Getting stuck working the NY Gift show at the Javits center twice a year is slightly hellish (crappy customers, long hours, and no time to wander though the very nice handmade section), but working the yearly food show is indeed a treat. Nothing makes people happier than good alcohol and gourmet food. Happy people = happy customers who do not make my life suck.

Also, there’s the samples. Lunch hour means wandering from booth to booth blissing out on samples of gourmet cheese, lemon stuffed olives, mohito flavored agave based gelato, and chocolate. And then there were our next door neighbors, who were selling something called Cricket Cola. It’s got cane sugar, kola nut, green tea, and cola. It tastes phenomenal – as if your coke got a class upgrade to the Waldorf Astoria, and the balls of a pro soccer player. – if you haven’t seen this yet, I think you might like it. :)

This doesn’t even cover whole energy drinks section downstairs, notable because there are a lot of international vendors from countries that haven’t banned ephedra. Last year Bill came home with the most interesting assortment of… well I guess you could call it candy. (They were chocolate coated at least.)

It totally makes the sore feet at the end of the day worth it.