FoodyChile

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As of recent, Santiago seems like a hotbed for events and activities. Gone are the days of nothing more than some kids flying kites in a plaza next to a stray dog, each weekend seems to add another large event to the lineup. From Formula-1 cars racing in Providencia or glitzy new cars with a model, to some tasty food shows or design fairs.

What does this mean for those that kicked off years ago? Evolution or death pretty much. Real estate is not cheap here in the capital, you need sponsors, and they want to back the best. So when it comes to Mercado Paula Gourmet, a lineup of quality and premium food producers, restaurants, chef cooking demos and drinks in the green Parque Araucano -organized by the girly magazine Paula- it’s going to be interesting.

I attended last year, you can read the post here, and it felt a lot like previous years. Santiago’s upscale food brands, nothing particularly new or different. In the light of new, slightly more holistic events like Echinuco, Paula Gourmet doesn’t necessarily get a following and line of happy attendees by merely setting up shop. From both a visitors perspective and the brands that fill the stands (which aren’t cheap), it needed to evolve.

Change it did, and so far it looks good. About two months ago they published a long, well researched and presented edition of the magazine detailing how to make all your favorite foods and drinks, from bread to beer, at home. Or as you’d say here, Hecho en Casa, a Do-it-Yourself bonanza.

The event, which kicks off today (Thursday November 15) and runs through Sunday, November 15, 2012, is focused on that DIY concept. Not sure how that will change the stand makeup, since many gourmet products are exactly the opposite, things you could do at home, but instead you buy them in nice little jars with pretty stickers and put them in the fridge.

Heading there tonight, before taking a flight to the capital of beer in Chile, Valdivia, early tomorrow morning. It’s going to be an interesting couple of days.

Mercado Paula Gourmet 2012

Parque Araucano

November 15-18, 2012

CHP 5000 entrance fee