What started as a seed of an idea early last spring, grew into something more than we could have ever imagined. Months of planning culminated this weekend in a whirlwind of a day filled with fabulous friends, food, knowledge, and connections. It was an immense success and well worth the effort that it took to plan it.
![Food Blog Forum, Nashville 2011 Food Blog Forum, Nashville 2011](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/foodblogforumnash2.jpg)
The fun began on Friday night with “A Taste of Tennessee” hosted by the Nashville Farmers’ Market. A dozen local vendors sampled their wares, from Loveless Cafe and their out of this world fried chicken and biscuits, to Perl Catering, who made what just might be the most delicious bite of spaghetti squash I’ve ever eaten. Olive & Sinclair brought a sneak peek of their newest products, buttermilk white chocolate and smoked brittle (omg). Corsair Artisan distillery offered a lovely blood orange and gin cocktail. I’m not a lemon-bar kind of girl but the lemon bars from O.Liv Body Bar made me happy from the inside out. Bathtub Gin’s preserves are always creative, and while I didn’t catch what exactly their little tomato jam-pastry bites were called, I may have eaten a few. Just a few. And cheese. Because I love me some cheese (and Kathleen at the Bloomy Rind never disappoints!). For dessert? Gotta get a Goo Goo Cluster (me? I love the peanut butter one best!)
While I’m not a beer drinker or a slaw-eater, the souvenir beer glasses that Yazoo had made just for us were, like totally awesome, and Mista Dale’s spicy slaw was something I can definitely get behind. I AM, however, a wine drinker (albeit a beginner), and found the blackberry wine from Grinder’s Switch quite delightful. Who says Tennessee isn’t wine country?
![Food Blog Forum, Nashville 2011](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/foodblogforumnash1.jpg)
The market house is so pretty at night. Even more so when it’s full of good friends, both old and new.
![Chef Demo by Arnold Myint Chef Demo by Arnold Myint](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chefdemo-arnoldmyint.jpg)
We were also treated to a chef demo by the always entertaining Arnold Myint. Assisted by the lovely Grishma, Arnold prepared some delicious dishes including lentil tacos and pumpkin soup. Um, yum?
![Food Blog Forum, Nashville 2011 Food Blog Forum, Nashville 2011](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/foodblogforumnash4.jpg)
Saturday, bright and early. After a near epic disaster involving some coffee makers and non-functioning power outlets (lesson: don’t EVER get in the way of food bloggers and their coffee), the real event began.
![Food Blog Forum, Nashville 2011 Food Blog Forum, Nashville 2011](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/foodblogforumnash3.jpg)
A packed house. 94 of us in all. The fact that each and every one of them went home with a door prize really says a lot about the generosity of our sponsors. I really felt like Oprah. You get a toaster! And you get a toaster! Everyone gets a toaster! (or KitchenAid, or cookware, or some other nifty kitchen gadget or gift). But enough about parties and prizes… we did some learning too.
![Food Blog Forum Nashville - PR Panel Food Blog Forum Nashville - PR Panel](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/prspectives.jpg)
The lovely Amanda, Jaden, and Arianna talking candidly about PR and working with brands. It was wonderful to hear about PR from multiple perspectives, both bloggers AND brands, and the session offered some great insight into how we all can get the most out of working with each other.
![Food Blog Forum Nashville - Recipe Development Food Blog Forum Nashville - Recipe Development](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/recipedevelopment.jpg)
Listening to Kelly and Alison, you’d think they had been working together for years. But in fact, they hadn’t met before this event. Such beautiful women with so much information to share.
Meanwhile, Jenny and Amanda were upstairs talking about Blogging Etiquette. You know those times when you wish you could be in two places at once? Yeah. This was definitely one of them.
By that point, the collective rumble of our stomachs was pretty darn loud. Luckily, there was deliciousness on wheels waiting for us outside at the Food Truck Court!
![Nashville Food Truck Happy Eating Nashville Food Truck Happy Eating](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/foodtruckcourt1.jpg)
Happy Eating served up some fabulous japanese treats. The mongolian beef tacos were especially scrumptious. And the caramel pocky ice cream? Don’t get me started. It’s life changing.
![Nashville Food Truck Riffs Fine Street Food Nashville Food Truck Riffs Fine Street Food](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/foodtruckcourt2.jpg)
Always a favorite, Carlos and BJ of Riffs were there serving up their twist on Bahn Mi sandwiches and Shrimp & Grits. You know I love shrimp and grits. Jaden even called it the best grits she’s ever had! I have to agree.
