The expo must go on

The food industry forges on!

Various expos around the world are preparing to push through with some postponed or canceled events albeit in the third or fourth quarter of the year; and hotels in the country are finding ways to continue to bring their signature dishes to their customers.

Thaifex

Thaifex-Anuga Asia, one of the biggest food expos in Asia, confirmed it will be holding the event in September.

The organizers have set it for Sept. 22 to 26 and hopes to help boost recovery in the food industry as well as revive confidence in Asia as a market.

Of course, safety measures will be implemented to adapt to the new normal. There will also be online elements that will be made available for select event highlights.

For the Hosted Buyer Programme, which is one of the expo highlights as this gives buyers from around the world the opportunity to meet and negotiate personally, this will now also be extended to include a “virtual meet” where exhibitors will be able to interact with a curated group of 500 global buyers.

Vinexpo Shanghai

Meanwhile, the second Vinexpo Shanghai has been confirmed for Oct. 21-23.

Vinexpo is an initiative spearheaded by the Bordeaux-Gironde Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It came into being in 1981 and today is the leading events organizer in the wine and spirits sector, with events in Bordeaux, Hong Kong, New York, Shanghai and Paris, in addition to a roadshow, Vinexpo Explorer.

In response to the new normal, Vinexpo Shanghai will be broadening its range of services by adding a digital solution to present wines by producers who are not able to travel to Shanghai in October via a dedicated area called “T@sting.”

There will also be a dedicated area for producers who would like to participate but cannot leave their home countries. This unprecedented solution will be limited to the first 100 registrants.

According to the organizers, “This has been geared to provide simplicity, quality and efficiency to participating producers with an ‘all-inclusive’ formula and targeted networking with buyers attending the exhibition. The new area will dovetail perfectly with the range presented at the event by exhibitors from across the globe.”

Chile is the country of honor at the 2020 exhibition and the expo will also pursue the scheduled top quality masterclasses aimed at Chinese buyers. There will be expected participants from Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Argentina.

The (Vinexpo) Academy is also reinventing itself and will be launching the e-Academy, with high-level content of masterclasses and conferences. These will be rolled out during the exhibition but also relayed via Vinexpo’s digital ecosystem in China and around the world. The system will allow remote presentations by prominent international experts.

China Blue by Jereme Leung

Back in Manila, Conrad Manila’s award-winning restaurant, China Blue by Jereme Leung, together with executive Chinese chef Eng Yew Khor, reopens its doors (daily for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; call 0917-6504043).

As required, stringent health and safety measures are now in place: acrylic table barriers and a digital a la carte menu, which can be viewed by scanning a QR code for contactless ordering.

I don’t know if I will ever get used to eating with an acrylic partitioning but at least patrons can look forward to enjoying China Blue’s signature favorites once again. I personally really miss their steamed house specialty truffle mushroom buns.

Bastille Day at Mireio

COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, will not stop Mireio, the French restaurant of Raffles Makati, from celebrating Bastille Day.

While they are not opening their restaurants yet, they will make available Bastille Day party platters such as canapes of smoked salmon bagels, pissaladiere with white anchovy, prosciutto ham and truffle cream brioche, foie gras and apricot brioche and chocolate choux. You can also order a P9,000-barbecue party platter.

Bastille Day is on July 14. The platters are available for delivery in Makati or curbside pick-up at Raffles. (Visit mireioatraffles.com).

As we celebrate, don’t let your guard down: Always remember to wear a mask, sanitize your hands, and don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. We need to continue to be careful while being optimistic. I do pray that you are all safe, healthy and eating well.

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