Food Shows

Sick of the potato chips, cookies, cola, and candy bars found in your standard vending machine? Your prayers for more food choices on the go may soon be answered. Last week at the National Automatic Merchandising Association's expo at the McCormick Place in Chicago a variety of new vending machines featuring healthier food alternatives and a wider selection of food took the stage.

If you're on a diet, you might avoid the vending machines altogether, knowing the sugary sweets and fattening snacks that they typically house. But Kraft Foods now has a special vending machine that's slowing popping up around the country that has the diet and weight-conscious in mind. Kraft is now pushing the popular South Beach Diet brand with the intorduction of South Beach Diet-branded machines stocked with only foods that are compliant with the program. Those snacks include Breakstone's low-fat cottage cheese, Jell-O sugar free gelatin snacks, Planters nuts, Nabisco Wheat Thins, Crystal Light drinks, and South Beach Diet lunch wraps. Several of these machines were placed in Florida last month, and if successful, could soon be spreading out across the country.

Other interesting innovations include a vending machine that dispenses grilled hot dogs and sausages "snuggled in soft, warm buns", and an internet connected machine that will allow parents to log-on and limit the number of snacks their children can buy.

One company is also implementing a feature that would allow you to pay for your vending machine purchases with up to a $20 bill, and receive your change in dollar bills (instead of handfuls of change). Credit and debit card payment capabilities are also expected to further expand to more vending machines.

With fall upon us, people who love the warmer weather are lamenting the cooling of the seasons here in Cleveland. How can you beat the inevitable cool down? An exotic escape of course.

The Caribbean island of Barbados is having their annual Taste of Barbados Thursday, October 11th through Sunday, October 14th. Among the events are wine tasting, rum tours, beach barbecues, chef seminars, sugar plantation tours, and of course indulging in your favorite foods.

"We would like to open the eyes of travelers so they consider Barbados as the number one culinary island. We really own this market in the Caribbean. With the success of last years 'Taste of Barbados' festival, we hope visitors will return to the island to enjoy this truly unforgettable experience", said Richard Williams, Vice President, The Americas.

Exotic traveling does come at a cost, of course.

Here are the pricing details on the event:

Food lovers unite! Cleveland's IX Center will play host to the 'Fabulous Food Show' from November 9-11. Here is the information on the event from their website:

See live daily demonstrations in the Main Kitchen Theatre or Culinary Celebration Theatre by popular celebrity chefs and even get their autograph in the Celebrity Book Signing Pavilion! Relax along the I-X Pavilion or in the International Bar and watch all the action LIVE from the Main Kitchen Theatre on large video screens!

Sample assorted products and services from more than 200 exhibitors in The Market Place. Visit Taste of the Neighborhood Stage featuring the culinary exploits of Cleveland’s top chefs. STAY ALL DAY - the free Shop & Drop service allows you to enjoy the event 'hands free' but ensures you won't go home 'empty handed'.

A vast array of wines, spirits and specialty beers are available for sampling in the Grand Tasting Pavilion and FREE ongoing informative daily seminars take place in the Cleveland Wine School – Wine Theatre. After sampling, head over to the The Wine Cellar to pick up a bottle or two of your new favorites at State minimum prices.

Indulge in The Chocolate Bar, an intoxicating dessert pavilion of cakes, cookies, confections and chocolate fondue fountains.