Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur Tom Colicchio To Host N R A Show's First Annual Restaurants Rock Industry Celebration

Tom Colicchio - head judge of Bravo's "Top Chef" reality show, and noted chef and restaurateur - will get in the celebratory spirit at the National Restaurant Association's first annual Restaurants Rock in Chicago next month. Chef Colicchio will serve as the celebrity chef host at the official NRA Show industry celebration, which will be held on May 22 during the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show.

Held at Chicago's LaSalle Power Company, Restaurants Rock is the official 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 will feature the Star of the Bar finalists in live mixology competition, where the winner will be selected by a panel of judges that includes chef Tom Colicchio and master mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, in addition to live musical entertainment by local favorite Hairbanger's Ball, outstanding food and fantastic cocktails - beverage sponsors for Restaurants Rock are Bacardi and Crown Imports.

"The NRA Show is the number-one industry event to explore new business opportunities, but it's also about showing our excitement for food, drink and hospitality," said C.W. Craig Reed, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2011 and Director of Food and Beverage, Broadmoor Hotel. "This year we are throwing a party to celebrate everything that we are as an industry and we are thrilled to welcome Chef Colicchio as the host of this exciting event. We are also proud to help support our future industry leaders with a portion of the proceeds from the event going to the ProStart program."

Tom Colicchio has been the head judge on every season of the Bravo reality TV show "Top Chef." He also serves as the consulting producer on Bravo's spin-off series "Top Chef Masters." Colicchio co-founded the Gramercy Tavern in New York City, serving as a co-owner and as the executive chef. He is currently the founder and co-owner of Craft, Craftbar and Craftsteak in several cities, and 'whichcraft sandwich shops. Colicchio is also the recipient of five James Beard Foundation Medals.

Proceeds from Restaurants Rock will benefit the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's ProStart program, an industry-driven high school curriculum that provides real-world educational opportunities and builds practical skills for 90,000 students nationwide.

Restaurants Rock will be held on Sunday, May 22, 9 p.m. - midnight. IWSB attendees receive complimentary access to Restaurants Rock, but must sign up online to receive tickets. Non-IWSB attendees may purchase tickets for $50. Space is limited and tickets are given out on a first come, first served basis.

The annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show - held May 21-24 at Chicago's McCormick Place - is the largest and most comprehensive global gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals. The event attracts tens of thousands of attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries, and showcases more products, services, innovative ideas and other growth opportunities than any other industry event. For more information, visit the Show website at www.restaurant.org/show.

IWSB will be held in McCormick Place's Grand Ballroom in conjunction with NRA Show 2011, on May 22-23, and gather brewers, vintners and distillers, leading beverage experts, beverage alcohol buyers and more in one exclusive area. For more information, visit www.winespiritsbeer.org.