Views from the West – A blog about public relations & social media in the Rocky Mountains

Michele Wells, senior counselor

I spent two fattening days at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco last week. When I wasn’t helping Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy sample their popular Colorado goat cheeses, I walked the floor, tasting farmstead and artisanal cheeses, chocolates, teas, coffees, charcuterie, jams, olives, yogurts, pates and other delicacies. In a one-hour spin through the South Hall, I sampled the best specialty foods from Italy, France, Egypt, India, China, Canada, Australia, Spain and the U.S.

The toughest part of all this tasting is taste-bud burnout. I’ve learned from past Fancy Food Shows to taste the subtle items, such as toasted barley tea and skyr (a yummy non-fat strained yogurt) early in the day, then work my way up to the goat, cow and sheep cheeses, prosciutto, Iberian ham and pate. I usually do my chocolate-tasting as I’m leaving the show. Tough schedule, I know.

The word from retailers I met is that business is strong, despite the crummy economy. Many attribute this to the increase in home entertaining. When you’re not paying restaurant prices for wine and food, it’s easy to justify $20 for a wedge of aged Gouda or some artisanal salumi. And, entrepreneurship in the specialty food world has spawned all kinds of new products, especially from American producers.

Though this used to be a show exclusively for the trade, the general public is now invited. The cost this year was $35 in advance, an amazing deal, and a good reason to visit San Francisco in January when much of the country is cold and dreary.  Now, I’m heading out to see if I can find a piece of my favorite from the show: Willapa Hills’ Two Faced Blue – a wonderful aged blue cheese made from a mix of sheep and cow milk. Bon appétit!