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!
What a fantabulous summary of the Food and Wine Conference, Betsy! Congratulations again on your huge caramel machiatto brownie win =) Love all your great photos…including the one with your daughter =) Thank you for including me!
Kim a/k/a The Ninja Baker,
You have no idea how fantabulous (love this new word!) it was meeting you. You have been so kind and wonderful to me since I joined the Sunday Supper Movement. Thank you!
I am so so glad I made the trip and attended the conference! I had a blast! And so glad I got to meet you and had the time to talk and get to know you! Wonderful conference and I cannot wait until next year’s!
Jamie,
Thank you. I feel the same. You inspire me to become a better writer!
Fabulous write up and so happy to have met you, I know our paths will cross again and again!
Wendy,
Thank you and I look forward to seeing you again…hopefully sooner rather than later!
Fabulous wrap up of the conference, Betsy! I wish I could go back in time and relive the entire weekend. I had so much fun meeting you and everyone else. I can’t wait until we’re all back together again!
*write up I mean, not wrap up, lol!
Teehee Nancy! Either works, beautifully, for me!
Nancy a/k/a Gotta Get Baked,
Thanks so much. I had a fabulous time at the conference and you were a highlight as well. Come visit South Florida….it is MUCH warmer than Canada!
Great write up! So many great moments! I truly loved meeting you and dining with you at the Sunday Supper dinner.
Run DMT,
I feel the same way. I look forward to a Road Trips For Food over to Tampa so we can hang at Datz with our friend, Deborah!!
I loved reading your summary, looking at your photos and reliving the weekend. I agree that is was a fantastic conference – so much inspiration and such a fun and interesting group of people! It was so great to meet you and your daughter! I look forward to exploring your yummy blog! Lisa
Lisa,
Thanks so much, Lisa. I appreciate your comments and I know Shoshana does as well.
I am looking forward to checking out Panning the Globe! What a VERY cool concept. 🙂
I have always wanted to attend a blog conference. Your post makes me want to even more. It seems like a great time and a good way to connect with other bloggers.
Laura,
Thanks so much. I have only been to the Food and Wine Conferences and know that I learned so much at both of them. The connection to friends I had only met previously online is wonderful and it is, also, very nice to realize that we bloggers are part of a very large and warm community.