9/14/10

Project Food Blog...Eeek, I'm a Contestant!


Project Food Blog is the first-ever interactive competition where thousands of food bloggers are competing in a series of culinary blogging challenges for the chance to advance and a shot at earning the title of The Next Food Blog Star (oh, and a not too shabby monetary award of some 10,000 clams).


All I have to do in order to compete in Challenge # 1 is to define who I am as a blogger and what sets me apart from the rest. Well, the challenge might as well have been to re-build a v8 engine from scratch because I haven't a clue where to start. Seriously, I've been noodling on this for days. I've started blog entries, scratched blog entries, written, re-written, thought, re-thought and what have I got to show for it? You're looking at it...
<insert photo of large goose egg here>

It's called a "challenge" for a reason. I have had the hardest time coming up with a proper submission for this very first challenge. I mean, I love blogging but it's easier to talk about food, cooking, and eating than it is to talk about me. Eeek! But the fact of the matter is that I want to be in this contest. I want to make it to the next challenge where I get to cook something, so here I sit baring my soul.

I guess what I can say is that I, like many of you if you're reading this blog, love and have a fascination for food. I always have. I'm the one who asks you while you're eating your breakfast what you think you might like to have for lunch. I like to be prepared...and I like food. I think about it a lot. I don't just think about eating it - I think about cooking it, photographing it, discovering new varieties of it, and then I just get so darn excited that I'm about to burst..

See I'm thinking about it now - this is the
pork banh mi sandwich I recently got from
the Nom Nom food truck...Yum Yum!

..and then I just want to shout about it from the rooftops to anyone who will listen and I want to show you the wondrousness of it all. I have an overwhelming desire to share and the great thing about doing it via a blog is that you, the reader, can opt in or out at will - a luxury my family and friends don't enjoy, I might add. Nope, they are my captive audience, whether they like it or not.

I don't have a magic formula that I follow, or so much as a plan for that matter. I blog what I feel passionately about, how I feel about it, and do it when I'm moved to do so, and I hope it resonates with you. I was recently lucky enough to attend the Los Angeles Times Food and Wine Celebration where I sat in awe and listened to Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) and Aarti Sequeira (The Next Food Network Star and Author of the blog Aarti Paarti) talk about why they blog and what advice they'd give to bloggers. They both agreed that the best gift you can give is of yourself, from the heart. You're the only you there is - and that's a beautiful thing.

But the greatest part of all is hearing from you. It's like Christmas morning every time I see that I have a comment. The anticipation kills me and I can't wait to read it. Thank you for that. I hope I give as much as I get out of this. For me, blogging feeds the soul.

The gorgeous Ree Drummond
at the LA Times Food and Wine Celebration
I picked up Ree's new book and she kindly
signed it for me. She has an allure and aura
about her that is so utterly charming.
and the lovely Aarti Sequeira
just as captivating and warm in person

38 comments:

  1. I'm the same way, I can tell stories about food and my kids and other such things, but ask me to define myself and I stumble. Good post!

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  2. Well Santa just showed up. ;) Best of luck with the contest. I always enjoy reading your posts, salivating over your pictures and wishing the dish would magically appear in front of me.

    Cheers!

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  3. It is good that you took the first step to join the competition. “You will never win if you never begin.” Helen Rowland. Best of Luck!

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  4. Fantastic post! I feel the same way about food and it's so great to read about your passion for food and wanting to share what you make with all of us. :) I love your blog and good luck! You're going to do great.

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  5. Yippeeeee it's totally Christmas! Thank you all for your kind and supportive words!

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  6. Veronica, I love how excited you are about food! If you don't try, how will you ever know! How lucky to have met Ree & Aarti, I would have been that excited too. Good Luck!
    -Gina-

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  7. Aww! Fantastic story!

    Even with it being a challenge to write about you with regards to this blog, you did it wonderfully. I can see your passion, your enthusiasm, and your love for sharing it just shine through.

    I started my blog in the beginning of August and still have a long way to go. I don't have near the passion you do but it seems to be growing with everything I make and with every flop I encounter. All a work in progress and what fun it is to do.

    Thank you for sharing your words with us and your enthusiasm! Looking forward to reading more.

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  8. Gina - I absolutely could not have been more excited to meet them. I was the first one to grab a chair (front and center, like all good food nerds) and sat with the beating down sun on my face without breaking a sweat. I was much too much enthralled with what they were saying to care about the blinding sun and heat ;-)

    Kim - Thank you for your kind words! I just went to your blog and you're a natural! Funny stuff! Thanks for stopping by :-)

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  9. It's such fun reading all these entries. I've been blogging 2 years and still get uber excited about every comment. I'm constantly checking my email! Good luck in the challenge.

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  10. SO cool that you've taken the plunge!!! Good luck!

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  11. Joan - I'm totally enjoying reading them as well. As a newbie blogger, I feel like I am learning so much through this challenge (about blogging, other bloggers, and about myself!).

