When you are a foodie its always fun meeting other foodies. Conversing with other food enthusiasts reaffirms you own love of food, and the subject provides reason for an instant connection or bond. When you are a food blogger and you meet other food bloggers the experience is considerably amplified! 

Last weekend I had a chance to test this out, as London played host to the 2010 Food Blogger Connect conference, held at the wonderfully chic Hempel Hotel. The whole weekend was dedicated to food blogging and for a self confessed food nerd it seriously doesn't get any better than this.

Finally I met a group of people who understood and even shared my cookbook obsession, who could relate to my compulsion to exhaust all the space in my small London flat with volumes of cookbooks and piles of cooking magazines. What a relief it was to be amongst a group who also get excited about things like getting a Joseph chopping board, or a Chasseur Crepe pan or a Le Creuset Tagine. Who shared the views that shopping for food is an almost euphoric experience and that if you only had a few dollars left it would be spent on a bottle of good olive oil and a wedge of Tippico Lodigiano. 

Blogs for all food inclinations were represented, all with their own gems to impart. 


Feast with Bron inspired me to shop at my local farmers market, as markets can be perfectly economical as well as ensuring high quality produce. Alkaline Sisters highlighted that its possible to be health conscious, and open to new food ideas while staying true to the inner 'foodie' calling (as demonstrated by the 4 visits to Ottolenghi in less than a week ... only a proper foodie would do that!). Sparkling Ink was a reminder of how well Scandinavia partners immaculate design and beautiful photography with deliciously pleasing food, and Cook Sister was wonderfully evocative of all things South African - both with her recipes and her wit! What's in a name? proved to be a poignant question, with Dirty Kitchen Secrets and Peanut butter and Jealous proving that the reward for being curious about a name leads to a wealth of inspiring recipes and entertaining foodie stories. 

A Slice of Cherry Pie advised of the realities on the path to publication. Mowielicious, Whatsforlunchhoney and Saffron and Blueberry provided much needed insight into the worlds of food styling and photography. Simply Zesty gave us a very entertaining presentation (via skype) on social networking and blog monetisation ... all the while reminding us of the woes of travelling (or not travelling!) with Ryanair...booo....


With all that excitement I came home on Sunday and celebrated my new found enthusiasm by creating a feast for four. My Chief Recipe Taster (who doubles as BBQ King in the sumer) had the headliner of the night - a perfectly roasted leg of lamb (delivered effortlessly with the help of the newest addition to our family - the Webber BBQ!). Accompanying this triumphant joint of meat was a fresh cucumber, parsley and tomato salad, roasted rosemary potatoes, BBQ Grilled flat breads, a homemade Greek yogurt dressing with lemon juice and ginger mint and a bottle of Rose!

The perfect way to end a wonderful weekend! Thanks to Beth and Co for making this weekend truly memorable, and for starting the countdown to next years event! For all the attendees and their respective blogs check out the links below ... 

Warning: Do not read on an empty stomach as the list makes for delicious reading!!

Nando http://www.cucabrazuca.com 
Andrew http://winit-theblog.com 
Julie http://alkalinesisters.com 
Katharine http://www.agirlinmadrid.com 
Leen http://zibdeh.wordpress.com 
Carla http://domesticventures.squarespace.com 
Rachel http://www.cookyourlife.com/ 
Kelly http://www.tastour.co.uk 
Adrienne http://www.gastroanthropology.com 
Tiina http://www.sparklingink.com 
Pascale http://www.extra-relish.blogspot.com/ 
Cecilia http://onevanillabean.wordpress.com/ 
Tess http://www.foodmatters.co.uk 
Keith www.lookwhatwefound.co.uk 
Matina http://www.fetaarepa.com 
Charlie http://eggsontheroof.com 
Ludger http://www.none.de 
Karin http://yumandmore.com 
Julia http://www.alwaysleaveroomfordessert.com 
Catherine http://www.thecattylife.com 
Kevin http://oneweekwinetour.wordpress.com
Leila http://www.delishvillesemgluten.com 
Katie http://katielousbites.wordpress.com/ 
Valentina http://www.cupcakestrembom.com 
Tracey http://www.international-foodie.blogspot.com/ 
Michele http://www.5amfoodie.co.uk 
Gemma http://dressingfordinner.blogspot.com 
Heather http://www.eggscreamandhoney.com 
Giulia http://www.julskitchen.com 
Arthi http://debugcooking.blogspot.com/ 
Anne http://www.anneskitchen.co.uk 
Pamela http://www.cookingninja.com 
Bron http://practicallydaily.blogspot.com 
Stacey http://peanutjealous.blogspot.com 
Natashka http://peanutjealous.blogspot.com 
Reena http://coconutraita.blogspot.com/ 
Aoife http://www.thedailyspud.com 
Elisa http://www.aussiefoodie.blogspot.com/ 
Eunice http://heavenwildfleur.blogspot.com 
Suzannah http://www.officelunches.blogspot.com/ 
Mayssam http://www.deliriouskitchen.com 
Sarka http://www.cookingyourdream.com 
Sharon http://www.seasontotaste.co.uk 
Jasmine http://www.labna.it 
Manuel http://www.labna.it 
Giulia http://en.julskitchen.com/ 
Jeanne http://www.cooksister.com 
Meeta http://www.whatsforlunchhoney.net 
Mowie http://www.mowielicious.com 
Jamie http://lifestafeast.blogspot.com
Kerrin http://www.mykugelhopf.ch 
Hilda http://www.saffronandblueberry.com 
Julia http://www.asliceofcherrypie.com 
Sarah http://blog.maisoncupcake.com 
Chris http://www.soulmekanik.com 
Bethany http://www.dirtykitchensecrets.com