Spotted in Minneapolis: Women Chefs and Restaurateurs
Food, fun and lots of information awaited us at the Women Chefs & Restaurateurs Conference this week!
Minnesota had a unique opportunity to host the Women Chefs & Restaurateurs (WCR) Conference for the first time earlier this week. The event drew in more than 300 attendees, featuring renowned chefs, television personalities, authors, restaurateurs and culinary experts to share their knowledge and experience during the National Conference.
In fact, earlier in the week, celebrity chef Carla Hall from ABC's The Chew was in town!
The WCR Organization also happens to be celebrating it’s 25th anniversary, and has worked to advance the careers of women across the culinary industry through education, promotion, connection and inspiration. The conference’s theme is “Women Speak: Curating the Future of Food,” which highlighted current restaurant topics and how women are shaping the industry.
On Monday afternoon, attendees were able to go on one of three tours. Both Royalee and Karin were lucky enough to participate in the "Smash the Senses Interactive Sensory Event Tour", an event organized by Midwest Pantry and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), and then shared all about beef at their table.
The tour and event showcased new products, as well as food and agricultural production that takes place in the great state of Minnesota! One of the tour stops was the 56 Brewing headquarters. Breweries are all the rage, and 56 Brewing uses unique Minnesota ingredients to perfect their beer (and keep us wanting more. always).
"One of the elements that makes Minnesota the best place to start and grow a food business is the business ecosystem’s practice, innovative solutions to business challenges."
..aka Minnesota = one of the best place for foodies to live and thrive! So if not for the blustering cold, that's why we live here!
Karin and Royalee spent the afternoon interacting with attendees from across the country, talking all about beef like it's their job!
Every attendee's favorite souvenir was the plastic cutting boards with the beef cutout graphic that we gave away. In order to win our ‘fabulous prize,’ you had to play the Beef Roulette game. We are kind of famous for disguising education in the form of fun!
Royalee said, "I loved bringing this game because it was a fun way to talk about cuts of beef and to hear more about the backgrounds of these fantastic women in the food industry."
"Trying new foods is always exciting," said Royalee. Here are some of the new foods that Karin and Royalee tried at the sensory event:
Sambusa: Each Sambusa was packed full of flavor, with their special mix of spices and ground beef. It is made by a company called Hoyo, the Somali word for mother. Hoyo crafts traditional Somali foods.
Terroir Chocolate: Chocolate bars melding local flavors to exotic. Who doesn’t love chocolate!?
Yoga Pops: What are they? They are spiced and roasted Lotus Seeds, made by Route to India.
Twisted Shrub: This is an Apple Cider Vinegar Mixer Elixier. They were sampling their Blueberry Lemon.
Salted Caramel Tiramisu: Desserts by Aligher - All of the delicious flavors of the Traditional Tiramisu, but with a generous drizzle of handmade rich caramel and a sprinkle of Sicilian sea salt.
Karin mentioned that the best part of the tour was the way that Minnesota was showcased in so many unique ways. "Ingredients that were highlighted include some of what makes or state’s agricultural industry so amazing: wild rice, popcorn, honey, dairy products and, of course, beef," she shared.
With that, cheers to Minnesota and cheers to food -
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