BlogHer Food 2014 | Part 2

Did you catch Part 1 of my BlogHer Food recap? If not, you can check it out here.

After a long day of learning, networking and eating, it was so nice to get a good night's sleep. If only this were my view every night!

The next morning I took my time getting ready since I didn't have to worry about checking in, then headed back down for another jam-packed day of blogging info.

I just have to say that there is something so wonderful about food bloggers. Whether I was connecting with people who I keep up with online or meeting folks for the first time, I felt like I had known everyone for years. It's an instant bond... like going to foodie summer camp! {Hey, anyone want to make that the next official conference? I'd sign up!}

The morning started out breakfast and an informative session about social media, which I really needed. Did you know that aside from the blog, I also have to keep on top of my Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram accounts? It's a lot for one girl to do! {Part time, no less!}

Learning from the pros like Amanda {I Am Baker}, Christy {The Girl Who Ate Everything}, Jory {co-founder of BlogHer} and Julie {The Little Kitchen} was so very eye-opening. These ladies really know their stuff -- as is evident by their bajillions of followers -- and have learned through trial and error just how to navigate the {often muddy} waters of seamless, efficient social media. Their tips ensured that I'm on the right track and also gave me some new things to consider as far as making my social media more interesting, useful, and user-friendly for the people who count the most -- readers!

But because many times gaining knowledge means having new questions, I decided to attend a session presented by Lisa Wells {Cook Eat Paleo} & Lisa Leake {100 Days of Real Food}. They talked a little more in depth about tools to make Pinterest and Facebook work best for me and reach more of you! It's a little easier to take someone's word when they have over 1 million {!!!} Facebook fans! {P.S. Apparently Facebook isn't working too well for anyone these days...}

Of course, all that learning meant that fuel supplies were running low, so we loaded up on buses and headed to the Mary Brickell Village area of Miami for lunch. After some talk of options, we wound up at this very charming spot called Dolores... But You Can Call Me Lolita. {Yes, that's really the name. So cute, right?} It's an old fire station that was converted into a chic restaurant, and it's just adorable.

Many of us got appetizer portions and passed them around. I love being able to see and taste several of a restaurant's offerings!

This is what toasting looks like when you're with food bloggers.

We enjoyed ourselves so much that we sort of missed the bus back to the hotel. Oops. No worries... that's what free public transportation is for, right? IF you know how to navigate the city you're in. We accidentally got a little turned around and wound up on an impromptu tour of downtown Miami via MetroRail. But eventually, we made our way back just in time for more sessions... and snacks.

Speaking of snacks, you guys have got to check out CVS's new line of smart snacks called Abound. When they're officially out, that is. We got a sneak peek. Blogger perks. They sponsored the "snack lounge" at the conference and oh.my.gosh. I'd be lying if I said I didn't go in there at least 10 times to grab some munchies. I'm slightly obsessed with their Blueberry Rice Squares. And I couldn't stop eating the "Probiotic" Trail Mix. Keep an eye out for their launch, folks.

That evening, the closing keynote addressed the tricky task of working with brands. It is a lot harder than you think! Blogging is still a relatively new thing, not to mention the business of blogging {i.e. what and how bloggers get paid}. Often, that newness leaves a lot of room for a disconnect between the bloggers like me who want to bring you fabulous content that you will actually want to read {while getting paid to do so}, and the brands that want to have their products promoted through our platforms. The good news is there IS a way to create a harmonious balance between the two! The bad news: That balance looks different for everyone, and it's up to each blogger and brand to work it out.

{Side Note:} You will notice that over the past year or so I've started to team up with brands and bring you "sponsored" content. In short, this means that I'm being compensated in some way to share information about the brand -- sometimes with product or opportunities, sometimes with money. Gotta pay the bills {and my student loan lender won't let me pay in artisanal crackers. Darn.} However, it is extremely important to me to only choose to work with brands that fall in line with what I believe about food and cooking. I give each opportunity a lot of thought before accepting it, and have turned down those that just don't fit with who I am. As my blog grows, it's important to me to stay true to the essence of its core {food that is as real as possible with the occasional naughty treat thrown in here and there}, and that's why you'll always see a disclosure at the bottom of posts that I'm paid for. Just wanted to let you know how it all works!

That night, the closing party was hosted in the trendy, artsy Wynwood area of Miami at Cafeina Wynwood Louge. It was fun to get dressed up and mingle with all the attendees, but alas, the weekend caught up with me and I decided to call it a night early. But not before meeting the fabulous Ree Drummond {The Pioneer Woman}!

Me & Shaina with her blogging majesty, Ree.

