Fancy Food Show, San Francisco 2007

Rob and I shamelessly used this blog as a way to recently get a press pass, and thus free enterance, to the Fancy Food Show in SF. Let me tell you, it's quite an event. Tons of food and people all looking to see what great noshables are on the horizon.

We were able to catch up with Elise and Heidi and tour some of the North Hall for a bit. We got to meet lots of creators, consultants, press, and movers and shakers of the food world. Every kind of food you can imagine was present! There did seem to be a glut of olive oils; I mean seriously, how much frickin olive oil can there be?! Chocolate and tea felt kinda the same way, but maybe not as much. (In as such, yes, you can have to much chocolate... I've seen it.)

After about 6 hours though, your feet get sore, and your tongue becomes calloused. You can't taste anymore, and as you try to leave you try another and another last sample on your way to the door. Allow me to highlight some of what I thought were the best of the best and share some pictures.

Chuao Chocolate put forth a might fine and spicy hot chocolate brew. Tastiest thing we tried hands down. Incredibly shibby, we ordered a tin of the stuff the second we got home. The spicy maya is hot chocolate with peppers, cinnamon and other tasty bits.

You all probably know of Stirrings, I know I've been a fan of theirs for some time, but they've hooked me once again with their pomegranate cosmo mix! Yayness! I love cosmos and I heart pomegranates. The perfect combo!

Elise, Rob, and I fell in love with Restaurant Lulu's Fig and Meyer Lemon Balsamic Vinegar. It danced on your tongue and tingeled the senses! Truly a fabu vinegar.

Rishi Tea produced about oh, a 100 different tea varieties. Each one was striking in it's colors, textures, appearences, and scents. It was an adventure examining them!

All of us were taken with the SF local company The Occassional Gourmet. Spice mixes that possessed truly authentic aromatics! We fell in love with the dukkah in particular and I lurvs it on some freshly heated pita bread drizzeled with olive oil. Oh! they joy I felt with each delicious, nutty bite!

I also, for shame, had never tried caviar until that day. I now understand why people love this shit so much. I mean seriously, it really is that good. The various beady textures, the salty undertastes, all pleasing and decadent. We were given a small lesson from a local caviar vendor, taking us through various types of fish eggs and informing us about their local hatcheries outside of SF and Sacramento.

One last great product was the classic korma from Maya Kaimal. Spicy, sweet, salty, fragrant, exotic... all these perfectly describe the korma. *le sigh* Soooo shibby. No other word for it.

So much food. The memories. I'm in love... and in a bit of a food coma.

Feel free to check out some other photos here.