Events
If you wish to attend the Iowa Hospitality Showcase, Celebrating Excellence Awards Ceremony, Grand Tasting Gala & Culinary Competition you only need to purchase ONE ticket for events listed below. The price of admission grants you access to the whole day of events.
Iowa Hospitality Showcase
The Iowa Hospitality Showcase is a one-of-a-kind event that brings together a diverse group of food and beverage operators and suppliers to Look, Learn and Celebrate all the Iowa’s hospitality industry has to offer! Network with foodservice professionals from across the state and walk away with the latest innovations that will help your business flourish.
Culinary Competition
Enter the Culinary Competition and create a one of a kind dish to be crowned Iowa’s Top Chef! A team of traveling judges will visit your restaurant to judge your competition dish featuring beef and soy. All competing chefs will then converge for a public sampling event at the Grand Tasting Gala in Des Moines where guests will sample all of the culinary masterpieces and cast a People’s Choice vote for their favorite. All winners will be announced at the Gala. CLICK HERE to see winning recipes through the years!
Grand Tasting Gala
Join the Iowa hospitality industry for a night of culinary tourism and mastery. Celebrate, sample, sip and savor cuisine and beverages from chefs and vendors across the state Taste all of the dishes of the 2021 Culinary Competition and cast a People’s Choice vote for your favorite. Enjoy wine samples, live music and more.
Celebrating Excellence Awards Ceremony
Every year the Iowa Restaurant Association honors outstanding hospitality operators, employees, purveyors and more at the Celebrating Excellence Awards Ceremony in Des Moines. Do you know someone in the industry who deserves recognition? Nominate them today for one of the following awards: Restaurateur or Bar Operator of the Year; Chef of the Year, Employee of the Year; Purveyor Employee of the Year; Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year; State Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropy Award; and the American Dream Award.
Culinary Affair
April, 11, 2021
7 Courses. 7 Chefs. 7 Wines. An evening of culinary artistry translated through the creativity of Central Iowa’s most accomplished chefs. Enjoy a lavish seven-course gourmet wine dinner prepared by seven of central Iowa’s top chefs in one of Des Moines’ most elegant locations.
Mixology Regionals & Championships
April 29, 2021
Mixologists across the state have battled their way to the championship event, and you can judge their cocktails! Sample all competition drinks and cast a People’s Choice vote for your favorite.
NRA Show
Experience the NRA Show and see how four days of meeting, seeing, tasting, testing and more can change your business. RESTAURANT members of the Iowa Restaurant Association receive one free ticket to the show.
Golf Classic
June 16, 2021
Are you the “World’s Okayest Golfer”? You don’t need to be a pro to enjoy this day on the course! Join us for the Duffers, Diners & Drives Golf Classic – A tasting event for golfers, and a golfing event for eaters and drinkers! Sample your way across the course, network with great people and play games to win prizes.
Soy Salad Dressing Competition
Experience the Iowa State Fair’s healthiest competition! Professional chefs from across the state will prepare unique salad dressing recipes using silken soft tofu as the base. Try their dressings, learn their techniques, and take home their recipes to try them yourself! Hosted by The Soyfoods Council and Iowa Restaurant Association. CLICK HERE to see winning recipes through the years!