As you may already know, I got the amazing opportunity to attend IFBC (International Food Bloggers Conference) this past weekend in New Orleans. It was such an amazing conference, and I realized that since I took so many pictures, I’m going to have to split this up into 3 separate posts for each day of the conference! 🙂
Day one was an absolute whirlwind. I met my sister in the FQ (French Quarter) for lunch, and we enjoyed some fabulous mexican fare at Felipe’s. If you know me, you know I end up wearing my food half of the time, since I’m an absolute slob when it comes to eating. The result of my usual classiness? A big dollop of pico de gallo on my shirt. There was no stain, but I smelled like onions all day. So, if you met me at IFBC and smelled onions on me…sorry….I’m messy.
I ended up arriving at registration really early, and took in the views of the conference room.
Yup, I took a picture of the chandeliers there.
Since I arrived so early, I sat close to the front and set up my iPad and started using up the free Wifi. Of course, I had to look at a pretty familiar blog first. 😛
The first session was about blogging your values.
I will say that the speakers presented some pretty good material, and I happily typed notes until one slide. The title had something to do with asking your readers for donations.
Uhh….what? Is this a new thing or something? (don’t worry…I’m not asking you guys for donations.) Would you, as a reader, even consider donating to bloggers who had a donate button on their blog? I’d really love to hear your opinions on this one. Personally, I don’t think I’d ever donate money to a blogger. I’d rather donate extra money to dogs in a shelter or something. Sorry..
The second session was one of my favorites of the whole conference. Food photography….the amazingly talented Andrew Scrivani presented, and it was so cool to hear him talk about making everything food-related (and I mean everything) photogenic! One of the most interesting tricks he shared was to buy a t-shirt and use the white cardboard from the shirt packaging to bounce light onto your food. Can’t wait to try this trick!
After those two sessions, there was a wine social with appetizers. You guys probably already know that I’m not a wine drinker, but I did have two glasses, which were essentially chugged down since red wine is just way too bitter to me….I’m so classy. I really enjoyed the various foods that were offered though!
After the wine social, we had a pretty awesome dinner where many local restaurants, as well as sponsors, made small tasting plates for attendees.
You think the food is gorgeous?? Look at the display booths! I was amazed at how awesome the booths were!
After our bellies were full from dinner, day 1 of the conference was over. Some people went out to explore NOLA afterwards, while my tired self headed to my parents’ home to fall asleep at a decent hour. It was a pretty long day for me, so there was just no way I could go out afterwards!
Hilariously, I thought I was tired after day 1? Wait until you see how eventful day 2 was! 🙂
It looks like a great first day! I bet the food was beyond amazing.
I’m happy to donate to a blogger crusading for a good cause (a Fund for Jennie, for example). But specifically asking for donations to fund the grocery bill/expenses for the blog? Tacky.
Yup, I’m with Shawnda on this one. I avoid donating to bloggers, but good causes are something to think twice about.
Fantastic 1st post about the conference, can’t wait to see the next two days!! 😉
Oh now I am wishing that I could relive it all over again! It was such a fantastic event and a weekend was not enough! Waiting for your day 2…
So happy to read this! loved meeting you, friend!
xoxo,
Andie
Nice, concise wrapup post! I was so tired, too. It didn’t help that we stayed at the hotel, and the all-night debauchery was going on loudly outside our window. But the conference was so awesome, especially the networking with awesome folks like you!!!
That looks like SO MUCH FUN!!!! 🙂
just seeing pictures of the food from this past weekend is making me hungry again.
Ooooh everything looks amazing! Yeah, I’m totally with you on the donations thing. Any amount I have to donate goes to a charity, not a blog.
I had a great time at IFBC NOLA, my first blogging conference. Great pictures! Thanks for sharing… if only photos could also convey taste!
Totally didn’t even notice the onions and it was so much fun to meet and hang out with you all weekend!
Looks so awesome. I don’t think I would donate to a blogger either. I’m so curious to see you put some of the things you’ve learned into use on your blog.
So awesome!! I’m so glad you’re blogging about your IFBC experience! 🙂
So glad you got to go! I wish I had been able to go and meet you in person Amy! 🙂
Wow, what an awesome opportunity Amy! I’m so glad you’re sharing the experience on your blog. I will live vicariously through you 🙂
Hm. I’ve never seen anyone asking for donations on their blog – that’s an interesting concept. I don’t think I’d ever donate to someone though…I’ve got to buy my own groceries, thankyouverymuch…
Very interesting about asking for donations…what about what we all did for Jennie and when bloggers ask for donations for natural disasters…is that what they meant?
Oh no. They meant for personal gain to pay for your groceries or restaurant visits.
I’m totally OK with charitable donations, but I’m not OK with asking someone to pay for my own groceries, you know?