Hong Kong Food Expo '09

Amidst the Swine Flu scare that caused the closure of the entire Metropole Hotel, the show went on for HOFEX or Hong Kong Food Expo. One of Asia's largest food shows, HOFEX very visibly suffered from a smaller exhibition and fewer visitors which are probably the offshoot of the looming global economic slump and the fear of an epidemic. However, for the stakeholders of the Food and Beverage industry, business must not wait for anything or anyone.

There were more country-led pavilions but fewer corporate bookings

but as a whole, the event was still a sight to behold. The Philippines was ably represented in both the exhibiton and in the

competition where the Pasty Alliance brought home the gold. Some awsome creations of the competing chefs and bakers.

On the left is a chocolate creation and on the right - too pretty to eat!

New products, new concepts, new techonologies, these were all

carefully laid out on the floor of the Hong Kong Convention Center.

Generous food tasting treats from breads, wines to even caviar and

truffles (the mushroom) had us going back for seconds.

Hong Kong is still a nice vacation place. But on the dates we were

there, face masks were unfortunately the fashion trend ...