Food and Wine Conference – Wrap Up #FWCon
It’s hard to believe that after months and months of planning and anticipation, the 2014 Food and Wine Conference is over. Deciding what to share with you was challenging because there were so many incredible highlights during the course of the three day event.
We were so fortunate the have some of the best speakers share their wealth of knowledge in their respective fields. Whether it was learning about social marketing, SEO, YouTube, writing, branding, media kits, photography or watching fabulous cooking demonstrations, everyone brought their ‘A’ game.
The sponsors were amazing and gracious with their time and products. Gallo Family Vineyards introduced their new Reisling Friday night at the Bloggers Blend. Gallo, also, did a wonderful job with pairing the wines for Saturday night’s Sunday Supper Family Style dinner. So many options and yet, Alexis and Jenni from Gallo Family Vineyards did a wonderful job explaining which wines work best with various foods!
Idaho Potato brought the big Idaho potato truck that was a hoot to walk around. Samuel, my son, is now the proud parent of a giant Spuddy Buddy as well as a couple of additional Spuds to join his Spud from last year’s conference. This works out really well, because Samuel has not missed sleeping with Spud since he came home. Below is my daughter, Shoshana, giving Samuel a sneak peak of his newest friend.
Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Cabot Cheese, Duda Farms, and Beef kept us happy as clams with their snacks; Datz spoiled us with gift cards and everyone loved riding in Fields Automotive Group’s cars. I, highly, recommend the Bentley! OXO introduced a new grape cutter that is fabulous for parents of young children who are susceptible to choking on grapes.
I had the pleasure of being the Brand Ambassador for Davidson’s Safest Choice Eggs. You may recall that I, recently, blogged about Davidson’s for my Brownie Batter Truffles not too long ago. It’s so easy to rave about a brand that I love.
The driving force behind the Food and Wine Conference is Isabel Reis Laessig. I am blown away when I think about all that she has accomplished since starting her blog only three years ago. Attendance nearly doubled from last year and the fun, learning and food was nonstop. Isabel inspires me to reach for the stars.
There was a Desserts Required highlight of winning 3rd place in the Dixie Crystals Brownie Contest with my Caramel Macchiato Brownies. It was an honor to be selected by Chef Eddy Van Damme. Sharing the ‘podium’ with my dear friends and fellow bloggers Jenni Fields from Pastry Chef Online and Liz Berg from That Skinny Chick Can Bake was, truly, special.
What I love the most is knowing that each year the Food and Wine Conference gets better and better. I can’t wait to see what Isabel plans for 2015!
