Foodbuzz Festival: Dinner & Awards Ceremony
Wow, oh, wow. What a night!!! My brain is still spinning!
Tonight’s dinner was put on by Outstanding In The Field and was held in the Greenleaf produce warehouse.
The Greenleaf produce warehouse was such a cool setting for a foodie dinner! 
The dinner tables extended all around the warehouse.
Due to the water bottle mishap in my purse, I ended up carrying around my electronics in a plastic bag for most of the night. What a dork!
Shannon and me!
New blog friends! 
One of the passed apps during the cocktail house was a crostini with tuna puree.
Cocktail hour in the warehouse was happening!
Our place settings consisted of mismatched plates, handmade bamboo chopsticks, and customized menus. So neat!
The meal started with a light appetizer of marinated veggies.
Bloggers!
Then we were served a soup of mushroom dashi, maitake, shimeji, enoki mushrooms.
Next was Udon, grilled Monterey calamari in a browned butter ponzu reduction, cucumber, kaiware, frisée and yellow pear tomato with chojang and sesame vinaigrette.
We had fun with the old school seltzer bottle! 
The main course was salmon with garlic and curry.
And a creamy mushroom risotto with koshihikari rice and crispy maitake mushrooms. So delish!
And more wine.
The roasted brussels sprouts with ponzu fried garlic, guanciale, and bonito fakes was out of this world!!! It was easily the best dish of the night!
I ate 2 servings.
There was also soy braised beef cheeks and oxtails served with baby carrots and fingerling potatoes.
The beef was incredible!! It was sooooo tender!
For dessert, we had Koshihikari rice pudding with cookie crumble and warren pears on top. It was good, but a tad on the bland side. 
After dinner, it was time for the Foodbuzz Blog Awards.
As you probably know, I received nominations in 3 categories:
- Best Healthy Living Blog
- Blogger would you most like to take to dinner
- Blogger would you most want to make you a cocktail
Somehow, I won all 3 categories!!!! Crazy, yet cool! 
I am totally floored and honored! Thank you, readers and Foodbuzz! What an amazing night for Carrots ‘N’ Cake!
My blogger friends also won awards: Jenna won “Blogger most likely to have a cooking show,” Kath won “Best Food Blog,” and Caitlin won “Best Blogger Humanitarian Effort.” It was so cool!!!
Once back at the hotel, a bunch of us gathered at the hotel bar and celebrated with a cocktail and dessert. We shared the chocolate torte, which was absolutely divine! I loved the strong, fresh mint flavor!
I also celebrated with a Grey Goose dirty martini.
Kath suggested an early morning run tomorrow, so I only drank about half of my martini. There’s no way I want to run hungover in the morning. Ick.
I can barely keep my eyes open and I have another fun-filled day planned for tomorrow.
I still can’t believe that I won 3 Foodbuzz Awards! Ahhh! What an honor! I’m heading to bed with the biggest smile on my face ever!
G’night!
Tags: Foodbuzz Awards, Foodbuzz Festival
Madelin @ What is for breakfast? — November 8, 2009 @ 5:17 am
Well done Tina!!! The food looks incredible!
Nicole — November 8, 2009 @ 5:40 am
Congrats!! Looks like you had loads of fun!!
Carrots’n'Cake is my favourite food blog ever, you definitely deserve those awards
Well done, have a nice day!!
Nicole xx
Diana — November 8, 2009 @ 6:08 am
Congratulations Tina!
Well deserved, in my opinion.
Glad you’ve been having a great time!
Have a good sunday!
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet — November 8, 2009 @ 6:41 am
Hey Tina! I just wanted to say congratulations on all of your awards! I’m so happy to see you won and that all of your hard work has paid off. I’m also happy (and slightly jealous) that you are thoroughly enjoying your time in San Fransisco! I love that city and it seems like you are having a great time.
Erica — November 8, 2009 @ 6:59 am
awwwwwww congrats!
