CHICAGO —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
Now in its 12th year, MenuMasters, a prestigious showcase of culinary talent, is sponsored by Ventura Foods LLC. The awards, which honor excellence in foodservice research and development, will be presented during ceremonies at the Drake Hotel here on Saturday, May 16. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
The 2009 winners are Big Bowl, Chick-fil-A Inc., Culver Franchising System Inc., Denny’s Corp., Qdoba Mexican Grill and Pizza Hut. David Burke, chef-owner of David Burke Townhouse, has been selected as the Chef/Innovator. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
“Everyone welcomes news of achievement and success in these challenging times and that’s what we are celebrating with our MenuMasters honorees,” said NRN publisher Tom Larranaga. “Congratulations to these award winners for developing unique menu items and promotions that have enhanced the dining experience of consumers from coast to coast.” —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
B. Kelly Brintle, senior vice president, industry and trade relations for Ventura Foods, said: “Ventura Foods is pleased to once again join with Nation’s Restaurant News in recognizing the creativity and vision of our MenuMasters winners. We salute the accomplishments of these dedicated culinarians.” —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
The award categories and winners are: —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
Best Menu/Line Extension: The winner here is Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A for its Chargrilled and Fruit Salad, which features slices of grilled chicken breast on romaine and iceberg lettuce, surrounded by a blend of vegetables, cheese and fruits. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
Best Menu Revamp: The top prize in this category goes to Dallas-based Pizza Hut, a division of Yum! Brands Inc., for its Tuscani Pasta Dinners. These 3-pound, six-portion dinners of creamy Chicken Alfredo and meaty Marinara with breadsticks already rank as one of the most successful product launches in the chain’s history. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
Best New Menu Rollout: Culver Franchising Systems of Prairie du Sac, Wis., operating as Culver’s Butterburgers and Frozen Custard, wins in this category for its BBQ Brisket Sandwich, slow-smoked beef brisket sliced, grilled and served with grilled red onions on a Kaiser roll topped with Culver’s BBQ sauce. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
Best Limited-Time Offer: The Plain White Shake from Denny’s Corp., of Spartanburg, S.C., wins in this category. This drinkable dessert is part of the Denny’s Allnighter Rock Star Menu. Inspired by the rock band Plain White T’s, this shake is a blend of whole milk, vanilla ice cream, cheesecake, whipped cream and white chocolate chips. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
Menu Trend Setter: Big Bowl, the Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ Chinese and Thai concept from Chicago, takes the prize in this category for its philosophical shift from a noodles-and-stir fry operation to a restaurant dedicated in all areas to authenticity, quality and sustainable practices. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
Healthful Innovations: The winner here is Wheat Ridge, Colo.-based Qdoba Mexican Grill for its Smart Meals, featuring four healthy, low-fat menu items: the Pablano Pesto Naked Burrito; the Naked Taco Salad; the Garlic Herb Grilled Veggie Naked Taco Salad; and the Naked Burrito. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
Chef/Innovator: This honor goes to David Burke, chef/owner of DavidBurke Townhouse, the fine-dining establishment that Burke opened in New York in 2003 with Donatella Arpaia as davidburke & donatella. The restaurant was renamed after Burke took sole ownership of the property. Burke’s other restaurants include David Burke at Bloomingdale’s, David Burke’s Primehouse in Chicago, David Burke Fromagerie in Rumson, N.J., David Burke Las Vegas, David Burke Prime at the Fox-woods Casino & Resort in Connecticut and Fishtail by David Burke in New York. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
A noted chef, entrepreneur and inventor, Burke trained at the Culinary Institute of America. Today, he is acknowledged as one of the leading chefs in American cooking. His fascination with ingredients and the art of the meal has fueled a career marked by creativity, critical acclaim, and the introduction of revolutionary products and cooking techniques. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
MenuMasters Award winners are selected by the editors of Nation’s Restaurant News. —Nation’s Restaurant News has selected six innovative restaurant companies and a multitalented celebrity chef as winners of its 2009 MenuMasters Awards.
