Eat, drink and be chubby - it's a food show

Food Show celebrity chef Donna Hay uses organically grown food when she can, but knows it's not for everyone. Picture / Babiche Martens

Diet? Healthy lifestyle? Forget it. This is the food show. Past the lips, on to the hips and who cares? Pack it in.

The occasion is the Food Show at the Auckland Showgrounds in Greenlane, and the big draw is Hall 2.

Confronted by its handmade New Zealand chocolates, locally brewed beer, gourmet cheeses and sizzling hot bacon, even the most devout health disciple will be lured to the dark side.

The show is in its seventh year in Auckland, and organiser Dona White expects it to attract about 30,000 people over its four days, which began on Thursday.

The show has just under 300 exhibitors - slightly down on last year's event. But Ms White said she was confident it would still be an annual highlight for "people who love eating, cooking and entertaining".

Though most stalls are aimed at those with gourmet tastes and little interest in calorific quotas, several exhibitors used the show to promote organically produced food and gluten-free products.

Healthy snacks for children are also a strong feature of the show. They include Fruit Hitz liquid fruit snacks, a squishy pack of pureed apple with natural flavouring and no extra sugar, which will go on sale soon. Abundant Earth is promoting Healthy Handfuls organic cookies, and Nature's Path is pushing Envirokidz organic cereals.

Australian chef Donna Hay, Weekend Herald canvas food writer and one of the show's stars, said she was all for organic products, but appreciated they were not for everyone.

"I feed my children organic when I can," she said. "I'm not Nazi about it, but if the choice is there, I'll take it.

"Not everyone can afford to buy organic, it's really expensive. "

Hay is doing cooking demonstrations at the show and autographing copies of her books.

She said she was looking forward to seeing what was on offer at this year's Food Show and finding "some wacky New Zealand things".

"I find New Zealand people are really receptive to ideas and change. A lot of clever inventions come out of New Zealand."

Regional exhibits have expanded this year, with the addition of the Northland Naturally group.

Among Northland's exhibitors is the award-winning Lemon Z limoncello liqueur, made from Kerikeri lemons.

Creator James Grigg started selling Lemon Z in December last year.

He said the public's response at the Food Show had been fantastic.


Highlights

So many bargains, I should have brought my husband to help carry it all. I love that you can try everything before you buy. - Stephanie Parker, Auckland

I thought it was very good, a great cross-section of foods from New Zealand. We just immigrated to the country last Friday and saw it advertised. We thought it would be a great way to see what's on offer. - Michael Cahill, Hamilton

The cooking demonstration with Annabel Langbein was wonderful, and you get to sample the wares afterwards. Delicious. - Robyn Jones, Auckland

I found it quite informative and learned a lot about New Zealand manufacturers. There are so many we didn't know existed. - Zaid Saleh, Auckland

It was awesome, but a little repetitive. I mean, how much pesto can one kid have? - Tam, Auckland


Food show

Where: Showgrounds, Greenlane
When: Today, tomorrow, 10am to 6pm
Cost: $20 an adult; tickets available at gate