ORLANDO, FL, September 1, 2015 - In the restaurant and foodservice industry, professionals are
constantly looking for new ideas, new products, new solutions and new trends -- and the Florida
Restaurant & Lodging Show is their source! From insightful education to palate-pleasing food and
drink trends to new product options and idea generating special events – don't miss this
opportunity to fine-tune your business. The trade show and conference, produced by Urban
Expositions and sponsored by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association will be held
Tuesday, October 6 - Thursday, October 8, 2015 at the Orange County Convention Center in
Orlando and will offer educational programs, special events, new food products, and equipment
and services from over 450+ leading industry suppliers.
“We are thrilled to be offering several new and exciting special features at the upcoming event
including, the new Beer, Wine & Spirits Pavilion as well as returning crowd favorites including the
Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Forum, the Food Trends Experience, the prestigious ACF Culinary
Competitions and much more,” said Ron Mathews, Vice President, Restaurant and Foodservice
Events Portfolio. “We know that a restaurant cannot survive on the food alone which is why we
have created an education program to provide practical and relevant information as well as feature
areas on the show floor to find fresh and new ideas. For nearly 40 years, the show has been
providing restaurateurs, chefs, foodservice and hospitality professionals with all the tools needed
to stay motivated and inspired, find the newest products, and stay on top of the trends – or set
them!”
Special Events for the upcoming Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, include:
 The new Beer, Wine & Spirits Pavilion was created to meet the demand from restaurant
and foodservice professionals seeking access to the alcoholic beverage component of the
market. It provides the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the producers and distributors
of adult beverages and is designed to enhance your learning and sourcing opportunities.
Featured brands include: MillerCoors, Blue Moon, Jim Beam Brands, Heaven Hill Brands,
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Constellation Brands, D.G. Yuengling & Sons to name a few. The
official ingredient sponsor of the Pavilion is the Florida Department of Citrus.
 Culinary Demonstration Theater is an educational, interactive and entertaining area for
restaurant and foodservice professionals who want to stay abreast of what's hot in the food
world. Stop by this feature area at the Show and see how our chefs have put their spin on
hot trends. This year’s featured session will include the presentation of the new Torch
Award to James Beard award winning chef Norman Van Aken for his contributions to the
industry.
 The Torch Award Presentation will take place in the Culinary Demonstration Theater on
Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. The Food Shows and Ferdinand Metz
Foodservice Forum are excited to present the inaugural Torch Award to Norman Van Aken
for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the restaurant and foodservice
community. Norman Van Aken, chef-owner of NORMAN’S in Orlando and the founding
father of New World Cuisine, is the only Floridian on the James Beard list of Who’s Who in
American Food and Beverage, as well as an internationally acclaimed author. He will join
Ferdinand Metz, Certified Master Chef, for a one-on-one on our Culinary Demonstration
Theater stage open to all attendees.
 The Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Forum – provides open access to the 30+ educational
sessions focused on operational excellence, winning teams, maximizing profits, hot trends,
and building loyalty. For the complete conference program, visit
flrestaurarantandlodginshow.com/education. Features include:
o The Women’s Entrepreneurs Circle, a robust and highly interactive session on
what it takes to win in business and life featuring Kathleen Wood, Kathleen Wood
Partners, Betsy Craig, MenuTrinfo, and Sandy Korem, The Catering Coach.
o New Catering & Events Track presented by Catering Magazine on Tuesday,
October 6 with topics including maximizing catering profits, how to pack for offsite
events and a closer look at outsourcing.
o Industry leading expert consultants including Technomic, MenuTrinfo, Kathleen
Wood Partners, TheRestaurantExpert.com, Service with Style Hospitality
Group, The Catering Coach, Fishbowl with solutions to day-to-day business
challenges - menu planning and labeling, team building, customer service,
marketing and social media, professional development and more. Highlighted
seminars include:

• Tuesday, October 6 – 11:30-12:30: Building a Winning Hospitality Team in 8Simple Steps; 4-4:45pm: LEADERChoice – The Four Essential Ingredients of Successful Leaders
• Wednesday, October 7 – 1-1:45pm: What’s Hot & Not in the Social MediaWorld for Restaurants; 1-1:45pm: Top 10 Tips for Winning with Today’s Special Needs Diner; 4-4:45pm: 2015 Outlook, Opportunities & Challenges
• Thursday, October 8 – 1:30-2:15pm: 5 Ways to Increase Profits Through Your People in Any Economy; 2:30-3:15pm: The One System Your Restaurant Must Have to Survive
• View the full program at www.flrestaurantandlodgingshow.com/education