In the end, what I learned at this conference was so important: Whether I make a living or a few extra pennies from my blog, I will always treasure it. Writing is my passion. Writing about food, my bliss! Connecting with people, my delight. The fact that I get to do all of those things in this little spot I get to call my own? Absolutely priceless.

Here's hoping I can attend BlogHer Food next year!

BlogHer Food 2014 + The Miami Mocktail



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Where do I begin?! As I mentioned in Friday's post, I spent my weekend at the BlogHer Food conference which took place in balmy {that's the polite way to say it was very humid} downtown Miami.

BlogHer Food is the second large-scale food blog conference I've ever attended, and I couldn't wait to see how it compared to Food Blog Forum... especially because, having been held at the Happiest Place on Earth, it was a tough act to follow!

Some of the festivities began on Thursday night, but I decided to relax and get settled in -- room service, terrycloth robe and Grey's Anatomy -- and rest up for the busy weekend ahead. So far so good! My mom & my aunt were my roomies as they were having their own "staycation" over the weekend. Our suite was lovely with a beautiful city view!

After an early wake-up on Friday morning, I headed down to the ballroom level to check in. Five minutes in, I had a whole bag of swag! A walk around the sponsor tables loaded me up with even more goodies {which I dropped back off at the room, thank goodness}, and soon it was time for breakfast and the opening sessions.



What I learned was this: I was way too amped up to learn much of anything. ;) So, Plan B kicked into effect rather quickly -- Socialize! {And snack on samples!}




Borrowed from Hip Foodie Mom's Instagram feed.

Adorable sea salts from South Walton.

A little early morning cheese tasting with Kerrygold USA!



Can't get enough Brownie Brittle!

Though it was hard for me to focus, I did manage to soak in some good information that afternoon about seeking the "Next Steps in a Food Career." It was probably my favorite session, mainly because JL Fields {JL Goes Vegan} and Meseidy Rivera {The Noshery} were a hoot, but also because they shared a lot of information along with the knowledgeable Carrie Forrest {Carrie on Vegan} & Jeanette Chen {Jeanette's Healthy Living} on the steps I should be taking to turn my passion into a "real job."

{Wordy} Side Note: Currently, I blog part time and though I dream of making my full living from this wonderful little project, a lot of hard work and serious business savvy goes into it! My biggest takeaway? Learning how to balance whether or not a job is "worth it" to take. I have a hard time saying "no", and I hate to turn down opportunities, especially if I like the person or brand who approaches me. But sometimes, the time it would take to work on a project isn't worth the amount I'm making from it -- mostly because I take quality very seriously and try very hard not to throw something together without it earning my own stamp of approval {which can be very hard to attain!}. Though it seems like everything is fun and games around here {and a lot of it is!}, it also takes time, effort, work and patience to put together what I want The Kitchen Prep to stand for. I'll be sharing a more in-depth post very soon that will explain what goes into creating a post & maintaining a blog, in case you were ever curious!


Terrible picture... but that's him! Hi David!

I also got to hear David Lebovitz' keynote address, which I enjoyed because he's super honest and funny! I was thisclose to picking up his book and waiting in line to have it signed, but in the end, I got lured over to the food that was set out and just looked on from afar as he signed away. Can you blame me?

Though I got a lot from the great speakers in the conference, I think I learned the most from speaking with other bloggers who have or are experiencing the same pitfalls and victories that I experience on a daily basis. Not to mention, the girls who I connected with during this conference were just plain awesome, and we had so much FUN!

A special shout out to the lovely & talented:

• Melissa of Hungry Food Love
• Allie of Baking a Moment
• Alice of Hip Foodie Mom
• Connie of Urban Bakes
• Abby of The Frosted Vegan
• Karis of Karis' Kitchen
• April of Food 'n Focus
• Ngoc of San Jose Food Blog
• Jocelyn of Grandbaby Cakes
• Shaina of Take a Bite Out of Boca
• Katie of Ruffles & Truffles
• Brandie of Spoon & Saucer
• Katie of The Hill Country Cook

If you haven't checked out their blogs, take some time to head over there... they are women with hearts as beautiful as their food photography & writing talents!

That evening a group of us headed to the swanky Epic Hotel for a party hosted by Duda Farm Fresh Foods and CrunchPak.

Even though I can't enjoy a real cocktail at the moment, I still got to toast to a day of amazing experiences with a bright and delicious mocktail made by a very sweet bartender! As we squeezed past girls in tight dresses waiting on the never ending cab line at the end of the night with bags of pre-cut apples and celery coupons in hand, I realized that I love my foodie life and wouldn't give it up for all the flat abs and stilettos in the world! ;)

I'll be sharing more about Day 2 in a later post!

