FDA Conference 2009
16-18 November 2009, Barceló Oxford Hotel, Godstow Road, Oxford, OX2 8AL
INFORMATION:
The Food Development Association Conference & Exhibition offers UK menu and food developers their own forum; somewhere to exchange ideas, learn about taste trends and discover the flavours of the future. Because food constantly changes and develops, this is a chance to make sure you're up to speed with the latest innovations that will change tomorrow's menus.
The FDA conference and exhibition comprises an innovative mix of workshops, tastings, high profile speakers, topical presentations, new product exhibits, and an unmissable chance to network and share ideas with the people responsible for the UK's food and menu development.
The event attracts around 200 delegates working within food development across all sectors, of the foodservice and retail markets.
THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE:
Food science continues to be put under the microscope but what changes are really being made? The seventh annual conference of the Food Development Association will be a journey of fact finding for the future.
Put November 16-18 in your diaries because that’s when the FDA conference will take place at the Barceló Oxford Hotel in Oxford where it plans to set the pendulum swinging to check the past with the future and how food ingredients, novel foods and technological advances will influence the next 10 years.
Will we, as rumour suggests, be asking our fridge what’s for dinner and work out what’s needed to make it? Will ovens in 20 years time ask us how we’d like our food cooked?
Retro is in but it’s a retro feel tinged with the necessity of keeping some of the mod cons in. Comfort food may need to be that bit more comforting but it is with the use of science and technology that it can be done.
Traditional with a twist is at the top of everyone’s wish list but it’s still about how we can adapt food for today’s lifestyles. Food on the go is called a 20th century term but is it? A Cornish pasty was food to go – meat and potato wedged inside some pastry for tin miners to eat with their fingers while they worked.
FDA director Richard Fagan says the programme to be released soon will cover all aspects of Tomorrow’s World thinking, with expert speakers providing their views, theories and solutions. “It’s vital that we keep focused on the next decade in spite of the current economic downturn in the world markets. What we will be putting on our plates in the future matters to us all,” says Fagan.
Keeping to the event’s successful formula, a 'Taste of …' tour will include some inspirational and tasty food hot spots in the Oxford area on the evening of November 16. For those wanting to arrive earlier there is an opportunity to do a spot of local food foraging with Yun Hider (see pages 20-23). Workshops following the conference will range from sensory analysis to thought provoking demos of food and food concepts.
This year sees the return of FDA chefs in the kitchen to produce an imaginative and inspirational dinner to reflect our theme and, adding a touch of retro of our own, the return of the FDA innovation awards is promised. Fagan says: “Once again creativity, innovation and inspiring personalities will be rewarded and more details will be posted to members in good time before the conference. Please visit our website – www.fdaonline.co.uk – to keep up to date with all the latest information about your annual event.”
Details: www.dewberryredpoint.co.uk/dr/html/confe…
