Hey there, welcome to Takeaway with Sam Ocas, a podcast from Nation's Restaurant News.

I am Sam Ocas editor-in-chief here at NRN, and this is the show where I give you an all-access pass to the restaurant industry's most influential decision-makers.

This week is a special bonus episode of takeaway as I'm talking with my colleague

Tom Sindrick, who serves as president of the National Restaurant Association Show, which is coming up in

Chicago this May 18th through 21st. This is by far the biggest restaurant industry event in the U.S.,

and it's a must attend for any growing operation

looking for new products or insights to support their business. I ballpark it to Tom in this

interview, but I officially counted, and this year's show will be my 13th that I have attended,

and every year I'm blown away by the exciting innovations on display at this massive event.

Tom joined the podcast to talk about why you should definitely attend this year's show,

what's new at the show this year, and how you can optimize your time in Chicago.

I should add that I will be there with my team from Nation's Restaurant News

and our colleagues over at Restaurant Business Magazine, and you can find us at the big booth near the Starbucks between the north and

south halls. Come on over and say hello, or you can shoot me an email ahead of the show if you're

interested in joining us for a podcast. As always, my email is sam.okus at informa.com.

Also, if you're an operator planning to attend the restaurant

show, consider joining us at Menu Masters on May 18th. It's our big celebration of all things

culinary. I will be there emceeing that event and we will be honoring names like Nancy Silverton

and Sam the Cooking Guy, plus brands like Fogado

Do Show and Kava.

Learn more about menumasters at menumasters event.com.

As for the National Restaurant Association show, you can learn more about that event and register

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