Food Blogger Friends

Yesterday was the first day of the International Association of Culinary Professionals 34th Annual Conference. My first session was entitled "Stretch Your Skills By Blogging the Conference. The leaders were a group of powerful women, a mother and two daughters, who have created, in my view, quite a blogging empire. Pam Anderson, Sharon Damelio, and Maggy Keet work together on their blog, Three Many Cooks. They lead us in a discussion about what it means to be a food blogger; we discussed our personal strengths and weaknesses and how we can help each other.

Bloggers don't have an office. We don't work together, or even really know each other personally. This creates an interesting dynamic as we have to find other ways to connect. There is power in community and that is exactly why blogging has become so successful. We bloggers are the new small publishers, the problem is that we have to wear every hat- writer, photographer, editor, publisher, etc. So how do we stay fresh? How do we keep growing? We each have strengths and weaknesses, and the key to success is forming relationships with people who have different qualities that can compliment yours. That was what I gained.

I met a few people there that I'd like to share with you:
Lisa Dupar; Lisa Dupar & Company- Seattle, WA
Jaqueline Lieberman; We Bought a Sukkah- Scotch Plains, NJ
Ruth Algeria; Alegria in Mexico- Mexico City, Mexico
Nancy Eisman; Adventures with Nancy Rose- Southern California
Kara Rota; Ingestibles- New York, NY

I also met quite a few other people; Adam Salamone, Margaret Lombard, Patricia McCausland-Gallo, and Jen Vojta- but couldn't access or find their blogs!

Check them out. Let me (or them) know what you think. I hope to stay in touch with them in the future. I have certainly learned how important making connections is in the business world.

Kara, Jackie and I even went out to lunch!

Margherita Pizza at John's Pizzeria
260 W 44th st