Weekly gastronomy agenda: 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off, 24th Salon de Gourmets International

(©2010 General Mills, used with permission)

April opens with a host of gastronomy events from around the world celebrating recipes, tea, coffee, wine and everything gourmet. This week Vinitaly in Verona ends on April 12, Pillsbury hosts its 44th Annual Bake-Off and the 24th Annual Salon de Gourmets International Fair opens in Madrid.

44th Pillsbury Bake-Off
April 11 - 13
Orlando, Florida, USA

During the final bake-off, the 100 finalists will compete for a one million dollar prize. The judges will be measuring "taste, appearance, creativity, and consumer appeal" and from four recipe categories: "breakfast & brunches, entertaining appetizers, dinner made easy and sweet treats." For more information on the Bake-off and to view the 100 finalists and their recipes: http://www.pillsbury.com/bakeoff/finalists.

The 24th Salon de Gourmets International Fair
April 12-15
IFEMA, Feria de Madrid, Spain

The world's largest trade event for gourmet food and beverage products highlights this year's program with over 40,000 gourmet products from over 16 nations from Argentina to Malaysia and hosts over 80,000 professional visitors. Last year Italy was the invited country and in 2010 Ireland is the special guest. http://www.gourmets.net/

Jelly Bean Day
April 22
Worldwide

April 22 is a great excuse to keep eating jelly beans long after Easter this year. Many educators use this day to engage children with math, art and writing projects. Jelly Belly, a jelly bean company, has loads of ideas with their art rooms where jelly beans are the medium to create pictures of icons from Margaret Thatcher to Minnie Mouse; not to mention the unlimited flavor choice. http://www.jellybelly.com/Art_Gallery/bean_art_gallery.aspx

IACP Annual Cookbook Awards Gala
April 22
Portland Art Museum Portland, Oregon, USA

The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) Annual Cookbook Awards will be announced on April 22 during the IACP's annual conference at the Awards Gala in Portland, Oregon along with awards for food journalists, photographers and culinary excellence. IACP judges have selected 47 cookbook finalists according to recipe testing and IACP strict criteria ranking. The finalists make up a global gastronomical and culinary smorgasbord with titles including Asian Dumplings, The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen, Go Fish and World Whiskey. IACP also has a bookstore with all of the finalists. For more information: http://www.iacp.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=744

Wine China Exhibition
April 23-25
National Agriculture Exhibition Center, Beijing, China

Wine China Exhibition is the 2010 China International Wine & Spirits event that will focus this year's program on wine culture, wine industry training and wine marketing. Beijing will host importers, wholesalers, dealers, agents and consumers from all over the world to expand brand promotion and education within China's rapid growing wine market. Exhibitors from wine-producing countries range from Algeria to Paraguay. http://www.winechinaexhibition.com/en/index.html


2010 Grand Tour
April 24
The Venetian, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Renowned wine publication and guide Wine Spectator hosts an annual best wines tour in the United States, which begins on April 24 in Las Vegas and then travels to Washington DC on the 30th and makes its final stop in New York City on May 4. Over 200 world-renowned wineries including Château Lafite Rothschild, Miguel Torres and Schramsberg will pour their one best wine during the three-hour public wine tastings. Tickets are $200 (€146). For a complete list of the wineries and more info, go to: http://www.winespectator.com/micro/show/id/grandtour2010-intro

2010 Tea & Coffee World Cup Europe
April 25- 27
Reed Messe Wien,Vienna, Austria

The 14th Annual Tea & Coffee World Cup Exhibition & Symposium is sponsored by global journals Tea & Coffee Trade Journal and Tea & Coffee Asia. The trade expo takes place annually in a different city. Vienna is hosting this year's program, which will be co-located with Alles für den Gast-Wien, a hospitality trade event. Buyers and exhibitors from over 20 countries are will take part in this three-day marketplace for all products and services related to the tea and coffee industry. There are a spectrum of events including the Indian Tea Auction, Hands-On Roasting workshops and the panel on Coffee Certification & Sustainability with varying prices from €30-155 For more info, go to http://www.tcworldcup.com/vienna/

