Discovery Demos: Flavor Journeys (Day 2)

A walkable showcase of macro trends, Discovery Demo pods invite you to think big and consider your role in the specialty food ecosystem. Head to Discovery Point (Booth 4631) to explore and get inspired!

The Flavors Journeys Pod

Taste trends from across the globe and regional America that are shaping the future of food. This pod will feature how spices are changing via sourcing, terroir, and entirely new products available on the global market for the first time. We will also focus on companies that have been caretaking traditions for hundreds of years that are now making a global impact. And we will look at the culinary mashup of America’s rich, immigrant-fueled cuisines, where neighbors with different ancestries create entirely unique flavors together.

Sarah Lohman, Culinary Historian & Author

Featuring:

(10:30 am - 12:30 pm) Gourmet Barn: Global Layers and the Cross-Cultural Evolution of Baumkuchen

• On Hawaii’s Big Island, Gourmet Barn reimagines Baumkuchen—the centuries-old German “King of Cakes,” celebrated for its delicate layers and symbolism of harmony—through a distinctly Hawaiian lens. Traditionally baked on a rotating spit with meticulous care, this cake demands 25 layers and 1.5 hours of precision. Owners Markus and Marie preserve its old-world technique while weaving in local flavors like macadamia nuts, vanilla, cacao, and coffee. The result is a true global mashup: heritage craft meeting tropical terroir. Baumkuchen Farm shows how recipes rooted in tradition can cross oceans, adapt to new landscapes, and shape the future of taste through cultural exchange and regional ingredients.
• View the Gourmet Barn Virtual Booth

(10:30 am - 12:30 pm) Beaverton Foods: Flavor Pioneers and the Immigrant Roots of American Cuisine

• During the Great Depression in 1929, Italian immigrant Rose Biggi began bottling horseradish in her Oregon farmhouse to support her family. That small venture grew into Beaverton Foods—the largest specialty condiment maker in the U.S. Today, the company blends tradition with bold innovation, introducing flavors like Wasabi Horseradish and Ghost Pepper Mustard, while honoring their roots. Their story reflects America’s immigrant-driven culinary mashup and shows how heritage brands are shaping global taste trends.
• View the Beaverton Virtual Booth

(1 - 3 pm) Hella Dac Biet Foods: Southeast Asian Flavors, American Comfort

• Taste trends from across the globe and regional America are shaping the future of food—and Hella Dac Biet Foods is part of that story. Their innovative frozen meals remix Southeast Asian flavors with familiar formats like breakfast burritos and rice bowls, while their Shaking Beef honors a beloved Vietnamese dish with deep cultural roots. Traditionally known as bò lúc lắc, Shaking Beef emerged during the French colonial era in Vietnam, blending European techniques with local ingredients to create tender beef cubes tossed in a savory, soy-based sauce. This dish reflects the culinary mashup that defines America’s immigrant-fueled cuisines. Discover how Hella Dac Biet brings vibrant, unexpected flavors and centuries-old traditions into everyday convenience.
• View the Hella Dac Biet Virtual Booth

(1 - 3 pm) Wildwood: Caramels and the Global Journey of Sweetness

• Wildwood’s caramels are a delicious way to explore the movement of flavor across cultures. Each variety—matcha, cardamom, chai, maple smoked chili, and fennel pollen—opens the door to conversations about how spices migrate, adapt, and inspire new traditions. These flavors naturally spark connections to regions like Japan, India, Scandinavia, South America, and the Pacific Northwest, showing how ingredients weave through global culinary stories. Enjoy an interactive experience where you can see, smell, and taste the aromatics behind each caramel, learning how these ingredients connect kitchens across continents.
• View the Wildwood Chocolate Virtual Booth