B

ali will host the largest ever food and hotel exhibition in the province on March 1-3 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, a senior official said in Jakarta on Monday.

“The new venue will host 498 companies from 33 countries, including national pavilions from Taiwan and the USA in the Food, Hotel, and Tourism Bali 2012 expo,” managing director of the organizer exhibition PT Parmerindo Indonesia Ian Roberts said.

He said that the large venue allowed them to place all the exhibitors in one hall, providing much easier access
to the 7,500 guests who are expected to visit the 3-day event.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response this year, both from companies in Indonesia and abroad. This will definitely be the largest Food, Hotel, and Tourism Bali exhibition to date,” he said.

The biennial exhibition will be held alongside Salon Culinaire,the chef’s competition organized by the Bali Culinary Professionals (BCP), a member of the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS).

Over 250 chefs are expected to take part in a whole range of competitions, including hot food presentations and table dressing, as well as innovative sculptures made of fruits, vegetables, ice or butter.

“New categories added this year include plated brunch display, tapas or finger foods, sugar and chocolate pastry showpieces, contemporary sushi platters, and the Junior Pasta Culinary Competition,” Christian Nehemia, vice president of BCP and chairman of Bali Salon Culinaire 2012, said.

Deputy Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sapta Nirwandar said that the ministry fully supports the eighth
Food, Hotel, and Tourism Bali expo, and hoped more cities to conduct the same exhibitions.

“We hope to have the same event in Medan, North Sumatra and Makassar, South Sulawesi, in near future,” Sapta said. (nfo)