Nov 11
2009

Foodbuzz Blogger Festival Recap

in Uncategorized

I apologize for the long pause here on LFM! I’ve actually been working on a “super top secret” project that I was hoping to reveal this week, but have been having technical difficulties, so it’s looking like I won’t get to show you guys until next week.  How’s that for a teaser?

This past weekend was the 1st Annual Foodbuzz Blogger Festival in San Francisco and it was fantastic!

Foodbuzz did a fabulous job of pulling together a wonderful experience for all of us who attended.  You never would have guessed it was their first event of this scale, because it went so smoothly.  Foodbuzz spoiled us with wonderful swag bags filled with all kinds of goodies (olives, cheese, chocolates, spatulas, and more) and the opportunity to taste an overwhelming variety of foods.

The weekend was a wonderful opportunity to meet other bloggers that I’ve been following through their blogs and on twitter and to meet new bloggers.

Fuji Mama, the Active Foodie, Gaby of What’s Gaby Cooking?, and Joy of Gourmeted. (Picture from Gourmeted–thanks Joy!)

Fuji Mama and Damaris of Within the Corners of My Kitchen.

Fuji Mama and Pim of Chez Pim.

Biggie of Lunch in a Box (she was always on the move, can you tell?)
Elise of Simply Recipes, Jaden of Steamy Kitchen, and Fuji Mama.
Diana of A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa, Jen of Tiny Urban Kitchen, and Fuji Mama, taken by Linda of One Scoop at a Time (thanks Linda!).

Here are some of the food highlights for me personally:

Le Petit Déjeuner cheese from Marin French Cheese Company’s (aka, Rouge et Noir)–a wonderful soft cow’s milk cheese that has a wonderful tangy fruity aftertaste to it.  I’m sure I could sit down and eat way too much of this cheese very rapidly.

Salted Truffle Hearts from Neococoa–Roasted almond butter, applewood smoked sea salt, bittersweet chocolate ganache, cocoa powder . . . it’s hard to go wrong with that combination.  It’s a good thing that the truffles were being closely monitored, otherwise I may have been compelled to walk off with the entire tray and hide myself in an abandoned room to gorge myself into chocolate ecstasy.

Warren pears from Frog Hollow Farm–These pears were some of the best pears I’ve ever tasted.  They were juicy and sweet and the flesh was creamy and firm, instead of grainy and mushy like some pears get.  The guys running the table were kind enough to let me take a couple of extra pears with me so that I could share with Mr. Fuji, who also gave them a double thumbs up.

Handmade marshmallows from Gâteau et Ganache–We got to taste their Autumn Assortment (the flavors offered change with each season) which consisted of vanilla bean, cranberry, and pumpkin spice marshmallows.  The cranberry was wonderfully tangy and the pumpkin spice was like a pillowy bite of pumpkin pie–HEAVENLY!

Æbleskivers from Aunt Else’s Æbleskiver–If you’ve been reading LFM for a while, you know how much I love æbleskivers.  They served the æbleskivers with a wonderful apple topping.  On their website is a 9-hole æbleskiver pan based on Aunt Else’s pan which started it all!  I want one—mine only has 7 holes!!

Another highlight of the weekend was the dinner Saturday night done by Outstanding in the Field.  The dinner was held in Greenleaf Produce Warehouse–an urban farm-to-table setting.

It was a fabulous setting with a long table snaking its way through the shelves and boxes of fresh produce.

The menu itself was from Chef Dennis Lee of Namu (who actually ended up not being able to be there due to being hospitalized earlier in the week for appendicitis)–a seasonal menu with a traditional Korean influence.  The menu used local, organic produce as well as sustainable and pasture-rasied meats.

The roasted brussel sprouts with ponzu, fried garlic, guanciale, and bonito flakes were amazing–the best brussel sprouts dish I’ve ever eaten.

A huge thank you to all of the wonderful people at Foodbuzz who made the weekend possible!

{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

Mardi @eatlivetravelwrite November 11, 2009 at 5:01 pm

Great recap! Next time we WILL meet! Can't wait to hear about your super top secret project!!!

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Barbara November 11, 2009 at 5:05 pm

Looks like too much fun; and great to see faces on some of my favorites…including you. I want to hear about your super secret project too! ;)

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Jennifer (Savor) November 11, 2009 at 5:06 pm

Hi hon-where am I? passed out? not again! I have ideas as well so please email me [email protected]

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Diana Bauman November 11, 2009 at 5:08 pm

Oh gosh Rachael, Now you've got me dying to know what your super top secret is! Aaah… I can't stand it, lol!! Had so much fun and it was so great meeting you!!

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Joy November 11, 2009 at 5:24 pm

Gah…this is why I can't sleep over surprises. What could this super top secret project be?! ARgh! Haha.

I'm so glad we met — you are so much fun! Hope to hang out with you again. Who knows, I might just hop on a plane to meet you girls!

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Fuji Nana November 11, 2009 at 5:26 pm

Oh my goodness I want those brussel sprouts. Can you figure out how to make them and invite me over?

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Mary November 11, 2009 at 5:44 pm

It looks like a blast was had by all. I am a bit envious, but I just couldn't make the trip this year. I glad you had such a good time and got to meet so many people. The food looks delicious.

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Lauren November 11, 2009 at 5:50 pm

Oh! Can't wait for the surprise!

The festival looks amazing – So much fun!

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VeggieGirl November 11, 2009 at 5:56 pm

SO MUCH FREAKING FUN!!! :)

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Jerry (CBSOP) November 11, 2009 at 6:04 pm

Hey! how did I end up here?

It was truly an honor to meet you. I hope to keep in touch. wishing you and yours the best!

(I'll keep you up to date on that goat, too!)

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lisaiscooking November 11, 2009 at 6:15 pm

Sounds incredible! So wish I could have been there.

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Barbara Bakes November 11, 2009 at 6:22 pm

Looks like so much fun! I'm glad you had a great time!

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Drick November 11, 2009 at 6:25 pm

Thanks for sharing this with all who could not attend – looks like you had a wonderful time and I know it was great to meet everyone. send more if you can…thanks

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Liz - Meal Makeover Mom November 11, 2009 at 6:54 pm

Wish we had a chance to meet at Foodbuzz dinner on Saturday night. I was in Napa for a conference so was only able to attend the dinner … which we got to late because we got lost due to traffic! LOVED those Brussels sprouts. Looks like you had fun!

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Online Printing Company November 11, 2009 at 7:15 pm

Nice! Looks like it was a lot of fun. Just imagining an event where food bloggers get together excites me knowing there are a lot of foods…hehe. Thanks for sharing this.

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Ravenous Couple November 11, 2009 at 7:17 pm

great recap! already looking forward to next year!

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Natalie November 11, 2009 at 8:10 pm

Nice recap! I love looking at everyone else pictures from the event. Wish I would have been able to meet you, there is always next year!

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Kitchen M November 11, 2009 at 8:20 pm

Great recap! Those brussel sprouts and the fish were my favorite of that night! Considering how many people I met during the festival, I still missed meeting people that I knew from online. Hopefully I will have a chance to see you next year!

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Darina November 11, 2009 at 8:57 pm

Looks like a fabulous weekend! You must have had so much fun. Lucky, lucky, lucky ;)

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Jenn November 11, 2009 at 9:43 pm

Looks like a fantastic event. I wish I could have gone. Thanks for sharing with us! ;-D

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