Gourmet Business July 2016

In this most patriotic of months, I’m preparing to go to a city that lies at the very heart
of the American dream, Las Vegas. For many, a trip to Las Vegas means hitting the slots and the blackjack tables, taking in a show or two, and walking the Strip to take in the miles of neon that blaze in the desert night sky. While not ruling any of those things out, the purpose of my trip will be to attend the summer edition of the Las Vegas Market, a trade show that has quickly become a destination experience for buyers of gourmet housewares, gifts and home décor. Although I’ve always loved the desert, Las Vegas was never high on my list of places to visit. However, since I began covering the Las Vegas Market I’ve actually become quite fond of this glittering jewel in the Nevada desert. Partly my reasons have to do with the high caliber of the show itself of course, but I readily admit that I’m as much drawn by the outstanding quality of the food in the many restaurants there. In fact, no matter what kind of cuisine you’re into, Las Vegas is a diner’s paradise and it’s all seemingly within a stone’s throw from one another. We’ll be walking the show during the day to be sure, but at night my colleagues and I will be eating high on the hog. Oh, and perhaps we’ll hit that blackjack table too. 

One of the greatest buzzwords today is “sustainable” – from food to furniture. It took us all a long time to figure out that using up the earth’s resources is perhaps not such a good idea, particularly for future generations. Editor Joanne Friedrick examines the sustainable market this month along with a gallery of housewares products made from such renewable materials as bamboo, nut shells, and recycled plastic. It’s nice when a successful industry stems from doing the right thing and being responsible. Our grandchildren will thank us. 

Happy summer to all. 

James Mellgren 

Managing Editor, Gourmet Business 

jmellgren@gourmetbusiness.com