Gin and chocolates, make my Christmas....and yes, at this year's BBC Good Food Show Winter at the NEC in Birmingham, there is plenty of gin, and vodka, and rum. Every flavour under the sun, from raspberry, passion fruit, salted caramel, damson, pomegranate, elderflower, sloe, cucumber, blood orange etc. Wines and beers too. But there seems to be an explosion of gin. I am not complaining! And neither were my girlfriends who were with me, joyously sampling all the flavours, and giggling like naughty schoolgirls.
There appears to be a lot of clever marketing with many companies targeting the vegan market, and the christmas present-buying public with beautiful presentation boxes. I bought a bottle of Mulled Gin liqueur from Edinburgh Gin and it came with a lantern like decorative metal box which I will put candles in or christmas lights. Riverside Spirits, Luxlo and Elemental Cornish Gin had beautiful presentation boxes too, perfect for gifts.
Before anyone starts thinking I am only motivated by alcohol, I can recommend Chocomel which is a delicious chocolate flavoured milk in a can, most unusual. Some of my favourite stalls this year are Sakinah's (Malaysian curry sauces which are from Sakinah's mother's own recipes, brewed in Chester), Taste gourmet spice company (which had colourful gift boxes starting from £16 with a good variety of must-try gourmet rubs), Indomie (lovely Indonesians serving freshly cooked 2 minute flavoursome noodles) and Mogu Mogu (pastel coloured jelly fruit drinks to excite the child in you) from Thailand.
There was the usual fantastic array of cheese and sausages which formed the bulk of my pre-Christmas food shopping, and I also bought multiple boxes of Get Jerky Gift Tins. I intend to upcycle the gift tins into jewellery boxes.
I conclude that a day spent at this show is so much more fun than going food shopping at Tesco or Morrisons, and one can acquire unusual gifts of food (which are relatively not expensive and the recipient will probably enjoy it more than some Christmas ornament/sweater which has a Used By Date of 1 day). And there is a free Goody Bag to take home.
Free Tip : I always get asked, "What is in the Goody Bag?" Well, the contents vary. On 25th November 2022 the Goody Bag (collected in Hall 20) had
1. Heinz Made for Veggiez - Chilli & Miso 250ml
2. Hand sanitizers 200ml & 400ml by L'oreal
3. Everleaf Marine Spritz 250ml
4. Maldon sea salt flakes 125g
5. Chocomel (choc milk drink) 250ml, plus lots of advertising leaflets and money off coupons.
On 26th November 2022, the Goody Bag did not have Heinz Made for Veggiez but had Ricola Swiss Herbal Sweets and Nivea Anti-age Q10 30ml hand cream. So don't forget to collect your Goody Bags from Hall 20! And there is usually more in the Goody Bag earlier in the day at 1pm than at 5:30pm.
Another free tip : If you are certain of the day you will be visiting, you can prepay for the NEC car parking online - it only costs £12.85 per day if you buy the day before or earlier. It costs £16.95 if you just turn up.
I love the BBC Gardeners' World shows and the Good Food Shows, and have been going for many many years. I fully recommend them and I bring all my friends to them, even friends from abroad are delighted with them.
The next BBC Good Food Show Summer is on at the NEC from 15-18 June 2023, alongside the BBC Gardeners' World Live.
Treat yourself.
Reviewed by The LadyW
