5 Reasons Food Bloggers Should Attend Food Blog Forum

I had the distinct pleasure of attending my second Food Blog Forum a few weeks ago, and what an amazing time it was! My first FBF experience was 2 years ago, and I had such a great experience {as is evident from the 4-part recap I wrote} that I just knew I had to secure tickets again this time around {which is no easy feat -- they sell out in 2 seconds flat. Literally.}.

Fun fact: I missed out on the first round of tickets and wound up having to try to get them while I was in labor! I was huffing and puffing having contractions and also yelling at Steve to make sure he was in front of the computer exactly when they went on sale. That's dedication right there.

There are tons of reasons why food bloggers attend conferences. Think of them as "professional development" -- but way more fun! Now that I have several conferences under my belt, I can truly say that Food Blog Forum is a conference that's worth attending. Instead of recapping this year's experience in a 4-part series {because now I have a baby and zero time for such things}, I thought I'd share my top 5 reasons for specifically attending FBF!

1. The Food
Ok, so obviously there's going to be a lot of food at a conference for food bloggers. But, surprisingly, that doesn't mean it's always the best.

This year, they absolutely outdid themselves for our conference lunch. Though our sleeping accommodations were at The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the conference itself was held at The Contemporary Resort, which is conveniently just a monorail-ride away. For lunch, we were whisked up to the 15th floor to the Contemporary's California Grill where we were greeted with sweeping vistas {though, sadly, masked by the gloomy weather that day} and a dazzling array of bites created by some of Disney's best chefs.

They really went out of their way to spoil us. Each and every bite was delectable and gorgeous -- like little masterpieces on a plate. What more could you expect from one of the most magical places to visit?

Of course, holding the conference on Disney property means that there are other great dining opportunities that many attendees choose to take advantage of at the hotels, parks and surrounding areas. Steve and I didn't make any formal dining reservations, but we did nibble our way around the world at Epcot, which was lots of fun.

Some noshing at the Polynesian Resort.

On the last day of the conference, we had an amazing brunch at East End Market -- a "neighborhood market and cultural food hub." Not only did they make it entertaining, but the food... OH, the food! I was stuffed. Then again, that seems to be the theme of FBF!

2. The Friends
One of my favorite parts of attending conferences is getting to mingle with other bloggers. There are so many bloggers that I've admired from afar, and so many that I've become "friends" with via social media. It's a nice treat to be able to chat face-to-face with these talented people!

Photo Credit: Kasey's Kitchen

I loved catching up with Heather {Heather Likes Food}, Kasey{Kasey's Kitchen}, Jessica {My Baking Heart}, Katie {Katie's Cucina} and Tina {My Life as a Mrs.} -- most of whom I met at FBF 2 years ago. I also finally got to meet Jessica {from The Novice Chef, whose blog inspired ME to start a blog!} for the first time, and made new buddies when I ran into Becky {The Cookie Rookie} and Carla {Alyssa & Carla}. It's amazing how it feels like you've been friends with some people for ages when you start to chat.

And on that note, here's a tip: TALK TO PEOPLE. I generally can't shut myself up, so this isn't usually a problem for me, but I can't tell you how many times I've gone up to someone at a conference only to be greeted by averted eyes or awkward silence! I know a lot of times folks who are outgoing in writing are actually quite introverted in real life, and that's ok. But try to take advantage of the opportunity to connect with other people who understand what you do. You never know, you might make a good business contact or even a great friend!

3. The Fun
Oh my gosh, guys. I cannot tell you how much fun was had during this particular trip. The folks at Disney hooked us up with the most wonderful gift -- media fast passes. Or, as a cast member at the Grand Floridian called them, "Super Special Magical Fast Passes." What that meant was that we could walk up to any line at any park and automatically join the FastPass line, shaving HOURS of wait time off of each queue. There are no words. Disney VIPs.

A personalized "Magic Band" loaded with super special FastPasses.

One of the perks of attending FBF at Disney is the fantastic deal that is just too good to pass up -- a conference pass, event attendance, 4-day park hopper passes and a 3 night stay at the Grand Floridian for a minimal cost. Two years ago, I went as a single attendee meaning that I had to have a random roommate during the conference. {It wasn't so bad, I ended up with someone very nice!}

Oh, hi. I'm never leaving. K, thanks.