MelissaNibbles — November 8, 2009 @ 7:10 am
Congratulations!
Julie — November 8, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Congrats Tina!
Marisa (Trim The Fat) — November 8, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Congrats, Tina!!! What a fabulous event!
Food Makes Fun Fuel — November 8, 2009 @ 8:25 am
Congratulations! Way to go!
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) — November 8, 2009 @ 8:27 am
Tinia, Congratulations! All your hard blogging efforts are paying off! Enjoy the rest of your time in SF
Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) — November 8, 2009 @ 8:48 am
Congrats Tina. 3 awards…. total accomplishment. You rock sister.
diana(mymarblerye) — November 8, 2009 @ 9:03 am
I have a ADHD so it takes alot for me to become addicted to something…and mam’ I love your blog. Congrats!
Melissa O. — November 8, 2009 @ 9:14 am
Tina! Congratulations on the awards, that is unbelievably exciting! I totally voted for you in all three categories! You are, by far, my favorite blog to read and I’m so exxite that your hard work, creativity, and passion has paid off!
Congratulations!!!
candice — November 8, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Congratulations in dominating the categories!!! You deserve every single one of those awards!
Brussels sprouts with bonito flakes?! YUM. I need to try that! The udon and mushroom soup look a-mazing too
Hope you have fun today!
Sarah R — November 8, 2009 @ 9:40 am
Oh my gosh Tina! Congratulations!! What a night for the HLS girls and their blogs!!!
Katie — November 8, 2009 @ 9:47 am
CONGRATULATIONS! Things are really going great for you, so exciting. That produce looks amazing. Annnd so does the food you ate. I want to be in San Fran looks like a foodie’s paradise.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — November 8, 2009 @ 9:56 am
Yay!!!! Congrats!!!
Niki — November 8, 2009 @ 10:03 am
Congrats!! That’s so awesome girl!
Meg @ Be Fit Be Full — November 8, 2009 @ 10:03 am
Congrats on winning all three! That’s awesome and you absolutely deserve it!
Katherine (blissful-body) — November 8, 2009 @ 10:11 am
congrats – dinner in the warehouse looks incredible!!!
Bree — November 8, 2009 @ 10:21 am
Congrats! What an amazing night!
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans — November 8, 2009 @ 10:22 am
Congratulations! I would definitely like to go to dinner with you AND have you make me a cocktail, but only if those brussel sprouts are present because they look freaking amazing!
Cynthia (It All Changes) — November 8, 2009 @ 10:22 am
That food and setting sounds like a TOP CHEF episode
Congrats on your wins. You totally deserve them!
Dori — November 8, 2009 @ 10:42 am
I voted for you for all three — so glad you won! You deserve it.
Tasha — November 8, 2009 @ 10:43 am
Congrats on winning those awards! You look like you’re having a blast out there.
Stephanie — November 8, 2009 @ 10:44 am
Congrats on the exciting wins Tina! Looks like a wonderful evening
Jenna — November 8, 2009 @ 10:58 am
tina! congrats on all three awards
jenna
BethT — November 8, 2009 @ 11:00 am
Way to go! You can make me a drink anytime as long as it’s not a dirty martini.
Melissa — November 8, 2009 @ 11:04 am
Sending lots of congratulations your way. Great job Tina!!! I love Carrots ‘N’ Cake. You’re an amazing blogger and you 100% deserved those 3 FoodBuzz Awards. Yay!!!
Lizzy — November 8, 2009 @ 11:08 am
congrats tina!
how amazing, so proud of you
Jessie (Vegan-minded) — November 8, 2009 @ 11:25 am
Congrats on all the awards.
You deserve it girl!
maria — November 8, 2009 @ 11:44 am
What a fun weekend. Congrats on your awards too! I voted for you:)
FoodFitnessFreshair — November 8, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
Great pictures. This looks amazing! And awards, so exciting!
