Weekly gastronomy agenda: Thaifex 2010

This May opens with a range of events celebrating food all over the world. Vegas Uncork'd 2010 ends on May 9 and Thaifex - World of Food Asia 2010 opens on May 12 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Thaifex - World of Food Asia 2010
May 12-16
IMPACT Challenger, Bangkok, Thailand

This year's program has two new highlights: the "Best Value Awards for Creative Food Products in Asia" and a new hall devoted to the "World of Halal." Thaifex is known as a tasting and buying event - new food flavors and 'healthy indulgence' trends may find their way on to airline menus, duty-free shops and markets around the world. Thaifex is the largest Southeastern Asian food and beverage event with over 22,000 trade and public participants and 14 international pavilions and is related to Wine&Gourmet JAPAN and ANUGA. The event is free for the public to attend on May 15-16. http://www.worldoffoodthailand.com/

American Craft Beer Week
May 17-23
USA

The largest event in the US devoted to craft beer and considered the "Mother of All Beer Weeks" is celebrated by beer lovers, breweries and retailers with a number of local events and national promotions. The seven billion dollar industry holds true to its small and independent craft with a "Declaration of Beer Independence." To look for specific events in your area, visit the website.
http://www.americancraftbeerweek.org/apps/events/events.html

Decanter World Wine Awards 2010
May 18
London International Wine and Spirits Fair, London, UK

Decanter magazine's annual competition judges wines in five stages broken into various categories based on region and price. The International trophies will be announced to wine professionals during the exclusive wine trade event, the 30th Annual London International Wine and Spirits Fair (LIWF) taking place May 18-20 at ExCel London. http://www.decanter.com/news/295768.html and http://2010.londonwinefair.com/grapevine/pageflip.html

Vinexpo Asia-Pacific
May 25-27
Hong Kong

Exclusively a trade event that returns to Hong Kong in 2010 due to the rapidly growing wine market in Asia and the position of Hong Kong as the hub for wine education, trends and new products. Buyers from all over the world will be in Hong Kong selecting products that will likely be new selections available in duty-free shops, markets and restaurant menus.
http://www.vinexpo.com/en/asia-pacific-2010/

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

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. Advanced booking is recommended (site in French).
www.tousaurestaurant.com

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 (€176.37-582)
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

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

Le 1er Salon Virtuel du Vin 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 Largest Specialty Food & Beverage biannual 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/