LRA Restaurant Members, get ready for the ultimate culinary extravaganza in the heart of New Orleans this summer! The LRA Showcase 2024 is back and better than ever, featuring the 20th Annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off and the opportunity to hear the culinary journey of award-winning Chef Aarón Sánchez. Meet Chef Aarón Sánchez: Aarón Sánchez isn't just a chef; he's a culinary icon, TV personality, author, and philanthropist. With his vibrant personality and unparalleled expertise, Chef Aarón has taken the culinary world by storm. From his roles as a judge on FOX's MasterChef series to his own shows like "El Toque de Aarón" and "Hogar de HGTV," Chef Aarón's influence knows no bounds. He's passionate about preserving his family's legacy through food and promoting diversity in the kitchen. But Chef Aarón's talents extend far beyond the screen. As a third-generation cookbook author, he's penned two cookbooks and a memoir, sharing his love for food with the world. And as the chef/partner of renowned restaurants like Johnny Sánchez and Showbird, he's constantly pushing the boundaries of flavor and innovation. What to Expect at LRA Showcase 2024: Join Chef Aarón at The Kitchen Counter, a series of educational presentations designed for today’s restaurant and foodservice professional in mind. Shop hundreds of suppliers as they converge in New Orleans to showcase the latest products, services, and technology in the restaurant and hospitality industry. From culinary demonstrations to networking opportunities, LRA Showcase 2024 is a must-attend event for professionals in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Exclusive Offer for LRA Restaurant Members: As an LRA Restaurant Member, you'll receive four complimentary passes to this year’s Showcase. LRA Associate Members are encouraged to exhibit and showcase their products to a captive audience of industry professionals. Restaurant Members, stay tuned to your email for your personalized instructions to register for your four complimentary passes. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of the biggest restaurant industry event of the summer! Register now for early bird pricing and secure your spot at LRA Showcase 2024. See you in New Orleans!
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What’s happening: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is proposing a rule on so-called “junk fees” that is so encompassing it would ban widely accepted restaurant fees, such as delivery and large-party service fees.
In response: The Association submitted comments in opposition to this proposed rule in February. And the FTC ban was 1 of 3 Issues for Action at the 2024 Public Affairs Conference in April. Attendees urged policymakers to raise concerns about the proposed rule with the FTC, including by signing an Association-backed letter. What you can do: The Association continues to work to build support for this letter, which is being led by Rep. Womack (AR-03) in the House and Sen. Braun (R-IN) in the Senate. Please encourage your elected officials to consider signing the letter. For an email template, contact Aaron Frazier (aafrazier@restaurant.org). The news: The National Restaurant Association and the Restaurant Law Center (RLC) submitted comments Sunday in response to the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors’ (the Fed) “Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing” Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
What happened: The Association and RLC expressed support for the Board’s proposal but urge the Board to go further in lowering debit card swipe fees and to eliminate additional fees so that the new rate is fair and equitable for debit card issuers, restaurants of all sizes, and diners. The comments outline why the Board should:
What we’re saying: “...The weight of credit card fees gets heavier each year because there is no regulation on them, but the Fed has the responsibility to ensure that debit interchange fees remain reasonable. This is their chance to provide a small bit of relief from these costs for restaurant operators and consumers,” said Sean Kennedy, the Association’s EVP of Public Affairs. A little background: The Fed is required by the Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to review debit card interchange fees biennially and evaluate if the fees remain reasonable and proportionate to issuer costs. This NPRM is in response to its most recent evaluation, which began after retailers filed a petition for lower caps in 2022. What’s next: The Fed is unlikely to make a decision this year. In the meantime, legislation to effectively block the Fed’s effort has been introduced in the House, the Bank Resilience and Regulatory Improvement Act, H.R.8337. This bill would increase debit card swipe fees for restaurants and is scheduled to be marked up by the House Financial Services Committee Thurs., May 16. Since its inception in 2008, the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off (LASCO) has stood as a pinnacle of professional culinary competitions, showcasing the state's vibrant seafood culture in a thrilling culinary showdown. This live cooking extravaganza brings together chefs from every corner of Louisiana, all vying for the prestigious title of King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood. With the grand event scheduled for Friday, May 31, 2024, at Bayou Pointe in Monroe, La, anticipation is running high as we prepare to witness the next culinary champion emerge.
The Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off isn't just a contest; it's a launchpad for culinary careers. Past winners have experienced remarkable success, from opening their own acclaimed restaurants to gracing the covers of national magazines and hosting their own culinary television shows. Winning LASCO is more than just a trophy; it's a culinary catapult into the limelight. Without further ado, let's introduce the LRA Member chefs who will be competing for the crown:
These esteemed chefs will be creating signature dishes for a panel of judges. Their creations will highlight the bounty of Louisiana seafood, featuring delectable ingredients such as shrimp, crawfish, oysters, crab, fin fish, or even alligator. So mark your calendars and prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable culinary experience at the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off 2024. Join us as we witness the magic unfold and discover who will be crowned the next culinary champion of Louisiana! The winner of the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off advances to the 20th Annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off, held Saturday, August 3, 2024 at the LRA Showcase. The chef will represent Louisiana among chefs from across the country, where each will prepare a dish using indigenous domestic seafood from their area. Governor Landry Signs Four of Commissioner Temple’s Property Insurance Reform Bills into Law5/8/2024 Commissioner Tim Temple, Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot, House Insurance Chairman Gabe Firment and other lawmakers joined Governor Jeff Landry at the State Capitol earlier today as he signed four of Temple’s insurance reform bills aimed at stabilizing Louisiana’s property insurance market.
