Fifty Top Chefs Contribute Recipes for a Cookbook
that will Benefita Good Cause

Guy Fieri, Melody McGinley Whitelaw, Larry Bressler, and Eric Osley among the distinguished chefs whose participation will benefit the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation      
 
NORWALK, CT, July 19, 2006 -- To honor the 100th anniversary of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) and to support the CRA Educational Foundation, the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo has published a special cookbook entitled "Chefs' Specials of California: Signature Dishes and Favorite Recipes from Celebrated Chefs and Restaurants."  The cookbook will be available for purchase at the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival taking place from Saturday, August 26 through Monday, August 28, 2006 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  The book is also available online at www.chefsspecialscookbook.com

?We are thrilled that over 50 distinguished chefs from the greater Los Angeles area have submitted recipes for inclusion in this cookbook,? said Ron Mathews, event director for Reed Exhibitions, producers of both events. ?What a wonderful way for the industry to support a venture that will honor an important industry association that does so much for restaurants throughout California.?  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the cookbook will help support the scholarship program of the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (CRAEF) which works to promote the hospitality industry throughout California and supports its educational system in order to train and mentor the next generation of foodservice and hospitality professionals.

Top chefs have also agreed to attend the events in August to sign the cookbook and demonstrate their signature dishes.  Guy ?Guido? Fieri from Johnny Garlic?s California Pasta Grill in Windsor, California will be preparing his Chipotle Pasta in the Hot Spot Chef Demo Area on the Western Foodservice Expo on Saturday, August 26 from 1:30 p.m. ? 3:00 p.m. Fieri is host of Guy?s Big Bite on the Food Network.  Chef Eric Osley from 561 Restaurant in Pasadena, California will be preparing his signature Lobster Roll Revisited on Sunday, August 27 also in the Hot Spot Chef Demo area from 11:30 a.m. ? 1:00 p.m.  Chefs demonstrating in the Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival Demo Area will be Larry Bressler from The California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, California who will be preparing Alligator File Gumbo on Saturday, August 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Melody McGinley Whitelaw from The Main Event by Melody in Panorama City, California who will be demonstrating her Thanksgiving Stuffing on Sunday, August 27 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

The cookbook includes such creative recipes as Ahi Tuna "Marmitako," Chinese Five Spice Apple Phyllo Rolls with Buttered Walnut Ice Cream, Lobster "Mojito,? Boneless Rack of Colorado Lamb, Goat Cheese Gratin, Spiced Pepper Jam, Smoked Tomato-Rosemary Glacé, and Double Chocolate Kahlua Ravioli, just to name a few.

The following is a complete list of participating chefs and the restaurants they represent:

Admiral Risty, Demetrius Crawford
Adobe El Restaurante, Jesse Frost
Aliso Viejo Golf Club, Cyndy Klein
Ana Mandara, Khai Duong
A'Roma Ristorante, Gerardo Lopez
Asia Los Feliz, Visanu Chivacharern
Avenue X Restaurant, Tiffany Buchanan
Azul La Jolla, Orion Balliet
Barona Oaks Steakhouse, Dean Thomas
Bistro K, Laurent Quenioux
California School of Culinary Arts, Larry Bressler
Casa Guadalajara, Jose Duran
Cetrella Bistro and Café, Lewis Rossman
Cezanne, Desi Szonntagh
Chan Dara Larchmont, Buzz Fukutomi
Chez Melange, Robert Bell
Croce's Restaurant and Jazz Bar, Ingrid Croce
The Cupcake Corner, Cindy Schwanke
Devonian International, Elliot Weinstein
Dinner du Jour Catering, Bette Fraser
El Pollo Loco, Jonathan Rogan
Fabiolus Café, Maria Chiara Santi
Five Crowns Restaurant, Dennis Brask
Ford's Filling Station, Ben Ford
The French Gourmet, Michel Malecot
Frenchy's Bistro, Andre Angles
Fresco Café, Mark Brouillard
FRESH Seafood Restaurant and Bar, Matthew Zappoli
Gourmet Get Togethers, Talli Counsel, M.B.A., M.C
Grace Restaurant, Neal Fraser
The Grill On the Alley, John Sola
Hugo's Restaurant, Tom Kaplan
Inn of the Seventh Ray, Daniel Holzman
J Taylor's Restaurant, Paul McCabe
Jack n' Jills of Beverly Hills, Robert A. Benson
Joan's on Third, Joan McNamara
Johnny Garlic's California Pasta Grille, Guy ?Guido? Fieri
Kellogg West, Andy Abelman
LAC+USC Medical Center, Stephen Puccini
L'Escale, Ladan Raissi
Locanda del Lago, Davide Vedovelli
Lucia And Company, Lucia E. Robles
The Main Event by Melody, Melody McGinley Whitelaw
Maria's Italian Kitchen, Maria Alfano
Masala Bowl, Ashish Lone
Mikado, Alexander Kybett
The Moss Beach Distillery, Brian Barisione
New Leaf Restaurant & Bar at Hilton San Diego    
Gaslamp Quarter, Billy Deaver Jr.
NineThirty Restaurant at The W Hotel Los Angeles, Jack Yoss
Noe Restaurant, Robert Gadbsy
NutriFit, Jacqueline Keller
On the Waterfront  Café, Stefan Bachofner
P6 Restaurant & Lounge, Robert Lia
Pasta Pomodoro, Adriano Paganini
Pleasanton Hotel, Neil Marquis
Pomodoro Cucina Italiana, Edmundo Sarti
Pure Joy Catering, Inc., Lynette La Mere
Rattlesnake at Spotlight 29 Casino, Jimmy Schmidt
Restaurant 561, Eric Osley
Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch, The Collins School of Hospitality Management, Scott Rudolph
Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Stephen B. Window
Scripps College, Dale McDonald
Skimmer's Panini Grill, Scott K. Kim
Spazio Restaurant, Eli Bernard Tordjman
Spotlight Café, David Jones
Tam O' Shanter Inn, Oscar Pacheco
UC Santa Cruz Dining Services, Dwight Collins, CEC
 
The prestigious chefs who have contributed recipes for this cookbook run the gamut from preparing world class sushi and steaks to desserts and organic meals. They represent the finest cooking establishments in the region and we are grateful for their support.  We encourage all of our attendees to purchase this cookbook,? added Mathews.
 
ABOUT THE EVENTS
The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from Saturday, August 26 through Monday, August 28, 2006.  The Expo is produced and managed by Reed Exhibitions, and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association (CRA).  For more information call 800-840-5612 or visit the official show Web site at www.westernfoodexpo.com
 
The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival is being co-produced by Reed Exhibitions, with World of Wine Events and the Monterey Wine Festival.   The event will be open to the general public for a nominal fee of $65 per day.   Industry trade professionals attending the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo are also invited to attend for a small fee of $10 per day. For more information about the Festival and to purchase tickets, please visit www.lawineandfoodfest.com
 
 
For Information, contact:
Amy Riemer
Media Relations
978-475-4441
amy@riemercommunications.com