Three of Bravo's "Top Chef" reality show's biggest stars - Richard Blais, Spike Mendelsohn and Fabio Viviani - will be harnessing their star power to help raise funds for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's (NRAEF) ProStart program at Restaurants Rock.
The three celebrity chefs and restaurateurs will host the second annual party held on Sunday, May 6, 2012, during the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, and will conduct demos on the NRA Show floor in the World Culinary Showcase.
Restaurants Rock - to be held at Chicago's LaSalle Power Company - is the official all-industry party of the NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) and will celebrate the spirit of the restaurant and hospitality industry. The event, sponsored by Crown Imports, will feature Bravo's "Top Chef" stars Blais, Mendelsohn and Viviani, live music, as well as an action-packed live mixology competition to crown the IWSB Star of the Bar.
Proceeds from Restaurants Rock will support the NRAEF's ProStart program - a nationwide, two-year program that unites industry and the classroom to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice leaders.
"NRAEF programs like ProStart are developing a stronger workforce and building the next generation of restaurant and foodservice industry leaders," said Lynette McKee, executive director of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. "As the industry convenes in Chicago to celebrate food, drink and hospitality, we're excited that Richard, Spike and Fabio are joining with us at Restaurants Rock to raise funds needed to put rising ProStart stars on the path to success."
Richard Blais, winner of Bravo's "Top Chef All-Stars", is chef/partner of The Spence in Atlanta, and chef/owner of multiple Flip Burger Boutiques and HD-1 outposts. Blais will be publishing his first cookbook with Clarkson Potter in the coming year. Spike Mendelsohn, celebrity chef and television personality, is the head chef and owner of Good Stuff Eatery and We, The Pizza, both located in Washington, D.C. Mendelsohn is a two-time "Top Chef" contestant and contender on this season's The Next Iron Chef. Fabio Viviani, born in Florence, Italy, is Executive Chef and Owner of Café Firenze in Moorpark, CA and Firenze Osteria in Toluca Lake, CA. A two-time "Top Chef" contestant and voted "Top Chef" Fan Favorite, Viviani is the author of 5 cookbooks.
Restaurants Rock runs from 9 p.m. to midnight, and entry is limited. Registered NRA Show attendees may purchase tickets for $50 each and limited to first-come, first-served. IWSB registrants may purchase tickets for $25. After March 30, tickets increase to $60 for NRA Show attendees and $35 for IWSB attendees.
