Seattle - so much more than the Space Needle...
Herewith a drama in one act, wherein our heroine is called upon to give forth on the experience of attending IFBC in Seattle.
Enter stage right. Daily Spud, newly returned from IFBC and somewhat laden down with knives and assorted other kitchen paraphernalia.
Enter stage left. The Anonymous Commenter, conspicuously lacking in kitchen gear, looking put out by this fact.
AC: So you went all the way to Seattle to attend a blogging conference and all you got was (an admittedly impressive) bag of kitchen swag?
DS: Well, no, I also met some great people in Seattle who had funny names, just like me, including The Well-Tempered Chocolatier, Eating Out Loud, Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy, Simply… Gluten Free, Wild Yeast, Plumpest Peach, Brownies For Dinner, Passion 4 Eating, Pinch My Salt, Phoo-D, Not Martha, Wasabimon!, Inuyaki, Simply Heaven Food, Frog Chart Press …and lots more besides.
AC: Ok, so you went to a conference, got some swag and met some people…
DS: There were some great panels on writing and publishing.
AC: So you got some swag, met some folks and listened to a few chats about blogging?
DS: Well, yes, but there were also some interesting presentations from very cool artisan producers.
AC: Right, so there was swag, blogger-types to meet, talks about blogging and a bit of food production info thrown in. That was it?
DS: We got to meet author and Gourmet.com editor Ruth Reichl. Impressive lady. And food blogging heroes like Orangette, Simply Recipes, Steamy Kitchen and Cooking With Amy. Plus we were fed unbelievably well – did I mention the oysters and the caviar and the stunning pastries and the freshest eggs and copper river salmon and the rhubarb soda and… well just have a look at foodista’s slideshow…
Anonymous Commenter sighs heavily.
AC: So… apart from the swag, the people, the panel discussions and presentations, the Ruth Reichl-ing, the bloggy hero-ness, and the grub, what did the IFBC do for you?
DS: They managed to arrange really nice weather for the entire weekend. It was perfect.
Exeunt. Anonymous Commenter is finally rendered speechless, walks off in a huff. Daily Spud rummages in the swag bag for her knives and heads towards the kitchen, looking for potatoes to peel.
Awfully nice to be called a blogging hero! That was one fun weekend. I think I’m still recovering.
Anonymous & I have something in common. I didn’t get to attend either or get that goodie bag everyone kept talking about in chat. I did however get to watch it online and it was a lot of great info. Wish I could have been there. Thank you for all the great links!
I’m afraid the last line pops into mind another scene:
DS: So, I have these nice potatoes I got at this lovely farmer’s market here in San Francisco, see…
AC2: yes, very nice.
DS: And as I mentioned, I got some very lovely knives at the IFBC.
AC2: So you said! I’m very jealous.
DS: and… well see, my hotel room doesn’t have a kitchen…
AC2: Um? But surely you’re enjoying all the culinary delights of SF, you don’t need to cook?
DS: well, no, not so much cook, no… but see i…
AC2: yes?
DS: well I’d really just like to have a kitchen and a cutting board right now…
AC2: um… why?
DS: …I’d just really like to peel these potatoes.
nice to have met you!!!
You are too funny — love this post!
With your new set of knives, I picture you somewhat like Edward Scissorhands … knives moving furiously, potato peels flying through the air, a kind and gentle smile on your face.
We wish we couldv’e gone. :( This sounds like mucho fun! Can’t wait to see how those knives get put to use.
Love the post, and based on the detailed description, I got yesterday, it sounded like an opportunity of a lifetime which you rightly jumped on. Enjoy the rest of your stay in the Bay Area, and I have some photos to send your way. I haven’t even had a chance to look at. I’m afraid to, as I may want to run out to La Mar again fro that cervice! I will not rest until I get the recipes.
I wush I was able to go. Would have been so fun!!!!
Love this! What a great post! I hope the rest of your trip was just as much fun as the IFBC. Can’t wait to see what you create with all of your loot!
Love it. We should re-enact IFBC as a series of one-act plays.
Great post! Sounds like it was a wonderful experience!
I suppose I could remain in a pout for having missed such a great event but this post is too much fun to read! If anyone deserves to be in such company and experience the great food, seminars and all the rest, it would be Spud. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading about your new Weapon of Mash Destruction!
But I’m still green with envy that you met up with OysterCulture at La Mar in SF. Details, I need details!
Amy: I certainly haven’t fully recovered yet I don’t think!
Diane: you’re welcome and thanks so much for dropping in
Tim: …but then people might just start to think I was a little bit strange, lol
Jaden: …and great to have met you!
Allen: I might just have to create a new blog under the name Edward ScissorSpuds!
Duo Dishes: I will report on all of the chopping and peeling that ensues :)
OysterCulture: ah, such a great lunch yesterday and if you get the recipes, you will have to share – the only way I’ll get Peruvian grub in Ireland is if I make it myself!
jenn: based on how popular it was, I’m sure they’ll be doing more events like this in future, so, with any luck, you’ll get to one before too long
Susan: hi there! I’m still enjoying SF and having yet more good food and will hopefully create more good stuff when I get home with all of the kitchen goodies…
Eagranie: now that would be a fun exercise – who do you want to play? :)
Natasha: thanks, it was a great weekend, so glad I was able to make it
Tangled Noodle: thanks TN and as for your “Weapon of Mash Destruction” – ROTFL, I love it! Details of La Mar to come, I promise…
Aaaah,….this sounded like a lot of fun! Wish I was there,…
Superlative dramatization Spud! I shall chuck out half the furniture to make way for the spoils of your American Quest or should I just get the builders in? I could stick a porta-cabin in the front garden as an emergency measure. I’m off now to try to grab a slice of Miriam Brady’s cake at John’s do before the savage relations get their fangs on it.;-)
It was very fun to meet you and talk with you! What a great conference. You captured a beautiful shot of the Space Needle. Can’t wait to see what kinds of fun you cook up with those knives!
So, aside from the swag, the people, the panel discussions and presentations, the Ruth Reichl-ing, the bloggy hero-ness, the grub AND the lovely weather, what in the world did the IFBC do for you??? Oh, wait, I know! You got a lot of well-deserved atten-Shun. Glad you had such big fun and met some very cool people. I love Reichl’s books; I bet it was very cool to meet her, not to mention all the keen bloggin’ folk!
Sophie: good fun indeed – it would be great if there was something similar happening on our side of the Atlantic!
Ange: start digging that cellar now…
Phoo-D: great to meet you too – it’ll be nice to get home and have a chance to play with my new toys :)
Jenni: ah, yes, coolness all around – I’ve a feeling that I’ll be coming down to earth with a big bump when I get back home next week
Thanks for the mention–Seattle hasn’t been the same since you packed up your cutlery and scampered away. Now the trouble starts, though, as you’re forced to defend your title of Farthest-Traveled Blogger (which, after all, won you the knife) from all the sinister Scottish, Welsh, and Cornish foodies who may try to deprive you of it next year. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown!
It was so great to meet you at IFBC! I hope you’re having fun with the remainder of your travels in the states :)
You crack me up! I love this post!
Sounds like you had an adventure…love the dialogue in the interview…
Sounds like you will be having purple dreams…
Barry: the preparations for the defence of my title start now!
Lori: great to meet you too – just back in Ireland now, it was a great trip all round
Alisa: I aim to please :)
Chef E: an adventure indeed and lots of things to dream about as a result