SPECIAL REPORT: All Candy Expo (part 1 of 2)

CHICAGO, Illinois (UrHo) -- How does one get to the ALL CANDY EXPO: "The Largest Confectionary, Cookie & Snack Show in the Americas"? One might try boarding a free shuttle on Dum Dum Drive (AKA the street adjacent to the Hilton in downtown Chicago). After a quick ride--during which time one's candy-related excitement might well reach max levels (despite the fact that it's like, 9 in the morning)--the shuttle will drop one off at McCormick Place, a huge convention center near the lakeshore, home to such epic expositions as The National Restaurant Association Show, WINDPOWER 2009, and The International Plastics Showcase. But for three days in May, at the National Confectioners Association's ALL CANDY EXPO, "It's all about sweet & snacks."

How does one describe this trade show? First of all, one switches to a more casual narrative style, i.e., first person: It was I, Laura Pearson, along with photographer David Sampson, who experienced this exceptionally sweet expo (or should I say, "expo-rienced"?) It was we who got sugared up, came crashing down, consumed still more sugar, crashed further down; encountered new candy and new spins on classic confections; witnessed weird aspects of candy culture and candy merchandising; braided candy into bracelets; sprayed candy into our mouths; traversed new flavor frontiers; and looked around frantically for a sandwich.

What follows are some notes and images from the 2009 ALL CANDY EXPO (or, for brevity's sake, the ACE) that took place from May 19-21 in Chicago. In the words of that legendary CEO/candy pioneer Willy Wonka, the show offered "little surprises around every corner, but nothing dangerous"...or well, nothing too dangerous (did I mention candy sprays?!). In the words of P Diddy, "let's goooooooo!!!"

CrEATables: They roped me in.

One of our first stops was the CrEATables table (an innovation by Dutch candy co. Fascini) where I learned to braid candy "laces" into lanyard jewelry. The nice CrEATables rep explained that this is a way for kids to play with their food without making a huge mess. I can see how this candy encourages kids' crEATivity, but the plastic-y ropes--in strawberry, apple, tutti frutti, and blue razz--don't pack much flavor. Still, I love a good candy craft. Sidenote: I wore a CrEATables bracelet of my own CrEATion throughout the day, until I decided it was gross to sport wearable candy in public bathrooms.

Surf Sweets: A new wave in gummies?

This was one of David's favorites of the ACE. Surf Sweets are gummies--some of which are gelatin-free (yessss)--that are made with organic fruit juice, provide 100% Vitamin C per serving, and just generally promote a Cali lifestyle of "healthy living and fun." AKA Endless Summer Candy.

WaveBake Treats: Or, everything the Slow Food movement is against in one microwavable bowl.

WaveBake offered us a taste of their premixed (and patent pending) products. You microwave 'em for 40 seconds in order to achieve some sort of warm, doughy brownie-like thing. I asked if they tasted like freshly baked cookies, and the WaveBake rep said, "Yeah. Well, one of them does." (The oatmeal one, in case you were wondering.)

Brownie points for being an almost-ready-to-eat treat. Brownie demerits for looking pretty unappetizing.

Brain Power Potion Bracelets: The kid-friendliest candy in the land?

Quick quiz: What are the three things kids love most?
Answer: Candy. Jewelry. And magic!

I admit that I did not try the powdered candy inside The Real Magic Potion Company's JARM bracelets. Not sure why, since these particular specimens were packed with both "Brain Power Potion" and "Lucky Candy Potion." Whoa! However, I did love this sweetly simple sales pitch ("What are the three things kids love most?"), naïve though it may be. I was about to guess that the three things kids love most are Flamin' Hot Cheetos, those Heelys shoes, and the Jo Bros.

GÜDFÜD: Will not harsh your mellow or marsh your mallow.

Featuring some of the cutest packaging of all the candy at the ACE, the GÜDFÜD company offered samples of their chocolate- and jelly-filled marshmallows. I'm not a big fan of either jelly filling or marshmallows, so this combo wasn't really my thang. However, I am a fan of the über positive GÜDFÜD vibe. According to their website, "Our mission is to bring to the market the most yummy products from all over our happy planet. The umlauts above each letter "U" in our name creates a smiley face that everyone loves."

Crackheads: You do the math.

Crackheads are chocolate-covered espresso beans THAT ARE CRAZILY CAFFEINATED!!! That's why they're called CRACKHEADS!!! How much caffeine do Crackheads pack? Apparently, 1 Box = 6 cups of coffee, 7.5 cans of Red Bull, or 11 cans of Mountain Dew.

I thought it would be hilarious to ask the Crackheads dude if they offer any decaf varieties, and this was my response:

Crackheads remind me of that short-lived energy drink Cocaine: Its name led to its demise. I guess the people behind Crackheads are also jittery that their product might be pulled from shelves, because on their website they've already revealed a backup plan: "Love the product but not the name? Jitterbeans™ now released."

Tomorrow is Part 2 of Urban Honking's SPECIAL REPORT on the All Candy Expo from Laura Pearson and David Sampson.