Showing posts with label blogger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogger. Show all posts
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Voting Is Open for The Gulf Oyster Industry Councils Taste America Guest Blogger Contest!
- New York
- Boston
- Philadelphia
- Washington, DC
- Miami
- Chicago
- Las Vegas
- Phoenix
However, I truly believe that we’re an ideal fit for this contest, and wed do a great job for the GOIC. So...Im asking for your help. If you enjoy our culinary travelogues andwould like to see us visit one of the cities above to share their culinary highlights with you, then show us some love. Voting is very easy via Facebook. There are a few simple steps, which take all of 30 seconds…but it would mean a lifetime of culinary memories for The Weekend Gourmet. Here’s how to vote for us:
- Click on this Facebook link.
- Like Gulf Oyster Industry Council when prompted.
- Vote for The Weekend Gourmet by entering your e-mail address [NOTE: This does NOT sign you up for promotional e-mails. Its to ensure that each person only votes once].
- Feel good knowing that youve helped The Weekend Gourmet move one step closer to winning!
Voting lasts until Labor Day (September 2nd) and is open to any Facebook user. After you vote, please feel free to share the voting link via your social media avenues as well. If everyone reading this article takes 30 seconds to vote for us? We’ll win this contest in a landslide!
To sweeten the pot, I have a fun incentive to share with my readers. Anyone who votes for The Weekend Gourmet and leaves me a comment below letting me know will be entered in a giveaway featuring signature food items from the city we visit. Its just our way of saying thanks for your support! The giveaway could be H&H Bagels and Levain Bakery chocolate chip cookies from New York…or perhaps Garrett’s Popcorn from Chicago...or perhaps some other culinary surprise. But...we have to win the contest first. Thank you in advance for your support!
Speaking of seafood, come back here tomorrow…I’ll be sharing a fabulous recipe for Pecan-Crusted Lemon Pepper Tilapia with Pico de Gallo Cream Sauce. It’s easy to make and bursting with the big flavors that I love.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Pritikin Longevity Institutes 35th Anniversary Blogger Contest
I was recently invited to take part in the Pritikin Longevity Centers 35th Anniversary Blogger Contest. If youre not familiar with Pritikin, they focus on healthy living via a three-pronged approach focused on healthy eating; cardiovascular, strength, and stretching activity; and a healthy mindset. I really like that their approach is holistic and focuses on health rather than a quick-fix approach to weight loss. For my entry, Im sharing a health goal that I want to reach by 2015. So...here it goes for all of the Internet to see: My health goal for 2015 is to lose 30 lbs. and lower my cholesterol under 200. Because of the nature of what I do via The Weekend Gourmet, this is going to be a challenge...but its one that I know must be done. Im closing in on 50 in a couple of years (not sure how THAT happened...), and maintaining a healthy weight is suddenly about more than rocking a bikini. Its about staying healthy and living a longer life. Im hoping that a weekend stay at the Pritikin Longevity Center will be the catalyst to make some changes in my health...and my waistline.
I love having a food blog...which started because of my love of good food and wine. I freely admit that being a food writer has a lot of great perks. I receive samples of food products several times a week, and were often invited to visit fabulous restaurants for menu tastings. This is great fun...but it has had one negative aspect that I dont write about much in here: weight gain. True confession time: Ive gained 30 lbs. since starting The Weekend Gourmet in 2010...or about 10 pounds per year (yikes!)...and the extra pounds definitely show when I take photographs. If I keep it up at that rate...its not going to be pretty. I dont want to buy clothes another size larger, so I have to do something pronto. Im hoping that Pritikin can be the spark that I need to make some much-needed changes. I need to find balance in my life. Between a busy day job and running an ever-growing blog? Sometimes exercise and taking time to focus on me fall by the wayside. I want to learn to balance my time so I can provide great content here...while finding time to go for a 30-minute evening walk. I want to enjoy the perks of being a food writer...but in a responsible way that allows me to steadily lose weight. 