 The 2015 American Culinary Federation Culinary Arts Competition presented by the
American Culinary Federation (ACF)/ Central Florida Chapter (CFC) will offer over $27,000
worth of prizes that will be awarded during the following competitions.
o The NEW Two Man Team USA Culinary Cup Team Competition, sponsored by Bari
Beef International, Creekstone Farms, US Foods, Rich’s, Maple Leaf, MillerCoors,
Barry Callebaut, McIlhenney Co., Wisconsin Cheese, Steelite International, and Bar
Harbor Seafood.
o The R.L. Schreiber Apprentice/Jr. Member Florida State Championship Team Skills
Competition, sponsored by R.L. Schreiber Inc.
o Taste of Elegance Pork Signature Recipe Competition, sponsored by Iowa Pork
Producers Association and Taste of Elegance.
o The Florida Pastry Challenge, sponsored by The Culinary Source and Barry
Callebaut.
o The Freshpoint and Harvill's Produce Farm to Table Vegetarian Signature Recipe
Competition, sponsored by Fresh Point and Harvill’s Produce, Inc.
o The Chef's Table Luncheons, a four-course surprise lunch prepared by the
participating chefs.
 The Food Trends Experience is a tasting adventure providing direct access to products,
flavors and ingredients driving the most recent trends in the market – healthy, organic,
sustainable, ethnic, artisanal, and more!
 FRLA’s After Party will be taking place October 7, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.
Make sure not to miss this energy-packed party. Join industry leaders for a fabulous evening
of networking and entertainment.
 The NRA/FRLA Bob Leonard Golf Classic is scheduled for October 5, 2015 at
ChampionsGate Golf Course in Orlando. Key decision-makers from national restaurant and
hotel chains and top independents return year after year for this exciting tournament. Save
your space early – not only has this event sold out the last 14 years – but this year is the 15th
anniversary!
Dates:        Tuesday, October 6, 2015 from 11am-5pm
                  Wednesday, October 7, 2015 from 11am-5pm
                  Thursday, October 8, 2015 from 11am-4pm
Location: The Orange County Convention Center, 9990 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819

The 2015 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show is sponsored by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging
Association (www.frla.org). For more information on exhibiting or attending, visit the official Show
website at www.flrestaurantandlodgingshow.com. The tradeshow and conference is managed and
produced by Kennesaw, GA based Urban Expositions, which offers a complete roster of trade show
management services, including exhibit sales and marketing, operations, exhibitor/attendee
promotions and services, media relations, seminar and event coordination, database development
and management. Through a logical, hands-on approach, Urban Expositions has become one of
the fastest growing and most successful trade show companies in the United States. Contact Urban
Expositions at www.urban-expo.com.

Jacksonville.com - A 45-year-old Jacksonville restaurateur has been arrested after more than $44,000 in sales tax from customers at a now-closed River City Marketplace eatery was never sent to the state, according to the Florida Department of Revenue.

Tony T. Nguyen, owner of Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina at 840 Nautica Drive, was charged Aug. 19 with failure to remit sales tax and made bail the next day, according to Duval County jail records.

State officials said Nguyen collected the sales tax but failed to account for it during various periods from July 2011 through June 2014, then failed to file six consecutive sales tax returns. Under state law, sales tax is the property of the state at the moment of collection. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines as well as possible repayment of stolen tax, interest, penalty and investigative costs, according to revenue officials.

Read more!

Postandcourier.com - Airing grievances online has become a standard element of the disappointing restaurant experience. But if those complaints involve the reservations policy at Grill 225, the poster is at risk of being sued.

According to an 832-word “dining contract” sent to guests making reservations for five or more people, Grill 225 will exact a $50 per person penalty if the reservation holder cancels all or some of the requested seats within 24 hours of the party’s arrival. No-shows are subject to the same fee.

The terms set out by Grill 225 aren’t unusual. To curb the costs associated with empty tables, an increasing number of restaurants are threatening to charge miscreants. But Grill 225’s contract includes an additional clause: “By agreeing to these terms and conditions, the guest(s) and their party agree that they may be held legally liable for generating any potential negative, verbal or written defamation against Grill 225.” In other words, if someone in your group kvetches online about the restaurant enforcing its stated rules, a lawsuit may follow. 

