Fancy Food Show NYC
Today I attended the International Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center on 34th street in NYC. It was the most unbelievable and overwhelming food experience I have ever had (and it just so happens to be FANCY). Normal food consumers can not just show up to this conference, you must register as a retailer, distributor, restaurant owner, caterer, ect. and thousands of exhibitors set up booths for you to sample their product, in hopes of future business. The exhibitors come from all over the world. The 3 story convention center had sections of booths set up for each country (Italy to South Africa) and was so expansive that one could not walk though it in a day.
I singed up as a retailer with my friend Joy Beth, who one day hopes to own her own bakery. Therefore, at the food show I pretended to work for JB Desserts in Nashville, TN. By the end of the day, after talking to everyone from chocolatiers to winery, JB Desserts caters weddings, creates gift baskets, makes cakes and cookies for special events, and we are looking for many other options from cheese crackers, peanut brittle, gummy worms, every type of cheese imaginable, margaritas, breath mints, gelato, gum, peanut butter, to guava juice (just to name a few) for sale in our store front.
I would like to expound on my favorite booths. I enjoyed Paula Dean’s booth, where I saw Paula Dean herself and tasted some of her treats. While mentioning famous people I also saw the Barefoot Contessa and ate a very delicious bite-sized cupcake. I would like to say that before today, I thought that I made the best Key Lime Pie in the world… but I tried Kenneth’s Key Lime Pie today and it was divine. I also enjoyed the sparkling water from Italy (or maybe just the Italian man who gave it to us). Then there is the chocolatier with a mission to better the world by providing fair trade, organic chocolate. There was so much tea — black, herb, white, oolong, green — all kinds all flavors and so many companies. I love how HOT tea is right now (pun intended).
When I left the Fancy Food Show and walked 4 avenues back to the subway station I felt a little sick from all the tasting and overstimulation. It was well worth every second of it!