Ottawa Tonite.com : Section Title

Food pairing at the Food and Wine Show

Last night I attended the food and wine show, a happening and packed event. My first time at the food and wine show in more than 5 years.

The tickets I bought gave us access to the exhibit area only, so my perspective of this event only reflects what I saw in the area.

As I walked the floor last night, I tried to understand what this event is all about, is it a culinary experience? Is it a bar? Is is an area for aspiring somaliers? what is it? Something was off with the event. Maybe it was the over dressed folks, who are walking not so straight in the halls of the very old and uninspiring Civic Center.

I walked around and sampled some new wines. This in my opinion is what is so great about the food and wine show. Instead of buying a 60 dollars bottle from the LCBO or paying $250 for it at a fancy restaurant, you get to sample a half glass for a few bucks. I tried my hand at a $68 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it was absolutely amazing. I also got to chat with the rep from Iron Stone, which in my opinion is the best wine ever. We walked the floor, tried a port, a vodka mix and a few more wines. Overall a great selection of wines. For any one new at the wine game, the Food and Wine show is a great way to sample.

But what about the food pairing? I was starving when I got there. I did not eat on purpose as I thought I would be able to enjoy some great food. You can imagine my smile when I walked in, and far into the corner I saw a nice smoke go up in the air. WOW someone must have just taken off the lid on something special. After I picked up my glass of Chateauneuf, I walked over and to my shock, I find a man melting/burning plastic bags in a sauce pan. Since when is non stick a novel idea, where is the food? That should not be the first thing in a pot at the “food” and wine show! After scanning the room, I was worried for a second, maybe there is no food here, I asked, and was comforted that food was on the other side. As we made our way around the hall, our first food encounter came from the restaurant “Trio” and served a mushroom sauce on a 3 micro tarts, The taste was just horrible… However I did see some one walk by with a nice looking plate of antipasto. A few more steps and here we where at Fratelli’s home of the Antipesto which was good, but nothing special. Should chefs not be showing off their best? this is the “food” and wine show, where is the nice food? Next stop was the Sheraton which had made an honest attempt at food. They even offered a 3 course meal, I did not go for the 3 courses which they paired up with Beer, but did try the lamb which was very well done and the beer that went with it was excellent. I had a big smile on my face when I saw that Le Cordon Blue had a booth, which did not last as they served up a bland cheese appitizer. Sigh so far one good meal. Passed by a pasta booth and passed, Algonquin booth and passed. Then in the far corner, I saw a Tirnadadian food booth. Hey I never had that, I went and tried a chickpea salad. Very yummy curry dish, that got me thinking, curry, what do you match this with? curry, Thai food. If I can get me some Thai food now I’d happy and never mind all this pairing business. With that, we packed up and went to Siam Kitchen

From a wine point of view, the show delivers as expected. From a food point of view, I would say, what food? The only real food was paired with beer, not much to be said about the “food  and wine” show.

Over all, where else can you spend an evening for $17, you cant even get popcorn at the movies for that much.

Cheers

continue...