As we arrived at Copps Coliseum for this year’s Food and Drink Festival we instantly got a bit worried. It was 8pm and the event closes for the day at 10pm, yet there was a fairly long line outside the building with eager foodies waiting to get in. I think I read somewhere that the organizers changed location from the normal Hamilton Convention center, to avoid such lines.While in the line itself we soon realized that the majority of people were there for the wine and beer and were not necessarily foodies. We got the vibe that one would get in a line to get into a popular nightclub. A ton of eager beavers waiting to go “tasting”.
We probably waited for about 25 minutes before we were herded into the building where we forked out the $12 entrance fee, grabbed our tasting glass and purchased some tickets which allowed us to sample some of the food and beverages that were on display by the different vendors. Bear in mind that we’re not into the wine culture, so this review will not have much to say about that aspect of the show. Note: Throughout this post I’ll share a few of the many pics I took this night of the event.
Can you say crowded and poorly organized Layout?
As we worked our way to the event floor we found that we were getting nowhere very fast. Not only was it very crowded, but the way the event was laid out meant that there wasn’t enough space in the walkways to move freely. People were literally standing on each other at one point and if there was ever any sort of emergency that meant that people had to evacuate quickly, there would have been serious problems. Now I don’t know if this was the case all day, but when we were there in the late evening the crowd was very thick and everyone was getting into each others way. The organizers may have to rethink the use of this location and try to find one that caters to the true size of the event, without the risk of overcrowding. With a bit more space this event could easily be more user friendly.
The only place that seems to have any room to relax and enjoy the show, was the seating area where was set up for presentations. But that area was a bit away from the main displays and there were no presentations at the time. I’m positive that area get’s crowded as well when there’s presenter on stage.
Wine and Beer.
As I mentioned previously, we’re not ones to appreciate wine as so many in the crowd did this night. However there was much to choose from and if you love wine and wine tasting, there was no better place to be this weekend. The area’s wineries were well represented and for the small charge for sampling tickets, it was a great way to taste what the region has to offer without having to shell our money for full bottles at the LCBO. Though I must say that some of the attendants enjoyed the sampling a bit too much. They were probably the same people I spoke about who were in the line to get in, who thought they were going into a night club. I have no patience or tolerance for drunks.
Additionally there were some breweries represented, so beer lovers did have some options as well.
The Food.
This is why we came! To be quite honest, I was really disappointed. Maybe it’s because we came a couple hours before day’s end, but the options were very limited. This event seems to have attracted more wineries than restaurants and others in the food service industry. I would have like to have seem more of the area’s culinary culture represented, but I guess it would make an already crowded event, that much more frustrating to browse. The only food station that stood out was the one with fresh tossed pasta (see pics) and the one catering company who have the chocolate fountain.
In the middle of the display area they tried to create a sort of open area where people could mingle and take in the sounds of the band that played live music. The idea is a good one, but with the size of the event and the way people were stepping on each other, this space could have been put to better use. Yes, people were appreciating the music, but was there not a way to move the live band/stage to somewhere up in the stands area? I’m sure they’ll get this right next year.
Overall you get the feeling that the organizers were hoping to have a classy event, and though it was crowded and there were a few in the crowd who sampled a bit too much, I think they achieved this goal. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves and as mentioned, if you’re into wine.. there was no better place to be. A great event, which Hamilton should be proud to host.
Will I be going back? Maybe next year the organizers will not ignore my emails asking if there’s media accreditation (very unprofessional) and if they improve on the layout so we don’t have sore toes from being trampled on we’ll reconsider. So far it seems like one of those things where you just had to say you’ve done it and there no real need to do it again.
TIP: If you’re looking for discounts or coupons for the event, check with local publications or on the event’s website. We were able to save $2/ticket with the coupon we got and I’m not sure how my cousins did it, but they got in for free. They work for the city I think 
Important stuff….
Contact Info For the Food and Drink festival
Beau Monde Productions
244 Jackson St. West, Hamilton
Ontario, Canada
L8P 1M5
Telephone: 905-524-3689
Facsimile: 905-524-3466
info@beaumondeproductions.com
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I love these reviews, I’ve seen another of yours and the detail and effort put in is very good. I could see from the pictures that it looked a bit crowded. Excellent organisation and options are essential for an event like this one, the food choices should flow nicely and it should always represent either the area of the occasion.