Festival: a time of feasting and celebration. The time was this past weekend when 350 food bloggers came together in San Francisco to do what we do best: eat. We also drank and were merry, celebrating the wonderful opportunity to graduate from being “virtual” friends to finally connect face-to-face over mountains of food.
This joyous occasion was made possible by Foodbuzz (and sponsors) by hosting its Second Annual Blogger Festival. The cause for celebration? Foodbuzz has become the #1 online food property that is 4,400 bloggers, 14 million foodies and 3.4 million blog posts strong. It is now the largest food blogging community in the world and I was very happy to be a part of it all.
The festival kicked off with a welcome reception at Fort Mason with a foodie gift exchange. Bloggers were divided into small groups to exchange small gifts, a wonderful way to break the ice. I was the very lucky recipient of some rosemary-infused vodka from Brian at A Thought for Food. What a bonus not only to meet a nice (and fun!) guy but to also take home one of his creations. I’ve already had to fend my husband off from enjoying the vodka before giving me a chance to try a new cocktail with it so this post will be coming soon.
The rest of the evening passed with everyone enjoying some of the Bay Area’s best eats, street-food style. My taste buds feasted on offerings from Roli Roti, 4505 Meats and Tacolicious before my stomach had to raise the white flag.
Day Two started with a morning of learning. The Foodbuzz team organized breakout sessions for writing, video blogging and photography. As a newbie whose blogging skills are still on the uphill side of the learning curve, I appreciated so much the useful advice from these über successful bloggers: Greg at Sippity Sup, Linda at Salty Seattle, Marc at No Recipes and Brooke at Food Woolf.
And what kind of food blogger festival would this be without talk of real food? The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) presented the merits of consuming sustainable fish. If you buy seafood bearing the Alaska Seafood stamp, you can be confident that that salmon, crab or halibut was caught without compromising the surrounding ecosystem. ASMI also teamed up with Chef Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill to demo one of her restaurant’s specialties: Fish tacos featuring Alaskan Halibut and Alaskan Salmon.
The only downside? Smelling the wonderful aroma of grilled salmon and halibut and being within reach of freshly-made corn relish but having to wait to taste it all.
By midday, this blogger was hungry so I headed to Metreon with my foodie friends for the Taste Pavilion.
I finally got to taste Mary Sue Milliken’s tacos. My favorite? Alaskan Halibut tacos topped with queso fresco, cilantro, salsa verde, guacamole and sliced radish.
But there was so much more. Just like on the previous evening, my stomach couldn’t take in all that my eyes devoured. The festival sponsors were generous, offering their best while we bloggers consumed to our heart’s content.
But of course, the best was yet to come.
Dressed in our cocktail best, we gathered at San Francisco’s famous Ferry Building to dine on Seared Scallops with Bonny Doon Vineyard Verjus Beurre Blanc, Rosemary and Garlic Infused Rack of Lamb and Tarta de Almendras with Oranges, just to name a few. Each course was better than the next so you had to be sure to make room for each plate that was placed in front of you.
Finally, it was time to go (was not able to attend the Farewell Brunch Sunday morning), but I walked away with more than just the great gifts above. I bade goodbye to new friends confident that we will once again cross paths at future events.
Congratulations, Foodbuzz, for a job well done!
I’ll leave you with one of the recipes demoed by Chef Mary Sue Milliken. Give it a try the next time you make fish tacos.
Corn Relish
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cups fresh corn kernels (about 5 ears)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
- 4 poblano chiles, roasted, peeled, seeded and diced
- 4 scallions, white and light green parts, thinly sliced on the diagonal
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
Heat 1/2 cup of the olive oil over medium heat and sauté the corn with salt and pepper for about five minutes. Set aside to cool in a large mixing bowl.
Once cooled, add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Let sit for about a half hour to blend the flavors. Serve with your favorite fish tacos.
Liren says
I’m so glad you posted the recipe for that corn salsa – it was wonderful and I was hoping to make some this week! I’m so glad we were able to see one another again at the festival – such a wonderful experience, eh? I would have never thought when I started my blog that I would meet such lovely people as you and experience festivals like this one!
lemonsandanchovies says
Oh, Liren, I feel the same way. You’re one of the first friends I made as a blogger and I’m so happy about it. Last weekend’s festival was a pretty nice bonus, too. We’ll definitely have to plan a get together with Lisa. 🙂
Sara says
Double lucky! You got Brian’s gift and you got a coffee mug in the bag! I did not have a coffee mug! I do have that amazing whiskier though….it’s sooo cool
lemonsandanchovies says
Sara, the coffee mug was being given away at one of the sponsor tables. I’ll share. 🙂
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
You are such a doll! It was great meeting you and I am so glad you got the vodka 🙂
lemonsandanchovies says
Brian, I already know what cocktail I’ll be making. Stay tuned for the post. 🙂
Lawyer Loves Lunch says
So glad we had a chance to meet in person, friend! I’m glad we stood in the hour long line for the tacos. We would have regretted it if we didn’t 🙂
lemonsandanchovies says
Azmina, it was such fun getting to know you this weekend. Glad we hung out and that we didn’t give up on the taco line. 🙂
Trish says
So nice seeing you, though I wished we got the chance to chat more. Great recap of the weekend!
