Good Food & Wine Show 2008

Did someone say #$@*&!

It's been Gordon Ramsay mania all week it seems. If he wasn't being interviewed on telly, one of his shows would be scheduled. There was talk of his possible Australian venture, his defence of his tendency to use profanities in the kitchen, him dropping a giant swear jar, promoting his new book and an absolute riot of fans desperate to see him at the Good Food Show.


Friday crowds

We headed over to the annual Good Food Show on the Friday, looking forward to a less chaotic experience than the usual weekend crowds. Alas, the Gordon Ramsay factor, and perhaps an overall increase in public interest for gustatory pleasures, seemed to have brought the masses anyway. We found ourselves standing shoulder and shoulder in some places, caught in a human traffic jam that unrelentingly congregated around all the free sample stalls (guilty as charged, Your Honour).


Pravda vodka, extra smooth and with extra bling

Having missed the Good Food Show last year, we did notice there seemed to have been a slight shift in the types of stall holders represented. Sure there were plenty more alcholic suppliers nestled in amongst the food stalls, but we also noted that the big multinationals, like Herbert Adams, Nanna's, Masterfoods and Latina were no longer present. Instead there seemed to be a slight shift to smaller companies and local suppliers; now there was less of a push for express microwave rice and instant meals, and more of an emphasis on gourmet treats, organics, natural products and fair trade.


Waterthins baguette crisps


Onggi Kimchi pickled cabbage, radish and kimchi pancake


Radish kimchee


Sunflower seed butter spread
- tastes surprisingly similar to peanut butter!


Nando's marinades and sauces


Bionade drinks


Natural Nut bars


Abe's bagel crisps

Such was the demand for tickets to Gordon Ramsay that we missed out on the initial seating offer - and having already had the pleasure of seeing him two-feet away up-close and personal, I wasn't prepared to fork out $15 just to be at the back of a giant hall to see him on a projector screen. We saw the seafood demonstration by Peter Evans instead, but the highlight of the day was not Gordon but...


Chocolatesuze! At The Biscuit Tree

Tucked away near the entrance to the Celebrity Theatre, Suze was full of cheer and smiles. Duly provided with free tastings, I can vouch that her Traditional Scottish Shortbread is indeed buttery and delicious.


Chocolatesuze after her wacky gameshow gig


Wine survey at the Charles Sturt University stall

The most productive ten minutes we spent at the show was undertaking the wine tasting survey for a PhD student at Charles Sturt University. Not only did we score chocolate but a $10 gift voucher too. Noice.

Noice too were the eyecatching displays at Edible Blooms. An edible Christmas tree? Now that's what I call utter genius!


Chocolate Christmas tree from Edible Blooms


The Good Food & Wine Show visited Sydney from June 20 to 22, 2008. It takes place in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane every year.

The Show visits Perth July 11-13, 2008 and Brisbane 7-9 November 2008. It has already visited Melbourne (May 30 - June 1, 2008).


Related GrabYourFork posts:
Gordon Ramsay at David Jones Food Hall, Oct 06
Good Food & Wine Show 2006
Good Food & Wine Show 2005
Good Food & Wine Show 2004