Sports stars and culinary Olympians share secrets to gold at the CRFA Show March 2-4

TORONTO, Feb. 19, 2014 /CNW/ - Some of Canada's Olympians and biggest sports stars will get a taste of culinary gold at the CRFA Show, Canada's premiere destination for the hospitality industry. The Show, presented by the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, takes place March 2-4, 2014 at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto.

Cheryl Pounder and Becky Keller, who won gold medals on Team Canada's women's hockey team at the 2006 Torino and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, will be at the CRFA Show to sign autographs and meet and greet members of Canada's hospitality industry.

Hockey fans will also have the added treat of meeting former Toronto Maple Leafs legends Darryl Sittler and Wendel Clark, who will sign autographs and memorabilia.  

Pounder, Keller, Sittler and Clark will be at the PJB Primeline booth and accepting donations for Friends of We Care, a charity that sends deserving kids with disabilities to camp every year. Pounder and Keller will appear Tuesday March 4, while Sittler and Clark will appear Monday March 3.

Summer Olympians Caleigh Whitaker and Kacie MacTavish from Canada's Women's Beach Volleyball Team will be at the AMJ Campbell booth on Sunday March 2 and Monday March 3 to meet show-goers and sign autographs.  

These high-performance athletes will be on the same show floor as some of the world's most decorated culinary Olympians, who will be sharing their secrets to medal glory at the CRFA Show.

Ottawa Chef Judson Simpson has led Culinary Team Canada to many medals at the World Culinary Olympics as former team manager. Simpson is Canada's first and only Certified Master Chef – the highest credential bestowed in the culinary arts industry. He will share some of his favourite recipes on stage.

Chef Graham Tinsley – a favourite chef of Prince Charles – is flying to Canada for the CRFA Show, where he will share his tips on how to compete at high-level culinary competitions. He has led Team Wales to its highest number of medals ever at the World Culinary Olympics.

Toronto Chef Brad Long knows a thing or two about feeding athletes and fans.  For ten years he was executive chef for the Maple Leafs, Raptors, and Toronto FC sports teams, where he fed more than 20 million fans at stadiums, but also cooked game-day meals and executed nutrition plans for athletes. At the CRFA Show, he will share his experiences in a seminar on cooking for professional athletes.

The CRFA Show is a trade-only event. Registration is free for current CRFA members and just $40 for other industry delegates. Registration is open at www.crfashow.ca.

Hospitality professionals who register for the show before February 25 will be entered into a draw to win vintage Sittler and Clark jerseys, which they can have autographed in person at the CRFA Show.

The CRFA Show 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. Proceeds from the show fund CRFA's advocacy, research and member services as we support a growing and prosperous Canadian restaurant industry.

SOURCE: Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association

Media contact: Mary Gazze, CRFA Communications, 1-800-387-5649, ext. 4226 or [email protected].