This year, I took advantage of the price to invite my family members along and we all shared a room. They also got the same park passes that I did, so they were able to play all weekend long, even while I was at the conference. It is so, so worth it.

My little guy got to take his very first trip to Disney! Thanks FBF!

4. The Favors
As in, party favors or "swag." Conference attendees leave room in their luggage for all the goodies that we receive from sponsors. And a lot of it is fantastic stuff! {::cough:: GooGoo Clusters!!}

You will leave with anything from pens, kitchen gadgets and USBs to quality ingredients and food products to manufacturer's coupons for free product. And if you're lucky, you might even win one of the giveaway prizes, which range from gift baskets of product to high end appliances! I never win anything, but this time I won a case of hummus from Sabra. YUM. Hummus party, anyone??

5. The Foundation

I know I've only talked about the frivolous parts of conference-going, but there are obvious professional benefits that come from attending as well. Learning from some of the pros in your field is a great way to lay the foundation for blog beginnings or make sure you're "on track" if you're already seasoned. Conferences are also a great place to get re-inspired!

Our sessions this year were chock-full of information -- from food photography to monetization strategies to managing and avoiding "blogger burnout". I know it probably seems like food blogging is a no-brainer, but I promise there are a lot of complexities involved, especially when it goes from hobby to business! It's nice to have other bloggers who have been successful share their tips and tricks.

There will be notes to take and plans to make, but try not to get bogged down by all the details. I like to jot down key points, but more importantly, take note of those "aha!" moments that pop into my thoughts while I'm listening. Heaven knows with all the info flying at my brain, I won't remember them later on!

So, yeah. If you get the chance {and are lucky enough to snag a ticket!}, go to FBF. It's a worthwhile investment for growing your craft and a great little getaway, too! A huge thanks to all those who put time and effort into making this an amazing weekend for all of us, and a standing ovation to Disney who never disappoints in making it a magical time!

Food Blog Forum Orlando Recap {Part 4}

{Click here for Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of my FBF Orlando Recap!}

As if we had not been completely pampered the entire weekend with oodles of food and fun and gifts, we were invited to an evening dessert reception complete with a VIP viewing of Hollywood Studios' Fantasmic.

They escorted our group through a special entrance and this is where we ended up:

A large, elevated deck set up with glow-in-the-dark tables, a hot chocolate/coffee/liqueur bar, and some very creative {and mouthwatering} desserts.

Chefs making s'mores spheres.

More Mickey-shaped goodies & Rice Krispie pops.

Oh, we fancy, huh?

The two "show stoppers" were the Chocolate Risotto & the S'mores Spheres. I wish I could have gotten a better picture but there was a lot of weird lighting with the color-changing tables & stations. The S'mores dessert was a delicious little brownie, marshmallows, and graham cracker dust encased in a spherical chocolate shell. {It was dipped in a vat of liquid nitrogen and topped with warm chocolate sauce to help "crack" it open.}

The chocolate risotto was equally as delightful... and I think I may have to try to recreate it at home.

Yes, there is chocolate risotto underneath that mound of vanilla ice cream.

I was in such a tizzy over all the food, and so busy chatting with Vijay from NoshOn.It and Jen from Balancing Beauty & Bedlam that I hardly even noticed this was going on:

Mickey fighting off the dragon.

Just kidding. It was kind of hard to ignore.

After the reception, Sloane convinced me to go on the Hollywood Tower of Terror ride... one I had never been on in my many previous visits to the park. Lucky for her, it wasn't as bad as I thought. ;)

Exhausted {and on a sugar high}, we headed back to the hotel for a nightcap at the Grand Floridian's lounge and called it a night. We had more eating and mingling to do in the morning!

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For our final Food Blog Forum event, Whole Foods Orlando hosted a beautiful Sunday brunch at their store's outdoor patio for the attendees and their families.

Though it is hard to outdo a weekend spent surrounded by Disney magic, Whole Foods totally stole the show with their menu. 

I'm not even kidding. I was super impressed -- the presentation, flavor, and creativity was on point. {Confession: If pressed, I'd have to admit that the food I ate at Whole Foods was the tastiest I had all weekend.}

Just look at this cuteness.

