The Real World: Where Influence Meets Experience

Date: 11/3/26
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm Central 
Location: Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations, 1071 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60642
How to Register: Register online using the button below. Registration ends November 3, 2026.
Presented by: RCA Chicagoland

Pricing:
Members $50, Non-Members $60, Students $20

Agenda: 
5:45 PM | Doors Open
6:00 PM | Program & Tasting Experience
7:40 PM | Networking & Connections
8:00 PM | Event Concludes

Event Summary:
For the fifth year, RCA brings together Kalsec and Menu Matters for an immersive evening where consumer insights come to life through food. This year, we explore The Real World and how the people around us, places we’ve been, cultures we’ve encountered and traditions we carry influence what and how we eat. Throughout the evening, Mike Kostyo, VP of Menu Matters, will explore the behaviors and cultural influences shaping what consumers seek, choose and share. Along the way, Kalsec’s Culinary Team will bring those insights to the table through a progressive tasting experience, using Kalsec ingredients and culinary expertise to explore how comfort, culture, personal influence and unexpected flavor combinations can create experiences that feel both familiar and new. More than a presentation or tasting, the evening is designed around gathering, conversation and discovery—an opportunity to experience the trends together and consider not only what resonates with consumers, but why. Come curious. Come hungry. Come ready to connect.

Speakers:

• Mike Kostyo has been a leading voice in food industry trends and insights for over a decade, known for digging through the messy information landscape to uncover unique insights that help brands think differently. Viewing food through a human-first, anthropological lens—shaped by his master's degree in gastronomy—Mike brings depth and expertise to industry research and analysis. He excels at collaborative problem-solving with clients, bringing high energy, humor and a personal touch to every project. His cross-disciplinary background, ranging from magazine journalism to advertising to political communications, allows him to communicate complex trends and ideas with clarity and impact, earning him coverage in the New York Times, a featured profile on Huffington Post (“This Food Trendologist Knows What We’ll Be Eating Before Anyone Else”), on NBC Nightly News, as a recurring guest on Fusion TV’s The AV Club Show, and even as a judge on Food Network’s Eating America. He is also a sought-after speaker who has presented to over a hundred industry events on topics like innovation and AI, as well as his still-talked-about “How to Be Weird” presentation. Based in Chicago, Kostyo is also a freelance writer who regularly contributes to food industry publications. In addition to his gastronomy degree from Boston University, he has certificates in the culinary arts, baking arts, wine, and artisan cheese production and he proudly serves on the advisory committee for the Arkansas Food Innovation Center at the Market Center of the Ozarks.
• Thanh Nguyen, Senior Culinary Scientist, has had more than a decade of product development, food science, culinary prowess, and exploratory gustatorial experiences that he uses to dynamically express Taste in all its forms. Passionate about food and product design, Thanh graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor's in Food Science, with a concentration in Culinary Arts. Thanh finds inspiration from all facets of online and offline life, but especially draws from his community, friends, and family. At Kalsec, he collaborates across business units to drive food innovation through an uncompromising, culturally relevant lens.
• Samuel Ferraro is a former Executive Chef and Bar Director with more than a decade of experience in the food industry. Throughout his culinary career, he worked in and behind James Beard-nominated kitchens and bars along the East Coast, from South Florida to Boston, with much of his experience centered in Washington, D.C. Over the past several years, Sam transitioned from restaurant operations into research and development by joining the Culinary Innovation team at Kalsec. In his role, he works in the Applications Kitchen and Lab, developing recipes, matching and creating flavors, and researching emerging food trends and technologies. His work helps drive innovation for both Kalsec and its customers by connecting culinary creativity with practical product development.
• Anna Cheely is Senior Culinary Innovation Manager at Kalsec and Vice President of the Research Chefs Association. Combining culinary arts and food science expertise, she develops consumer-driven flavor solutions and leads innovation projects from concept through commercialization. Inspired by Southern cuisine and food cultures around the world, Anna is passionate about creating meaningful food experiences that connect people through flavor.

 Register Now

 Sponsors:

Menu Matters

RCA Disclosures

• Nonrefundable: Registration fees are nonrefundable, but may be transferred to another person. If RCA must cancel or reschedule the event, your registration will be refunded.
• Contact Information: By registering for this event, you consent to the sharing of your contact information (such as name, email address, and company) with the event’s sponsors. This information will be shared exclusively with sponsors for purposes related to the event and will not be shared with other attendees or third parties.
• Photographs and Videos: During this event, RCA may take photographs and/or video of you which may be posted to social media and on the association’s website. By registering for and attending this event, you agree to the use of images in photographs and/or video for this purpose. Additionally, other event attendees may take photographs and post said photographs to social media. RCA shall not be responsible for photographs taken and/or shared by other event attendees.
• Session Recordings: This session may be recorded for the purpose of education, training, and use in RCA’s Learning Library. The recording will be used for this stated purpose and shall not be used for any other purpose. Do not share information that you do not wish to be recorded. If you are uncomfortable being recorded, please refrain from speaking and submit questions via email.

Thank you Kalsec, Inc. for supporting year-round RCA events.