Nancy D. Brown is a lover of all things related to travel. With What A Trip, she has combined her passion for travel with her professional writing career.
What keeps foodies coming back to San Francisco’s Fancy Food Show
So what keeps foodies coming back to San Francisco’s Fancy Food Show like moths to the flame? It’s all about what’s new and what’s next in the gourmet food industry. What are the latest food trends in the business?
What are some other top specialty food trends from 2010 according to the editors of Foodspring? Rumor has it that San Francisco-based Chronicle Books will publish a High Times Cannabis Cookbook in the near future.
Michael Winnike introduced his Happy Goat Caramels at the 2010 Winter Fancy Food Show
A-List chefs give back
• Food trucks 2.0
• D-List celebrities pitch pistachios, including Snooki and Rod Blagojevich
• Sea buckthorn berries
• iPad menu apps
• Mandatory calorie listings on menus
• Food deserts
• Eataly
• Death of Oldways founder K. Dun Gifford
• Umami in a paste
• Hyperlocal food production
• Solar-powered food trucks
• 97 Orchard Street: An Edible History
• High Times Cannabis Cookbook
• Child Nutrition Act
Fancy Food Show Facts
This trade-only event is where buyers from the top names in specialty food retailing come looking for next year’s hot product and trends. Now in its 36th year, the Winter Fancy Food Show is the largest marketplace for specialty food on the West Coast. 80,000 products are slated for display by 1,300 exhibitors from 35 countries. Sorry, the Fancy Food Show is for members of the specialty food trade and media only.
Additionally, Food Fete takes place on Monday, January 17 in the evening. Again, my apologies, this is an invitation-only press event that connects gourmet food and beverage products with food and lifestyle journalists and bloggers.
It’s bad enough that high school, college students and executives have to lug around heavy laptop computers all day long. Why add further weight to an already over-loaded backpack or messenger bag?
The Cache Laptop Sleeve by Tom Bihn
Introducing The Cache by Tom Bihn, a light weight padded sleeve designed to protect your laptop from scratches and scrapes. Designed to be used inside a backpack, briefcase, messenger or travel bag, the Seattle, Washington based travel gear company has created a simple sleeve. Affordably priced at $30, The Cache is checkpoint friendly, meeting TSA-approved guidelines for laptop bags. No longer will you have to send your laptop through airport security machines unprotected.
Travel Gear Review of Tom Bihn's Cache Laptop Sleeve
The Cache comes in black or charcoal grey colors and multiple sizes to fit laptops, including the MacBook Pro. Check the Tom Bihn website for their Laptop Bag Fit Guide.
Tom Bihn’s Carry On Laptop Backpack sounds like another winner. What are your favorite travel products?
Southwest musicians play Mariachi in Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico
Things to Do in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to Old Town Albuquerque, where the city was founded in 1706. With a festive Southwestern environment featuring shops, galleries, musicians, restaurants and museums, there are plenty of things to see and do in Albuquerque.
Hop on an Albuquerque Trolley for a city tour and taste some New Mexican cuisine at a local restaurant.
When I crave Albuquerque cuisine there are many options:
El Pinto, Sadie’s, Los Cuates, Casa de Benevidez
To escape work I:
hike or bike in the mountains
enjoy a spa treatment at La Bella Spa & Salon
take my dog to one of several dog parks
take a float trip down the Rio Grande with the Quiet Waters Paddling Adventures
For complete quiet, I can hide away at:
The Los Poblanos Open Space or Open Space Visitor Center
One of 17 public libraries around the cities
Casa Rondena Winery in the North Valley
Get your picture taken with a Chile Ristra in Albuquerque
If you come to Albuquerque, get your picture taken
at the Turquoise Museum
at the American International Rattlesnake Museum
in a hot air balloon
get your picture taken at Wagner Farm in Corrales with a ristra
When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go to Little Anitas.
For a huge splurge, I go to Vernon’s Hidden Valley Steakhouse.
Photo ops in Albuquerque include San Felipe de Neri Church
Photo ops in Albuquerque include:
San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town
Sandia Peak Tramway
Nob Hill neon signage
In front of the dinosaurs at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
Holding a chile ristra
4,000 square foot torreon fresco at the National Hispanic Cultural Center
The best vantage points are taken by taking the Sandia tramway to the top of Sandia Peak (10,378 ft)
The most random things about Albuquerque are:
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (9 days each October)
Days & Nights of Route 66 in Nob Hill (each summer)
We have the largest flamenco event outside of Spain (Festival Flamenco each summer)
Home to North America’s Largest Pow Wow
Day of the Tread annual Halloween biking and running event
National Fiery Foods Show
Duke City Docfest – Documentary Film Festival
Duke City Quest – scavenger hunt
Lavender in the Village Festival
Quilt & Wine Fair in Corrales
In Albuquerque, an active day outdoors involves:
Hiking the La Luz Trail to the top of Sandia Peak (hiking trails are 20 minutes from most anywhere in the city)
Biking along the Paseo del Bosque Trail, a 16-mile one-way trail that winds along the Rio Grande in the middle of the city with uninterrupted right-of-way
Hiking at Petroglyph National Monument to discover some history along the way
Skiing at Sandia Peak Ski Area in the winter months
Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing during the winter
Mountain biking among the many trails in the Sandia Mountain foothills
My favorite walking route is the Old Town to Downtown Walking Tour or the Paseo del Bosque Trail.
Albuquerque has 19 museums covering everything from turquoise and rattlesnakes to fine art, personal computers and nuclear science.
For a night of dancing, go to:
Salsa Baby Dance Studio
Tango at Hotel Andaluz
One Up
Frontier is the spot for late night dining.
To find out what’s going on a night or on weekends, read Local IQ or Alibi and www.ItsATrip.org of course!
Visit the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
Thanks to Megan Mayo of Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau for assistance with this post. You may also become a Facebook Fan of Albuquerque and follow them on Twitter. I was a guest of Albuquerque. Article, YouTube video and photos by Nancy D. Brown
Nancy D. Brown is a lover of all things related to travel. With What A Trip, she has combined her passion for travel with her professional writing career. 
