The Next Big Things at the International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show

by David Koeppel, Posted Nov 13th 2009 @ 4:00PM

Photo: IcyDrink

If you've ever complained that your martini wasn't quite cold enough or hoped for a new bottled water alternative from a subterranean source on the island of Sardinia, than this week's International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show had exactly what you were looking for.

The New York City show was not a gathering place for foodies. Many of the exhibitors were from the hotel and lodging industry, while others were hawking food preparation and cooking equipment intended for restaurant and hotel use.

Certainly one of the coolest (no pun intended) new products introduced was IcyDrink which its Italian manufacturers promote as the world's first automatic ice glassmaker machine. The machine churns out cone-shaped cups made of pure ice that can be hand-held or placed in a glass holder. The result is a super-chilly drink that eliminates the need for ice cubes.

The Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach, Calif., claims to be the first California establishment to use IcyDrink at its trendy Zinc Lounge. Kelly Finnerty, the hotel's sales and marketing manager, says they've used it to create the subzero martini, five martini varieties served in IcyDrink glasses. Among the more popular concoctions: Arctic Orange Blossom, Grey Goose Orange, Grand Marnier, and fresh squeezed orange. "It's the coldest way to drink a martini," Finnerty insists.

Another lip-smacking pleasure according to its bottlers is Acqua Smeraldina, a water bottled in Sardinia, Italy, which has been breaking slowly into the United States market. Giuseppe Pinna, vice president of the Smeraldina Corp. says that his water is available in several Chicago restaurants and the city's Treasure Island supermarkets.

Still, with so many bottled water to choose from, Pinna admits that it's difficult finding restaurant and retail customers. He considers San Pellegrino, the famed Italian bottled water (owned by Nestles) to be a primary rival and likens the competition to a David v. Goliath showdown. ("People just know the name, like Kleenex," he scoffs about his would-be competitor.)

Pinna isn't above making some fanciful claims about his product. When pitching the water he tells potential customers that Sardinia is what anthropologists call a blue zone, an area that has one of the highest rates of people living to 100 years old. "They don't live longer because of drinking the water, but that's part of it," he says, adding "the calcium and magnesium levels are good for preventing kidney stones."

Doug Corwin doesn't make any health claims about his Crescent Duck, but like Pinna he attended the IH/M&RS show to meet potential customers. (For him, it's distributors that sell to restaurants and hotels.) The 51-year old Corwin raises duck on his 142-acre Long Island farm, continuing a family business that began in 1908.

His duck is served at the Four Seasons and River Cafe. Corwin says his farm is responsible for 4 percent of the duck trade in the country. Corwin admits that being one of the few food vendors at the annual conference has its advantages. With few options, many of the exhibitors come over to feast on his duckling.

Two years ago, he was approached at the conference by a stranger who turned out to be Chef David Bouley. "He came over to say thank you and tell me that hes used our product for years," Corwin recalled.

Asked how it felt to be complimented by Bouley, the farmer said: "How the hell would it make you feel? It felt nice."

Filed Under: Business, Food News, Chefs & Restaurants, Restaurants
Tags: acqua smeraldina, AcquaSmeraldina, crescent duck farm, CrescentDuckFarm, four seasons, FourSeasons, icydrink, international hotel motel and restaurant show, InternationalHotelMotelAndRestaurantShow, river cafe, RiverCafe, shade hotel, ShadeHotel, treasure island, TreasureIsland

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-03-2010 @9:07PM bishoyking said... this show is very helpful in connecting manufactures with distributors, it opens a new channel to see what services the different hotels are offering & have a one day comparison between all to decide which is the best
Dubai Hotel
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