Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Blogger Bash

Sorry this will be a quick, rather rambling post, but I wanted to let you know that the Food & Wine Bloggers Bash was so much fun! I saw on Whole Foods Twitter that you should contact your local store if this is an event you would be interested in. Of course our Whole Foods is a huge landmark store with a culinary center that has three full kitchens, two of which are classrooms, and outdoor seating. Even though this was not a vegan food event, it was still great to be around folks that love food and wine. Our nationally renowned sushi chef, Tyson Cole of Uchi, did a demo and served up one of his famous rolls. It was filled with fish, but my sister gave me a piece with just rice and I must say it was the best rice I had ever tasted. And the sauce – OMG! Uchi is far too expensive for me to ever dine in, and I don’t even know if it serves vegan rolls, but I really think I should save my money and check it out. We talked with chef after the demo and got some pointers. And my sister learned that he has a restaurant in Alabama! Not in Montgomery where she lives, but in Birmingham. I got recipes and methods if you want them. Of course you’ll have to wash your sushi rice five times, but it would be so worth it. And grapes – yes, little green grapes – play a major role in his recipes and plating.

Whole Foods provided food as well, and I did get to eat some fabulous mushrooms. I also got to taste some of our wonderful Texas wines. And we got a huge gift bag to take home! I can’t eat any of the food goodies, but there is pomegranate soda, lotion, and bags and a t-shirt – woot!

Oh, I also spent some time talking to Rachel of Cupcakes Take the Cake. She was very interested in vegan and gluten free cupcakes, so I pointed her to some of our best local vegan and gluten free bakers.

I do hope this bash turns into an annual event. Our food writer, Addie Broyles, put this event together. She is not only adorable, but a true friend to local bloggers and a terrific blogger in her own right. Just in case you are interested, here is her write-up (please note she says Austin bloggers are the best!) and also the newpaper's video from the event. I’m not in the video, but my sister is. (She doesn’t even have a blog!) I do have pics on my sister’s camera, so when I get those I’ll post them.

Relish Austin 2009 March 17
Food bloggers rock (and bash pretty well, too)
By Addie Broyles Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 01:44 PM

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that we have the best food blogging community in the country right here in Austin.


The 60-70 Central Texas food and drink blogs I follow (and counting; I find a few more every week) are written by some of the most fun and engaged foodies I know. They work in tech, education, publishing, film and every other industry you could think of. None of them, to my knowledge, make a living off their blogs, yet they keep at it, day after day, meal after meal, kitchen disaster after kitchen triumph, sharing with the world their love of eating (and drinking!).

Getting to know the local bloggers has been the most rewarding part of my job for the past year, and to thank, honor and motivate them to keep doing it, Austin360 threw a food and wine blogger bash last night at Whole Foods downtown.

We invited as many bloggers (mainly local, but a handful of visiting bloggers who are here for SXSW) as we could fit in the room, and asked Tyson Cole of Uchi and Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due supper club to cook. Devon Broglie and the GO TEXAN wine program provided the Texas wine and know-how.

So, thanks so everyone who came out, and to everyone who writes, reads or otherwise supports local food blogs, it’s been an honor to get to know you all. I look forward to growing this strong community in the months and years ahead.

I didn’t get a chance to take a single photo, so if you did, leave a link in the comments.

Keep up the good work!

(I hope this video link works - fingers crossed.)





Tomorrow is a mini family reunion and lunch at my cousin’s restaurant about an hour from Austin. I’m hopeful she will prepare something fabulously vegan especially for me. But if not, I’ll be happy with a big ol’ salad.

16 comments:

Carrie said...

Oh wow that sounds like such an amazing experience!

Virginia said...

i am so glad you had fun! i don't even have a whole foods and have never been! *Jealous*!!!!

jessy said...

sounds like you had the most fabulous time! hooray for fun times & talk'n gluten free vegan cupcakes! mmmmmmmmm! last year ago i went to Uchi with a friend for her birthday - it was amazing. rather pricey, but amazing. they had this salad with greens 'n carrot-ginger dressing that i loved so much! mmmmmmm! and they have a few rolls that are vegan (the bond roll and the california roll without the "krab"), i told them i was vegan and the chef made me another roll that was tasty and not on the menu. so nice of them! (http://www.uchiaustin.com/menu.html)

hope you have fun at your mini reunion! yay!

Bianca said...

Sweet, I'm gonna contact my Whole Foods (or maybe the one in Nashville...it's one of those giant two-story ones with the culinary school upstairs...the Memphis one is much smaller). Glad you had a great time!

Anonymous said...

Oh what fun! Cupcake talk is always a good thing! I'm feeling inspired to try to cultive that kind of community here. I need to get moving!
Have fun at your mini-reunion!

Vegan_Noodle said...

Sounds like such a fun time!!

Not Another Omnivore said...

Glad you had such a great time!

NAOmni

allularpunk said...

sounds like great fun! glad you enjoyed it :)

MeloMeals said...

What fun!!

Andrea said...

What a terrific event. I haven't heard anything about our local Whole Foods hosting something like that. I just wish they would offer food and goodies that vegans can appreciate, too. That would make it even better.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful event! I am definitely going to contact our local Whole Foods to see if they'll do something similar here. Sounds like you had an amazing time! Hope the reunion is fun, too (and you get something fabulous to eat) :)

Unknown said...

Makes me wish I lived in Austin...maybe I should just visit.

peace,
mike
livelife365

Erin said...

That's such a cool idea for a party! Sounds like a great community ya'll have going on down there.

Lisa said...

Just one more reason why Austin is so great! I love visiting. Glad you had a good time!

Alicia said...

Sounds like fun. I'll have to check out any future happenings. Rachel and Addy were both on the food blogging panel I went to at SXSW.

Sheree' said...

sounds like a great time!!! I worked at my first "Meat Out" today and we all had a blast. I am hoping to get pictures up Sunday or Monday!!