HoReCa professionals gathering at Gastro

267 exhibitors from 16 different countries, such as Sweden, Estonia, Italy and France, will be displaying their products and services over three days at the Gastro 2008 tradeshow. Product categories include foods, professional kitchen machinery and equipment as well as interior design, furniture and table settings.

Competitions and relaxation

“An extensive programme is a Gastro tradition and this year the table will be set with a wealth of different offerings as well. Visitors are sure to find a happening to their liking at the demonstration kitchen, the culinary competitions and the individual programmes of the different exhibitor stands”, says Exhibition Group Manager Ritva Becker of the Finnish Fair Corporation. 

World-class chefs from Finland and abroad will serve up memorable samples of their skills at several exhibition stands. Making appearances will be, among many other master chefs, Frenchman Michel Willaume, who specialises in desserts, molecular gastronomy guru Thorsten Schmidt from Denmark as well as chefs Kari Aihinen and Kai Kallio of Helsinki’s renowned Savoy restaurant and Michael Björklund from the Åland Islands. In addition to this, many of Finland’s leading bartenders will pour Gastro-themed drinks to visitors at several different stands.

There’s plenty of excitement in store for visitors at the numerous competitions. Four different contests will measure the skills of chefs, in addition to which the Barista of the Year will be selected as well as the toughest dishwasher in the Dirtiest Battle of 2008.

Keidas (The Oasis) pampering area is a new feature of the fair and it provides visitors with an opportunity to unwind from all this excitement with, for example, massages, quick manicures and foot analyses.

Future look of hotel room examined at the Hotel of Tomorrow

The conference area will house an exhibit comprising hotel room that is part of the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences’ project Hotel of Tomorrow. This display the latest in hotel-design technology, which will be tested in an authentic hotel environment after Gastro closes.

For example, tomorrow’s hotel beds could be equipped with sensors, which measure the quality of sleep and help guests sleep better. The rooms feature easy-upkeep nano-glass structures and illuminated surfaces that enable guests to adjust the atmosphere of the room to best suit their mood. 

Further information:
Finnish Fair Corporation, Communications Officers Johanna Peltola and Jaana Matilainen, tel. +358 (0)9 1509 249, johanna.peltola@finnexpo.fi, jaana.matilainen@finnexpo.fi
Hotel of Tomorrow: Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Programme Director Ari Björkqvist, tel. +358 (0)40 5568866, ari.bjorkqvist@haaga-helia.fi
See the full Gastro programme at www.gastro.fi

Gastro 08 is open from 10 am to 6 pm on Wed 12 – Thu 13 March and from 10 am to 5 pm on Friday 14 March. Admission for HoReCa professionals by invitation or with customer card. The ViiniExpo 2008 Trade Days for Wines and Spirits is being arranged in conjunction with Gastro and it opens to professionals of the drinks business on Thu 13 and Fri 14 March. ViiniExpo’s Winelovers’ Day opens to the public on Sat 15 March. Over 18s only. The previous Gastro was held in 2006 and it attracted 20,151 visitors.