BBC Food And Drink Exhibition 2007 at the NEC
I just got back from Birmingham and the BBC Food And Drink Exhibition after being convinced by my mate Mike that it was a good idea. I have no idea why I really went, it seemed like a good idea a few weeks ago when Mike told me the tickets he had were free so I thought what the Hell, might as well go. It was jam packed and we could hardly move. Plus a lot of the food sampling wasn't free and I was cajoled out of a tenner for ten food tokens which were to be used to pay for the culinary experience. A tenner!!! And all I got out of it was a meat pie, a God awful mousse thing and a crap crepe Suzette. Still, there was plenty of booze to try too, in thimble size cups. These vendors weren't parting with much I tell ya.
However, Mike and I had a fun day, wandering around and trying various nibbles on confectionery stands, a range of ciders, wines and beers too, including a rather nice one which was originally brewed sometime BC by some guy probably naked and covered in woad. I'm sure the samples I tried today were brewed far more recently though. Highlight of the day was 45 minutes sat in the Super Theatre watching the BBC film an episode of Ready Steady Cook with super star (and nause) chef Ainsley Harriot aided by his two regular celeb chefs who I can't remember the names of but one is from Yorkshire and the other is Italian. Not a TV show I go out of my way to watch but was quite fun to be there while it was put together.
Mike had a friend with him from his walking club who travelled with us for company and she had a few friends that met us there, Mike and I knew none of them so we left them to it and spent the rest of the time just walking about.
Anyway I took a few pics on my new phone's camera which didn't turn out half bad considering it has no flash. The final two taken in Manchester of the Xmas decs came out a bit fuzzy though but it was a nice scene so I took em' anyway.
On the train down, mike and his friend Joy who is a doctor. Mike was very cheerful despite his face in the pic.
Taken from the expensive £10 token dining area. Masses of people, and that's just one small segment of the vast arena that was taken up by the exhibition.
And finally, Manchester Piccadilly looking all Christmassy for the shoppers.
However, Mike and I had a fun day, wandering around and trying various nibbles on confectionery stands, a range of ciders, wines and beers too, including a rather nice one which was originally brewed sometime BC by some guy probably naked and covered in woad. I'm sure the samples I tried today were brewed far more recently though. Highlight of the day was 45 minutes sat in the Super Theatre watching the BBC film an episode of Ready Steady Cook with super star (and nause) chef Ainsley Harriot aided by his two regular celeb chefs who I can't remember the names of but one is from Yorkshire and the other is Italian. Not a TV show I go out of my way to watch but was quite fun to be there while it was put together.
Mike had a friend with him from his walking club who travelled with us for company and she had a few friends that met us there, Mike and I knew none of them so we left them to it and spent the rest of the time just walking about.
Anyway I took a few pics on my new phone's camera which didn't turn out half bad considering it has no flash. The final two taken in Manchester of the Xmas decs came out a bit fuzzy though but it was a nice scene so I took em' anyway.
On the train down, mike and his friend Joy who is a doctor. Mike was very cheerful despite his face in the pic.
Taken from the expensive £10 token dining area. Masses of people, and that's just one small segment of the vast arena that was taken up by the exhibition.
And finally, Manchester Piccadilly looking all Christmassy for the shoppers.