World-Renown Chefs Compete at IFE Americas - 9th Americas Food & Beverage Show 2006 in the Americas Chef Competition

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2006

South Florida Chefs Michelle Bernstein, Christopher Cramer and Patrick Fagen Compete against Olympic Winning Canadian, Caribbean and Latin American Chefs

MIAMI -- At this year's IFE Americas - 9th Americas Food & Beverage Show and Conference, prestigious chefs from the hemisphere will compete head-to-head for the ultimate culinary accolade: Best Chef in the Americas. South Florida's very own Michelle Bernstein (Michy's) and Christopher Cramer (The Sonesta) will compete.

"The Americas Chef Competition is going to be as competitive as ever this year as elite chefs from the U.S. compete against other elite chefs from the rest of the hemisphere," states Charlotte Gallogly, President, World Trade Center Miami.

Other chefs competing include Patrick Fagen, President of the Palm Beach American Culinary Federation chapter and Executive Chef at the Pine Tree Golf Club, Boynton Beach, Fla. and Anthony Zamora, Executive Sous Chef, at The Biltmore Hotel. From Puerto Rico, Efrian Cruz, Executive Chef at Condado Plaza Hotel and Casino and Nelson Rosado, Executive Chef, San Juan Water and Beach Hotel will be competing. Other countries fielding teams include Trinidad & Tobago, Canada and Barbados.

All participating teams will be judged by senior and award-winning chefs. The judges will base their decisions on serving methods and presentation, portion size and nutritional balance, taste and texture, menu composition and progression of courses, among other criteria. Each professional team will have thirty minutes to set-up, one-hundred and twenty minutes to cook, fifteen minutes to plate and serve judges, and fifteen minutes to clean up and be out of the kitchen.

The World Trade Center Miami and London-based Montgomery International announced the details of the very first IFE Americas - 9th Americas Food & Beverage Show earlier this year. The trade show, featuring over 300 exhibitors from 27 countries showcasing over 5,000 different products, will run from November 8-10, 2006 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

For exhibitor and attendee information about IFE Americas, please visit www.americasfoodandbeverage.com or call 305-871-7910.