Meeting the people behind your favorite blogs? A privilege.
Being in a room full of people who don’t bat an eye as you photograph every food item in the room? Surreal.
Sharing ideas with a roommate who comes up with the coolest food combos around? Inspiring.
Sampling all of the food, wine, and beer you can handle? Sin-tastic.
FoodBuzz 3rd Annual Blogger Festival? Priceless
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Friday night we attended a Welcome Reception sponsored by Sabra.
To start we had hummus hors d’oeuvres and wine. Hummus Heaven.
When it hits stores, try the new Holiday flavor – the rosemary deliciousness will knock your socks off. I’m thinking that served on little toasts with goat cheese and micro greens will be my holiday party go-to this season.
Sarah (my Smart Kitchen roommate) and I tried everything, obsessed over the fresh veggies, and made friends with fellow bloggers.
We were then brought in for the Awards Dinner. Served buffet-style, many of the dishes were inspired by fellow FoodBuzz-ers.
Our table, which included new friends Karen (of The Tamale Girl) and Lauren (of Vegology), voted the night’s winning dishes to be the Housemade Beet Ravioli with arugula and goat cheese and the Lentil Salad with shaved fennel and escarole with a sherry vinaigrette.
After that smorgasbord Sarah and I hit the (surprisingly) nice gym to start out day 2 on the right foot. I also ran to the host hotel to get my schwag bag. Check out these goodies:
By the time we made it to the pre-panel breakfast bar we were ready to chow down.
Delicious fresh fruit, vegan sunflower seed bread, local jam (the strawberry was my fav), spinach-mushroom frittata, pumpkin bread, and scones. I sampled a little of everything. And then seconds of everything.
As good as that was, the highlight was getting to try Cookie Dough Balls from Mamma Pea herself! Sarah and I split a Chocolate Chip and a Pumpkin Molasses.
Run, do not walk, to try this recipe for the Pumpkin Molasses. It will change your pumpkin-lovin’ life.
Did I mention I also got the meet the famous Ms. Pea?! Pics tomorrow!
We attended 3 panel discussions: Taking Your Blog to the Next Level, DSLR-free Zone, and Effective Social NETworking.
My personal favorite was the one on taking good pictures without a DSLR camera, presented by Greg @ Sippity Sup, Chuck @ Foodgawker, and Angi @ Rice & Wheat. You may have noticed photography isn’t one of my many talents.
Top take-a-ways:
- The Camera+ app is a necessity for iPhone photography
- When going out to eat, choose the table with the most natural light if possible (how did I never think to request this?!), or at least choose the seat with the best lighting
- If you must use a flash, use one layer of a thin paper napkin to diffuse the light
- For home photography, a grow light from Home Depot in a reflector (those sliver bowl things) works well when you can’t use natural light
It’s getting wordy and I’m running late for work (doh), so more to come tomorrow. We had an awesome time at the tasting pavilion, met T Flo, and tweeted our way through a fun banquet dinner!
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Quickie week recap to hold myself accountable:
Workout Recap (10/31-11/7)
- Monday – 0.6 mile
runjog, Ab Ripper X, 10 min X-fit circuit - Tuesday – 100 push-ups
- Wednesday – 1.5 mile run, Biceps/Back, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
- Thursday – 1.5 mile run, 30 min core class, Body Pump, 40 ins Stairmaster
- Friday – Triceps/Chest, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
- Saturday – 10 min jog, 30 ins elliptical, 100 push-ups, crunch machine (50)
- Sunday – Travel day 🙁
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I am full of inspiration after the weekend – perfect timing for the holiday backing season.
Do you have any tips for low-tech photography?
How did all the race-runners do this weekend?
Sounds like a blast! I can’t wait to read more. 🙂
Wow, sounds like the best time ever! I’m so jealous, I wish I had gotten onto this whole food blogging thing way earlier! The food looks delicious, and I’d love to meet all the people.
🙂 Glad you had such a blast!
Cool! I’d love to meet more bloggers face-to-face. I bet they’re all (at least 99%) as awesome as I imagine.
Oh, I’d also love to have heard the bit about taking good pictures without a DSLR. I take 99% of my photos with my iPhone…
They are even MORE awesome that you’d imagine. 🙂
I’m glad you had fun!
This looks like so much fun! I would LOVE to go to a blogger conference!
I use a point and shoot!! Great tips… I never thought to find a table w/ the most natural light either =)
I’m so glad I’m not the only one! He also suggested using your phone’s light to take pics in darker restaurants – genius!
It looks like you had so much fun at the festival! I really could have used that without-a-DSLR camera seminar! And the food must have been great!
Oh I am so jealous of your trip. I wanted to go and didn’t this year…I could kick myself though because I would have loved to meet you all (even the fabulous Mama Pea).
Awesome installment in your series of recaps!! I was hoping to get mine started at work today but I’ve been swamped, so it’ll probably have to wait till tonight! 😉
I can’t wait to read all yours!!!
Sounds like a great time and I do miss good old SF!
Every time I go out there I get a stronger urge to MOVE. 🙂
So jealous of that schhhhhwaggggg! 🙂
OMG, I’m on someone else’s blog! I’m excited 🙂
Awesome recap, and I had so much fun with you guys!
LOL! You’re on here today too. I am SO glad we met you guys right away!
I can’t wait to see what else you experienced while there!! It looks amazing so far!
I’ve been looking forward to your recap! I’m totally jealous your whole experience but glad you had fun. I hope to go to a blogging conference eventually! And now I have another pumpkin recipe to add to my list…
It was so good to meet you in SF! I think I’m going to be recovering from all that delicious food for the rest of the week…yum!
Same here! I got back and made a big green smoothie. 🙂
So glad we got to meet!!!
What a fun time! It looks like you had a great time and look at all that food!!
This sounds so fun. What a great way to get people of like minds together to share, laugh and eat. Maybe I’ll be there next year.
What a FUN weekend. It looks like FB put on a great festival 🙂
LOVE the napkin tip! def trying that out next time! and I always fight paul for a good window seat for my photos at lunch =) hehe
Glad you and sarah had fuuuun! <3 so sad I couldn't sleep on the floor and hang with you gals!
I wish you had been able to come!!! A new house is a fair trade though. 🙂 Next year!
What a wonderful weekend! So much food porn goodness in this post haha 🙂
I’m SO jealous you went, I want to go…maybe next year! Looks like you had a great weekend!
I am so honored you liked our panel! Feel free to email me with any questions I can go into more detail if you like. GREG
Great tips for anyone on re the photography. I would have loved to hear Chuck in person!
And your hair is totally awesome 🙂
He was great – really inspiring.
Thank you! 😉