This week I attended the NASFT Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. I had just returned from Food Blogger Camp, and wasn’t quite ready to jump into the real world yet, but some good friends convinced me to come out. This was my first year attending NASFT, and holy foodie overload, Batman! I was completely bowled over.
For those who have never been, the Fancy Food Show is put on by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, a non-profit organization that fosters trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. What does this mean? Well, think 2,000-2,500 exhibitors displaying 250,000 specialty food products, with approximately 24,000 attendees running around, poking, prodding and sampling. That’s right. It’s a three-day long taste-fest.
There are some rules, though: you can’t take samples out of the building and you can’t buy or sell anything within the show itself. Vendors can accept order for product to be delivered outside of the event, and you can bet people were sneaking all sorts of product out under their coats. Hell, someone handed me a $200 truffle Tuesday afternoon just before the show closed down, and you can bet that security would have had to pry it from my cold, dead hands before I handed that baby over!
Overall, the Fancy Food Show was completely overwhelming, but still a lot of fun. I ate so much cheese and tasted so many different foods that I can’t even remember the second day. Stars were everywhere: Tyler Florence, Ina Garten, Matthew Kenney, you name it. The show was a veritable foodie who’s-who of writers, editors and celebrity chefs.
Here are a few photos of the event, so that you can get an idea of what it was like. I highly recommend you check it out!
Mushrooms!
The best cured meat I’ve ever had – serrano ham aged 18 months.
A rainbow of bean, spices and cereal grains.
Petit fours galore.
Licorice-candies.
Gourmet ice cream toppers – so good!
A wedding cake made entirely of cheese. (ok, this is for Kirstin!)
A life of spice (for Monica!)
(FYI – some of these were shot with a friend’s iPhone)
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Mmm talk about kid in a candy store…great photos
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Thanks! It was huge, but I had a great time.
I saw that cake! It was made of Humboldt Fog goat cheese!
Was it really? I didn’t ask what it was made out of… I do love my Humboldt Fog.
Great photos with an i-phone!
Somehow I missed that cake. Hey Kristin, it would be a good one for your book, a wedding cake made of cheese. Can you see a cheese-loving bride attempting that?
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Oh! This looks like heaven!
Wow. I went to the NYC Chocolate Show two years in a row and it was heavenly. Nothing like a trade show all about food! I got to meet Jacques Torres–he was working behind the chocolate counter if you can believe it. I was just giddy.
I wonder if the NY and SF shows are terribly different?
Stephanie — I’m wondering how you managed to drag yourself away from the show. Looks like pure heaven to me.
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I have heard about this show from friends…but I had no idea what it was all about, how expansive it was. I think I get it now – great post!
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Nice happy snaps on the go…but it’s amazing to me…hardly recognize any of these vendors and we attended the same event…that’s how huge it is.
Curious to hear what you’re going to do with that mushie, missy?
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I ended up shaving it down and sticking it in the freezer to keep it good. Now I think I’m going to make some pasta – simple olive oil, parmesan and truffles. Yum!
Truly outrageous and your photos do the gorgeous colors justice. I’m assuming the petit fours aren’t gluten-free ( – ; Speaking of that, the chef at Sage, one of the new restaurants at CityCenter in Las Vegas, has a liquid chocolate dessert he’s calling petit fours; very confusing, I think!
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that CAKE!!!! i don’t have a sweet tooth (lost it after being pregnant w/Nathan) but I do have a cheese tooth!
I wish I could manage to lose my sweet tooth… it’s like the little devil on my shoulder. “Yes, you should eat that fifth piece of candy. No, I know that your stomach hurts, but this one will make you feel better! Promise!”
Oh. My. God. I think I need your life. Those photos! That food! The expertise! Bring me with you next time, k?
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You should totally come down for the next one! It would be great to have you!
Looks and sounds just amazing. Do these shows go anywhere else – NYC, perhaps? I’m so there. Especially if I can sneak a truffle out…
Oh – funny. Just looked it up and it IS in NYC in the summertime. Hmmm, no coat to sneak out the truffle…maybe it’ll rain and I can wear a trench.
I hope you make it out to the NY show! If you go this summer, report back and let me know how it goes…
I worked on the show management side of that event back in the early 90s. At one of the events, the focused tasting section item that day was chocolate. About 5 minutes before the section was set to open, a call came over the walkie-talkie directing all show management personnel to get to the area immediately for security detail. The attendees were rioting over line position. We had to break up a number of physical altercations. Total chocolate frenzy.
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Wow! THe fancy food show huh? I had never heard of that until now. I just moved to San Francisco, I will have to check it out the next time it is going on! The pictures and the food in them look so glorious!
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The best cured meat I’ve ever had – serrano ham aged 18 months. I live in Spain and here always eat this
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