Thousands of restaurant and food service professionals gathered at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the Western Food Service and Hospitality Show to learn about emerging trends in the industry August 28 through 30.
The goal was for everyone to gain experience, knowledge, learn how to become more informed, more competitive, more educated, more profitable in the industry. The tradeshow and conference, started in 1936, is produced by Urban Expositions and was sponsored by The California Restaurant Association.
Urban Expositions is based in Kennesaw, GA and was founded in 1995. Urban is owned by Clarion Events. Urban produces and manages 36 events serving 8 industry sectors including gift, souvenir, Art, Aviation, Foodservice, Pet, Auto and Gaming.
There was so much going on at this event all three days one needed track shoes to get everywhere and experience everything. A few of the show highlights included top restaurants competing to help students kick start culinary careers. It was the fifth annual culinary clash and featured culinary heavyweights competing. Pro Start students worked as sous chefs with the competing teams. Some of the teams represented BJ’s Restaurants, Chart House, Hard Rock Café, and more. The event included an International Showcase, a Culinary Demonstration Theater, Torch Award, Healthier Choice Options with over 500 leading vendors.
There was a Sabor Latino Latin Food Show Pavilion, Italian Food was featured and sponsored by The Italy American Chamber of Commerce, the Japan Pavilion was awesome as was the Wine, Beer and Spirit Pavilion. The floor was busy and full all three days. The classroom was attended by the most enthusiastic group I’ve seen in a long time.