![Nashville Food Truck Yayo's OMG Nashville Food Truck Yayo's OMG](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/foodtruckcourt4.jpg)
And last but certainly not least, Yayo’s OMG! (stands for Original Mexican Gourmet, but the exclamation certainly fits the food as well.) Serving up mini pork and chicken taco bites and freshly fried tortilla chips with some sort of magic sauce. They were gone so quickly I’m surprised I had time to snap a picture. *crunch*
![Nashville Food Truck Yayo's OMG Nashville Food Truck Yayo's OMG](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/foodtruckcourt3.jpg)
Back inside. Where the food coma could easily have gotten the best of us…
Leave it to Todd & Diane to bring energy to a dark room right after lunch. I don’t think there was a droopy eye in the room. Their passion and creativity are incredibly contagious. It wasn’t hard to leave feeling energized and inspired.
The final session of the day was a unique one, which gave attendees the opportunity to speak more personally with our speakers and experts. From photography to recipe development, blog design (from yours truly!) to SEO and social media, the choice of topics was impressive.
Phew. Tired yet? Considering I had been up since 5:45am I should have been, but there was so much energy in the room that the exhaustion simply disappeared. I was running on excitement and adrenaline.
Good thing, too, because we weren’t done yet.
![After Party at the Patterson House After Party at the Patterson House](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/pattersonhouse2.jpg)
The Saturday after-party took us to The Patterson House, one of Nashville’s coolest bars, even cooler now after so generously hosting this event for us. They really outdid themselves.
![After Party at the Patterson House After Party at the Patterson House](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/pattersonhouse.jpg)
Those, my friends, are fried goat cheese balls. I could have sat in a corner with a plate of these and been perfectly content. But I didn’t, because I was too busy further reinforcing the friendships that until now, had only existed on twitter. If I had to take just one thing from this event, that would be it. The people. The beautiful, inspiring, smart, sassy, creative, wonderful people.
![After Party at the Patterson House After Party at the Patterson House](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/pattersonhouse3.jpg)
The lovely ladies of Food Blog Forum. From left: Beth, Leah, Jaden, some bum, and Diane.
This event did not happen on it’s own. It took many many hours to make everything come together as well as it did. I couldn’t have done it without my partners in crime, Beth and Leah. I don’t know if I’ve met anyone more organized than Beth. She was always one step ahead. And Leah? Let’s just say that we wouldn’t have had 2/3 of the prizes and swag that we did without her. Not to mention a place to put it all.
I also want to, once again, thank our sponsors for supporting this event.
OXO, Just a Pinch, Calphalon, Girard’s, Nashville Farmers’ Market, The Patterson House, Magazines.com, Chicago Metallic, Swissmar, Whole Foods Market, Farm Flavor, Kitchen Aid, Artisan Books, The Loveless Cafe, Lindsay Olives, Goo Goo Clusters, Amco Houseworks, Edgeware, Nashville Toffee Company, WestBend, Jarlsberg, Beanilla, Lifetime Brands, and Betsy’s Cheese Straws.
And finally, thank you to everyone who came. From those who traveled from afar, to those who just drove down the street. Your smiles and enthusiasm are what made it all worthwhile. I hope you went home with a new motivation, a bit of inspiration, and a whole lot of swag. :)
Enough with the sappy Oscar acceptance speech… I’ve got a surprise for you!
For those of you who couldn’t make it to the event, whether you had other commitments or it was just too far away, are probably feeling kind of bummed out right now. I know, I’ve been there. Seeing all the tweets and photos and posts about what a fabulous event it was, it’s easy to feel left out.
Would a super duper, stuffed to the brim, bag of swag make you feel any better?
I bet it would!
Since we ended the day with a few extra swag bags, we thought we’d give you the opportunity to win one for yourself! Not to brag or anything, but this just might be the best swag bag in the history of swag bags. Trust me.
And I’ve got two of them to give away.
![Food Blog Forum Nashville Swag Bags Food Blog Forum Nashville Swag Bags](https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/swagbags.jpg)
You know you want one.
***GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
I would really love to hear what you have to say for college students – being one myself, I’m just getting into this whole cooking thing (but I love it!)… my budget is pretty modest, but I still would like to eat well and get better at cooking. Really trying to fight that whole “college students just eat Raman noodles” stereotype.
