The Iowa Restaurant Association is once again accepting nominations for Iowa’s Restaurateur, Chef and Employee (host, server, bartender, etc.) of the Year. The public is invited to nominate outstanding people in the restaurant and hospitality industry for any of these awards. Winners will be honored at the Association’s annual Celebrating Excellence Hospitality Awards event held September 25 at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel. Visit www.restaurantiowa.com to submit your nomination today. Deadline for submissions is August 1st.

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  Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s industry with educational and promotional programs across the state. www.restaurantiowa.com Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist kkostek@restaurantiowa.com

Iowa is in a battle to the finish in Roll Call’s Annual “Taste of America Competition.”  Iowa’s entry of “bacon” has advanced to the Final 8 among favorite regional foods, and is now battling against some tough competitors from seven other regional finalists including stiff competition from entries such as Maryland’s crab cakes and Illinois’ deep dish pizza. “It’s time for us to show some serious Iowa pride,” said Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association.  “Iowa restaurants and at-home cooks alike have shown a nearly endless level of culinary creativity with bacon—it’s time to brag about it.”   People can vote through June 20th at Roll Call’s Taste of America website: www.rollcalltasteofamerica.com. Iowa bacon was one of 64 foods from across the country featured in the competition which started in bracket format on May 12th.  Iowa made its way to the Final 8 by beating out Ohio’s Buckeye Candy, Missouri’s Ice Cream Cone, and Wisconsin’s Mac and Cheese.  The champion will be the state food that receives the most votes during the final round. The winner will be announced at a reception at the Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. on June 25, 2014. Since 1909 the Congressional Baseball Game has pitted Senate and House members of each party against one another on the baseball field to raise money for charity. Help Iowa be featured at the big event by voting today at www.rollcalltasteofamerica.com .

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Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s industry with educational and promotional programs across the state. www.restaurantiowa.com Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist kkostek@restaurantiowa.com

On January 1, Iowa instituted a new food code which includes a requirement that every food service establishment have a certified food protection manager on staff. This certification is earned by taking an approved food safety and sanitation course and passing a national standards exam. Since the adoption of the new standard, more than 1,500 people across the state have earned the designation – a 30% increase over the number of people who had taken the exam in first quarter last year. “Prior to the new requirement, many of Iowa’s 6,000+ restaurants and bars had already determined that having a certified food safety professional is good for business,” said Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association. “This new standard ups the ante for all food service establishments and will ultimately enhance the experience for all customers.” ServSafe Food Safety certification classes are offered bi-monthly through the Iowa Restaurant Association and ISU extension offices across the state. The certification is good for five years.

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Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s restaurant and bar industry with educational and promotional programs across the state. www.restaurantiowa.com Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist kkostek@restaurantiowa.com

Iowa restaurants are expected to add 5,000 jobs this summer season, according to projections from the Iowa and National Restaurant Associations.  The projected growth in 2014 summer restaurant and bar employment ranks Iowa 24^th in the nation from the standpoint of greatest proportional increase.  More than 100,800 people are expected to be working in Iowa restaurants and bars this summer. “Summer is the busiest season for restaurants in most parts of the country—including Iowa,” said Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association. “The uptick in business creates new and additional job opportunities at all levels of restaurant operations.”   Projected Iowa Growth Better than National Projection, Trails Summer Tourism States The 5.2% projected increase in Iowa hospitality jobs for the summer, while slightly above the nationwide projected increase of  4.9%, is dwarfed by the expected increases in other states with heavy summer tourism interests.  Leading the pack are Maine (+33.2%), Alaska (+21%), Delaware (+18%), New Hampshire (+16.5%) and Rhode Island (+15.7%).  Conversely, because summer is not their heaviest tourism season, states such as Florida (-1.5%) and Arizona (-2.7%) project decreases in restaurant employment opportunities in the summer months. Summer employment is defined as the average number of eating and drinking place jobs in June, July and August. Because the U.S. restaurant industry generally begins to ramp up its summer seasonal hiring in April, the number of summer jobs is determined by the difference between the projected total 2014 summer employment and the March 2014 employment level. Nationally, the restaurant industry is the nation’s second-largest creator of summer jobs, ranking only behind the construction industry.   Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s industry with educational and promotional programs across the state. www.restaurantiowa.com

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Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist kkostek@restaurantiowa.com