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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Wow, I never tried a combination between cheese and chocolate.
I remember a recent travel to Venice where I ate an extremely delicious chocolate.
Hi! I found your link up and wanted to join, but it seems that the linkup is closed already. Can you tell me when it’s open and for how long? Living in New Zealand throws timings off sometimes.
Betty, the new link is up for the current week which is titled A first impression of Meteora, you can link up there, thanks
Thanks, Noel. This is strange: I had to google your title to find the post.
I added my link but still can’t find it when I click on your blog….weird! I’ll have to keep working on that…
I’ve been getting issues with the posts not getting sticky, i’ll have to make some changes on the post, thanks for telling me
Okay, this looks like it was a lot of fun and chocolate covered bacon, YES!!
We’ve got some bacon jam and I confess that I don’t know what to do with it – what do you use it with?
Terrific photos as always Noel. I’ve always wanted to attend the Fancy Food Show but the timing has never worked out. That artichoke water is really intriguing can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing all the latest.
I would like to have been at the food show. Your photos make everything look appealing. The Rum Liquer Lychees would be my favourite, but before I ate those I would like to try the German meats and that beer. I cannot imagine what the mushroom chocolate would taste like, but with all those antioxidants the dar chocolate variety could definitely be classified as health food. 🙂
I enjoyed seeing your discoveries at the Fancy Food Show. I attend a while back and remember just about choking to death, 🙂 , on a pickled garlic clove. OMG! Today, I choose that first image of a huge cheese wheel as my fave and would love to have one of those in that size at my next party, along with one of those super gigantic bottles of wine.
You had me at the bacon jam. So many unusual combinations and taste tickling sensations. Yum. I’d never heard of the Fancy Food Show before but, oh, do I want to go to one now!
Oh my gosh! Loved the post, and so enjoyed reminiscing of my days in the specialty food industry and the many years and friends and laughs we had after eating three days straght!! Always was a highlight of my year. That was long ago, but now as a photographer transitioning into more travel/photography/food work, I’m going to have to figure out how to get into the show again — maybe the New York show this summer!
Hi Susan,
I’m sure if you write about the event as press you can get an invite to the New York show, I would love to attend that show also in summer time.
Particularly since we are in Chile we are missing so many flavours. Chile’s food and cuisine doesn’t offer any particular highlights or local specialities, although the country has a very diverse agriculture and you can buy many fresh fruit and great tasting vegetables. Thanks for making my mouth water and my taste buds long for some tasty cheese (one thing we’re really missing here). 😉
Attending a Fancy Food Show is a dream of mine. Is it open to the public? I’m a chocolate lover but I’m a bit unsure of the mushroom in it. I’ll have to keep an eye out for it at the store and give it a try. Lychee and rum sounds delicous. You’ve actually given me an idea with what to do with all the kumquats in my fridge.
It’s only for trade, but you can attend as press. The next one is in New York City for summer time Michele, it is really a fun experience and fattening too!
Ever since I heard of the NYC version of the show years ago I’ve wanted to go. One of the few downsides of living in Santa Fe is being too far to go to these on a whim. Maybe some day. Your photos sure are enticing (and mouth-watering).
Oh, my. Everything looks delicious Noel, except for that bacon stuff. It may be a hot ingredient these days but I’m not a fan. That Parmigiano Reggiano, on the other hand, is incredibly tempting. If I had been there I’d have spent quite a bit of time around the Italy table. Did you try the mushrooms and chocolate? It’s intriguing; I’d never have imagined it.
In any case, I had never heard of this event until I read your post today. I adore food expos and am going to add it to my travel wish list for 2016.
Lychees and rum? Ohhh…yeah. Worth every calorie! Thank you for making me drool. 🙂
I just recently found out about this show — believe it or not! I’m definitely planning on attending next year, especially after seeing your delicious photos. What a feast!
Bacon, chocolate, and artichoke water… what’s not to love?
The Japanese ice cream description makes everyone’s mouth watery. I also like the angle and distance from which you take your photos. Keep doing the great job noel!
Artichoke water? How did I miss that! 🙂
I would love to attend the Fancy Food show. It looks great. When my daughter was young, she and her cousins would play restaurant. My father, their grandfather, always ate whatever they came up with. However, they stopped him from eating the chocolate-covered bacon. They didn’t know they were years ahead of their time combining bacon and chocolate.
Noel-What fun tasting all those unusual foods. I’ve always wanted to go to the Fancy Food Show in NYC. You’ve shown me that it’s definitely worth a trip to discovery new trends.
Those lychee in rum liqueur look beautiful and are a brilliant way to combine fruit with a local spirit. I’ve tried nance fruit soaked in venado white rum in Guatemala which sound similar and they were delicious and potent.
We attended the fancy food show in New York. What fun!
Wow!! Love those pictures! And the Arty Artichoke water, seems pretty interesting, named after me too!!
What a wonderful food show. I went to a food show this week as well 🙂
After the Dutch cheeses (because I am Dutch:) ), the Italian cheeses are the bes!. Some of the things you tried, I don’t think I would like, but the crab apple with rum sounds interesting!
That looks like a great food show! I would like to try the artichoke water, and think I might like the soy ice cream. 🙂
Hi Noel, that looks like an amazing food show. I wish I’m on your next of the wood. I was fascinated to see so many unheard of, unique offerings – artichoke date, mustard absinthe, bacon jam, bacon chocolate, etc. Of course, the familiar ones are just a enticing – parmagiana, German beers, etc. I enjoyed attending the show virtually and eating through my eyes. Lovely food shots as always.