“Our hope is that this package of bills will start to create more balance in the law and in the market such that we can drive the cost of property insurance down so it’s more affordable for our citizens,” Gov. Landry said. “Louisiana families and businesses have been suffering from skyrocketing property insurance costs since 2020,” Commissioner Temple said. “Change does not come overnight, but the signing of these bills is a major step toward reforming Louisiana’s insurance market.” Authored by Chairman Talbot, SB 323 establishes a simple, clear timeline for the claims process that makes it easier for policyholders and insurers to understand what their responsibilities are during the claim. The measure aims to reduce unnecessary litigation and simplify the legal process when litigation is needed. It also creates a cure period to give parties more time to resolve disputes before turning to litigation. “I think this package of bills makes us competitive with other states,” Senator Talbot said. “That will turn into availability, which should turn into affordability.” SB 295, which was authored by Senator Heather Cloud, increases speed-to-market for insurance products and rate changes while maintaining regulatory oversight of the industry. The bill updates the Louisiana Department of Insurance’s rate and form filing approval process from a prior approval method to a file-and-use system. HB 611, which was authored by Chairman Firment, removes the three-year rule for new policies, which puts Louisiana in line with every other state, and lets insurers more effectively manage their risk by allowing them to nonrenew up to 5% of their three-year policies each year. “I think this is really an important first step, signing this package of bills, in addressing the affordability and availability crisis when it comes to property insurance in Louisiana,” Chairman Firment said. The fourth bill in the package, Representative Matthew Willard’s HB 120, removes the sunset for the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program and demonstrates Louisiana’s long-term commitment to increasing resiliency by strengthening homes and businesses against future risks. “The only way to fix our insurance crisis is by creating a stable and predictable market that attracts insurance companies to compete in our state,” Temple said. “These bills provide real, proven solutions to the problems that have been plaguing our market.” About the Louisiana Department of Insurance: The Louisiana Department of Insurance works to improve competition in the state’s insurance market while assisting individuals and businesses with the information and resources they need to be informed consumers of insurance. As a regulator, the LDI enforces the laws that provide a fair and stable marketplace and makes certain that insurers comply with the laws in place to protect policyholders. You can contact the LDI by calling 1-800-259-5300 or visiting www.ldi.la.gov. What just happened: President Biden today vetoed a bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the NLRB’s expanded Joint Employer Rule. This rule would have imposed joint liability for franchisors and franchisees concerning labor issues. In issuing the veto, Biden said he did so to protect workers’ rights to “organize and bargain collectively.”
What’s next: Congress is unlikely to have enough votes to override the President's veto. In March, a federal judge vacated the broader 2023 Joint Employer Rule, declaring it inherently flawed after challenges from the Restaurant Law Center and other industry groups. The NLRB may seek to appeal the judge’s decision to a higher court. The 2020 Final Rule, which requires "direct and immediate" control over employees' conditions to establish a joint employer relationship, remains in effect. Our take: Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, National Restaurant Association, released the following statement in response to today’s veto: “The House and the Senate came together to pass a resolution that supported small business restaurant owners across the country, so it’s disappointing that the president chose National Small Business Week to veto it. A recent court decision rolling the Joint Employer Standard back to the 2020 rule means that today’s action won’t negatively impact restaurant owners, but there’s still uncertainty every day that another wrenching change to the Standard is just around the corner.” The newly installed LRA Cenla Chapter Board of Directors voted to approve a $35,000 donation to the LRA Education Fund and a $35,000 donation the LRA Hospitality Political Action Committee. The decision came on the night of May 1 at the CENLA chapter board meeting in Alexandria.
The Board of Directors also approved a $15,000 donation to Children’s Miracle Network and other donations to various organizations throughout central Louisiana, including the Cenla Food Bank, Manna House and River Oaks Arts Square. The massive donations come in the wake of the huge success of the chapter’s annual Taste of Mardi Gras event. The 2024 iteration of the “Mardi Gras Ball for All Y’all” marked the 30th anniversary of the fundraiser, with more than 2,500 people in attendance. Following the meeting, the directors were joined by nearly 30 LRA members and guests for a chapter dinner at The Diamond Grill, where 2024 LRA Chair Alan Guilbeau officially swore in the new Board of Directors. The LRA Cenla chapter encompasses 10 parishes in the region and is one of nine Louisiana Restaurant Association chapters across the state. |
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May 2024
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