NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Mar 5, 2015) - The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York opens this Sunday, March 8th at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. Over 16,000 restaurant and foodservice industry professionals will gather to see and sample thousands of products, services, and equipment from more than 500 leading vendors, and participate in 40+ educational programs and many special events. The event is sponsored by the New York State Restaurant Association and managed and produced by Urban Expositions. Highlights:

• The Exhibit Hall will feature more than 550 leading vendors showcasing thousands of new products and services. 
• Dynamic List of Chefs, Including Television Host & Celebrity Chef Sara Moulton, to Present Culinary Demonstrations.
• Culinary Demonstration Theater - An educational, interactive, and entertaining area featuring chefs from Louro, Casellula Cheese and Wine Café, David Burke Fabrick, National Gourmet Institute, Mira Sushi & Izakaya.
• "The Pub" is a NEW area and will showcase dozens of innovative craft beverages including craft beer, cider, wine, spirits, wine sorbae, moonshine and whiskey.
• Pride of New York/Taste NY Marketplace will provide a unique opportunity for restaurant and foodservice professionals to discover food processors who will be featuring delicious new products.
• 3^rd Annual Farm to City Expo will take place on Tuesday, March 10^th from 12 - 2:30 pm and will focus on "Going with the Grain: The Renaissance of NYS Grain Production."
• The Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Forum will offer over 40 educational sessions on hot new trends, increasing revenue and loyalty, operational excellence, delivering the optimal customer experience, and much more.
• Women's Entrepreneur Circle - A lineup of winning industry leaders will share their insights, resources and "secrets" for winning in today's competitive marketplace.
• The JRO Umami Pavilion will introduce eight new sections this year: Japanese Rice, Sake, Wagu, Umami, Ramen, Soba, Japanese Green Tea and sweets; all essential Japanese ingredients.
• Food Trends Experience - A tasty adventure providing direct access to product, flavors and ingredients driving the most recent trends in the market -- healthy, organic, sustainable, ethnic, artisanal, and more.
• New Product Showcase - Providing a first look at the latest products to hit the marketplace, uncover the new products to update your menu, increase efficiencies and expand your menu.
• The 26th Annual U.S. Pastry Competition, sponsored by Paris Gourmet will feature 20 rising stars of the pastry world who will compete for the title, Pastry Chef of the Year. The theme is "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."
• Book Signing - See Harold Dieterle at 11:00 am sign copies of "Harold's Kitchen Notebook"; and George Mendes at 12:00 noon signing copies of "My Portugal" on Monday at the M Tucker booth.

For more information on exhibiting or attending, visit the official Show website at www.internationalrestaurantny.com.

The on-site Press room will be located in room 1B04 at the Javits Convention Center.