MenuDirections 2012: Day 2 Photos

At the 10th annual MenuDirections conference, held in Charleston, S.C. Feb. 26-28, attendees had the chance to learn how to Create Flavor, while Selling Health with educational workshops and networking opportunities.

The second day provided information on 10 foods to improve your health by Dr. James Painter, session on Mediterranean, Korean and Latino cuisine and the FSD of the Month/Year awards dinner. Click through for photos from from Day 2.

Members of FoodService Director's advisory board gathered for an impromtu meeting at the breakfast vendor fair.

Attendees got to sample of the sponsors' breakfast items during the vendor fair.

A new item on offer was breakfast-style sushi.

Dr. James Painter, who last year presented on Mindless Eating, was back this year with a presentation on 10 Foods for a Healthier Lifestyle.

Painter got into how the body processes different foods to show how healthy foods work for our bodies.

“People still have this idea that you need to cut cholesterol out of your diet. [But] it really does nothing,” he said. Rather, managing the relationship between so-called bad cholesterol—LDL—and the good variety, HDL, is the real route to safer eating, Painter explained.

Attendees were encouraged to ask questions throughout Dr. Painter's presentation.

Related:MenuDirections 2012 Day 2: World Cuisines

David Yeo, executive chef for CJ Foods, presented on the Craveable Flavors of Korea.

Bibimbap, which in Korean means “mixed meal,” is a simple dish containing a variety of vegetables, bulgogi beef and either a raw or fried egg, topped with a spicy-sweet sauce called gochujang. As David Yeo was preparing the dish, Becky Westby of CJ Foods explained the origins of bulgogi, an iconic Korean food that consists of marinated beef that is cooked on open fire. Historically, it was considered the exlusive purview of the wealthy and nobility.

Andrew Hunter, Kikkoman Foodservice Chef, spoke about Latino cuisine through the lens of the ubiquitous taco.

Marion Gibson, national culinary director for LifeWorks Restaurant Group, a division of Aramark, presented on the five main tastes of the Mediterranean.

Gibson impressed attendees with this new way of presenting classic small plate fare.

The lunch vendor fair provided operators with tasty samples from sponsors, as well as an opportunity to network with fellow attendees.

During a new series of workshops called New Product Trends, McCormick For Chefs Executive Chef Kevan Vetter took attendees through the company's 2012 Flavor Forecast, which offers trendy flavor pairings for the coming year.

Related:MenuDirections 2012: Day 1 Photos

In the Smart Beans workshop Erik Henry, director of foodservice for Bush Brothers, and Tom Smith, executive chef for Food IQ, spoke about how menuing beans can help make menus healthier.

As part of Bunge Oils session on the new generation of healthy oils, attendees got a chance to taste items made in the healthy oils at the Bunge truck.

Gary Coyle, Cyndi Gloodt, Jerry Miller and Joe Porras catch up during the cocktail reception.

NC State's Randy Lait, Lisa Eberhart and Bill Brizzolara compare notes from the day's sessions.

UMass's Garett DiStefano and Chris Howland flank RC Fine Foods' Gary Cohen at the cocktail reception.

Former FSD of the Month Lenny DeMartino provides support for 2011 FSD of the Month Jeff Shaffer. Both men work for Parkhurst accounts in Pittsburgh.

During the awards dinner  Lindsey Ramsey, Managing Editor, FSD Online presented each FSD of the Month winner with a plaque. Here she is with February FSD of the Month Gary Coyle, director of dining services at Washington State University.

March FSD of the Month Lisette Coston, director of nutrition and food service at Saint Francis Health System.

April FSD of the Month Cyndi Gloodt, general manager for Sodexo at Northern Trust Bank.

August FSD of the Month Jeff Shaffer, executive chef for Parkhurst at Reed Smith.

September FSD of the Month Brad Lange, director of dining services at Park Regency.

October FSD of the Month Nancy Levandowski, director of ISU Dining at Iowa State University.

November FSD of the Month Billy Reid, director of child nutrition services for Salida Union School District.

FSD of the Year Lisette Coston is flanked by FSD Editor Paul King (left) and FSD Publisher Bill Anderson (right).

All the present 2011 FSD of the Month award winners.