Tips on devouring your way through EAT! Vancouver at BC Place

While EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival has turned into a weeklong festival with events held around town, the major floor-show at BC Place runs from Friday to Sunday (May 1 to 3).

Every year, my friends and I look forward to browsing through all the exhibitors. It's a mashup of a school science fair and trick-or-treating for grownups: you get to fill up bags with information, coupons, free samples, and product purchases while discovering new products and chatting with representatives about their products.

If you're going for the first time, here are a few quick tips to consider: 

1. Go on an empty stomach. This may seem obvious, but some people I've gone with don't realize just how many samples there are to try out. That's in addition to the food dishes available for sale. This is one place it's safe to say you won't go hungry at.
2. If you want something more than just samples, you can purchase tickets to have food from the BITES section, which features 10 local restaurants with cuisine from around the world, including The Pie Company (Australian), Bella Gelataria (Italian), Jam Jar (Lebanese), and Jamaican Jerk Pizza. 
3. Some free bags are given out but to be safe, it's best to bring along at least one empty bag. 
4. Chocolates. That's all I'm going to say.
5. Afternoons are usually the busiest. Want to avoid long lineups? It's best to go when it opens. Going late in the day can be hit-and-miss: before closing, some exhibitors may run out of free samples or sell out of products but on the other hand, some exhibitors have special last-minunte sales in order to sell off their merchandise.
6. If you're seeking the best deals, it's better to make a note of the items you want to purchase while making your first round through the exhibition, which can take up to one or two hours. There may be other exhibitors further along that have similar products, or if you're on a budget, you may want to figure out which purchases take priority. Then you can go back and make your purchases after seeing all the exhibitors.
7. If there are major purchases that you need time to think about or consult others about, you can get a hand-stamp for re-entry at a later time on the same day. This can also be useful if you need a break and want to return after getting fresh air, running errands, or whatnot.
8. Exhibitors sometimes sell products at special discounted prices so it's best to know your prices. Beyond food, there are also often items like cookware and appliances for sale. There are sometimes even a few exhibitors that aren't food-related as well, such as carsharing programs or tourism.
9. British Columbian wine, beers, and spirits will be highlighted in the SIPS section. There'll be a new Craft Beer Alley that will feature craft beer from across the province. Also new is the on-site Legacy store where attendees can purchase alcoholic beverages. Guests who are 19 years or older and want to have alcohol will need to show ID to obtain a wristband in order to be served.
10. Keep a mental checklist of upcoming birthdays or other gift-giving events. It's a great place to find interesting or unique presents for people.
11. Nom nom nom.

This is in addition to all the special events being held, such as cooking demonstrations, celebrity chef appearances, classes, and more.

For full details and ticket information, visit the EAT! website.