New Haven Independent

More than 100 businesses and non-profits had tables at the Expo, sponsored by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and held at 25 Science Park.

David Brooks was passing out tiny cups of squash soup to go with mini-slices of crisp European bread at the Judie’s table. “Our goal here is to further our catering business,” he said, “which has been a pretty large growth area for us. So we’re trying to approach other businesses to expand our client base.” The bread was scrumptious, dipped in the soup in the plastic medicine cups.

On to Super Suppers across the aisle. Its store in Orange is one of two in Connecticut and one of 200 around the country. The concept, explained franchisee Devon Taylor, is for busy people to assemble entreés in the Super Supper kitchen, take them home and cook them. If you’re too busy even for that, you can use the Grab ‘n’ Go option, choosing pre-assembled entrees to take home. She said the cost is closer to what you’d pay to shop at the supermarket and cook yourself at home than it is to restaurant prices. Devon kept emphasizing her service is for “busy people.” Personally, I like to cook.

I’m a vegetarian, so I didn’t sample these lovely meatballs, but I did eat the little frozen chocolate mousse in a plastic cup.

As I was walking down another aisle, I was hailed by Loretta Tafuri, PhD, RN, of Bariatric Associates of New England. She was preaching the health benefits (not to mention the taste) of the “Mediterranean diet” “” olive oil, dark chocolate and red wine. I dipped some more bread into a saucer of olive oil; then she dropped half a dozen chocolate “coins” into my palm, which proceeded to melt in my hand before I could finish them. “Where’s the wine?” I asked. She grimaced. “We don’t have a liquor permit.”

Competing with that table right next to it was a seminar being led by Wendy Battles of Healthy Endeavors. She led two in a row, “Healthy Snacks on the Go,” and “Power Foods, Power Eating.” The people gathered on chairs around her watched her every move.

In fact, most of the seminars focused on food “” how to eat, how much to eat, how not to eat. I fit right in.