TheWorlds50Best Restaurants
April 26
Guildhall, London, United Kingdom

The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants list is announced annually and based on its academy's votes. The academy is comprised of international food critics, restaurateurs, writers and chefs. Each member of the academy votes for his or her top five restaurants. And, the criteria is two-fold, voters are to have dined at the restaurants within a period of 18 months and two votes are to be given to restaurants outside the voters' geographic locale. http://www.theworlds50best.com/

James Beard Foundation Awards 2010
May 2-3
Lincoln Center, New York, New York, USA

2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the James Beard Foundation (JBF) Awards that will honor a wide range of talent in the food and beverage industry in the USA including chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, food journalists, restaurant designers, architects, farmers, bread bakers, winemakers, cheese makers and more at a black-tie gala. The awards are considered a "social and gastronomic highlight of the year," and will name many "Best" including Young Rising Chef, New Restaurant and International Cookbook. To view a full list of the finalists, go to: www.jbfawards.com/nominees.html

51st Annual Stilton Cheese Rolling Competition
May 3
Silton, England

Every May Day the village of Stilton celebrates their beloved cheese, also referred to as the 'King of Cheeses,' with the traditional sport of cheese rolling. The cheese is not rolled down a hill but rather down Main Street with the help of ‘Cheese Rolling Champions.' For directions to Stilton and more information on the event, fair and dance, visit: http://www.stilton.org/about_rolling.html

World Beer Cup European Awards Ceremony
May 5
Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany

Brewers Association, US-based association of beer brewers, began the World Beer Cup International Competition in 1996 to celebrate "the art and science of brewing." This event is often referred to as "The Olympics of Beer Competitions" because it awards gold, silver and bronze medals to the award-winning beers in 90 international styles, such as fruit and vegetable, experimental, coffee-flavored and Baltic-style Porter. It takes place every two years, and beers are judged by a panel of internationally recognized brewers, consultants, industry suppliers and writers.  http://www.worldbeercup.org/ 

4th Annual Uncork'd: Big Flavors, Bright Lights and the World's Greatest Chefs
May 6-9, 201
0Las Vegas, NV, USA

Uncork'd is presented by Bon Appétit magazine and boasts a celebrity chef line-up including Burke, Ducasse, Robuchon and many more, plus numerous respected wine aficionados and sommeliers. Uncork'd takes place at various Las Vegas hotels and resorts and is a rare opportunity for food lovers to find world famous chefs in one place sharing recipes and preparing decadent meals. For a complete list of the events and prices, visit: https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/28735

Thaifex - World of Food Asia 2010
May 12-16
IMPACT Challenger, Bangkok, Thailand

This year's program has two new highlights the ‘Best Value Awards for Creative Food Products in Asia' and a new hall devoted to the ‘World of Halal'. Thaifex is known as a tasting and buying event - new food flavors and ‘healthy indulgence' trends may find their way on to airline menus, duty-free shops and markets around the world. Thaifex is the largest Southeastern Asian food and beverage event with over 22,000 trade and public participants and 14 international pavilions and is related to Wine&Gourmet JAPAN and ANUGA. The event is free for the public to attend on May 15-16. For more information, visit: http://www.worldoffoodthailand.com/

Vinexpo Asia-Pacific
May 25-27
Hong Kong

Exclusively a trade event that returns to Hong Kong in 2010 due to the rapidly growing wine market in Asia and the position of Hong Kong as the hub for wine education, trends and new products. Buyers from all over the world will be in Hong Kong selecting products that will likely be new selections available in duty-free shops, markets and restaurant menus. For more information on Vinexpo visit: http://www.vinexpo.com/en/asia-pacific-2010/