How does one prepare for the International Food Blogger Conference (IFBC) ? Last year, in Portland, I didn’t know what to expect. Knowing the opportunity to meet, face to face, so many of the food bloggers I have come to know and love was exciting to say the least. Spending an evening with THE Saucy Mama of Specialty Foods, was a highlight as was dining with blog superstars like Kristy (www.wickednoodle.com), Stephanie (A Year of Slow Cooking) and JJ (www.84thand3rd.com) to name a few. While on opposite sides of the food spectrum, I delighted in the common ground I found with the vegans and vegetarians I sat next to at dinner.
Three days packed full of talking about food, exploring new foods, writing about food, photographing food and eating lots and lots of food is bliss for me. Food is at the core of my profession as a cookbook author and recipe columnist. Although I talk about food, experiment with food and write about food on a daily basis, three days with others in my industry doesn’t feel like work at all. International Food Blogger Conference (IFBC) is refreshing, rejuvenating, relaxing and just a whole lot of fun. Being surrounded by like-minded people with so much to share motivates me to want to work to take my career to the next level.
We had some amazing meals but my personal favorite was the Vegan Breakfast sponsored by Nutiva. Listening to John Roulac, CEO of Nutiva talk about food and nutrition was a highlight of the conference.
Coconut Manna was my favorite “new discovery” of the conference.
Quickly approaching September 20th, I haven’t packed my bags yet but I have started a list of foodie friends I most want to connect with. With presentations by renowned New York Times food photographer Andrew Scrivani and the New York Times‘ best-selling author and writing coach Kathleen Flinn (both of her books are must-reads for anyone who likes to cook, check them out: The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears in Paris and The Kitchen Counter Cooking School: How a Few Simple Lessons Transformed Nine Culinary Novices I am planning on getting there early for a front-row seat! Look out Seattle, here I come!
Me with New York Times food photographer Andrew Scrivani
Beautifully crafted, delicious, local chocolates to sample.
Exciting, healthy, new products to try.
