The National Hardware Show has more than ever for the live-fire industry this year. It has networking opportunities with upstream manufacturers, the biggest brands in grilling, down through retailers, and everything in-between. Unique for this year though, they’ve added Weber Grilling Classes in addition to the return of the NHS Cook Off.
The event is less than a month away, taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, March 18th through the 20th. You don’t want to miss this valuable and fun event.
Partnering with NHS
Before I get into all of the information on the show, I wanted to let you know about a promo for NHS for our readers. We’ve partnered with NHS so that the first 20 people to use the promo code COOKOUTNEWS will get free exhibit hall badges or a free spot in a Weber Grilling Class.
Like I said, it’s limited to the first 20 people, so register fast!
NHS Backyard
I’ll give you the lay of the land, so you know what to expect and can optimize your time at the event. There are two main areas that you’ll want to check out, the convention center itself and the outside area in front called the NHS Backyard.
Inside the convention center it’s filled with exhibitors, including many relevant to the live-fire industry. You’ll want to plan ahead to find the most important exhibitors to visit. I’d also recommend just making the rounds because I guarantee you’ll find interesting products that you wouldn’t think to look at.
Inside the convention center is also where you’ll find keynotes, panel discussions, and educational programs. Check the events schedule to look at all the programming to make sure you don’t miss any interesting sessions.
In addition to the whole convention center, there is also an outdoor area called the NHS Backyard. It’s directly in front of the convention center, and it’s filled with outdoor cooking brands showing off their latest products.
The Backyard has almost a festival-type atmosphere with lots to look at, a good group of people, and live-fire products cooking up delicious food. Even though you go to the event for networking and learning about what’s new, it’s also just a fun time.
While walking around the Backyard, you’ll see brands with new products that they’re looking to match with the right retailers, or that haven’t been publicly released. I can think of a couple grills from the last two years that still haven’t made it to store shelves.
Weber Grilling Class
New this year are Weber Grilling Classes, which take place in the Backyard. These are put on by the Weber Grilling Academy and feature two expert instructors to teach people at all skill levels. There are two different Weber Grill Classes available, a beginner level and an advanced level. Both classes take place on the 18th, which is the first day of the expo, and require registration. Space is limited, so sign up as soon as you can.
The beginner level class starts with teaching grill basics, like how to set up your grill and cooking methods. It goes into food pairing, and how to plan for different cooking times on your grill. It also teaches different techniques to be able to handle cooking a variety of food.
The best way to learn is by doing it, so in the beginner class you’ll cook prosciutto-wrapped asparagus with balsamic drizzle and shaved parmesan, BBQ chicken pizza, and grilled pound cake with blistered strawberries. That’s three very different foods that offer a big learning opportunity.
The advanced level class is for people that are comfortable in front of a grill but want to take their skills to the next level. The class teaches heat and fire control, food pairings, sauces, and how to work with delicate ingredients.
Much like the beginner class, you learn by cooking. The advanced class features food that requires a little more finesse, like filets with béarnaise sauce and griddle-top scallops.
Even if you’re already a pro, the classes are a great opportunity to reinforce your skills and have fun. Plus, you walk away with a gift bag and a raffle ticket to win a grill.
Celebrity Chef Cook Off
A highlight of the National Hardware Show every year is the Celebrity Chef Cook Off. This year it’s on March 19th, which is day two of the expo, from 11 am to 12:30 pm. It takes place in the main tent, which is in the back of the Backyard area.
For this event, celebrity chefs represent a brand and compete for the best slider and the best appetizer. The chefs always come up with some creative, and delicious, takes on both categories. Another fun part of this event is often the chefs cook on newly released outdoor cooking products, so it’s a chance to see the products in action.
The event is free for all attendees, so it’s a great way to break up your day and watch some cooking. I’ve had the honor of judging the event in the past and I would definitely recommend not missing this event.
Planning Your Trip
Now that you’re geared up to go to NHS, make sure to plan your trip to get the most out of it. The NHS website has everything you need in an easy-to-use format. There you can find a schedule of events, a list of exhibitors, general information, and travel information. The layout of the website is user friendly, and lets you focus just on what’s important for you, like BBQ & Grilling.
With less than a month left, make sure you’re registered and ready to go. It’ll be a valuable event that you won’t forget.