Perhaps they knew that gelato is the way to this girl's heart. 

Hey look! That's Christine from Cook the Story! And my tasty Bananas Foster Gelato. Mmm.

It obviously doesn't take much to weasel your way into my affections. ;)

We ate, chatted, and listened to final words from our organizers. I made my way around to each table to make sure I got one last chance to meet some of the bloggers I still hadn't spoken with throughout the weekend... there's just not enough time when your mouth is chewing for 90% of your visit!

I got to thank Scott and Jaden {I totally pulled a fan-geek and told her about how she linked to one of my recipes a while back and sent me into a swoon-fest. :::blushing:::}, and had an impromptu career counseling pep talk from Jeff Houck {The guy is a hoot. Read his stuff!}. 

And then, just as quickly as it began... it was over. 

I felt a little bit like kids do on the last day of summer camp. I didn't want the fun to end.

Since it was still early in the day, Sloane, our new blogger buddy Heather {from Heather Likes Food} and I went to the Animal Kingdom park to squeeze the last bit of Disney fun out of our weekend. We were pretty efficient and got to ride a few of the key attractions including this:

Expedition Everest.

When it started pouring rain, we knew it was our cue to head home.

I can't put into words how wonderful the weekend was for me. It was my very first food blogging conference and I think all others will have a hard time living up to its greatness. It's so refreshing to feel like you finally found your true passion, and equally as incredible to connect with people who feel the same way you do.

The whole FBF Orlando crew.

If you are a food blogger, I highly recommend looking into attending Food Blog Forum next year... it will be held in Asheville, North Carolina, so start making plans. ;)  I hope to be able to have this magnificent experience all over again!

Food Blog Forum Orlando Recap {Part 3}

{For Parts 1 and 2 of my Food Blog Forum experience, click here or here.}

In my last post, I left off at breakfast, where we were greeted with glowing fruit salads & swag galore! We were all so amped to hear the speakers -- Jaden & Scott Hair of Steamy Kitchen and Diane Cu & Todd Porter of White on Rice Couple -- during the morning sessions. The excitement in the air was palpable.

Not the best pic, but it's what I got! ;)

The first session was called Redefining Success, and within the first 10 minutes, I knew they were speaking to my heart. As Scott & Jaden {and their 2 adorable boys} talked about on stage, we tend to chase the idea of success as defined by others rather than stopping to think about what emotion we are trying to attain by getting our hands on "that thing".

Getting down to the root of what you consider success is integral because most of us are really seeking the feeling that we think we'll have once we get "there". And, really, how can you get "there" if you don't know what "there" is? {I think I've maxed out my ""'s for one paragraph.}

Todd & Diane also shared some thought provoking messages in their session, Taking Your Visual Ideas to Flight. It was hard not to be completely swept away by their incredible talent: Creating stories with pictures. {If you have not checked out their stuff, do yourself a favor and DO.}

I'm not gonna lie... I may have gotten teary-eyed {um, multiple times} during their presentation. Not many people can convert simple photos into raw emotion as beautifully as they do. {Their adorable dog chasing bubbles in the garden. The pictures of those children playing together after a tragedy. Puddles, y'all.}

Photography tips & suggested tools were sprinkled throughout their presentation {not a ton of "how to" but a lot of "why to"} for practical application, but what I most took away from their session is a renewed sense of commitment to practicing my photography and storytelling.

And then... there was LUNCH!

Can I just tell you how giddy I was to make my way around the stations that were set up just for us? The theme was Disney Kid's Cuisine and they showcased some of the new, healthier options offered by the park for the wee ones as well as sumptuous comfort classics.

Not that it was any less elegantly presented just because it was "kid food".

I'll let the pictures do the talking.

We got back to work after a more than satisfying lunch break, and went straight into Technology Talk, moderated by Eric Deutsch of Excel PR Group and presented by Elise Bauer of Simply Recipes & Babette Pepaj of BakeSpace. It's easy to get lost in the food realm when you have a passion for, well,   food as we bloggers do. But it's important to remember that technology plays a huge role in sharing what we create. Between Pinterest, Google Hangout, YouTube, and a variety of other up and coming platforms, there is constant growth and change in how to reach audiences, and it's important to stay up to date and relevant.

