Weekly gastronomy agenda: 2010 Mondial de la Bière, Vote new 'DEW', 'Hide a Case'

June celebrates a wide array of foods and beverages with competitions, reviews, flavor votes, classes, new products and new places to eat. This week Mountain Dew and Canadian Club ask you to go online to participate in their campaigns DEWmocracy and Hide A Case, and beer lovers from around the world make their way to Montreal for 2010 Mondial de la Bière. Plus the international dining guide Zagat is asking you to review top restaurants in the US and Japan.

Vote for a tasty new ‘DEW'
May - June 14, 11:59pm EDT
Online @ DEWmocracy.com
USA

Mountain Dew (DEW), a popular soft drink, has launched a new
electorate campaign for you to select one of three new flavors to
be launched across the United States. "The Flavor Campaign" shows a close race between DEW: Typhoon (tropical punch infused), Distortion (blasted with lime) and White Out (combined with citrus). The social marketing effort encourages you to promote your candidate with downloadable icons, wallpapers, banners and much more. To make your voice heard for your favorite DEW, go to: http://www.dewmocracy.com

Canadian Club's 'Hide a Case' (round one)
June - July 9
Online @ HideACase.com
USA and Canada

Canadian Club (CC) has revived its 'Hide a Case' campaign to find eight adventurous North Americans to hunt down nine remaining cases of aged whisky around the world. The original campaign took place between 1967-1991 where 25 cases of CC whisky were hidden all over the world; to date only 16 have been found. To compete for the $100,000 (€81,273) prize and 'trip of a lifetime' you must first complete a round of "brain power and speed" and clue-solving tasks before July 9 when round two begins. And the process includes pleading your case in a video. If up to the challenge, sign-in at HideACase.com; note you have to be 21 years old and reside in Canada or the United States, except California. http://www.hideacase.com


2010 Mondial de la Bière
June 2-6
Windsor Station, Montreal, Canada

The 17th annual international beer festival is North America's largest. Brewers and beer enthusiasts can attend for free and taste their pick of over 300 beers from all over the world including Belgium, Haiti, Czech Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, Brazil and many others representing five continents with the purchase of C$1 tasting tickets. A taste pours 3-4oz and can run one to five tickets. There is also a host of special events and workshops including a Slowbrew Tour, a guide to tasting Italian beers and a look at special beers and beer cocktails.
http://festivalmondialbiere.qc.ca/en/festivals/

The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English
Opens June 4 @ 7am EDT
The Plaza Hotel, New York City, USA

Celebrity chef Todd English has realized his dream of bringing European food halls to New York byrevamping 20% of the ground floor of the Plaza Hotel (5400sqft/502sqm) into the area's hottest new spot for power lunches, shopping, cooking demos and much more. Highlights include: seafood counter, grill and raw bar, chocolates, coffee and tea, pastries, breads, cheeses, charcuterie, sushi, wine, dumplings and noodles, pizza and flatbreads, salads, burgers and other meats. The hall will be open Sunday-Thursday, 7 am-9pm; Friday and Saturday, 7am-10pm. Added bonus: food can be delivered in Central Park (below 72nd Street).


Gourmet Latino Festival
June 4-12
New York City, USA

The first festival devoted to gourmet cuisine from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, México, Perú, Uruguay, and others taking place in New York City. The festival offers a number of events to participate in from hands-on-seminars (Morning with Coffee & Cacao, Brunch Levantamuertos), grand tastings to carnival parties and authentic dining with 40 world-renowned Latino and Latina "tastemasters" including Daisy Martinez, Lourdes Castro and Aarón Sánchez. Events are priced individually and you can customize your program on the event website. http://www.gourmetlatinofestival.com


Become a Zagat reviewer
Closes June 6, 13?
Online
Zagat, the oldest crowd-sourcing dining guide, wants you to rate and review the best eateries around the world. To vote or share your reviews is free and easy from the comfort of your computer. Currently reviews are open for top restaurants in Colorado, USA, Salt Lake City, USA until June 6 and Ohio, USA and and Tokyo, Japan close on June 13. http://www.zagat.com/Review/Index.aspx


Bocuse d'Or Europe 2010
June 7-8?
Geneva, Switzerland

Bocuse d'Or Europe is the final competition this year that has toured the world to pre-select the four best continental teams that will compete at the annual prestigious final Bocuse d'Or 2011 in Lyon, France in January. Teams of chefs will be representing 20 European nations. Russia was to join the competition but had to drop out and Poland has taken its place; also new to the competition this year is Slovakia. All the teams will be making halibut and Swiss veal. ? http://www.bocusedor.com/2010/


