As expected, attendance at this year's National Restaurant Association show took a hit. The show, which closed Tuesday at McCormick Place, drew 54,000 attendees, a 24 percent drop from 2008, the association said.

A bright spot: The International Wine, Spirits and Beer portion of the show logged a 13 percent increase in attendance.

Some we spoke to said that though the show floor wasn't shoulder to shoulder as in years past, the buyers and restaurant professionals who were there were serious about doing business -- which is what the industry needs.