11.11.2009

Foodbuzz Blogger Festival in San Francisco



I left my heart in San Francisco
High on a hill, it calls to me
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars
The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care

My love waits there in San Francisco
Above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you, San Francisco
Your golden sun will shine for me 


Tony Bennett with Judy Garland

The 1st annual Foodbuzz Blogger Festival was a huge success. Congratulations and thank you to the entire Foodbuzz team for hosting this wonderful weekend in San Francisco.

Day 1
  • Welcome Reception, Hotel Vitale
  • Taste of San Francisco Street Food Fare, Ferry Building
Day 2
  • Morning at the Market, Ferry Building
  • Olive Oil Tasting, Hotel Vitale
  • Taste Pavilion, at the Metreon
  • Merlot Tasting, at the Metreon
  • Foodbuzz Dinner and Awards Ceremony, at GreenLeaf Produce Warehouse by Outstanding in the Field
Day 3
  • Farewell Brunch, Restaurant LuLu

Day 1
Hotel Vitale Landmark Terrace
Welcome reception with a view of the Ferry Building

Street Food Fare
The Chicharrones Girl
"A one-way ticket to chicharrones heaven."

Rotisserie Porchetta
Heritage’s free range pork loin rolled into the belly with Thomas’s original herb mix with lemon zest. Grilled on the rotisserie for four hours until crispy brown on the outside, succulent on the inside. 

Rotisserie Porchetta on Acme Roll 
With Curly Cress and Onion Marmalade

Day 2
The Ferry Building
Morning at the Market

Olive Oil Tasting
With Chef and Frontburner Blogger Michael Tuohy

Foodie Friends
Joan of Foodalogue
Lori Lynn of Taste With The Eyes

City View at the Metreon
Taste Pavilion getting ready to welcome 250 bloggers for a food and wine tasting and cooking demonstrations.

Merlot is Back, Baby!
Alder Yarrow, the granddaddy of wine bloggers and proprietor of 
Vinography.com guided us through a Merlot tasting.

Pouring Bonny Doon Wines
Father Adam and Randall Grahm, Winemaker

The Stupendous Serpentine Table
Seating 250 People




Crisscrossing North America, Outstanding in the Field's long, linen-draped table beckons adventurous diners to celebrate food at the source. Bringing together local farmers and food artisans, chefs and winemakers, exploring the connection between the earth and the food on your plate. Their mission is to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it. More about Outstanding in the Field here.

GreenLeaf Produce Display

Cooking a Gourmet Dinner in a Warehouse
Kudos to the team from Namu Restaurant!

Foodies in a Warehouse
GreenLeaf Produce Warehouse 
a terrific venue for a unique and enchanted evening...

Soup Line
Preparing to serve 250 bowls of soup.

The Soup: Mushroom Dashi, Maitake, Shimeji, Enoki

Salad Course
Udon, grilled Monterey calamari in a browned butter ponzu reduction, cucumber, kaiware, frisée & yellow pear tomato with chojang & sesame vinaigrette

Food Photographers
Danny of Kung Food Panda blog
photographing 
Mushroom Risotto with Koshihikari Rice
Crispy Maitake Mushrooms

Matt of Mattatouille blog
photographing 
Sea Trout Baked with DashiKombu
Fried Garlic, Japanese Curry Powder

Day 3
Build Your Own Bloody Mary

The festival ended with a delicious brunch and build-your-own Bloody Mary bar sponsored by Nature's Pride and Skyy Spirits at Restaurant LuLu. The Farewell Brunch was the perfect ending to an amazing weekend. Besides hanging out with my dear dear friend Father Adam, and getting to meet many awesome bloggers, my next favorite part of the event, being a table setting aficionado myself, was that Outstanding Table! I haven't stopped talking about it! A heartfelt thank you to the folks at Foodbuzz for all your planning and creativity and graciousness. The weekend rocked! 

Here I am enjoying Far West Fungi Vol au Vent 
from Spencer on the Go 
at the Street Food Fare
(photo courtesy of Father Adam)

To all my foodie friends, it was an absolute pleasure to get to know you! Best wishes for continued success with your fabulous blogs. I left my heart in San Francisco, how about you? See you next year!