FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2010

Rick Bayless to speak at Wisconsin Restaurant Expo March 8th, 2010

The Wisconsin Restaurant Expo is thrilled to welcome Rick Bayless as the keynote speaker on March 8th at 10:00 a.m. at the Midwest Airlines Center. 

Most people know Rick Bayless him from his highly rated on-going Public Television Series, Mexico — One Plate at a Time and from his six cookbooks. 

His side by side award-winning restaurants in Chicago were founded in 1987.  The casual Frontera Grill and the 4-star Topolobampo.  In 2007, Frontera Grill won for Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Organization.  His award-winning Frontera line of salsas, grilling sauces and organic chips can be found coast to coast. 

Rick Bayless has won James Beard awards for:  Midwest Chef of the Year, National Chef of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year.  Mexico One Plate at a Time is currently in its seventh season on PBS and Rick’s latest book Mexican Everyday was nominated for a James Beard Award.  Rick’s latest restaurant:  XOCO — just opened and he was also recently crowned Bravo’s Top Chef Master.

Bayless is also committed to the environment and community.  He and his restaurants have become environmental leaders, developing Chicago’s most thorough recycling and composting programs. 

Bayless will talk to foodservice industry professionals in his keynote address about the power of leadership and teambuilding.

The Wisconsin Restaurant Expo is the largest regional foodservice trade show in the Midwest.  Thousands of professionals in the foodservice industry attend this event where the latest products and ideas in the industry are showcased.  The Wisconsin Restaurant Expo takes place March 8–10 at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee. 

The Wisconsin Restaurant Expo including the keynote address is only open to people that own, manage or work at a foodservice or hospitality outlet. Registration is $30 at the door.  Industry suppliers must be an exhibitor to participate.

Exhibit Floor Hours are Monday, March 8: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Tuesday, March 9: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Wednesday, March 10: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Rick Bayless will be available for media interviews at the Midwest Airlines Center on March 8th from 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. preceding his keynote address and from 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. immediately following the keynote address. 

Rick Bayless will be doing a cooking demo on the Expo’s show floor (third floor exhibit hall) in the Midwest Airlines Center on March 8th from noon to 1:00 p.m. with a book signing immediately following.  Rick may also be available for media interviews from 1:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Other interview opportunities may be possible given advanced notice.  Contact Tracy Kosbau at the Wisconsin Restaurant Association at 800-589-3211 or 608-698-5853 to discuss interview possibilities.

The media are not required to pre-register to attend the keynote address or the Expo in general.  Just check in at the 3rd Floor Registration Area of the Midwest Airlines Center at the top of the escalators for a free media pass.