BlogHer Food 2011 Atlanta

I honestly don’t even know how to begin to re-cap the amazing and dare I say rapturous weekend I had at BlogHer Food 2011.

Getting to spend time with people who are just as obsessed about food, cooking, and writing as me, absorbing all sorts of insights, tips, and tricks from my peers in various sessions throughout the day, and the connections I made that weekend — how do I convey all that?

I promised myself that while I was at the conference I wouldn’t spend the whole time taking pictures and tweeting, because I didn’t want to miss out on the experience itself. But I feel like the pictures I did take help capture the essence of the weekend. So while I won’t do a minute-by-minute recounting of the weekend, I will blast you with the pics I did take and hope that what they say is indeed true and that pictures are worth a thousand words.

The three ladies who made RockHer Blogger Bash 2011 happen:  Leslie (The Hungry Housewife), Susan (She’s Becoming Doughmesstic), and Brandi (BranAppetit).

Susan, Tina (My Life as a Mrs.) and Brandi.

Me and Carrie (Fields of Cake).  We really hit it off.  Plus she looks a lot like my friend Kelly!

Me and Brandi.  I was so excited about meeting her in person finally.  But not in a stalker kind of way.  I promise!  There are a few bloggers who I’ve emailed with and exchanged blog comments with, and then when I meet them in person it’s like I’ve always known them.  That’s how I felt when we met on Thursday.

We loved his fabulous white leopard print pants!  And yes, I’m just that freakishly short.

Swag bags!

Just a few of the many sponsors at the conference.  We had plenty of time over the 2 days of the conference to sample goodies and chat up the sponsors.

All that’s just day 1!

Day 2 was just as busy as the first day.  More very informative sessions, and then we got to take a field trip to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, which is a farmer’s market in downtown Atlanta.  I worked close by for a few months last year but this was my first time ever going there.  Won’t be my last!

Food trucks!  And yes, that’s David Lebovitz standing in line.  I introduced myself to him on Thursday night and he kept telling me how much he was towering over me and how short I was.  I think he’d had a couple drinks. 🙂

I almost walked right by Miss D’s New Orleans Style Candy, and then I saw they were giving out samples of popcorn.  I got fried pickle flavored popcorn.  I immediately bought a container of the Cajun fried pickle popcorn and the Cheesy Cajun popcorn.  Oh yes, so so good.

I will also be returning to the Sweet Auburn Bakery — they were giving out samples of their amazing sweet potato cheesecake.  One bite was enough to win me over.

Leave it to me to find the bookstore and head straight for the cookbooks!

Need a whole pig?

I had heard about Grindhouse Killer Burgers before, no way was I passing up the chance to try it out!

While we were waiting in line, I met Sonia and Raj of Flipcookbook!  I love these girls, they are so fun!

Begin burger porn:

Oh yeah, baby.

How insanely cool are these shoos?  Still trying to figure out how one would walk or stand in them.

Partying it up at the Tabernacle to mark the end of the conference.

I got to hear David Leite of Leite’s Culinaria speak at one of the conference sessions.  I figured it’d be easier to approach him and say hi after we’d all had a couple drinks at the party. 🙂

Just some more new blogger friends I made:  Sues and Chels of We Are Not Martha!  This was moments before a wave of dancing bloggers threatened to engulf us.

And so ended the conference.

Even though all this took place over the course of a weekend, I feel like I’ve made some very good friends already and I hope we all keep in touch.   There were many many more bloggers I met and I look forward to reading their blogs and getting to know them better.

My mind is just swimming with new ideas and inspiration from the conference sessions and speaking with others.  Seriously. Just ask Mr. Spice, who I’ve bombarded with ramblings and ideas.  Poor guy (he handles all the techy parts for me).

I can’t wait for next year.

And in the meantime, if you find yourself in Atlanta again, don’t forget to say hi!