Deprivation simply will not work for me...so Pritikins moderate, healthy approach really appeals to me! If Im selected as the winner in this contest, Ill receive a weekend at the exclusive Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami. While there, I would take part in the weekends official 35th anniversary celebration. Id also take part in fitness classes, and interactive nutrition and cooking classes. I think this weekend would be the jumpstart that I need to meet my health goal. Exercise and healthy eating will definitely help me lose weight and lower my cholesterol to a healthier level. If I am selected by Pritikin, Ill share the experience in here...and keep everyone updated on my progress throughout the rest of the year. To find out more about Pritikin and its program, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.Disclosure: I was invited to participate in Pritikin Longevity Centers 35th Anniversary Blogger Contest. All opinions expressed are my own.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Foodbuzz Blogger Festival 2012 aka San Francisco or Bust!
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| My official credentials...always love seeing my blog name in print! |
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| Like oysters? Then Farallon is the place for you! |
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| Fabulous salmon, creamy cauliflower puree, and roasted brussels sprouts! |
By the time we finished dessert, I was ready to change into my jammies and head to bed...but not before I looked through all the goodies in my welcome bag and called Michael to say goodnight. I slept like a baby...and woke up rested for a jam-packed day of activities. First stop was The Ferry Building Marketplace.
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| Say cheese! Hamming it up on BART with Christi from Mom, Whats for Dinner? |
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| The Ferry Building Marketplace, on the Embarcadero in San Francisco...this is foodie heaven, my friends! |
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| A very small sampling of the huge weekend farmers market outside the Ferry Building Marketplace! |
We wanted to finish the scavenger hunt quickly, because the four of us had been selected to take part in a bonus weekend event: a special tour and tasting at the TCHO chocolate factory on Pier 17. We learned about the companys commitment to making the best-quality, delicious chocolate...and doing it in a manner that helps cacao farmers around the world. It was fascinating and tasty! Each variety of chocolate has a distinctive flavor profile...but no flavorings are added. The unique taste of the cacao bean used has a specific flavor: Chocolaty, Nutty, Citrus, or Fruity. After viewing a video presentation and walking through the production facility, then came the fun part: tasting! We sampled each flavor in their lineup, along with biscotti and the intensely delish drinking chocolate. People, this is some serious chocolate...so please check it out!
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| TCHO chocolates...ready to be purchased and eaten! |
After the tasting, it was time to head over to the City View at Metreon for the Tasting Pavilion. Tons of food and wine vendors had booths set up for us to sample their products and bring some samples home to cook with in our kitchens! I especially enjoyed the biscuits and toppings from Biscuit Bender...and the yummy Asian Pork Sliders from Made in Napa Valley sauces. Two hours later, we were stuffed and ready to head back to the hotel to nap and get glammed up for the Gala Dinner at the California Academy of Sciences.
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| What southern gal can pass up biscuits and yummy spreads? Not this one, thats for sure! |
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| So good: Asian Pork Sliders with Slaw, made with Made in Napas yummy Shanghai sauce. |
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| The amazing cheese and fruit display that we enjoyed at the Gala Dinner. |
We caught the shuttle to the gala at the Sir Francis Drake. I had a chance to chat with Gina during the bus ride to the venue, which was really fun! The California Academy of Sciences was a fabulous venue...lovely scenery and great food. We were greeted with passed hors doevres and drinks in the foyer, then directed downstairs for drinks and appetizers. It was great to chat with lots of food bloggers as we admired the beautiful fish and enjoyed delicious appetizers and potent apple-orange martinis. Before we knew it, it was time to be seated for dinner. There were several action stations, all of which featured California-themed dishes. All of it was delicious, and the conversation was lively! After enjoying some fabulous mini desserts, it was time to jump back in the shuttle and head back to the hotel.
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| The California Academy of Sciences was a gorgeous venue for the Gala Dinner! |
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| Yeah, its touristy...but I love going to Fishermans Wharf! |
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| Its like Wonka Land for chocolate lovers! Of course, I had some hot cocoa and brought back a few exclusive bars! |
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| On our last trip, I fell in love with Boudins clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls...so had to make a return visit! |
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| What to buy...decisions, decisions. Ended up with a baguette, four sourdough bread bowls, and two cans of chowder. |
By the time my friend and I finished our lunch, it was time for me to jump in a cab and meet my airport shuttle at the hotel...my weekend was so much fun, but it went by SO FAST! I made it to the gate with time to spare...thankfully, no delays this time. I made it back to San Antonio that evening with lots of goodies to share with family and friends. I am so glad that I had a chance to finally attend Foodbuzz Blogger Festival this year...it was so much fun!
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