Parmigiana at the Fancy food show

Parmigiana at the Fancy food show

Eating my way through the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco

 

It was my first sample bite: sharp, edgy and bursting with flavor.  It was just the perfect first bite of cheese and not just any cheese, it was from an entire wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano from Parma in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. I’m already in heaven and wanting to taste even more delicious goodies at the Fancy Food Show in the city that knows how to celebrate good food.

 

Eating from the Parmigiana wheel at the Fancy Food Show

Eating from the Parmigiana wheel at the Fancy Food Show

 

I love this time of year in San Francisco when the Fancy Food Show starts a food focused trade show and eating extravaganza. This is a fantastic time to see some of the hottest and tastiest food trends to hit the show and then make it out to retailers and the food trade for the year. During this food fest, all the big food brands come out to showcase some of the amazing new flavors and ingredients that hopefully the rest of the public will get a chance to sample or buy in 2015, all around the nation.

 

 

The Italian section at the Fancy Food Show

The Italian section at the Fancy Food Show

 

The annual trade-only show held at the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco is filled to the brim with small to very large food brands all trying to lure us into their booths and sample some of their newest treats or delicious drinks. People, we are talking two huge conference halls filled with food brands from around the world to sample, so pacing yourself is highly recommended along with taking enough time for the 3 day show to discover some fantastic ingredients or finished food products. There’s also a full agenda of talks, demonstrations and of course tastings so some of the most delicious new bites and surprisingly some bizarre food combinations that for me personally don’t make the cut.

 

So let’s get on the show floor and check out some of the delicious finds

Artichoke water, sweet and healthy goodness

Artichoke water, sweet and healthy goodness

 

For some reason I was very thirsty when I  (must have been all the tasty cheese I was scarfing down very early in the Parmigiana booth), stopped at this booth that was sampling Arty artichoke water which peaked my interest and immediate thirst quench.   I learn that this drink is packed with nutrients, anti-oxidants, electrolytes and a multitude of minerals and essential vitamins and for some reason was quite refreshing and tasty sweet – a perfect drink and icy cold too!

 

 

A spoonful of Bacon Jam anyone?

Bacon jams at the Fancy Food Show

Bacon jams at the Fancy Food Show

 

Well I just had to follow the artichoke drink with spoonfuls of the yummy bacon spread from Bacon Jams. Made with nice gobs of bacon with sweet to spicy flavors, it was totally bacon heaven in every sweet to savory concoction at this stand. I totally can get into spreading this on almost everything that I eat .  I know this can be quite dangerous,  so I guess moderation is definitely the key to this amazing spread.

 

 How about some sweet soyu ice cream?

Sweet soy sauce ice cream at the Fancy Food Show

Sweet soy sauce ice cream at the Fancy Food Show

 

In the Japan section I sampled my first Soy sauce ice cream made with a sweet soy sauce which surprisingly was good. A combination of sweet, salty and slightly tangy made this and ice cream taste, I’ll never forget the syrupy sweet taste and I’m sure it’s an acquired to taste to get used to before it grows on you.

 

 

Black forest ham from Adler in Germany

Black forest ham from Adler in Germany

 

Well I just had to stop and try some of the cured meats from this vendor from Germany. She had this stunning pompom hat the just screamed ‘ See me and taste my yummy cured meats from the Black Forest’. Which I did and they were quite strong, dry and paper-thin which made them even more delicious!

 

 

Jacob wheat pale ale from Germany

Jacob wheat pale ale from Germany

 

Of course if you are going to eat a lot of salty cured meats, you have to follow-up with a lot of free beer and thanks to this specialty brewer called Jacob from Germany. He poured entire glasses to sample so that was quite nice and refreshing –  bottoms up or Prost in German!

 

 

Chocolate bacon anyone?

Bacon chocolate goodness with Mo's milk and dark bar

Bacon chocolate goodness with Mo’s milk and dark bar

 

As I mentioned I did sample many chocolates and this vendor was one of the first that debut the now famous chocolate bacon bar which was absolutely delicious and this year they also debut a chocolate mushroom bar made with Reishi mushrooms which are rich in antioxidents, nutrient filled minerals and vitamins and Omega 3 fatty acids.  All I can say was that it was oh so smooth and chocolaty (both the milk and dark chocolate versions) and I got to take some bars for a late night snack.

 

Mushroom and chocolate combination at the Fancy Food Show

Mushroom and chocolate combination at the Fancy Food Show

 

 

 

 

 

Mustard made with Absinthe

Mustard made with Absinthe

 

Well I did get to sample a lot of interesting condiments and especially mustard and there were so many offerings everywhere. But the most unusual and flavorful mustard to me was this mustard made with absinthe and called appropriately Moutard a L’Absinthe – what a deadly and delicious combination of flavors and a winner in my book for mustard.

 

 

Lychees in a rum liquor at the Fancy Food Show

Lychees in a rum liquor at the Fancy Food Show

 

One of my favorites taste for the day are delicious lychee in a rum liquor which comes in large 16 ounce cans and let me tell you, think I could have eaten it all in one sitting. Ah, I’m thinking that this would be perfect with a variety of cocktail drinks in many late afternoon happy hour events.

 

 

Crab apple with a rum liquor

Crab apple with a rum liquor

 

The same vendor offered another taste of these miniature crab apples in the rum liquor and those were also delicious and unusual, but I think just a few of those would have been okay for me. Although I’m sure these are probably just individually served skewered with a cocktail.

 

 

Flavored Bloody Mary at the Fancy Food Show

Flavored Bloody Mary at the Fancy Food Show

Well to top off the fancy food show, we ended tasting two different Bloody Marys, one with Jamaican jerk and smoky jalapeno and wow, those really did taste so much better than a traditional Bloody Mary mix.

I did get to sample so many wonderful and tasty bites at the show from around the world, and these were just a sampling and some of my most memorable bites and swigs at the event. Thanks so for the invitation Fancy Food Show at San Francisco, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

I hoped you enjoyed seeing the highlights of the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco for Travel Photo Mondays . If you did I would appreciate it if you could share the post with any of the social media buttons located around the post and thanks again for stopping by. Please do check out the other participants below for todays link up.

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