Read More!

WESH.com - Workers and customers at a DeBary IHOP restaurant were forced into a freezer at gunpoint late Friday night.Volusia County Sheriff's Office spokesman Gary Davidson said the holdup occurred just before 11:30 p.m.

Investigators said three gunmen, who were wearing dark clothing, bandanas and hooded sweatshirts, entered the restaurant on Dirksen Drive. Four employees and three customers were inside.

Officials said one worker was shoved by the robbers but was not injured. They said the workers and customers were ordered into the freezer after the robbers took their wallets and phones.

The suspects fled, and the victims were able to escape and call 911. Continue

Thetowntalk.com - A 2012 lawsuit that alleges a man was burned when a gas explosion at an Alexandria Mall restaurant will head back to 9th Judicial District Judge George Metoyer's courtroom on Monday.

Kyjtim "Tim" and Zejgan Ajro filed a civil lawsuit against Alexandria Main Mall LLC, the city of Alexandria and both entities' insurance carriers in November 2012. It alleged that, in November 2011, a city employee of the gas department failed to conduct a "leak test" after supplying the Ajros' Made in NY Pizza restaurant with natural gas and "completely failed to test a portion of the gas supply system," reads the lawsuit.

The employee was physically unable to reach a gas valve behind a pizza over, but told Tim Ajro that it was safe to light the pilot, it reads. The employee then left, leaving the task to Tim Ajro. Continue

A federal judge is ordering the Hibachi Grill and Supreme Buffet in Jonesboro to give its employees $2 million in unpaid wages. Jonesboro is just south of Atlanta. 

It's a lawsuit resolution alleging unfair working conditions and management stealing money from employees. But most of the people presently working there didn't know about the Department of Labor investigation.

When CBS46 tried to speak with employees, one after another appeared to be completely in the dark about the huge amount of cash coming to servers and kitchen workers. We even found a waitress who was going to bat for the restaurant, demanding that we leave.

But when we finally found the manager, she explained why no one knew about this lawsuit. Very few, or possibly none of the 84 employees who will split the money are still working there.

Owners are accused of never giving overtime, forcing employees to work for tips only and then taking some of those tips too. Continue!

NBC-2.com -  A DUI suspect was arrested after crashing into a downtown Portland restaurant where a Portland Police Bureau sergeant was having dinner, according to officers.

Police said a Central Precinct sergeant was having dinner at E-San Thai, 133 S.W. 2nd Ave., at 7:52 p.m. Wednesday when a car crashed into the restaurant through the windows on Pine Street.

The driver then pulled the car out and drove away.

The sergeant chased the car on foot and eventually a bicycle, while broadcasting information to other officers.

Police said responding officers saw the car on the Morrison Bridge and pursued the driver as he drove down the Southeast Water Avenue ramp. Continue

Orlando Business Journal - A new ranking has placed Orlando as the 38th-best city in the nation to start a restaurant.San Francisco-based NerdWallet examined 530 cities in the U.S., each with a population of at least 50,000. The website said it used U.S. Census Bureau data to calculate the score for each city based on demand for new restaurants and local economic conditions that could affect the success of those restaurants.Boca Raton was the only other Florida metro to best Orlando, coming in at No. 27. Miami ranked No. 68, Tampa No. 101 and Jacksonville No. 427.Topping the list is Cedar Park, Texas, followed by Mission, Texas; Franklin, Tenn.; Smyrna, Ga.; and Round Rock, Texas. Continue

Caller.com - A Corpus Christi man is suing Hooters, accusing the restaurant chain of gender discrimination for not hiring him as a food server in a filing that attempts to reopen an issue that was settled 11 years ago.

Nikolai Grushevski's suit acknowledges the earlier agreement, which established that the chain's signature Hooters Girls would continue to be the restaurants' only food servers and established gender neutral jobs. But the suit challenges the policy, saying it still is discriminatory, and invites other men to seek a class action suit.

He asserts in the suit that when he applied to be a waiter at the local restaurant in May he was not hired because of his gender. The suit says that even though food servers are referred to exclusively as "Hooters Girls," the job should not be limited only to women. Continue