lemonsandanchovies says
Trish, I know. Too bad I was on my way out of the Pavilion when we ran into each other. I want to have my fellow bay area bloggers over my house sometime so I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
Chef Dennis says
Hi Jean
it was so nice getting to meet you in person! I wish we had found more time to talk, I have truly enjoyed reading your blog, and now that I can really put a name to a face it makes it even more special!
thanks for such a wonderful description of the events, and for those great images……
Cheers!
Dennis
lemonsandanchovies says
Dennis, you were one of the people I was determined to meet at Foodbuzz. How lucky that we sat near each other at the second breakout session. Yes, I wish we had more time to chat but until the next event, you know I’ll be making regular visits to your blog. 🙂
Sharlene (Wheels and Lollipops) says
Looks like you guys had a great time ! Thanks for sharing the corn relish , I love dishes like that.
lemonsandanchovies says
Thanks, Sharlene. It was hard to see the relish being made and not be able to taste it immediately. I’ll have to give the recipe a try soon, too. 🙂
Kristen says
After reading of the wonderful time had by all at the festival, I am definitely making it a goal to attend next year!
Stacey Rider says
You gave me such a wonderful insight to the weekend, thank you. Wish I could have gone, however your description pulled me in so I felt sort of there. Next year I will go!
Lisa { AuthenticSuburbanGourmet } says
Jean – Reading your post, I so wish I was there!!! Sounds like everyone had such a great time. The Corn Relish sounds delish!! I had a great time at my company event in Sonoma – they did a fantastic job. Look forward to getting together soon to hear all about it.
lemonsandanchovies says
Lisa, it would have been fun to have you there, too. Next year, definitely.
I’m glad you had a nice time in Sonoma with your crew. Sounds like a great weekend was planned for you all. 🙂
Gina @ skinnytaste says
It was great to meet you. Oh how I wish I was still there eating! And thanks for posting the corn relish recipe, I can’t wait to make this!
lemonsandanchovies says
Gina, it was so nice to meet you, too. On one hand it was wonderful to meet so many people but the drawback was not having enough time to properly get to know everyone. Next event, for sure. 🙂
Pachecopatty says
Nice meeting you too Jean! Great reporting of the event and I’m glad you had such a fun time:)
I want to try the fish tacos with the corn relish, it looks so good.
Bebe Mama (Judy) says
Ah, thanks for the detailed event recap for those of us who weren’t able to attend. 🙂 Sounds like you had a wonderful time – great people, great food, an overall amazing experience. The corn relish sounds fabulous, thanks f or sharing a recipe from the event. 🙂
Stephanie @ Per l'Amore del Cibo says
As if I wasn’t regretting not going this year enough! Thanks for the awesome recap, I so wish I was there to meet all of you and to enjoy and that amazing food!
Kelsey says
I’M SO JEALOUS OF YOU
ravenouscouple says
so glad we got a chance to meet! looking forward to reading your blog and also any delicious vietnam posts you decide to do 🙂
foodies at home says
It really was a fantastic weekend! Great post!
Kim - Liv Life says
Sounds like such a wonderful weekend!! I’m envious of you all and sure hope to be able to attend one day.
Mary Sue Miliken is one of my favorites! I have their cookbook and have eaten at their Mandalay Bay Restaurant a number of times. How exciting to see her!!
Thanks for posting a wrap up Jean!
Amy K. says
Thanks for the great recap! I hope to make it next year!
Monet says
Thank you for taking me with you! I wanted to attend so badly this year, but with everything that has happened with Baby Ryan…it just wasn’t meant to be. It sounds like it was an amazing time with great food and wonderful people! Thank you again for sharing. Have a beautiful Wednesday full of laughter and love!
amelia from Z Tasty Life says
thank you for the wonderful account of an event I was so sad to miss!
and thank you for posting the corn relish recipe!
sippitysup says
Hey, über , does that mean I have a booger or something showing?? I’m glad it did not stop us from meeting… GREG
Korean American Mommy says
Jean it was a pleasure meeting you at the festival! Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
priscillawillis says
Thank you, Jean, for the detailed recap of the events – I almost feel like I was there! Next year for sure! FB certainly deserves kudos – fantastic venues and the idea of exchanging gifts on the first night was brilliant. Those tacos must have been phenomenal 🙂
Joy Zhang says
Jean thanks so much for sharing the foodbuzz festival with us — I am sad I didn’t get to go 🙁 Hopefully I’ll make it to the one next year, it’d be so nice to finally meet you in person. Those halibut tacos btw sound amazing!