I absolutely loved the session, Grassroots Community Building presented by Julie Deily of The Little Kitchen, Lindsey Landis of Love & Olive Oil, David Leite of Leite's Culinaria and Jeff Houck of the The Stew. We were offered tips and best practices to growing our community and keeping said members around.

Believe it or not, it can get kinda tricky being on this side of the screen. There's a fine line between entertaining and showboating, having a clear persona and becoming a "character". As bloggers, we're putting ourselves "out there"; to be loved, to be criticized, to be judged.

But the thing is, we're just regular people. Our feelings get hurt. We cry when people leave hateful comments. {"Your recipe sucked!", etc., etc.} Most of us worry what you might think. We stress about making sure we're giving you good, useful content. And sometimes, we have to check and make sure that we're staying authentic to who we really are... myself included.

See, when you read this blog you see the side of me that's intended for an audience; the side that likes to be goofy and put on a bit of a show. The part of me that has a funny story or a recipe to share with you, and unabashedly tells the world my business. {To be honest, I often forget anyone sees what I write. For so long, I'm pretty sure it was just my mom.}

Disclosure: Sometimes, I'm terribly frightened that you'll all stop reading. Or that this blog will stop growing and wither away. I get scared that if I don't work with cool brands, you won't respect my opinion. And that if I do, you'll think I'm selling out.

I wonder what opportunities will come to me from blogging -- Who I will meet, where I will travel, how much I'll get paid -- just like many of you wonder about the same things with respect to your profession.

In the end, it all comes down to one thing: My passion for doing what I do here. For encouraging you to cook and taste and experiment in the kitchen. For showing you some of the things I've made that I'm proud of. For getting to speak my mind, and many times, my heart right here in this tiny little corner of the interwebs.

When it comes down to it, it's about "feeding your soul, and not your ego" {thank you, Scott Hair, for that phrase}.

All the rest of the stuff? The perks, the freebies, the paid posts... they're pretty cool, too. But it isn't what this place is about for me. And I hope you'll help me remember that if it ever seems that I wander too far from center.

As a wonderful wrap up to the day of fabulous presentations, we were fortunate enough to have Tim Warzecha, a Disney Imagineer, speak to us about the creative process of bringing the Kidani Village and Sanaa restaurant to life.

To say I was impressed would be an understatement. I always knew that Disney had a knack for detail, but after listening to Mr. Warzecha describe the painstaking labor of love that it took to bring this creation to fruition, I was inspired {and floored}. Every little piece, down to every last pebble on the grounds, has a story and a purpose. It was a pleasure to get a rare behind the scenes glimpse at the amazing feat of producing a piece of Disney property.

The day was long, yes, but we still had an evening of dessert and Disney magic ahead of us at the closing reception, which I'll be giving you the low-down on in the next {and final!} recap post.

I thought long and hard about what I recipe I wanted to share in conjunction with this post... but we had SO many dishes that I couldn't decide! So instead, I'm sharing a recipe that we've been loving in my house: Kale Pesto.

We used it over the weekend as the "sauce" for a veggie pizza {Sans cheese. Big deal around here.} and loved it. Like a Disney Imagineer I like to innovate ways to incorporate healthy things into our diets in delicious and unexpected ways, and this pesto hits the nail on the head.

This recipe is one suggested method, but you can definitely add your own twist {Add Parmesan for a salty, cheesy bite. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes for a little kick, etc.} to make it your own.

Now, doesn't this make you want to eat your veggies??

Kale Pesto

4 large kale leaves, washed & dried
1 small bunch {about 10 leaves} fresh basil
2 small cloves of garlic
1/4 cup walnuts, toasted
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1/4 - 1/3 cup olive oil {I like mine more chunky & less oily, but you can add as much oil as you need.}

1. Place the first 6 ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until just chopped & incorporated. {You may need to use a spoon or spatula to scrape from the sides of the blender and push down between pulsing.}

2. With the blender or processor running, stream in olive oil and continue to blend until you reach desired consistency.

3. Store in the refrigerator in a air-tight container for use on pizzas, in sandwiches, on pasta, on chicken, fish, etc. etc. Get creative!

Food Blog Forum Orlando Recap {Part 2}

{For Part 1 of my Food Blog Forum recap, click here.}

How do you deal with meeting new people for the first time? What's your reaction when you find yourself in interesting social situations? {i.e. Meeting people you've already read all about.}

Me? I'm a babbler.

