Friday, July 16, 2010

Sydney Good Food & Wine Show 2010


First impressions? The stand layout is much better this year with lots more space between the aisles and the wine tasting stands have been spread out between all the food stands instead of all congregating in the southern end of the exhibition centre. I think the organisers have finally realised that with all the trolleys, prams and other wheeled devices navigating the stands, more room is safer and makes for happier foodies!

Best showbag? Definitely the Barilla sample box for $10 which includes 3 bottles of sauce, 3 types of pasta, a cute 100% cotton apron and a chic pasta tin for storage.



What did I buy? Josophan belgian chocolate peanut brittle, a pretty jar of Ajvar capsicum and vegetable relish from Marco Polo Foods, Rochester Dickensian Ginger Drink (ok it's non-alcoholic but I'm partial to the idea of sticking a hot poker from an open fire into a mug to heat it up!) and some gold grade leaf gelatine, porcini powder and vanilla cocoa nibs from Equagold. Ideas for using said ingredients welcome!

Hmmmm - There's enough room for TWO super absorbant chamois ok shammy stands in a food show? Being the systematic type, I like starting from one end and making my way up and down each aisle to make sure I don't miss a thing so starting at the northern end my first stands were a couple of escapees from a lifestyle show! Ok, ok I know people who love food also love feeding their dogs well and want to erase the lines from under their eyes too but couldn't we have filled the spaces maybe at a cheaper rental for little artisanal places who have a special product but can't afford a stand? I'd say 80% of what was on show can already be purchased in local supermarkets and shops but what I want to see is the stuff you'd normally have to travel a long way to find.



And after a day of grazing and very sore legs, I came home to find Gummi Baby had made nachos for dinner!

12 comments:

  1. totally agree with you on bringing the smaller companies to the show. it was the reason we didnt have a stand this year because the rent is just too bloody crazy from last year!

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  2. the last time i went for Hk food festival...omg! what a frigging chaos, i ended up buying stuff which was yuckkkk :S

    heheheh chocolate peanut brittle sounds fantastical!

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  3. i just got back from saturday event. first time i've been. so many people and such a long day especially if you buy showbags and try carrying them around. i noticed they congregated most of the wine stalls at one end of the hall. i can't understand why they charge so much for people to get in when they're charging the stall holders so much. greed greed greed and i found there wasn't as much 'decent' free samples of food as there was a Taste of Sydney.

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  4. Thanks for the recap! I like the sound of your purchases too. Everyyear I tell myself I'll get one of those trolleys to help carry things around lol.

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  5. Wow, looks like you had a great time out and about. Wags

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  6. I agree more smaller guys would be fantastic at the show.

    I would be curious to know what they charge the exhibitors per meter, I know when we have exhibited there for the engineering exhibition in the past it is like $350/SqM (less if you have a large stand)

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  7. I was there for the artisan stuff as well and would've loved to see more of that there!

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  8. I think its too crowded. I was there on Saturday, my first time.

    I'd like to see more unique companies, like smaller family run companies.

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  9. Great post, I agree with the others - I prefer to see alot more of the smaller companies.

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  10. Great post... sad I missed it, but the Josophan belgian chocolate peanut brittle sound fantastic. Thanks for the post.. Thang

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  11. Didn't go this year mainly because it has been gradually becoming more and more commercialised (I went for 4 or 5 years straight). It's getting bigger but I don't feel it's getting better *shrug* And yeah, what's with the Chinese massage/pet food/chamois stands?!

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  12. Yeh, I agree with mademoiselle délicieuse - I think it has become too commercialised :-\

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