Fraser Valley Food Show

Dates and Venue 4 –6 October 2013 | Tradex Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford

Reviewer Cassie Silva


I always enjoy attending the Fraser Valley Food Show, and this year was no exception.
The Celebrity Cooking Stage featuring Iron Chef Rob Feenie and Chef Corbin Tomaszeski was definitely a hit, and I also enjoyed the Master Chef competition, though I was disappointed the judging took place behind a curtain and not in front of the audience. I appreciate that the celebrity chefs present numerous times each day so patrons are able to see their demonstrations no matter which day and time they attend.

There is plenty more to see: The Great Canadian Sausage-Making Competition, the Dairy Farmers of Canada’s interactive cheese sampling, numerous informative presentations at the Grapes and Hops Stage, and a large gluten-free living section including presentations about how to navigate the gluten-free aisle at the grocery store and how to create a gluten-free Thanksgiving.

My favourite part of the Food Show was browsing the aisles and visiting booths, sampling treats ranging from quinoa cupcakes and gluten-free cookies, to seaweed hummus to salmon jerky. Beyond the free samples, “bite tickets” are available for purchase for the reasonable price of 10 for $5 or 20 for $10. Wine samples range from 2-4 tickets apiece, while a plate of food will cost approximately 7 tickets. I felt the $6 parking charge was a bit steep – next year I will be sure to carpool – but I left with a full stomach, feeling I got my value’s worth of treats. Make sure to bring cash - food, spices and cookware are available for purchase and I was sure to stock-up on gluten-free gnocchi before I left.

© 2013 Cassie Silva