Big Names and Stoves Aflame at The 2019 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and Healthy Food Expo in Orlando

The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and Healthy Food Expo return to Orlando's Orange County Convention Center on September 15 and 16. This annual tradeshow and conference caters to professionals in the restaurant, food service, and retail industries.

At the 2019 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and Healthy Food Expo, thousands of attendees will have access to the hottest menu trends, state-of-the-art design and decor, a renowned education program, special events including Hip Sip and the Rapid Fire Challenge, several culinary demonstrations, and 450+ of leading industry vendors and purveyors.

Attendees of The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and Healthy Food Expo will have access to both events with just one badge.

Sponsored by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, this year’s tradeshow features some of the biggest names in Florida’s culinary arts scene, who will host cooking demonstrations, provide samples to taste, and participate in discussions and competitions on Center Stage.

Among the big names, Chef Mareya Ibrahim will be hosting as the Center Stage Emcee. Ibrahim is a TV chef known as The Fit Foodie as well as a holistic nutrition coach, author, and award-winning entrepreneur and inventor.

The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and Healthy Food Expo are managed by Clarion UX, which produces 37 events across 13 sectors of both trade and consumer events.

Tom Loughran, Vice President for the Clarion UX Food & Beverage Group, says, “We are thrilled to be welcoming a terrific line-up of Florida-inspired celebrity chefs who are involved with some of the leading restaurants in the region to Center Stage as well as present the Beacon and Torch Awards and watch two exciting competitions.”

“Our attendees have become accustomed to seeing the most influential names in the restaurant industry on Center Stage, and our 2019 event will not disappoint the restaurant, foodservice, and retail professionals attending the upcoming Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and Healthy Food Expo.”

The 2019 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and Healthy Food Expo is a two-day extravaganza full of fun and flavor, but be sure to check out at least some of the following special events and demonstrations- you won’t want to miss them!

Sunday, September 15: Exhibit Hall Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Culinary Demonstration with Chef Mareya Ibrahim: This chef seen on Recipe Rehab and the Food Network will demonstrate The Best Blender Gazpacho with Baked Avocado Crisps. (10:30-11:30 a.m.)
Culinary Demonstration with Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli: Chopped Champions winner and Miami-based Chef will delight with his unique European-inspired creations and flavorful dishes. (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
Culinary Demonstration with Chef Guillermo Pernot: Keeping in tune with traditional techniques from Old Havana and bold flavors from Santiago de Cuba, Chef Pernot will demonstrate how to modernize Cuban cuisine with dishes like Roasted Garlic Boniato-Potato Mash and Coconut Crab Fritters. (12:30-1:30 p.m.)
Hip Sip: Battle of the Modern Bartender, Rum Edition: Cheer on the finalists who were chosen to compete and battle their creative drink recipes involving rum for the opportunity to be crowned the overall winner and take home $1,000. (1:30-3:30 p.m.)
Culinary Demonstration with Chef Roberto Treviño: See “Puerto Rico's Rock Star Chef" (and recent Orlando Transplant) from Food Network's Iron Chef America. (3:30-4:30 p.m.)
Torch Award Presentation to James and Julie Petrakis, co-owners of The Ravenous Pig, and a Culinary Demonstration. The Torch Award recognizes this couple’s outstanding leadership, philanthropic efforts, extraordinary talent, and innovation. Following the award presentation, Chef de Cuisine, Nick Sierputowski will join Julie for a culinary demonstration (4:30- 6 p.m.)

Monday, September 16: Exhibit Hall Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Coaches "Hot Seat": David Scott Peters, Emma Vaughn, and Darren Denington will offer a lightning-fast session of rapid-fire coaching as these top industry coaches explore the what, why, where, when, and how of an operation (10:30-11:30 a.m.)
Culinary Demonstration with Chef John Rivers: The founder and CEO of 4 Rivers Smokehouse will dazzle the audience with his love of barbeque. (11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
Culinary Demonstration with Chef Kristy Carlucci: Pastry Chef of The Osprey Tavern (12:15-1 p.m.)
Culinary Demonstration with Chef Shaun O'Neale: A world-recognized chef currently residing in Las Vegas and a former DJ, Shaun was crowned Season 7 Champion of MasterChef on FOX in 2016 and completed his first cookbook My Modern American Table in 2017. His demonstration will feature Roasted Garlic and Wild Mushroom Risotto. (1- 2 p.m.)
Beacon Award Presentation to Heather McPherson: This Florida restaurant and food publicist, award-winning cookbook author and food writer, and Florida Farms Advocate will be honored for her leadership, contribution, and inspiration. The award will be presented at the Foodservice Council for Women panel discussion where Heather will join Chef Nora Galdiano, CEC, AAV; Chef Mareya Ibrahim, Executive Chef Paul DaSilva, Chef Jeannie Pierola, Chef Trina Gregory-Propst, and Isabel Laessig, Family Foodie Founder. (2-3:30 p.m.)
Rapid Fire Challenge: Meatless Monday Edition: Three chefs will put their creativity and skills to the test in this competition, and the winner will be crowned the Rapid Fire Champion, receive $1,000, and bragging rights. Shaun O’Neale, America’s best home cook and Season 7 Champion of MasterChef on FOX, will be the Emcee for the event. (3:30- 5 p.m.)