Event Review: TASTE Festival of Food, Wine and Spirits
14 Oct
Hey everyone!
I mentioned briefly in yesterday’s post that Chris and I attended a food expo that turned out to be rather disappointing.
Last weekend, I purchased a Groupon for the 2012 Philadelphia TASTE Festival of Food, Wine and Spirits. I was pretty excited because I was able to get two tickets for $45, while they normally sell for $50 each.
The event was scheduled from 11:00AM-7:00PM on Saturday (it was also open on Friday and Sunday) and Chris and I arrived around 2:30/3:00PM.
We were shocked to find a huge line in front of the expo center, but were relieved to see that it was moving pretty quickly.
Once we made it inside, we were seriously overwhelmed by the amount of people inside. We could barely walk, let alone visit with any of the vendors!
I’m not a fan of huge crowds to begin with (is anyone, really?) but I think even if I were okay with them, this event would have been a bit much!
Another majorly disappointing aspect of the event? To sample many of the items available, you had to pay. Perhaps I was naive in thinking the money I spent on our tickets covered a few, small samples?
To be fair, there did appear to be some booths that were offering free samples, but they were so swarmed with people, we couldn’t even tell what we’d be waiting in line for. And to steal Chris’s words, he described the samples as “a small morsel.” We came ready to eat!
Chris and I lasted about 10-15 minutes before looking at each other knowingly and running for the door!
The only good thing I got out of the experience was seeing that Peanut Butter and Co. now has portable peanut butter!
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After our experience at the expo, we were both starving and decided to grab lunch. We originally planned to go to The Cheesecake Factory, but the wait was 30 minutes and we were too hungry to wait.
Instead, we headed to nearby California Pizza Kitchen.
Chris and I usually skip appetizers when we go out to eat, but like I said, we were hungry.
We started our meal with avocado club egg rolls, which were so, so delicious!
While I’d normally go for pizza as my entree (it is my favorite food, after all!), another item on the menu caught my eye.
The caramelized peach salad…
I just about cleaned my entire plate!
Dessert came later in the evening in the form of a pumpkin pie Blizzard!
If you have a Dairy Queen nearby and have yet to try this, I suggest running out right this very second and purchasing one! Hands down – the best Blizzard ever!
Okay, it’s time to get back to that never-ending stack of short stories I’ve been grading all afternoon!
Have you ever attended a food/wine expo? I hope your experience was better than mine!
Have you ever been to California Pizza Kitchen? We rarely go, but I don’t know why we don’t think of it more often; our meal was delicious!
I’m sorry to hear the expo was disappointing! I also can’t stand huge crowds! Ugh.
Steph @ StephSnacks recently posted..This Weekend I..
mmm. pumpkin pie blizzardssss! Love them. Sorry your night was a dissapointment! I’ve been to a couple of food expos but the food was free not that you had to pay for it… that is very odd!
Danielle @ itsaharleyyylife recently posted..Sweaty Sunday 10.8.12-10.14.12
Yeah, I thought so too! If the food is going to cost money, the admission should be free!
What? They made you pay for samples??? That’s absurd! The whole point to a food show is the free samples. Sorry it wasn’t as you expected but so glad that blizzard was! That looks out of this world!!!
It is!!! Like I said, it’s the best Blizzard flavor ever!
Bummer about the expo! At least you were able to make up for it with a tasty dinner and dessert though! That salad looks delicious. And YES to that Blizzard!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted..Healthy Autumn Trail Mix
That blizzard looks so delicious! I haven’t had one in a long time but I don’t think there is any kind I’d prefer to a PUMPKIN PIE one
Sorry to hear about the event – what a bummer!
Diane @ life of di. recently posted..Honeymoon: Redwood Forrest.
I definitely have Blizzards waaay more than necessary! The curse of living 5 minutes away from DQ!
I was about to say I was SO jealous….. but I would be totally bummed about paying $45 for a few small samples and a crowded room. Not.cool.not.cool.
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles recently posted..Jackson’s Birth Story
We hated to “waste” the $45, but we literally couldn’t stand to be in the building for longer than 10 minutes!
Sorry to hear that your bummer afternoon! That salad looks amazing, and so does the pumpkin pie blizzard!!
Karen recently posted..Thursday Random Thoughts
Sorry to hear the expo was a fail.. but hey @least you enjoyed a yummy lunch & dessert!
Hope you have a wonderful Monday girl!
Jessie recently posted..Marvelous In My Monday & THANK YOU!
Glad I found your blog! Boo for that expo how lame. Anyways, that carmalized peach salad seriously looks amazing. It’s 7:00am and I’m craving it. I can’t wait to read more!
HollieisFueledByLOLZ recently posted..Injured Training and Musings Week 6
Thanks Hollie! Welcome!
so jealous of that pumpkin pie blizzard..i haven’t tried that salad from cpk but i’ve heard its really delicious!
chelcie @ chelcie’s food files recently posted..Weekend Snapshots 10/14
It was! It’s rare that I pick a salad for my entree, but it sounded too good to pass up!
I’m so bummed for you! I’m attending my first food and wine expo in Milwaukee On Nov. 10. I hope there’s actual food to eat! If I were you I would contact their reps and say how disappointed you were. At least that would teach them to market their events better.
Alysha @Shesontherun recently posted..Milwaukee Empty Bowls 2012
I definitely thought about that! Some people in line were saying they read bad reviews about the same event last year, so I’m sure I wouldn’t be the first to complain!