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So, obviously, there were no cocktails for me this weekend despite all the wonderful cocktail receptions and boozy offerings throughout the weekend. Being the only one without a fruity drink in your hand can make you feel a little left out. But not if you concoct your own creation...

Inspired by the flavors of a mojito, this Miami Mocktail contains all the things that make libations fun to sip -- minus the booze!

One thing I find in a lot of mocktails is that they're too sweet without any kick. Adding a dash of coconut balsamic vinegar to this "faux-jito" gave it just enough edge to balance out the sweetness of the mint simple syrup and citrus juices. The muddled grapefruit gives just a touch of bitterness and my newest find thanks to BlogHer Food -- Cascade Ice Sparkling Water -- lends some effervesce with a hint of Citrus Twist flavor.

With a mocktail like this, you won't feel like you're missing out on anything. Except maybe a hangover. And nobody wants one of those!

The Miami Mocktail
Makes 2 mocktails

10 mint leaves, divided
1 lime, halved; one half divided into 4 wedges, the other half juiced
1 grapefruit, halved; one half divided into 4 wedges, the other half juiced
2 teaspoons coconut balsamic vinegar, divided
4 teaspoons mint simple syrup {see below for recipe}
Cascade Ice Sparkling Water in Organic Citrus Twist

1. Divide mint leaves among two highball glasses. Add 2 lime wedges and 2 grapefruit wedges to each glass. With a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, smoosh together the fruit and mint to release the oils from the mint and citrus.

2. Add a teaspoon of balsamic {or more to taste} and 2 teaspoons of mint simple syrup to each glass and stir. Fill glass with ice.

3. Pour half of the grapefruit & lime juice from the remaining halves into each glass. Top with sparkling water and garnish with mint.

For Simple Syrup:

Bring 1/4 cup water & 1/4 cup sugar to a boil in a pot over high heat. Boil for a minute until sugar is completely dissolved, then remove from heat. Throw in a handful of mint sprigs and allow to steep until the syrup is cooled. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Savoring South Beach | Miami Culinary Tours

Sometimes I forget that the area where I live is where people choose to spend their time vacationing. I guess being a South Florida native can make you take warm weather, sandy beaches and turquoise waters for granted.

Another thing I often overlook? My close proximity to Miami! I mean, people from all over the world fly in to spend time in a place that's just a little over an hour from my home... driving distance. And here I am, complaining that Miami is too far away for more visits. {By "far away", I obviously mean outside the invisible force field that keeps me from crossing the Palm Beach County line.}

When I got an email from Miami Culinary Tours inviting me to come check out the local cuisine, I decided it was high time I venture down to the place that beckons to sun-worshipers, culinary enthusiasts and celebrities alike. {Did I mention I was actually born in Miami??}

Miami Culinary Tours offers several different tasting experiences from Little Havana to the artsy Wynwood neighborhood. I decided to take the South Beach Tour since my last visit to the trendy locale was over 10 years ago!

Our tour guide, Cassie, was cute as a button and full of all kinds of information about the area, the history and, of course, the food! We got to the good stuff right away at our first stop...

Stop 1: 660 at The Angler's
Bite: Scallop Tiradito with Aji Amarillo, Garlic Chips & Lemon Oil

Steve and I had some time to take a peek around The Angler's Boutique Hotel before the tour began and it was charming. The chic restored Mediterranean revival resort had features like dreamy vine-covered walls and cozy seating areas tucked away that make you want to stay a while. {Or, you know, forever.}

Chef Carlos Torres spices up the menu with mouthwatering items with a "Floribbean" flair. The Scallop Tiradito was bursting with flavor {and a touch of heat} and it definitely whetted our appetites for all the food to come!

Stop 2: Bolivar Restaurant
Bite{s} & Sip: Deep Fried Corn Empanadas, Seasoned Shredded Chicken atop a Crunchy Plantain & a "Refajo" Cocktail

We walked over to Bolivar where the vibe quickly changed from relaxed to energized. The bright, quirky space had a fun feel to it and the food followed suit!

Though I'm not a huge fan of deep fried foods, the Columbian-style empanada and crunchy plantain with shredded chicken paired with a spicy chimichurri-type sauce were both too flavorful to refuse. The most surprising part of the sampling came when we were served "Refajo" cocktails, made from a combination of soda & beer! A bit odd, yes, but refreshing and pretty tasty!

Stop 3: David's Cafe
Bite & Sip: Pastelito de Guayaba & Cafe Cubano

You simply can't experience Miami fully without Cuban coffee and guava pastries. It's a law, I think. So, our next stop at David's Cafe was abiding by the rules of South Florida. We strolled up to the ventanita {window} at David's for our little taste of Miami.