France's 1st Annual Restaurant Week
June 7-13
France

France celebrates its first annual Restaurant Week, June 7-13, with internationally renowned chefs such as Paul Bocuse, Hélène Darroze and Pierre Gagnaire. 700 restaurants, including chains and bistros, will be offering fixed price menus between €20 and €35 the entire week. Michelin-starred restaurants will not be participating but the award-winning chefs' bistros are on the list that includes 100 dining establishments in Paris. Advance booking is recommended (site in French). http://?www.tousaurestaurant.com


Shanghai International Wine & Spirits Fair
June 9-11
Shanghai International Convention Centre, China

Wine is fast becoming the drink of choice in China, thanks to moves such as Hong Kong's decision to abolish all duties on the liquid. On the ground, vineyards are springing up all over the country and international labels are increasing their presence thanks to events such as this, which aim to bring the international wine world to China and expose the Chinese varieties to international buyers. Vinexpo - held in Hong Kong in May - brought the wine world to Asia, this Shanghai event focuses directly on China.
http://wineshanghai.com

'Best New Chef Dinner'@ The 28th Annual Food & Wine Classic
June 18-20
Aspen, Colorado, USA

Each year Food & Wine, a renowned foodie magazine, reveals its Best New Chefs list and the winners, including Roy Choi Kogi (BBQ truck, Los Angeles), Matt Lightner (Castagna, Portland, Oregon), and Missy Robbins (A Voce, New York City) will participate in the 28th annual Food & Wine Classic. If you would like to attend the festival, tickets can be purchased online for $1185 (€969) and a seat at the special "Best New Chef Dinner" can be reserved for an additional $250 (€204). For more information, go to: http://www.foodandwine.com/classic-in-aspen.


World Barista Competition
June 23-25
Olympia, London, UK

The 11th Annual World Barista Championship is co-located with the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) Conference & World Championships at Caffe Culture, the leading coffee exhibition in the United Kingdom.  The combined events will welcome over 10,000 coffee industry professionals and enthusiasts. Over 50 national barista champions worldwide are to compete over three days with the hopes of becoming the 2010 World Barista Champion. Additional competitions will also be taking place during the SCAE event including the Cup Tasting (pick out the different brew), Ibrik (coffee and culture from Middle East, Turkey and Greece), Latte Art and Coffee in Good Spirits (Irish coffee perfection). Registration for the event includes conference, access to exhibit floor and much more. Prices vary based on number of days and membership status  £150-495 (€176-582). http://www.worldbaristachampionship.com/2010-the-event


20th Annual Taipei International Food Show
June 23-26
Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei, Taiwan

The 20th Annual Taipei International Food Show, considered Asia's most important food show and known for product launches that end up in markets all around the world, expects over 40,000 visitors this year. The pavilions range from various national trade and gastronomy promotion from Austria to Brazil as well as product-centered sections devoted to health food, wine, coffee and tea, frozen foods, edible oils, processed meats and many more. If you are interested in attending and tasting some Hello Kitty dark chocolate, a pre-registration form for industry professionals is required. The event is open to the public from 9am-5pm on June 25-26 only; tickets are NT$ 300 (€7.36). http://www.foodtaipei.com.tw/en_US/index.html


Bordeaux Fete Le Vin - Bordeaux Wine Festival
June 24-27
Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux's seventh wine festival will welcome close to 500,000 visitors during the four-day event devoted to blossoming vines and winemaking. There are a number of ways to participate in the festivities, which take place every two years: wine tastings, wine master classes, a barrel-rolling competition, a 2km "wine-route" chateaux and vineyard tour and special events including "Homage to the art of perfectly matched food and wine" and "A meeting with Bacchus." A tasting pass includes 12 tastes, a glass and additional tickets for €15 or with Pass Duo the pass can be shared with a friend for €20 (includes extra glass). For more information on the event and additional package and tour pass rates, go to: http://bordeaux-fete-le-vin.com/uk/programme/index.html


1st Virtual Wine and Spirits Fair
June 26-27?
Online @ WineFair.com

This is the world's first 3D virtual wine fair for the profession (June 21-25) and the public (June 26-27) taking place at WineFair.com in seven different languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. Participation is free after completing an online form. By using various technologies, attendees can enjoy many of the traditional benefits of attending a live event including wine education (podcasts), appointments with specific exhibitors (chat and webcam) even business card exchange. ? http://www.winefair.com/en/concept.php


The Summer Fancy Food Show
June 27-29?
Javits Center, New York City, United States

North America's twice-yearly Largest Specialty Food & Beverage event takes place every June in New York City and winter in San Francisco. Approximately 2,500 exhibitors will present over 180,000 products including confections, cheese, coffee, snacks, spices, ethnic, natural and organic goods, while 24,000 attendees are expected from 81 countries. The event first began in 1955 and each expo introduces the latest trends like tea cocktail infusions and raw agave gelato. Tickets purchased by May 21 are $35 (€27.37) and after go up to $60 (€46.92). http://www.specialtyfood.com/fancy-food-show/