Wednesday, November 11, 2009

First Annual Foodbuzz Festival




A Canadian from the east taking a trip to the west is something to look forward to on the list of "great things to do". Taking a trip to San Francisco for the first annual Foodbuzz Festival was more than a great thing to do - it had huge big WOW factor. From the minute the plane landed each hour had something very special to offer.



I arrived a day early to just do some sightseeing and see things I hadn't seen in previous visits to SF. So here's a question. How many of you that went to the festival found yourself singing the song "Candlestick Park" on the way from the airport? How many don't know the song? Am I really aging myself?

After checking into the hotel I finally got to meet Val from More Than Burnt Toast. Can you even believe it? We've been co-administrators of BloggerAid-Changing the Face of Famine and working together all this time and this is the first time we've actually met in person.

We went out for dinner and found that we both like chicken. Val had the lemon chicken

and I had the cashew chicken

From my previous post, you probably already gathered that I get a kick out of the quirky things in life. Now, honestly...how many restaurants can you go to where the guy at the next table is staff and he's shelling peas for dinner?


Let's not forget a short jaunt over to Little Italy to visit the Italian French Bakery (that one confused me a little) for one of their gigantic macaroons


Maybe Zoe from Zoe Bakes can teach us all how to create these lovely breads that we found at the Boudin Cafe.





and no trip to Fisherman's Wharf is complete without a visit with the ever entertaining sea lions



Day 1 was a registration day followed by a cocktail reception well managed by our new BFF, Brian the bartender.

After a bit of getting to know you filled with "so you're so and so" and "oh I've been following your blog forever" and watching everyone, camera in hand doing everything you've been doing for so long. The real difference was that you didn't have your family around you telling you "you're not taking another picture are you"... we were all just doing what we do naturally and it was all okay. Whew!!! I'm not crazy afterall.

Then it was on to experience the street food of San Francisco and you enjoyed everything from burritos to pizzas;

to pork sandwiches

(by the way - these were to die for)
and fungi vol au vente


and, of course - doesn't every city have oyster street food?



Day 2
A visit to the market, olive oil tasting and becoming an expert in sparkling wines from the inside out, followed by a salon filled with 60 purveyors and a ton of samples.











Day 2 - Evening - Outstanding in the Field

Entering, we were greeted by an outstanding display of local produce


and a series of tables that snaked from one end of the warehouse to the other

The Menu










Let's not forget our incredible chefs!!!



To all our friends, new and seasoned - we were so happy to meet you and spend such precious time with you. From Canada - A Bientot!!! (See Y'all Soon)

To all the hard working folks at FoodBuzz - This first annual festival was incredibly well put together. You worked very hard at making it happen and you did it with style, flair and made everyone feel welcome. Thank you so very much. Can't wait until next year!!!

Note to Psychgrad - You're coming next year!!!!! StumbleUpon

13 comments:

pat crocker said...

I love your pictures of the OUtstanding in the Field Dinner- Great food, great festival, great fun.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

It certainly was a weekend to remember Giz from Macaroons the size of our head, the sea lion harems, cocktail hour, to meeting so many wonderful bloggers!!!!!!

Hopie said...

Looks like a wonderful time with delicious food! I like that everyone was taking pictures for their blogs :-)

kat said...

It was great to meet you! I hope you enjoyed your Napa trip

That Girl said...

I am so glad you had a good time!

Zoë François said...

Stay tuned for the post on breads shaped as water creatures with big teeth and scary claws! ;) My boys would love that!!!

What a fun trip! Zoë

Dharm said...

Can you take me along too please??!! Looks like you had so much fun Giz. I am so jealous but yet so thrilled that this was such fun for all you US and Canada based food bloggers!

Lori Lynn said...

Great post Giz! And Psychgrad, you would love it, we had a great time. See you there next year!
LL

Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul said...

It was a pleasure to dine with you on the Sat night Giz! I had a lot of fun! And the guys at Foodbuzz really did do an amazing job! See you next year!

Ruth Daniels said...

What a wonderful post. Now I really am jealous that I didn't get to join you! Thanks for sharing some of the highlights.

Thistlemoon said...

It was wonderful to meet you!!! And no you are not weird for taking pictures of food!!!

Deeba PAB said...

Oooh love all the pictures you took Giz. Love the guy shelling peas...priceless! What a great great time you folk had at FB! Wow...your pictures at the wharf took me back to when I visited it almos 20 years ago! Feel like a relic LOL!! Beautiful post! Loved it!!

Barbara said...

I wish I could have been there. It looks like you all had a great time Giz.

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