Guests of the 51st MUFSO conference toasted the entrepreneurial spirit of four young brands during the “Taste of What’s Hot” cocktail reception on the opening night of the show.
The event showcased the winners of the annual Hot Concepts! Awards: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant of Countryside, Ill.; Pizza Fusion of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Shake Shack of New York; and Twin Peaks of Addison, Texas.
Earlier that day, executives from the four emerging chains participated in a panel discussion where they discussed their growth plans, brand identities and sales-building strategies.
But the evening was simply about celebration, as guests mingled and sampled dishes from each of the four chains.
The reception was sponsored by The Coca-Cola Co.
Shake Shack served up its signature burgers and custard, and playfully gave out sandals emblazoned with the chain’s name and logo. The New York-based chain, a modern take on the classic burger stand by fine-dining veteran Danny Meyer, has six units in business as well as plans for two more.
Pizza Fusion dished out its namesake dish, which is made with organic ingredients purchased from eco-friendly sources. The brand was created by Vaughan Lazar and chief executive Mark Begelman in the spirit of environmentalism and uses green design elements in all of its restaurants.
The Twin Peaks’ table turned heads both with sliders and with its two scantily clad team members, who joined founder and president Randy Dewitt and other senior staff members to represent the brand. The sports bar, known for its midriff-baring, all-female staff, has 11 locations across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Representatives from Cooper’s Hawk, including founder and president Tim McEnery, were on hand to offer several of the chain’s 48 proprietary wines. The four-unit chain, which serves upscale casual cuisine, is known for its focus on wine.
Each location features highly trained staff, a retail shop and a tasting room.
The Hot Concepts! Awards are presented annually by Nation’s Restaurant News to young, growing chains that exemplify the creativity and vitality of the restaurant industry.
Contact Christi Ravneberg at [email protected].