2022 LRA Showcase Convenes for 69th Annual Industry Event August 6-7

Thousands of foodservice professionals will gather for annual regional tradeshow.
 
The Louisiana Restaurant Association’s (LRA) premier foodservice event, The LRA Showcase, takes place August 6-7, 2022 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, Halls I-J, with thousands of attendees registered. The Showcase is open to foodservice industry professionals from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
 
The Showcase is a must for restaurant owners, managers and buyers; hotel food and beverage directors and many others. “It’s the only place in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast to gain insightful industry knowledge and save valuable time by shopping hundreds of companies under one roof,” said Stan Harris, President & CEO of the LRA.
 
The LRA Showcase is the largest, most comprehensive industry event in the Gulf South region. Companies will be featuring a wide range of industry-focused products and services. It will deliver an environment where exhibitors can promote their products, services and supplies, and attendees can attend educational sessions and network among their peers.
 
The Opening Ceremony Saturday morning, August 6, at 9:45 a.m. in the Hall I lobby will feature special guest National Restaurant Association Chair Lance Trenary, and will kick off 69 years of bringing together restaurateurs and suppliers for the ultimate shopping and learning experience. Trenary is the President and CEO of Golden Corral Corporation, a nearly 2 billion dollar organization comprised of 35,000 employees and almost 200 franchise entities that operate 460 of the system’s 500 restaurants across 42 states.
 
The Showcase features the popular Kitchen Counter area presented by Republic National Distributing Company, where express presentations will be made both days of the Showcase and will cover emerging trends, best business practices, and professional development. Timely sessions of note include:
 

• Radio host and food personality Poppy Tooker sitting down with Baton Rouge and Lafayette area restaurant owners whose establishments SoLou, Juban’s, and Palmyre are on trend with Instagrammable interior design to engage with their diners.
• Mark Romig, voice of the New Orleans Saints and Chief Marketing Officer of the New Orleans & Co., discusses business expansion and growing pains with Brandon Landry, CEO, Founder and Co-Owner of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.
• A Wine 101 Education class and tasting from Braithe Tidwell will close the show. Tidwell is the former Wine & Beverage Director for Brennan’s Restaurant and is currently a Specialist for Jackson Family Wines with Republic National Distributing Company.

 
See the full lineup at https://www.lra.org/speaker-series.html

The 2022 LRA Showcase will once again be the venue for the Great American Seafood Cook-Off (GASCO), celebrating 15 years in conjunction with the LRA Showcase. GASCO is produced by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board (LSPMB) and the Louisiana Office of Tourism. On August 6, 14 chefs from across the nation will compete, using domestic seafood from their home states, vying for the title of King or Queen of American Seafood.

In June, Chef Amanda Cusey of The Villa Harlequin in Lake Charles was crowned Queen of Louisiana Seafood during the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off. She will be representing Louisiana this year at GASCO. This year’s judges for the competition include Louisiana native Chef Joh Folse, who owns Restaurant R’evolution inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Also included is James Briscione is a chef, author, and Food Network personality. He is a featured chef on the new Food Network Kitchen app offering live and on demand cooking classes. Hosts are Gerald Gruenig of KLFY-TV’s Passe Partout and Acadiana Eats morning shows in Lafayette, and former King of Louisiana Seafood and restaurateur in Monroe, Chef Cory Bahr, who has appeared on the Food Network programs, Food Network Star and Chopped.

“Having GASCO as part of the LRA Showcase demonstrates our industry’s commitment to promoting not only Gulf seafood, but all domestic seafood, as a center of the plate staple in Louisiana and beyond,” added Harris.
The GASCO is open to the public, and tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door of Hall J. Opening ceremonies begin at 11:30 a.m., and closing ceremonies will be at 4:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the LRA Education Foundation.
 
PLEASE NOTE: While the GASCO is open to the public, the LRA Showcase is for foodservice industry professionals at least 18 years of age only. Security personnel will be onsite to monitor event barriers. Registered Showcase attendees will be allowed access to both events.
 
Sunday, August 7, the LRA will host the very first Big Easy Bartender’s Bash. Nine bartenders from restaurants across Louisiana will compete for a grand prize of $1,000 by creating their very own Jameson Irish Whiskey cocktail, sponsored by Republic National Distributing Company.
 
Thank you to the 2022 LRA Showcase Sponsors: Republic National Distributing Company; Pan American Life Insurance Group; Ecolab; Toast; UnitedHealth Group; Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse; New Orleans Roast; Auto-Chlor System; Sysco; Fisher Phillips; Safety National; Melchiode Marks King LLC; QED Hospitality.
 
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The Louisiana Restaurant Association is one of the largest business organizations in the state, representing restaurant operations and related businesses. The restaurant industry in Louisiana is one the state’s largest private employers, providing jobs to more than 216,600 residents. Restaurants in Louisiana are expected to generate sales of $9 billion in 2018. Get up-to-date news about the LRA and the restaurant industry from www.lra.org.                                                                                         
 

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