I have eaten many a guava pastry in my life. David's didn't disappoint with its flaky pastry and sticky, sweet guava filling Truthfully, I think it's hard to make a pastelito that I don't like. The thimble-sized shots of Cuban coffee counteracted any lethargy that might have been taking hold at this point in the tour. Syrupy sweet and s.t.r.o.n.g. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but exactly how I like my coffee! It's the Cuban in me, what can I say.

Stop 4: Jerry's Famous Deli
Bite: Raspberry Rugelach

Because we weren't on enough of a sugar high after our Cuban treats, we headed over to Jerry's Famous Deli for another sweet bite. Jerry's wasn't at all what I expected -- quite an expansive space! Though it was large, it still maintained that definitive delicatessen feel with menu options to match. Classics like matzo ball soup and pastrami on rye mingled with unexpected additions like flavored martinis and "SoBe Mex" options.

We each sampled a delicious Raspberry Rugelach, a traditional Jewish favorite. I really enjoyed the cookie {though I was starting to feel pretty stuffed!} with the rich dough and fruity filling with cream cheese adding a creamy cheesecake-like addition. I want to recreate these at home!

Stop 5: Block's Pizza Deli
Bite: The "Sundried Hippie" Pocket

I couldn't believe we had a few stops left, but I marched on to our next location, Block's Pizza Deli. I'm not going to lie, I initially thought that this particular stop was a little out of place. You could tell it was a newer location, and I personally don't identify pizza with South Beach. But my questioning was soon halted when I took a bite of the "Sundried Hippie" Pocket, a delicious combo of sundried tomatoes, feta, baby spinach, pesto, and kalamata olives.

While we ate, I looked around and got a better understanding for what sets Block's apart from "just another pizza place." I found the concept of the "Mother Dough" fascinating, and I loved the fact that they really do focus on fresh, quality ingredients -- they don't even have any freezers! I would definitely want to check this place out another time.

Stop 6: Charlotte Bakery
Bite: Argentinian Chicken Empanadas 

I could have happily curled up on a bench somewhere and drifted away into a food coma by this part of the tour, but we still had more eating to do at Charlotte Bakery.

As soon as I walked in, I just had a good feeling about this spot. A family-owned and operated location, Charlotte's offers something I just adore: A smorgasbord of cultural delicacies served under one roof {and in this case, inside one bakery case}. I loved the fact that each empanada and bite was labeled with the country of its origin {as each country has its own unique approach}.

The Argentinian empanada we were served differed greatly from the deep-fried, corn tortilla-enveloped version we had earlier int the day. This baked empanada was bundled by a soft, flaky pastry and filled with seasoned, shredded chicken. Bottles of creamy avocado-cilantro sauce were passed around {and I seriously wanted to stick one in my purse to take home with me. So good.} for dipping, and the two flavors went together perfectly. I had all of 3 bites and had to throw in the towel because we still had one more stop before the end of the tour...

Stop 7: Milani Gelateria
Bite: GELATO!

As full as I was, there was no way I was going to turn down gelato. And upon seeing the rotating roulette {click for an Instagram video} of flavors at Milani Gelateria, I was mesmerized.

Milani is located in what I thought was the cutest area of all the places we visited, Espanola Way. It's sort of adorable. And romantic. It made me want to find a table to sit at with Steve and enjoy a glass of wine. But alas, we had gelato eating to do. {And obviously, that's way more important.}

We each got to choose a flavor {I picked Bacio which tastes like Nutella, no surprise there}. The gelato was just what I hoped it would be: smooth, silky, rich... pure perfection. The perfect way to wrap up an amazing day of gluttony!

Disclosure: Miami Culinary Tours gave me two complimentary passes for this experience. I was not compensated for this post, and as always, all opinions here are my own! 

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The tour gave me such an appreciation for the beauty of South Beach and made me want to come back for more. There wasn't one stop that I wouldn't return to, which I would call a success. It was way beyond what I expected, and I think it's a great way to get a feel for the area whether you're a visitor or a local.

The next time I feel like trying something new, I think I'll head back down to South Beach and do some more exploring! A huge thank you to Miami Culinary Tours for the reminder that there's an epicurean adventure right in my own backyard!

Want a little taste of South Florida? Try some of my Cuban family favorites, including my Abuela's famous Arroz con Pollo Relleno {"Stuffed" Chicken & Rice}!

Arroz con Pollo Relleno, Croquetas de Jamon, Flan de Naranja

Yuca con Mojo, Bocaditos, Pastel de Guayaba y Queso