Conference attendees and restaurant entrepreneurs gathered together for “A Taste of What’s Hot” after the panel discussion and presentations of this year’s Hot Concepts Awards to celebrate emerging brands with innovative menus and service styles. Navigating from tables of gourmet sliders and pizza to an ice cream sandwich station, MUFSO guests also were treated to the sounds of a three-piece jazz band while they snacked and networked. Signature dishes from Coolhaus, Del Frisco’s Grille, Pie Five Pizza Co. and Stacked were on display to give attendees a sense of which brands are pushing the envelope when it comes to culinary trends and service styles. Chef Joachim Splichal, this year’s winner of the Richard Melman Award, also manned the booth for his Patina Restaurant Group and greeted dozens of conference-goers.