Experience the tastes of Brazil, India and South Africa when the 57th annual Summer Fancy Food Show comes to the District
By Candice Norwood
Representatives from Oren’s Kitchen at the Winter Fancy Food Show in California
Beginning this Sunday, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center will be filled with the smells of desserts and fresh cheeses; thousands of spectators will gather with the world’s most prominent chefs and food manufacturers for the Fancy Food Show. The biannual food expo typically takes place every winter in California and every summer in New York. For the next two summers, however, Washington DC will host the event.
Organized by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), the Fancy Food Show initially started in 1955 with 40 vendors, a majority of which were from Europe. The show has since grown into a showcase of more than 2,000 exhibitors from 80 different countries.
Many of the food trends and ideas that are brought to the exhibit influence what will soon be found in local grocery stores.
In edition to the expo, the Fancy Food Show hosts a number of educational seminars, tastings, tours and cooking classes.
The organization will also hold the sofi Awards which recognizes stand-out food products in 33 categories.
The Fancy Food Show will take place July 10 from 10am to 5pm, July 11 from 10am to 5pm and July 12 from 10am to 4pm.
For more information about the event, visit their website here.
Following the event on Tuesday, DC Central Kitchen will recover the remaining food and combine it into meals that will be distributed to to shelters, transitional homes and rehabilitation clinics throughout the DC area. The organization is looking for 120 volunteers over the age of 18 to help with this initiative.
To get involved, call 202.234.0707 or email info@dccentralkitchen.org.
