Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/41419
T Upcoming dates for The Gourmet Experience: San Diego October 8-9, 2011 San Diego April 14-15, 2012 San Francisco September 29-30, 2012 he Gourmet Experience, a cooking and home entertaining showcase featuring over 250 brands, returns to San Diego for its second year this October 8-9, 2011. The showcase, which features everything from high-end gourmet products to regional brands and local purveyors, is unveiling a new trade segment, which will allow members of the trade a fi rst glance at today's most innovative kitchen equipment and gadgets, food micro-trends, outdoor entertaining options, and gourmet products and brands that are making waves in the cooking and entertaining industry. Seeing the powerful impact of such a collection of emerging and innovative brands at last year's event, producers of The Gourmet Experience saw the potential for brands to extend their reach beyond the consumer audience, thus launching a trade-only marketplace focused on Southern California buyers. Partnering up with the Chefs de Cuisine, The Gourmet Experience launches this year's Chef's Marketplace, giving members of the trade exclusive access to the event for two hours before doors open to the gen- eral public. The Chef's Marketplace gives chefs, restaurateurs, wine and spirit buyers, beverage managers, and specialty retailers an opportunity to source for products such as specialty foods, local and fresh farm foods, meats and poultry, cooking and serving accessories, wine, beer and spirits, restaurant support products, and more. The marketplace also spotlights regional products, both sourced and produced in Southern California. Also new to this year's The Gourmet Experience is the introduction of 12 specialty pavilions designed to give attendees an opportunity to experience products from some of the gourmet industry's hottest emerging trends. The pavilions include the "That's the Spirit" Beer & Wine Pavilion, Sweet Discoveries Pavilion, Specialty Oils & Vinegars Pavilion, Cheese of the World, Gourmet Meats Pavilion, Spice Alley, Culinary Solutions Pavilion, Grilling & Outdoor Entertaining, Kids Cook! Activity Center, Bounty of the County Pavilion, "Cooking With Design" Designer Inspiration Vignettes, and Kitchen, Design, & Remodel. Trade members attending the Chef's Marketplace can extend their visit and enjoy additional expo highlights, such as the event's three high-action demonstration stages with hourly cooking demos, panel discussions on hot topics such as sustainability, the farm-to-table movement and the art of distillation, a mixology presentation from an award-winning fl air bartender, and much more. The Gourmet Experience fulfi lls much more than a brand to consumer connection and conduit to inform gourmet enthusiasts about the latest culinary trends. With the launch of the regional trade-only focus, brands are able to connect with infl uential regional buyers all in the space of one weekend. The opportunity for brands to get face-to-face with buyers and open a dialogue in person is still one of the best ways to build lasting relationships. The Gourmet Experience proves that the need for one-on-one interactions will never lose its place in the buyer-seller relationship. Registration is complimentary when members of the trade sign up by October 1, 2011. To register as a member of the trade, visit www.thegourmetexpo.com. For information on exhibiting at The Gourmet Experience, call 619-312-1212.