I seriously feel like I never need to eat again.
Okay, that’s a lie. I’m pretty sure my stomach expanded from doing nothing but eat for three days and now I’m scrounging for food at 10PM… but that’s a whole different story.
This weekend was the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival, which I’d been looking forward to for months! I was so excited to get accepted as a Featured Publisher, and much of my excitement was related to being able to spend three days in my own city surrounded by bloggers and food.
Friday came around and involved me running to Union Square from work to pick up Cate’s and my swag bag… which I then toted (all twenty pounds, it seemed) back to work to hang out and get some more stuff done before the reception and welcome dinner in SOMA that night.
Our swag bag contained goodies from Godiva, Sabra, Duncan Hines, OXO, California Walnuts, and a few others. Pretty awesome. I am now swimming in pounds of coffee that I don’t drink. I smell a giveaway!
I got to kick the evening off right with Cate and Courtney Granola (unofficial name for the weekend, as we had Courtney Granola and Courtney Pancakes – it happens).
Sabra sponsored the appetizer hour which means we had a bajillion types of hummus pastries (above) to choose from, as well as a variety of vegetables with hummus to dip them in, roasted chickpeas, and more. I like hummus, but I am not always in the mood for it. I have tried a dozen times to bring baby carrots and hummus for a snack to work but I NEVER end up eating it… I need to work on this. We munched on a few while enjoying more than one glass of wine before the gala dinner.
Got to spend some time with the lovely Annelies which is always a treat!
Then it was time for the welcome dinner! There were two buffets, one of appetizers and another of comfort food created by actual bloggers at the event. It was a bit overwhelming – so many people to meet, so much food to eat, so many glasses of wine and cocktails at the free open bar…
The beet ravioli was a highlight of the night… for everyone else but me. I appreciated that it was quite good, but I’ll be honest. I HATE beets. I know that 1) every food blogger loooooves beets and 2) I eat almost everything but something about beets makes me want to gag a little bit. But the fact that I liked the ravioli is saying something about how good it must have been.
Chefs were preparing some small plates that I was way too impatient to get in on…
I took a bite of Jessica’s brown sugar butter chicken (!). As I approach my one year mark of being a vegetarian I am experimenting with adding a little meat back into my diet to see how I feel… but that’s another post for another time.
I felt a little unsatisfied after the first course so as we listened to the blog awards, I was kind of, maybe, okay REALLY looking forward to the dessert buffet…
(Joy the Baker, an award winner herself, announcing Ashley from the Edible Perspective as a winner—both amazing bloggers! And Courtney Granola was super psyched to meet Joy!)
Then the awards were given and it was time for the dessert, thank you.
Pumpkin tarts…
chocolate ganache bites with almond…
Mini cheesecakes, coffee cream with flowerless chocolate cake, gingersnap macaroon.,..
Sabra also passed around some sort of chocolate caramel coconut dessert hummus pastry thing, but in a room full of food bloggers, if you’re going to pass around something unconventional you’ve gotta make it look just a BIT more appealing to eat.
I’ll leave you with that. Hope you all had a great weekend!
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It was so good to see you this weekend! Sorry we didn’t get to spend more time together
Megan (Running Foodie) recently posted..Foodbuzz Phone Dump
sounds so fun!
sarah k @ the pajama chef recently posted..SRC: Honey Whole Wheat English? Muffins
That was a pretty amazing feast! Did you learn of any new bloggers that you’d like to follow?
Victoria recently posted..12 Minute Distractions
Godiva Coffee? Deliciousness!
Don’t worry, I hate beets too!
Alexa @ The Girl In Chucks recently posted..My Summer of (not) Running
Love the recap! Wish I could’ve made it!!
PS – I hate beets too :p
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic recently posted..Dia de los Muertos Dinner
Whoa, whoa, whoa – how did I miss the chocolate ganache bites on Friday night?!
I’m with you, I feel like all weekend I was eating, but some how never really feeling full. I think it’s because I just took little bites of everything.
Anyway, it was really nice meeting you this weekend!
It looks like the first day was so much fun!! Love all the delicious small plates and time to meet other bloggers! That Godiva coffee looks awesome!! I’m not big on beets either but I tried the golden beet salad at Delerosa and now I might be a beet believer!
Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola recently posted..Night at the Museum
Such a perfect recap of a fun night with the Courtneys! I had SO much fun with you all weekend!
Cate recently posted..Foodbuzz Festival and Kennedy Drive 8K
I was sad to have missed FoodBuzz this year but I definetely want to attend next year. That swag bag totally makes it look worth it.
Sounds like you had a great time, though! Yeah for amazing eating!
Rosa – Fitness Food Fulfilled recently posted..Moving On and Up
What is that lovely looking pink drink with the desserts?!
PS. I would love to meet as many Co’u'rtney’s as I can in one night/ weekend! How fun?!
Cortney @ Nerd on the Run recently posted..Back to Reality
JEALOUSY strikes!!!
I would have two fisted those desserts like nobody’s business!
Katie@Real Food Katie’s Way recently posted..Sneaky Cinnamon Buns!
Those desserts! Augh! I’d have gained ten pounds!
Christine @ BookishlyB recently posted..Haters Gonna Hate
Great re-cap post! I am enjoying seeing everyones perspective and pictures of the festival. It was nice to have seen you again! Hopefully at another local fitbloggin meet up too!
Great recap! It was cool meeting you
I agree, there was a lot of coffee schwag and I don’t drink it either. I told the Godiva people about my baking with their coffee because my husband doesn’t like flavoured coffees and at least they liked the idea! I felt bad when I got so much for the tastemakers and then again this weekend!
Shannon recently posted..FoodBuzz Dinner
It was great meeting you this weekend! The vegan options were a little weak at the reception dinner, thank goodness for all the hummus!
Christine (The Raw Project) recently posted..2011 Foodbuzz Blogger Festival Gala Dinner
That is some SWAG BAG!!!!
Now I tempted to be a wannabe food blogger just so I can attend this super awesome fest!
Audrey recently posted..Race Report: Akron Marathon