Anyway, a nice meal that doesn’t cost too much… and, you know, might impress a cute guy. :P
Either way, I’m just curious what magic you’ll cook up.
Just “liked” you on Facebook!
I tweeted @momandcamera: “I just entered to win an epic swag bag from @foodblogforum and @loveandoliveoil! Enter here: http://bit.ly/mTAPrX“
I love more info on the art of styling!
I would like to see, provided it is a pro medical marijuana state, more recipes using these oils and yet still taste good. : )
Tweeted – @chocolatemoosey
Fan on FB!
Food photography. I’m getting better at it, but sometimes I have trouble staging something not so pretty. Also foodgawker and tastespotting keep rejecting me.
And I like you on Facebook!
I follow you on Twitter and I just tweeted!
Photography is always a good session but I would like to learn more about connecting with sponsors. It looks like you had a great conference. Wish I could have attended.:)
sounds like a blast! i would like to see more flavorful gluten-free recipes covered. thanks!
I am a fan on Facebook.
I guess I would be interested in having a discussion more about learning and teaching basic cooking techniques.
Also! I’m already a fan on Facebook! <3
I tweeted! @PlaguedLeech is me
I’d like to see canning become a part of a Food blog conference.
I’ve been a FB fan for a while. Love, love, love your blog.
Another culinary memory: my mother making home made pizzas and each of us 5 kids got our own – in a pie pan!
Food photography and home canning would be really interesting. I really hope something like this comes to my area soon. I would love the chance to learn.
I follow you on facebook.
(Sharon O.)
I follow you on twitter @sharonjo2
Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/sharonjo2/status/124314181028675584
I’d like a feature on finding the proper balance between blogging and managing the rest of your life.
Thanks!
I would love to see something about cooking healthy, simple meals for just one or two people! Great giveaway :)
I couldn’t go, so I would really like to win! OK, I would like a pros and cons of cameras, from pocket point and shoot varieties to big SLR.
I went to the little Fermentation Workshop at Beaman Park instead. It was sweet, and I learned a lot! I am definitely going to make better vinegar, yogurt and kim chi!
Thanks you 2!
Lannae
LannaeLong at yahoo
I follow you on Twitter & tweeted!
I am a fan on Facebook!
Food photography most definitely! Thanks for the giveaway!!
Photo tips/demos/etc. An SLR is on my holiday wish list and I’d love to learn more about take great photos. Also, cooking for large groups–tips for prepping, ensuring that everything is ready at the same time, how to choose recipes wisely, etc, when you’re cooking for more than just 2 or 4 folks.
I would like to hear about the process of olive oil and learn how to pick a good extra virgin olive oil.
Cooking organic, healthy food with a budget!
littlegray88 at yahoo dot com
Using seasonal ingredients and supporting sustainable methods of procuring and raising produce.
Do you think it’s better to have a blog ‘theme’ (sweets, recipes from magazines, vegetarian) or is it better to have a variety of recipes for a larger audience?
Thank you – and I am already a fan on FB!
I absorb everything about food and cooking, my cooking videos would be nice
I would love to see more on involving kids,getting them out into the gardens and into the kitchens,growing food,making(or at least help in the process somehow)of making a meal.knowing what real food is.These are the next generation of creative food bloggers and food artist.
I would love more hands on photography stuff. Like putting together a composition and critiquing it.
honestly everything at this conference sounds perfect–i can’t think of a thing to add! wish i could’ve attended!
Im also a Facebook follower!
Definitely food photography. Styling is still not my strong point.
I would like to see more step by step photo food blogging taught at a conference.
and I’m a fan on facebook now! (love your blog & the fact that you often have local & vegetarian focuses, have been reading it for a while now)
This may be pretty common at food blog conferences, but photography tips are always great!
I’m also a fan on Facebook!
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/sallaboutme/status/124128574591598592
I would like to see a session on making easier conversions between weight and other measurements. It’s so much better to use weight, but not everyone has access to a scale, so converting back and forth between the two would be great help on both sides.
I follow you on twitter & tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/amylou61/status/124111921199849472
I just tweeted the giveaway @mypinkmixerblog
I’d like to see more about baking breads from a starter, cooking for 2, and kitchen gardening.
I would love a class on food photography and food styling.
I also like Love and Olive Oil on Facebook
I’d love to see more on vegetarian food for non-vegetarians! I eat vegetarian most of the time, and am always looking for meals that I can entice my non-vegetarian boyfriend and friends with!