    Lizzy - Def way out of my "comfort zone" but I'm finding it to have been well worth it! Thank you for the supportive words!

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  12. great entry!

    now i am scratchin my own head for my own entry!

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  13. Ian - yours will be great and I can't wait to read it!! The beauty of this is that we each have our own unique voice and that in an of itself is what sets us apart. Thank you for the support!

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  14. Wow! I’m amazed how you have articulate your passion for food through your blog, photos and cooking. It is evident that you love everything that is food! There is no mistaking you have a talent and enjoy inspiring others through your cooking. Good luck in the competition.

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  15. Veronica,
    Congratulations on the FoodBuzz, Project Food Blog competition. I just received my paperwork today. Did you have any hesitation at all, or did you jump right in? Will I have to make any changes to the blog I currently operate? If you would rather email me, my address is angie.walker41@yahoo.com. Could you please give me some feedback on what I will be expecting, the changes I will have to make, and the dedication that is involved.I would really like to know before I sign this contract.

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  16. Ralph!! Thank you so much - that means the world coming from such an old friend. Thank you, thank you!

    Angie - Thanks for the congrats! I'm not sure I can answer all your questions but I can say that I didn't have any hesitation. I've not regretted one second of being a Featured Publisher. For me, there were no major changes to speak of. No particular expectations and no pressure. Your blog is your own to be done the way that you enjoy doing it. If you have specific questions, though, I would just email Foodbuzz back and ask. They seemed to be very responsive when I emailed them. Best wishes to you!

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  17. Fantastic post. Best of luck in this endeavor. I have thoroughly enjoyied reading your blog and I am so glad I found it. You are a passionate positive person.

    Love those Nom Nom girls. They really run a great business.

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  18. Lazaro - I cannot thank you enough for your support. It is always so great to read your feedback. I really, really appreciate it!!

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  19. Good luck, I really enjoy your blog and I'm sure you'll sail through to the next round!

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  20. What a wonderful post! It must have been so fun to meet Aarti and Ree (who I also love!) Good luck with the competition- I know how difficult it was to come up with a post since I went through the same thing!

    ps. Your sesame noodles look delllicious!!

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  21. Thank you Evan - I feel so lucky to have been able to meet them! Good luck to you as well!

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  22. I came to check out the competition and you look strong! Good Luck. GREG

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  23. Thanks so much Greg!! Best wishes to you in the challenge!

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  24. Great post!!

    I so understand what you're saying- I have started my first post for Project Food Blog over and over- you are so right- it is called a challenge for a reason!

    Best of luck to you! I look forward to checking out more of your blog!

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  25. Ha...I thought I was the only one who gets giddy when I receive comments!

    Finally I am reading everyone's first challenge post and it was worth the wait-great post! "I get so darn excited" for food - that is what keeps me coming back, it is contagious!

    Best of luck to you!!!

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  26. Enchanted--you are so passionate and genuine. i love your post and i'm glad you entered the contest. we all love the food, but its a special voice who can articulate to us why. you're on your way girl--and your pictures are gorgeous too! Good luck enchanted--i'm rooting for you!

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  27. What an amazing experience for you! You're passion for food definitely shows and the pictures you take are beautiful. Good Luck in the competition. I am so excited to be a part of it!

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  28. Thank you Kristie!!

    Thanks so much Edamame! I'm still enjoying the homemade Sriracha sauce thanks to you! Thanks for the kind words of support :-)

    Hi Noel - Thank you! It's been great being a part of this challenge because I've gotten to connect with other passionate foodies like you. Thanks for stopping by!

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  29. Just found your entry on the PFB page and am so glad I did. I really enjoyed reading it and now I'm off to vote for you. Good luck!!

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  30. Great post! Love all of your photos. I voted for you! =)

    Good luck!

    Check out my PFB post: http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/503

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  31. You got our vote!

    Come check out our PFB post:

    http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/391

    Cheers and aloha.

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  32. I, too, had a terrible time coming up with what to write. I just love to cook (and eat!) It is hard to think about the "why!" Hope you'll check out my post at http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/638. Good Luck!

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  33. Hi there,

    I'm new to your blog. I found you thru Foodbuzz.

    I love what your wrote "the best gift you can give is of yourself, from the heart. You're the only you there is - and that's a beautiful thing" Amen to that sister!!

    Food and travel feeds my soul.

    I'm from SoCal too :) Good luck on the competition and I look forward to reading more of your blog.

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  34. Nice post! I enjoyed reading it! Comments definitely make blogging so much fun! I love being a part of the food blogging community!

    That is so cool that you got to meet Ree! I love her blog! She is hilarious!

    Best of luck with PFB! Just voted for you!

    If you like, you can read mine here:

    http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/502

    Thanks!

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  35. hey ya! you have a lovely blog here. Stumble upon your blog through foodbuzz. :) I voted for your blog. hope that helps. feel free to drop by!!


    have a lovely weekend
    jen @ www.passion4food.ca

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