Alimentaria 2010
Alimentaria, the international food and beverage exhibition, will be held 22-26 March, 2010 at Fira de Barcelona (shown above). The show presents the latest products from the international food and beverage industry. Alimentaria 2010 expects 5,000 leading food and beverage manufacturers and distributors, and anticipates that close to 160,000 professional buyers from more than 155 countries will attend. The exhibition includes conferences exploring new trends, market and business opportunities. Also included are the 8th International Food Forum, the 8th International Congress on the Mediterranean Diet, and Innoval. In addition, Alimentaria will present Spain, the Country of 100 Cheeses; Vinorum; Spain, Land of Oils; The Spain of Cured Iberian Meat Products; BCN Vanguardia, and the Barcelona International Gastronomy Conference. For more information, visit www.alimentaria-bcn.com/en.

2009 Worlds of Flavor Conference
Wines from Spain is a sponsor of the 12th Annual Worlds of Flavor Conference, which will present an in-depth exploration of two hot culinary trends: world street food and world comfort food. Reflecting the recessionary budget and cost-cutting pressures, the continuing world cuisines juggernaut, and the ongoing embrace of a 24/7 culture of informal, casual food and dining, these concepts increasingly define how we as Americans now want to eat.
"Frontiers of Flavor: World Street Food, World Comfort Food," will gather top culinary talent from the Mediterranean, Asia, Latin America and the United States. Presenters include more than 60 culinary experts, from street food vendors, hawker chefs, tapas and meze specialists, and barbecue masters to fine dining chefs who have been inspired by world street foods and comfort foods, mothers of chefs, legends of live fire and claypot cooking, as well as cookbook authors, street food chroniclers, and more. Register now at www.ciaprochef.com/wof2009/registration.html.

Great Match
Join Wines from Spain at the Great Match 2009: Wine & Tapas in NYC (Oct. 6) and Houston (Oct. 30) this fall! Intended to promote Spanish wines that are available in the US market, the Great Match demonstrates to both trade and consumers the quality of Spanish wines accompanied by creative Spanish tapas. Wines from Spain invites restaurateurs, educators, importers, and media to attend the event before doors are open to the general public. Tickets are $50 in NY and $45 in Houston, and are already available ithrough our website at www.greatmatch.org or by calling 1 888 772 4694.

Star Chefs Congress
Starchefs Annual International Chefs Congress, a 3-day culinary symposium, took place in NYC this Sept. 20-22. The world’s most influential and innovative chefs presented the latest techniques and culinary concepts to 1,500 of their peers. Innovative chef demonstrations by José Andrés, Juan Mari Arzak, and Paco Torreblanca, among many other luminaries, expert panels on industry topics, and hands-on technique workshops were a highlight. High-end kitchen equipment, specialty foods, chef tools and world-class wines were showcased. Wines from Spain participated with a “Vivacious Varietals” tasting bar, in addition to sponsoring a full-house seminar ¨Understanding Spanish Terroir¨ seminar, by Tim Atkin, MW. Also exhibiting under the Spanish Pavilion were Vibrant Rioja (www.vibrantrioja.com), Rías Baixas Wines (www.riasbaixaswines.com) and Bodegas Frontaura (www.bodegasfrontaura.es). www.starchefs.com/events/icc/2009/index.shtml.