Centerplate Leads Three Days of Culinary Spectaculars for Global Conference of Leaders

DALLAS, Aug. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- It takes a talented team to organize three days of culinary delights for a conference full of professional organizers. But Centerplate, the proud hospitality partner to the Dallas Convention Center, is proving that it's more than up to the challenge. As executives from the country's top trade associations, convention visitors bureaus, membership societies and voluntary organizations gather for their yearly convention, they'll get a true taste of Texas, thanks to the "Food Truck Rodeo," "Local Sustainable Luncheon" and spectacular 3,000 person banquet presented by Centerplate.

"Guests are coming in from all over the world for this conference, and our goal as hospitality partners is simple – we want everyone who steps into this convention center to have a one-of-a-kind Texas experience, enjoy world-class hospitality, and see and taste the best of what Texas has to offer," says Douglas Keller, Centerplate's General Manager responsible for the event.

Drawing on some of the top culinary talent from Centerplate properties across North America, under the guidance of Senior Executive Chef David Skorka, Centerplate is taking its focus on local cuisine to new levels, starting with five distinct food truck concepts:

• Burger Baby Truck: Grass fed beef sliders, Sweet Potato Tater Tots, Cilantro-Lime Mayo, BBQ Tomato Jam, Green Chili Aioli
• Jumping Jazz Truck: Red Beans and Rice, Jambalaya, Crawfish Fritters, local hot sauces
• Mean Green's Truck: Nicoise Salad, Lanced Fruit
• Primo Panini Truck: Cuban, Italiano, Caprese Panini, Minted Cous Cous salad
• Amazing Asian Truck: Angel Fire Shrimp Stir-Fry, Udon Noodle Stir-Fry 

Traditional Mex-Tex flavors will also be on display at ASAE's gala "Viva Dallas" banquet. Using experience gained by operating at 6 of the 10 busiest convention centers in the country, Centerplate will manage the incredible challenges of delivering fine dining on a 3,000 person scale, featuring:

• South of the Border Shrimp Cocktail
• Carnitas and Beef Street Tacos with Salsa Rojo and Salsa Verde
• Chicken Skewers Mole
• Carne Asada
• Tamale Station

Building on the growing national trend of local, sustainable food choices, Centerplate is also proud to present ASAE members with a "Local Sustainable" luncheon, featuring sustainably produced products from some of the region's best know ranches, farms and dairies. On the menu, a selection of truly authentic Texas flavors:

• Tassione Farms Speckled Green Salad with Taylor Farms Cucumbers, Agave Ancho Vinaigrette
• Negra Modelo and Pasilla Chili Braised Short Ribs, Gritsmill Stone Ground Jalapeno Grits, Brazos Valley White Cheddar
• Local Texas Peach Crumble, Vanilla Ricotta

"It's incredible to literally drive down the road to buy the freshest vegetables, and foods from farms right here in our back yard. We know these are the most authentic local flavors, and shopping local is the most sustainable way to source our food," says Chef Skorka of Centerplate.

In addition to the dedicated Centerplate Dallas staff, the company will bring in five supporting chefs and five managers from other Centerplate properties, to help service the 3,000 ASAE members during the three-day event.

About Centerplate
Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in over 250 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues across North America – annually serving over 100 million guests. Centerplate has provided event hospitality services to 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 13 Super Bowls, 20 World Series, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Last year, the company was named the fastest growing restaurant/ hospitality group in the country by Nation's Restaurant News. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

About Dallas Convention Center
The Dallas Convention Center is one of the largest in the nation. Redefining form and function, the convention center is LEED-EB Silver Certified, uses clean lines and original artwork throughout its one million square feet of space, which includes a 200,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall, 3 ballrooms, 88 total meeting rooms, and a 1,750-person theater. More than 5,000 hotel rooms are within walking distance of the facility, and the Dallas Ft Worth International Airport is less 18 miles from the Dallas Convention Center and downtown Dallas Arts District.  To learn more about meetings and conventions in Dallas, go to www.dallasconventioncenter.com or 877-684-7322 (877-MTGS-DCC).

SOURCE Centerplate