Food agenda: World's 50 Best Restaurants

On Monday night, one of the most highly anticipated events of the gastronomic calendar year will crown the best restaurants in the world for 2012. Whether or not René Redzepi will be able to hang on to the title for the third year remains to be seen. Here are some other major food events around the world.

World's 50 Best Restaurants awards
April 30
London, UK

Hosted by Restaurant magazine, the World's 50 Best Restaurant awards rank chefs and eateries around the world and are widely considered a rival to the Michelin awards. The most notable difference between the two systems, however, is that the World's 50 Best Restaurants seeks out young, fresh, new blood while Michelin rewards old stand-bys and traditional, haute cuisine. Chef René Redzepi of Copenhagen restaurant Noma will be defending his title as the best restaurant in the world for the third year.
http://www.theworlds50best.com/

35th annual World Association of Chefs Congress
May 1-5
Daejeon, South Korea

It's noteworthy that organizers of the WACS chose to bring their congress to Korea for the 35th edition. Korean cuisine, for instance, has been identified as a food trend for 2012. Restaurant consultancy group Baum + Whiteman even declared 2012 year of kimchi, a spicy, pungent cabbage that's a staple of Korean cuisine. The theme for this year's congress is ""How to Feed the Planet in the Future." Another favorite will be the Global Chefs Challenge, pitting chefs from Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, England, Canada and New Zealand against each other.
http://www.wacs2012.org/

James Beard Foundation Awards
May 4 and May 7
Lincoln Center
New York, NY, USA

The James Beard awards are often described as the ‘Oscars' of the US food scene, crowning the best of the best. The awards cover publishing, restaurants and chefs, naming the best in categories like cookbooks, food writing, outstanding chef, outstanding restaurant and talent spots with Rising Star Chef of the Year. Last year's winners included José Andrés, chef-owner of minibar in Washington DC, who took home the medal for Outstanding Chef while New York's Eleven Madison Park took home the title of Outstanding Restaurant. The Book, Broadcast, and Journalism Awards winners will be announced May 4, while the restaurant and chef awards will be announced May 7.
http://www.jamesbeard.org

93rd annual National Restaurant Association Show
May 5-8
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL, USA

As one of the longest-running, most established food shows in the US, the NRA Show attracts more than 58,000 foodservice professionals from all 50 states and over 100 countries each year. The NRA Show has been in Chicago since 1950. It's a star-studded event with celebrity guests sharing their kitchen secrets at the World Culinary Showcase Theater, and industry insiders sharing their insight with fellow restaurateurs. It's also a show grounds for the latest in cutting-edge kitchen and commercial equipment and a launching pad for innovative consumer products. The show also co-hosts the 5th annual International Wine, Spirits & Beer event this year, dedicated to all things beverage and bar-related.
http://show.restaurant.org

13th Annual SIAL China
May 9-11
Shanghai New Int'l Expo Centre
Shanghai, China

SIAL China is part of the international SIAL Group, which was created in 1964 in Paris and puts on international trade shows annually in rotating locations each year. SIAL CHINA 2012 will indulge inner foodies and wine aficionados from around the world and is expected to attract 40,000 visitors and more than 1,800 exhibitors. New this year will be Team Contest, Hospitality and Retail Forum and Coffee Trend areas. The always popular Wine & Gourmet World also returns.
http://www.sialchina.com/

4th annual Vinexpo Asia-Pacific 2012
May 29-31 
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Hong Kong

As one of the biggest and most important wine trade events, Vinexpo alternates locations between Hong Kong and France every year. In 2012, it's Asia's turn to host. Given the meteoric rise of the wine industry in Asia, interest is expected to be high. According to the latest Vinexpo/IWSR study, Asia will experience the strongest increase in its wine markets in the next five years with five percent annual growth compared to the world average, which is less than one percent. Retail sales of still light wines in Asia in 2009 were worth US$7.18 billion and are expected to increase by 27% by 2013. In 2010, the event attracted 12,620 visitors from 18 countries, and 882 exhibitors from 35 countries. Vinexpo is second to the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair in size and popularity.
http://www.vinexpo.com/en/visiting/

Bocuse d’Or Asia
June 12-14
Shanghai

Finalists representing 10 Asian countries will vie for four spots to battle it out in the final round of what’s known as the culinary Olympics, which takes place in Lyon, France next year. The 10 competing countries include: Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka.
http://www.bocusedorasia.com/

Summer Fancy Food Show
June 17-19
Washington DC, USA

The largest specialty, gourmet food and beverage event in North America gathers 180,000 premium and novelty products like cheese, coffee, snacks, spices and confections under one roof. The annual event draws 2,400 exhibitors from around 80 countries.
http://www.specialtyfood.com/fancy-food-show/summer-fancy-food-show/

SIAL Brazil
June 25-28
Sao Paulo, Brazil

Modeled after SIAL Paris, the largest food and beverage event in the world, SIAL Brazil positions itself as the gateway to the Latin American market for the global food world. About 65,000 visitors are expected to attend the four-day event. This year, the show floor will be divided into thematic ‘islands’ that give special treatment to foods like ice cream, olive oils, biscuits, cachaças (Brazilian spirits), sweets, fruits, vegetables, cheese and wine.
http://www.sialbrazil.com