foodshow
It is that time of year again. Soon, droves of enthusiastic people will be making their way inside Rupp Arena, ready to show some Kentucky Pride.
If you are glancing at your calendar in confusion, it is not time for basketball season just yet. Kentucky Proud is sponsoring its fourth annual Incredible Food Show on Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
With this food show, attendees will be treated to performances by celebrity chef Tyler Florence, but the real spotlight will be shining brightest on Kentucky’s own producers.
Sheila Kenny, marketing director at Rupp Arena, and Theresa Lloyd, the show’s producer, both said the show’s main goal is to educate. But to hear them describe it, one might not even know that they are learning.
The general feel of the show is to be energetic. It is not a mere show-and-tell sort of situation, but one that engages the audience, piques their interest and leaves them with a picture of a community they can actively participate in — the local food community.
It is also not a show just for those well-versed in culinary arts or “foodies.” This show has something for everyone.
The first three hundred people who come to the show will be treated to a full Kentucky-Proud breakfast prepared by Sullivan University. Then they can meander through the Marketplace, sampling the food and asking the producers questions about their products, which is an important aspect for Kenny and Lloyd. The show brings the consumer and the producer together for the day, which enhances the connection between food and community.
Throughout the day, there will be seminars on cooking and culinary skills, not only from Florence, but also from local chefs. A new feature this year is the Quick Tips booth. This booth will have presentations every 30 minutes. The presenter will be doing something food related, and passersby may decide to watch for the duration or just pause, ask questions and then continue on.
There will also be authors signing cookbooks for the entirety of the day, including Florence and other food-loving writers, such as Rona Roberts, author of the cookbook Sweet, Sweet Sorghum.
Something unique about Florence’s performance this year is the fact that he will be operating from a list of local ingredients given to him by Lloyd — just another way the show is placing pride in the local food economy.
In an effort to include the region’s restaurant community, an area of the show, called Restaurant Row, has been set aside. This exhibit will feature dishes prepared by local restaurants, showing off what they have to offer their patrons.
The show brings a variety of producers to a central location, giving customers a chance to discover what Kentucky has to offer. For Kenny and Lloyd, their work on the event has been, according to them, “a labor of love.”
Tickets are $15 general admission, which includes everything the show offers. However, floor seating for the Florence event will fill up quickly, and $40 dollar tickets are available for those who want to reserve a seat. At presstime for this publication, the first performance was almost sold out, but more tickets were still available for the 3 p.m. performance. The public can buy tickets online through Ticketmaster or in person or by calling the Lexington Center Box Office at (859) 233-3535.
Also still available were exhibitor spots for Restaurant Row and the Marketplace. The television show Secrets of a Bluegrass Chef also will be focusing mainly on Restaurant Row at the Incredible Food Show, providing possible additional exposure for those participating. To exhibit at the show, email Theresa Lloyd at tlloyd@rupparena.com.
With fall fast approaching and basketball season really just around the corner, what better way to celebrate your city a little bit early than to discover another side of what it has to offer? And who knows? Maybe Florence could even be convinced to sport a unibrow.