Fancy Food Show, San Francisco
Sunday, January 18, 2009
NASFT 34th Winter Fancy Food Show 2009
Today I attended the 34th Winter Fancy Food Show 2009 presented by The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) at Moscone Center, San Francisco. The three day show is the largest marketplace for specialty foods and beverages on the West Coast, with 250,000 products showcased by 1,250 exhibitors.
As I waded my way through the 198,000 square feet of the tastiest foods on Earth, I was both overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the Fancy Food Show…and overjoyed by the idea of eating my way through the San Francisco convention center, sampling the best of the best, from around the world.
Before I could have another thought – whiff whiff – what was that I smelled?
Cheese central at the Fancy Food Show, San Francisco
Cheese. Lots and lots of cheese.
Oh goodess, I have died and gone to heaven. An entire Fancy Food Show section devoted to all the best cheese in the land.
Over the next two days, I hope to get through it all – the artisan cheeses and aged meats, chocolates (so many chocolates!) and baked goods, condiments, beverages, innovations and treats that you couldn’t even imagine. I’ll do my best to cover as much as I can. My game plan for the Fancy Food Show is to report back on:
- Best of the Best in Class – this year’s sofi Gold Winners (“specialty outstanding food innovation”) covering 32 categories
- Cheese Feature
- Chocolates Feature
- Global Superstars
- Hidden Gems
For now, here is just a taste of what I have encountered so far at the Fancy Food Show…get ready to drool.
Rogue Creamery Blues.
Rogue Creamery Cheeses made with Beer.
Cypress Grove Chevre, Inc. – Creamline, Midnight Moon.
The Best of Spain’s Serrano Ham, aged 18 months, on lock down.
Norman Love Hand-Painted Confections.
Seth Ellis Chocolatier – Ginger Truffle.
Bee Raw American Single Varietal Honeys.
Tea time with Dammann Freres, the newest member of the Illy Family.
Fra’ Mani Handcrafted Salumi.
Beemster blue cow.
So Much Sabra.
Giuseppe Giusti Balsamic Vinegar, Aceto Balsamico di Modena dal 1605.
Quick Milk Magic Sippers – instant flavored milk (terrible or amazing?).
Related posts:
I AM SO JEALOUS! Looking forward to the best of best and the chocolates! Quick Milk…cool for kids, but I think us adults need sweetened lime and lemon flavored straws for vodka!
I am jealous too – I wish I was there in person to see all the great products!
How fun! We want to do this too. A friend of ours went last year and she was floored by all the fun booths and foods!
While we’re here, you’ve been tagged for the Luck & Resolutions posting. Pick 4 wishes for the year, 4 resolutions, tag 3 others and then link back to the original person who tagged you. Have fun!
I too have to declare my envy. I love all the food options, I saw one presenter was called FungusAmongUs – hum I think they might need to work on that name. I have some unpleasant images popping up.
Lucky, lucky you – I’m dead jealous!
Yummmm!! Can I be your assistant at this next year? I’ll work for free samples
For chocolate at the Fancy Food Show, you’ve got to check out Amano Chocolate, booth #284, and meet the chef Art Pollard. He’s been called the Indiana Jones of chocolate for the lenghts he goes to source the best. Also SwoonBeams for organic fudge. They’re so new they couldn’t get a numbered table and ended up in the Gateway Ballroom.
gastroanthropologist: haha “quick vodka” straws. brilliant. you need to patent that right now! instant shooters!! seriously…you could be on to something here
god bless the internet.
i’m thanking my lucky stars.
Natasha: well i will do my best to bring it to you over the world wide web
The Duo Dishes:Yes! i highly recommend it. it would totally be worth the trip up and it’s free for press! I’ll have to think on the wishes and resolutions! good timing…chinese new year is coming up!
OysterCulture: haha seriously? well…i guess it’s, er, memorable.
Daily Spud: you know…i found myself today with my mouth full of truffle and thought the exact same thing
Katie: yes yes! mark your calendar!
Tom Walton: thanks for the tips! i’ll have to check both of them out tomorrow.
It was great to meet you folks at the Rogue Creamery booth, and introduce you to our beers, and the cheeses made with Morimoto Soba Ale and Rogue Chocolate Stout. Stop by any Rogue Pub to sample these paired with Rogue Ales, or other artisan/craft beers on tap. Our Southern most embassy is in North Beach, at the corner of Union and Powell. We feature Rogue Creamery cheeses on our fermenters plate (cheese board), on top of Snake River Farms Amer Kobe Burgers with Nueske’s bacon, and in the award winning SRF Amer Kobe Blue Balls — adult meatballs stuffed with Rogue’s Blue Cheese.
Food for Thought!
sebbie: Hi! was such a pleasure meeting you! and I loved it that you spread the news to Morimoto’s folks. i am such a huge fan of his. in any case, LOVED rogue creamery. look out for my Best of Fancy Food Show: Cheese Feature!
[...] We feature Rogue Creamery cheeses on our fermenters plate (cheese board), on top of Snake River Farms Amer Kobe Burgers with Nueske’s bacon, and in the award winning SRF Amer Kobe Blue Balls — adult meatballs stuffed with Rogue’s Blue …Continue Reading [...]
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