Fine Food Australia 2017

Every two years, the Fine Food Expo is in Sydney where they showcase new food products, equipment and technology related to the food and hospitality industry. This time they are in the new ICC at Darling Harbour. It was massive, spread over 2 full floors. A lot bigger compared to Moore Park or the previous convention centre. I completely understand why they got rid of all our childhood fountains that we used to run across, and patches of grass the expand this place. I have to admit, the landscaping in the area is pretty good. It's amazing how quickly they finished building something of this capacity. Moving on...

This sort of reminds me of Harpa, the concert hall in Iceland

Sunset views

Really loving the new Darling Harbour. The actual exhibition was spread under the overpasses on the left on level 1 and 4. the main building has smaller function rooms but still pretty big, and the concert theatre is even further to the left. It can accommodate 3 different exhibitions at the same time. Inside the building everything is just so spacious, clean and new!

I sort of can't believe I'm sick of ice cream (for this week). So many full sized samples everything, and so many small samples that even I had to say no to having more ice cream. There actually were less food samples this year, but it was still more than enough for me, and at the point where you have to 'selectively eat.' Still over ate though...but it's only here twice a year, and probs last time I'll have the time to come, unless once I work one of my days off falls on a weekday (which is most likely).

- Charcoal activated ice cream is the new trend

- Tumeric latte is the new matcha latte

- The health food market is exploding, think yoghurt drinks, flavoured almond milk with more almonds than water (unlike the current supermarket stuff), protein bars/balls, weird but delicious dried fruit and veggies

- So many new food start ups

Some food highlights: 

gelato

So many gelato/ice cream stalls. Mainly these people are trying to sell the actual machine or for other people to rent. Like there are heaps of cakes around, but really they trying to sell the cake cabinet.

activated charcoal coconut water soft serve, cold brew soft serve

The black one sort of tasted like a muted down coconut flavour but a bit nuttier. You can definitely taste the cold brew coffee in it. I find cold brew less acidic/creamy, but a more watered yet concentrated coffee flavour. I'm no coffee connoisseur, but cold brew coffee just has a super distinct taste which you all should give it a go sometime. I was just surprised at how accurate they got this flavour in this soft serve,

I found KOI!

They were actually partnering with a new app where apparently when you order on their phone/device, you can just tap, so you don't have to wait in line at the register or something and then you receive an instant notification to let you know your order is ready...idk, I was really just eyeing the cakes the whole time the guy was demo-ing.

Matcha strawberry: Almond & pistachio jaconde with greentea matcha mousse, berry consome jelly, strawberry

Watermelon: Lychee creme diplomat, dehydrated rose, watermelon, chia seed and almond crumbs

These small bite sized mini desserts are actually a good way to try KOI stuff, since was already super full. The matcha had a decent hit of matcha, and the watermelon one was quite fragrant, just odd to put chia seed in a dessert imo.

First year they had a section dedicated to wines/drinks.

Look how cute this cup is!

Vanilla liquor from Spain, pretty strong at 43 but also tasted quite nice

46% alc.

I can do 26%, but 46% dry gin was just a bit too much, and I only had like 2 sips. The tonic water added to it made it taste more like medicine. Yeah, can't do shots. Give me fancy wines any day.

beetroot latte

I actually hate beetroot despite my love of food, now I can eat it if I have to, but beetroot in latte form is pretty good because there's a nice earthiness to the latte. Beetroot chips are quite nice as well. I think I mainly hate canned beetroot...

Byron Bay cookies x Zest Coffee Taste Test

It was actually really hard to match the cookies with the complementing espresso. Surprisingly I could taste the difference between all the cookies, but to match was too subjective.

 

edible glitter!

I don't like glitter on accessories, but when it comes to food-yes pls. Watching people make fancy chocolates is pretty cool Saw the 'ferrari' of ice cream machines work (they've used it before on MC when they went to Dinner By Heston where you pour in your anglaise, and it immediately churns and freezes so ice cream is ready straight away). This time they used it for caramel where it was ready really quickly. I only attend these shows cause then you can answer questions and win stuff. Got some smoked Urcin salt...

 

more activated charcoal coconut water ice cream with some chocolate/cookies, caramelised fig (pretty sure I had over 10 scoops by this stage)

Day 1: 13kg haul of freebies

My mum is amazing at getting freebies. I have my limits and will get stuff I know I'll like, but mum sort of gets everything (although I had to limit her since I don't want to waste food and chuck it if we're not gonna eat it back home). How do I know I'm stronger? When I can carry/lug around 13kg go food/drinks the whole days and it's ok. We did bring a tiny suitcase to be more 'professional.' The trick with this sort of stuff is you only bring those trolley things to markets/food festivals/shows but not to a business related expo. My strength is compared against the weight of the suitcase, so surprisingly 13kg wasn't too heavy. Normally I start my travels with 15kg in my big suitcase. I guess I also felt stronger after July after lugging back 50kg on public transport back home...Next goal is still carrying suitcase up multiple flights of stairs...

Headed for a quick pit stop before an optom event on the 3rd day of the expo. They are the stingiest on this day since they generally have to make stuff last on the 4th day, but then give everything out on the 4th day since a lot of companies don't want to pack it or take it back interstate.

KOI but with more variety

Citrus jar: Passionfruit curd with bergamot jelly, almond crumbs, swiss meringue, seasonal citrus and yuzu marshmallow

Not gonna lie, I was already full to begin with, but want to slowly make my way through Koi's cake collection. Got something light and this passionfruit dessert was perfect. Also edible purple flower!

Couldn't resist having a coconut ice cream. It's not as nice as the other coconut ice cream in supermarkets since the flavour wasn't as strong, guess it wasn't too sweet which is also a plus.

Mum brought home another 13kg suitcase, Dad brought home veggies from neighbouring expo stands

haul 2, too much food to even bother with a flat lay

Yep, groceries done for the month...

fav!

Loving earth chocolate ain't cheap, from memory the normal flavours are $8 for a larger packet, and one time I bought something which was flavoured and about 1/4 of the above size for $6. They are so good and smooth though, nice darkness through them. Still find it ironic how we haven't finished our Europe and Jap chocolate though...Yay for the coconut yogurt since I was way too full the other day to even sample it, but Mum brought home a decent sized tub back.

Really enjoyed seeing new products to come or are already out on the market. It sort of doesn't help that I'm at home with all this food...now what to try first...Definitely over ate this week, but that's the whole point of me exercising so I can try more food, as counterintuitive as it sounds haha.