Chefs Marc Thuet and Martin Picard at the BC Foodservice Expo 2011

VANCOUVER, Dec. 14 /CNW/ - Restaurant and hospitality operators will be inspired by Chefs Marc Thuet and Martin Picard at Western Canada's largest hospitality trade show -- the BC Foodservice Expo, Jan. 30-31, 2011, at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Chef Marc Thuet is the chef/owner of Petite Thuet restaurants in Toronto, host of "Conviction Kitchen" currently airing on Citytv and author of French Food My Way. Thuet will be at the show on Monday, January 31.

A fourth-generation culinary artist with a colourful past, Thuet is the genius behind some of Canada's most prestigious dining venues. He has worked at Toronto's Windsor Arms Hotel, Centro, The Fifth and the Rosewater Supper Club. In the second season of his reality show "Conviction Kitchen," Thuet and a group of convicted felons with no culinary experience overhauled Delilah's Restaurant in Vancouver.

Chef Martin Picard is the chef/owner of Au Pied de Cochon, a top Montreal restaurant that has accumulated numerous awards, the host of "The Wild Chef" currently airing on the Food Network and author of the new cookbook Au Pied de Cochon. Picard will be at the show on Sunday, January 30.

In "The Wild Chef," Martin explores typical Québécois cuisine from a whole new perspective in a unique culinary journey. An anti-conformist with a pinch of rebel in him, Martin Picard enjoys having a platform for his unwavering views on kitchen life and the world of gastronomy in general.

In addition to over 300 exhibit booths, the BC Foodservice Expo features the Centre for Sustainability, chef competitions, free seminars, demos, networking and samplings from local producers, providing a wide range of ideas and insights for show delegates.

The BC Foodservice Expo is Western Canada's largest event for the hospitality industry, attracting thousands of delegates on both days.

Register now at www.bcfoodexpo.ca or call the show hotline at 1-866-751-3833.  This event is open to trade only, and admission is restricted to those 19 years of age and older.

The BC Foodservice Expo is owned and operated by the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, one of the country's leading business associations with more than 30,000 members. Through its trade shows, member savings and advocacy, CRFA works to create an environment that allows foodservice operators to prosper and grow.

For further information:

Prasanthi Vasanthakumar, Communications Specialist, 1-800-387-5649 ext. 4254 or [email protected]