Visit with QSR at booth #5415!
2 Sessions Per Day That You Shouldn’t Miss
While the educational sessions are a little different this year—hosted on the show floor and divided into several different tracks—the NRA Show features great content designed to help you in your everyday business. And be sure to drop int Saturday’s Fast Casual & Pizza Summit, where QSR editor Sam Oches will be on hand to moderate sessions and talk future innovation in the fast-casual category.
Saturday, May 20
• Today’s Workforce Challenges: Innovative Strategies to Address Recruitment, Retention, and Rising Costs
10 a.m. / Fast Casual & Pizza Summit
• The Pizza and Fast Casual Game Changers
2 p.m. / Fast Casual & Pizza Summit
Sunday, May 21
• Menu Trends 2017
10:30 a.m. / Food & Nutrition
• GENerating Success: Empowering NextGen Leaders in Your Restaurant
2 p.m. / Workforce Development
Monday, May 22
• Conflict Avoidance Strategies for a Multicultural, Multigenerational Workplace
11 a.m. / Business Operations
• Key Trends Shaping the Future of Foodservice
12 p.m. / Business Operations
Tuesday, May 23
• Global Innovation: What We Can Learn from the Best New Concepts
10 a.m. / Business Operations
• Controlling Restaurant Costs Through Training & Development
12 p.m. / Workforce Development
13 Home-Grown Chicago Fast Casuals
Feeling hungry and need to take a break from McCormick Place? Check out these innovative fast-casual brands in downtown Chicago.
• Xoco / 449 North Clark Street
Authentic Mexican tortas, enchiladas, tacos, and more from chef Rick Bayless.
• Blackwood BBQ / four locations
Premium pulled pork, pulled chicken, and beef brisket on sandwiches, salads, and platters.
• Honey Butter Fried Chicken / 3361 North Elston Avenue
Southern comfort food finds a hip, fast-casual home, along with beer, wine, and cocktails.
• Naansense / two locations
Build-your-own Indian flatbreads, rice bowls, and salads.
• Smoque / two locations
A neighborhood barbecue joint with a little something for everyone.
• Urbanbelly / two locations
Asian fusion fare from chef Bill Kim in a casual, communal-seating space.
• Nonna’s / 925 W. Randolph Street
Authentic Italian sandwiches and marketplace next door to fine-dining sister restaurant Formento’s.
• Q-BBQ / four locations
Several regional barbecues come together in one place (and don’t miss the ribs).
• Brown Bag Seafood Co. / three locations
Fresh fish served affordably in salads, tacos, sandwiches, and more.
• Eastman Egg Company / three locations
The morning meal goes fast casual with upscale breakfast sandwiches, sliders, and omelets.
• Antique Taco / three locations
An upscale Mexican menu in a counter-service format from husband-and-wife founders.
• DOX Quality Greek / 1566 N. Damen Avenue
Chef-driven Greek cuisine from the founders of GRK Greek Kitchen.
• Spotted Monkey / 335 S. Franklin Street
The tastes of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Guatemala combine with those from Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, and China at this lunch spot.
4 Food Halls to Get Lost In
If you’re tired of the show floor but still feel like wandering a foodie haven, these food halls should do the trick.
• Revival Food Hall / 125 S. Clark Street
15 concepts
• French Market / 131 N. Clinton Street
32 vendors
• Latinicity / 108 N. State Street
10 concepts
• Foodlife / 835 Michigan Avenue
14 concepts
