Dear Readers,

On August 19 – 21, representatives of the world's food and beverage community will converge on San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center for the Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo 2000. This will be the largest show this side of Chicago's NRA Show.

The California Restaurant Association will be featuring a menu contest for California Restaurateurs. Awards will be presented at 9:45 am , just prior to the opening of the show. During all three days of EXPO 2000, Celebrity Cook Book Authors will sign their best selling works and meet attendees just outside the Moscone centers North hall entrance. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

This issue of the Food and Beverage International has been designed especially for this show. You all remember Tom Luther, who still writes our famous Toque of San Francisco, who offers up some great tips on dining in the City by the Bay. For those of you with half your eyes on our famous wine country, we are proud to feature the cuisine of Thomas Keller of Napa's French Laundry, as he caters a specially prepared meal for Sommelier Ralph Hersom of Le Cirque's 2000 and his beautiful bride, Maura.

Much happiness, Ralph and Maura!

The entire dinner was photographed by Alan Bartl at the Staglin Family Vineyard, home to the annual Mental Health Benefit that will take place this September 16th. All proceeds of this event will go to benefit the much needed research in brain disorders, and your patronage at the dinner is for the serious only! For more information, and for the Scientific Symposium, September 17, call the Staglins at 707 944-0477.

Need more good ideas? From Bodega Bay, 70 miles north of San Francisco, we bring to you one of the world's pleasures, Inn at the Tides for a getaway after the show.

Visit our web site at www.fbworld.com for the rest of the story.

Michael Walsh