000 registrants this year–a 6% increase over 2009–and included approximately 1,700 exhibitors spread over more than 480,000-square-feet of show floor space.

In addition to more than 70 educational sessions; special pavilions focused on technology, design and organics; and a culinary showcase featuring top chefs from around the world, the NRA show offered a show floor packed with vendors carrying everything from devices that help stabilize your tables to the newest innovations in dough mixing.

We were overwhelmed with the amount of new products this year, and the show floor was abuzz with talk of each day’s most exciting discoveries. PMQ staffers gathered up best picks for the most innovative new products and will be presenting them in a future article for all to see.

And, as you’d probably guess, we also visited several pizzerias while in the Chicago area. Keep an eye out for upcoming stories and video that document our visits to places such as Coalfire Pizza, Spacca Napoli and Piece.  

For more information about the show, visit www.restaurant.org.