{I know what you're thinking. Me? Babble? Never.} ;)

I start talking and then I can't shut myself up. I talk to fill the silence with timid people. I talk to "put it all out there" and be open. I talk because I want the other person to feel like they're not the only one sharing. Or oversharing as the case may be.

So, even though I consider myself quite social, I can also be quite socially awkward. At least, that's what it feels like when it's happening.

You can imagine how I felt going into Friday evening's welcome reception with 125+ of my closest "friends" that I've never met.

Disney did their best to make us all feel at ease... beautiful little bites of food circulated the room, an open bar served up some liquid encouragement for flowing conversation, and the surroundings weren't too shabby, either.

Within the first few minutes, I found myself chatting with Elise Bauer from Simply Recipes {one of the very first food blogs I ever stumbled upon}, Megan from Wanna Be a Country Cleaver {one of my more recent favorites! I totally hugged her. I'm a nerd.}, Julie from The Little Kitchen {whom I had the privilege of meeting last year at Central Florida BlogCon}, and Lindsay from Love & Olive Oil.

Can I tell you what I said to these lovely folks? Nope. Not a word of it.

I was tuned into the Babble Station. All babble, all the time. I proceeded to yammer on for the rest of the hour with various other bloggers.

Fun Fact: I spoke with Tina from My Life as a Mrs. and we discovered that we're practically next door neighbors. Like, we shop at the same grocery store and everything. I also got to meet 2 more local bloggers -- Denise from Creative Kitchen and Michelle from The Domestic Mama & The Village Cook . South Florida Bloggers represent! ;)

By the end of the reception {which, by the way, was signaled by a woman walking around the room playing a xylophone-type contraption... Oh, Disney.}, I had made my way around the room and spoken to quite a few people but still had so many more I wanted to chat with!

We quickly changed into comfier "play clothes", and made our way to the Magic Kingdom in hopes of getting to ride a few of the highlights and catch the fireworks display & the parade.

Did I tell you we recruited a new park-hopping friend to our group at this point? Erin from Eat Drink Bake Cook {For the life of me I cannot remember the order of these words. I say it differently every time.} ... she was a doll!

It was just a tad windy waiting for the boat on the dock.

So, the three of us took on the Magic Kingdom after dark. As we discovered, there were a lot of changes to the park since the last time I visited, which made it sort of difficult to navigate. {Read: We got lost. A lot.} But we still managed to get to ride a couple of the "Mountains", and even some of the attractions in the new and improved Fantasyland.

Over by the new Beauty & The Beast area in Fantasyland.

Most importantly? I got a Dole Whip.

That is one happy Dole Whip-eating girl. 

We called it a night after the parade since we knew we had to be at breakfast by 8:00 a.m. and before I knew it, my alarm was going off and it was time for the conference!

..................................................

I'm SO not a morning person. But I have to say, the whimsical breakfast spread presented by Disney definitely made losing some sleep a little less painful.

How often do you get to start your day with a light-up fruit salad?

As if glowing breakfast items weren't enough to wake us up, we also received our swag bags around this time... oh, the swag! Our sponsors and friends really spoiled us rotten. I'm pretty sure I've already gained a few LBs from exploring all the edible goodies we were given.

Swag, unloaded from the bag at home. I'm pretty sure some of the stuff isn't even pictured here.

Guess what I'll be talking about in the next post??

You guessed it: More FBF, and more FOOD! 

I'll be sharing some of the insights I gained from listening to the wonderful presenters, as well as our Disney-tastic lunch. Can you believe everything I've shared all happened within the first 24 hours of the conference weekend?? No wonder I'm still recovering!

Since I've been busy getting back into the groove this week, I haven't had too much time in the kitchen, so I'm sharing an older recipe that was popular at a 4th of July party last year that you can bust out at your Memorial Day gatherings. 

It's a Strawberry-Peanut Butter Tart, and I'm pretty sure there's no way to mess it up. Not even if you're tired from a weekend of Disney fun. It's pretty, can be made to look "patriotic", and basically tastes like a big PB&J flavored cookie. How All-American is that?

Click over to the recipe here.