BBC Good Food Show London

So lots to report from my 3 months working at the BBC Good Food Show, since starting in October we’ve had 3wonderful shows: Scotland, London and Winter (at the NEC.) My job at the shows is to make sure that everything is going smoothly for our exhibitors, helping them out with any questions they may have and generally helping out where a pair of hands are needed. Luckily wandering around talking about food all day is no chore for me so I really enjoyed myself!

First one I worked for was London (9^th- 11^th November) at the Olympia in Kensington. Here’s my highlights:

I have to say there were some ridiculously tasty products at the London show. Sniffing around for some amazing cheese as I always do, and inspired by my colleague Katy Truss’s blog post on this particular little number- I scouted out the infamous Belper Knoll. A cheese like no other. The most expensive cheese I have ever bought and worth every penny.

Small grey lump of Belper Knoll. Drooool.

On Swiss cheese producers, Jumi's  stand stood the weirdest looking knobbly lump of grey, I was instantly intrigued. After tasting a thin sliver shaved into my hand, I was in love. Belper knoll has a peppery outer crust and a delicious melt in the mouth, salty and garlicky centre. The texture is like no other cheese I have ever tried. It’s hard like parmesan but without the waxiness, its feather light and wonderful but packs a powerful punch of flavour. Just definitely try it OK.

I was a huge fan of Maha Fresh Chutney, one of our bursary winners. The coriander and mint was really something special. Serving with poppadum’s before a curry was a total winner for the fam.

Cheese on Toast popcorn- Whaaaaa?!

I’d heard a lot about Joe and Seph’s popcorn before coming to the show and was very excited to try. When I was a teenager I worked in our local cinema for about 3 years. It was an ace job, asides from shouting “ICE CREAMS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN” at the top of my voice, and shooting tickets out of this old fashioned ticket reel machine, I got to eat as much popcorn as I wanted. Fresh popcorn. Popcorn from a machine so old if it broke you’d have to throw it away because they didn’t make the parts anymore. Rustic.

Anywho this experience has given me a lifelong popcorn addiction and made me quite discerning when it comes to the stuff. Joe and Seph’s certainly delivered. It was genius, the caramel, chilli and pepper was amazing, hitting you with all three flavours in a clearly separated sequence. Just incredible. 

HOT HOT n'duja

Oh and I almost forgot, I discovered Nduja for the first time, a fiery Italian spreadable sausage from Calibria, it’s an extremely versatile ingredient and I love it, despite my trouble in pronouncing it! Try in on pizza, pasta, pies and just spread on bread or as a dip.

3 fine days of wonderful producers and foody funtimes at our fantastic food show. Loving my job!

The Winter show was bloody brilliant too. But you’ll have to wait a little longer for my news on that one. Despite the Winter break I’ve not yet got round to writing it up! Watch this space. 

Carved Pumpkin Fish with eyebrows at the Kensington Palace Restaurant experience.