This Weekend: Italian Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Foods Show!

The Summer Fancy Foods Show at the Washington Convention Center begins this morning.  As enthusiasts of a country that is world-renowned for its culinary genius, we are most excited about the massive Italian Pavilion that will welcome more than 200 exhibitors of Italian food and drink!

The event will open in style at 10:45 am, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand salute from Italian Trade Commission representatives and Italian exhibitors hosting journalists and food enthusiasts with a prosecco toast!

 The Italian Trade Commission is celebrating its 30th year of welcoming guests to the largest pavilion at the show.  Once again, the pavilion will proffer a myriad of authentic and specialty food and wine.  Attendees of the Italian Pavilion will benefit from the wealth of product knowledge available from the exhibitors and the ability to see and taste Italy’s finest offerings of cheese, freshly pressed fruit juices, extra virgin olive oil, freshly-cooked pasta, wine, gelato and other desserts. 

There will also be an array of new items this year, including: frozen pizza and focaccia, individually quick-frozen and organic quick-frozen desserts and dairy products,  flavored vinegars and salts, artisanal beer,  ready to eat dishes, new extra virgin olive oils.  I am betting that one of the big draws for those with food allergies will be the addition of gluten free products.  

This year is the 57th annual Summer Fancy Food show.  What started out with just 40 exhibitors has grown to one of the biggest draws for retailers, restaurateurs, and distributors looking to discover the next up and coming trend in food and beverage.  The show will run through July 12th. You can find the Italian Pavilion at 1040-1765, Exhibit Hall A,B,C.  For the complete schedule and more information, visit the show's website.

Update: You can read i-Italy's write-up on the "The Response of the Italian Producers"  here.