Gourmet food, fine wine

Good Food and Wine Show continues today at Morrow Building

The Shipleys didn’t have to travel as far as they normally would to experience a food and wine show on Friday.

That’s because Peterborough’s Good Food and Wine Show brought the samples to them.

“We often go to the Gourmet Wine and Food Show in Toronto, and we thought, let’s support local and check out what Peterborough has to offer,” said Colleen Shipley.

The Good Food and Wine Show is two-day sampling event featuring a mix of local and provincial food, wines, beers and spirits.

It kicked off Friday night and runs Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. at the Morrow Building.

Along with about 50 exhibitors on hand, the event has a number of seminars from wine tastings to demonstrations on how to make French macarons.

After finishing their first round of samples, including nibbles and wine and vodka, the Shipleys were ready to see what else was in store.

“In a place like this, you can try everything,” Shipley said.

Co-workers Anne Clancy and Lori Rogers had a strategy when it came to picking their samples.

“It’s nice to casually walk up and down all the aisles and see what’s there and circle back and sample something – you can’t stop and drink at every single spot,” Clancy said.

The duo made their way to the event after work, where they’d been eyeing up posters promoting the event all week.

A craft beer fan, Clancy sipped on an amber ale while Rogers enjoyed a cider as they looked over food exhibitors to sample.

Chasing the Cheese caught Rogers’s eye.

“Can’t say no to cheese,” she said with a smile.

As someone who moved to Peterborough from Toronto, Rogers said she likes testing out local eateries.

“It’s kind of nice to know what’s in the area,” she said.

Local cuisine is what drew Anne and Derrick McNamara to the show.

They moved from Markham to Ennismore in July and are still mapping out local restaurants.

“We’re trying to find a nice restaurant that we could go to and try new foods,” said Anne.

Though they don’t typically attend food and wine shows, the couple thought it would be a great way to be exposed to a bunch of local spots in one go.

Exposure is one of the reasons new business owner Christel Rumgay is thinking of joining the show next year.

She opened Delectable Fine Foods on Lansdowne Street in May.

“Everyone wants their neighbourhoods and their community to know they exist ... and not everybody always knows where you are,” she said.

After spending some time at the show Friday, Rumgay could see herself signing up for 2017.

“It brings attention to you and if you’re fortunate then (people are) going to come seek you out and do business with you in the future,” she said.

Tickets to the show are $10, and 20 sampling tokens cost $20. It’s an age of majority show, so it’s 19 and older only.

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT/EXAMINER Jenny Hill, left, and owner Jen Smith of Edilicious display a pair of cheese appetizers during The Good Food and Wine Show showcasing Ontario's culinary community on Friday at the Morrow Building. Visitors indulged in pub fare, cultural cuisines, craft...

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT/EXAMINER Sara Coltman of Sandbanks Winery sets up her booth during The Good Food and Wine Show showcasing Ontario's culinary community on Friday at the Morrow Building. Visitors indulged in pub fare, cultural cuisines, craft beer and spirits. The show wraps up...

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT/EXAMINER Owner Hannah Howey of Sweet Spirits sets up a plate loaded with truffles during The Good Food and Wine Show, showcasing Ontario's culinary community, on Friday at the Morrow Building on Roger Neilson Way.