Five of the chefs featured on the Food Network's "Iron Chef America" will showcase their culinary skills in the Cooking Theater during the 2010 International Home + Housewares Show to be held March 14-16 at Chicago's McCormick Place. Heading the lineup of celebrity chefs will be Mario Batali, Cat Cora, Masaharu Morimoto, Michael Symon and Jose Garces, the newest Iron Chef.

The Cooking Theater is the focal point of the innovative Gourmet Home + Food District (GOHO). On hand will be exhibitors of specialty and gourmet treats, and the tools used to prepare them. GOHO also features the NASFT Specialty Food Marketplace and Restaurant Row, featuring representatives from 30 of Chicago's most famous culinary establishments. The Cooking Theater is jointly sponsored by All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC, KitchenAid and Wilton Brands, Inc., with all food supplies provided by Whole Foods Market.

Cooking Theater Hosts the Stars
The Cooking Theater will feature chef demonstrations beginning at either 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. each Show day. In addition to Batali -- also a first-time Show exhibitor with his booth Mario Batali LLC -- and his fellow Iron Chefs, the current lineup includes Food Network personalities and well-known celebrity chefs Paula Deen, Todd English, Ellie Krieger, Suvir Saran and Ming Tsai. Also included are national celebrity chefs who call Chicago home, including "Top Chef Master" Rick Bayless, Gale Gand, Rick Tramonto and The Hearty Boys. TV chefs born from "Top Chef" fame -- Stephanie Izard, Dale Levitski and Tre Wilcox -- will also give demonstrations along with local chefs Martial Noguier and Suzanne Imaz of the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower Place.

"We are pleased to host these well-known chefs who support this year's exhibitors of gourmet specialty foods in the Gourmet Home + Food District," said Phil Brandl, president of the International Housewares Association (IHA), the Show's sponsor. "Our buyer audience has told us that they appreciate being able to shop the gourmet foods category in conjunction with the visit to the Show. This category offers traditional home-goods retailers a significant additional sales and profit opportunity."

NASFT's Window to the Specialty Food World
To make GOHO a must-visit destination again in 2010, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) will host its Specialty Food Marketplace. Buyers will be able to sample products and receive information on all items featured in the Marketplace.

Looking for dining options during the Show? Visit Chicago's Restaurant Row where you'll find representatives from 30 of Chicago's most famous culinary establishments with information on their signature specialties. They'll even make reservations for you during your stay in Chicago. Participating restaurants include: Berghoff Restaurant, Bistro 110, Carnivale Chicago, Buca Di Beppo, Ditka's, Fogo de Chao Chicago, Fulton's On The River, Hard Rock Café, India House, Lawry's The Prime Rib, N9NE Steakhouse Chicago, Rockit Bar & Grill, Morton's The Steakhouse -- downtown Chicago, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant, Spiaggia and Sunda New Asian.

The 2010 International Home + Housewares Show will feature 1,800 exhibitors from around the world showcasing home goods, gourmet specialty foods and housewares products for every room in the home, inside and out. To register at no charge for the Show, visit www.housewares.org.