hotline
BACK IN ACTION:
TRADE SHOWS RETURN IN 2021 The trade show world came to a screeching halt when COVID-19 hit in early 2020, and some restaurant and hospitality shows remained closed in 2021. The National Restaurant Show, for example, has been canceled two years running. However, three restaurant shows with sizable Latin attendance are still planned for this year.
TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION MARKETPLACE July 10-12 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio, Texas
The association is expanding its educational offerings for the 2021 show, with a slate of pre-conference educational sessions including Digital Marketing, Digital Tools & Collaboration, and Leadership. www.tramarketplace.com
WESTERN FOODSERVICE EXPO
COCINA SABROSA TRADE EXPO
August 22-24 Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, California
October 4-5 Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California
Dubbed “A Reinvented Event for a Refocused Foodservice Industry,” this show—which will be co-located with Coffee Fest and Healthy Food Expo—will include five “educational summits” designed to help different types of businesses: Independent Restaurant; Small- to Mid-Size Chain; Business & Institutional Foodservice; Retail Operation; and Technology. www.westernfoodexpo.com
Calling All Mixologists! Jarritos, el Restaurante Partner on
COCKTAIL RECIPE CONTEST COCKTAILS ARE A MAJOR PART OF THE EXPERIENCE in many Mexican/Latin restaurants. A new contest co-sponsored by Jarritos and el Restaurante magazine is designed to encourage creativity among mixologists.
6
el restaurante | APR/MAY/JUN 2021
This new Latin-focused show will feature exhibitors that “represent a wide range of companies, with products that include everything from tequila, chicharones, soda and juices, michelada and wine to hot sauces, tortillas, cheeses, bakery items, nuts and snacks, parchment paper and agave products,” says show director Eric Jurado. “In addition, we have received contracts for exhibit space from food truck manufacturers, retail services such as POS and insurance, as well as kitchen equipment businesses.” Show organizers have developed an 8-step safety process to minimize COVID risk, Jurado stresses. The steps range from enhanced cleaning to non-contact registration to attendee screening. “We couldn’t be more excited to see again how quickly the Latin foodservice industry has embraced the 2021 show so far,” Jurado says. “We moved the 2021 CSTE to late fall to make sure this Expo has the greatest opportunity for success.” www.cocinaexpo.com
The top five finalists in the Jarritos/ el Restaurante Cocktail Contest will receive cash prizes of $3,000, $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $250 respectively; handsome trophies; recognition in el Restaurante and via Jarritos social media; and a supply of Jarritos soda. To enter, mixologists may submit any original cocktail recipe they’ve created, as long as at least one ingredient is Jarritos soda (any flavor). The winning recipes will
be published in el Restaurante’s print issue and online. There is no cost to enter. “Jarritos plays a big role in Mexican/Latin bars, and we can’t wait to see the creative cocktails mixologists will develop using Jarritos as an ingredient,” says Eric Delamare, Jarritos marketing director. The contest officially begins May 1 and winners will be announced in September. To submit your recipe, visit elrestaurante.com/ Cocktail-Recipe-Contest.