Anne K. — November 8, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
I love all the pictures. And congrats on the awards! That’s so awesome
Gelareh @ Orange Truffle — November 8, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
Congrats! That is wonderful
Kailey (SnackFace) — November 8, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
HUGE congratulations on the three awards! Jadore Carrots N’ Cake and feel off when I don’t get daily doses!
Kel — November 8, 2009 @ 12:57 pm
Congratulations! I imagine the awards are the icing on the cake. The real prize is a healthy you!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) — November 8, 2009 @ 12:57 pm
Congrats on the awards! Very well deserved.
Judging from a few other blogs, those brussell sprouts seemed to be the star players of the evening. Yum, yum, yum.
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) — November 8, 2009 @ 12:59 pm
Congrats Tina! That’s so great!!
Jen — November 8, 2009 @ 1:07 pm
Congrats! You deserve it! This blog rocks!
Christina — November 8, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
Congratulations! It’s not hard to see why, you rock!!
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — November 8, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
congrats on the awards! awesome! i love the old skool seltzer bottles…we have a sodastream now but my hubby’s always talking about his grandpa’s seltzer bottles that he remembers
caronae — November 8, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
Congratulations! You rock!
Janna (Just Flourishing) — November 8, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
WOW! That’s amazing! Congrats!!!
Tay — November 8, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
Congrats on your awards!! Purely amazing
You deserved them. You’ve seemed to have such a fun weekend – I’m purely jealous. Have a safe flight home and enjoy your last day in SF!
Khaled — November 8, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
Congrats…you totally deserve it!!!. I’m so happy for you. Am I the only guy who follows your blog :-/
I’ve been reading your blog daily for over 5 months..and I’ve learnt so much about healthy living…thanks to you.
Khaled — November 8, 2009 @ 3:23 pm
Congrats…you totally deserve it!!!. I’m so happy for you.
Btw, Am I the only guy who follows your blog :-/ ??
I’ve been reading your blog daily for over 5 months..and I’ve learnt so much about healthy living…thanks to you.
Jenna — November 8, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
Congrats, Tina! You deserved to win all three awards. What a way to top off a fabulous weekend
.
Have fun the rest of the time you’re out there!
Lori Z. — November 8, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
Congratulations! You definitely deserve to win all 3 awards! I don’t comment very much, but I do read all the time (and voted for you, of course!)
Mimi (Damn the Freshman 15) — November 8, 2009 @ 4:59 pm
Wow, so many tasty treats! Glad you’re having fun! And CONGRATS on the awards! You earned ‘em! You really understand what healthy balance is all about. I strive to emulate your savvy example.
Felicia (Bites of the Apple) — November 8, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
Congratulations, Tina!!! That’s so exciting and well deserved.
It sounds like an amazing night and the dinner looked fabulous. I love that it was held in a produce warehouse! Such a fun idea.
Molly — November 8, 2009 @ 5:17 pm
CONGRATULATIONS! You are an inspiration to so many readers and you deserve all three awards (and many more!)
Laura — November 8, 2009 @ 5:30 pm
Congratulations, Tina!
Did the award wins come with any prizes?
Er, she says, shallowly.
Nikka @ neekadeek — November 8, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
Congratulations!
Your blog has been so valuable to my own journey, you deserve all the accolades you receive! Relish in it all!
Lauren @ eater not a runner — November 8, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
Congrats! you deserve it!
Caroline — November 8, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
I am in absolute awe at your weekend! Congrats on winning too! What an unbelievably fun looking time you had, getting to meet all the bloggers and eat all that delicious food it’s seriously any of our dream come true!
Cait (Cait's Plate) — November 8, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
CONGRATS!!! That’s so exciting!!
You took some lovely pictures, the food almost doesn’t look real! I’m glad you had such a great trip. Congrats again on the awards, well deserved Tina!!
Stephanie — November 8, 2009 @ 9:23 pm
Congratulations! I have been reading your blog for so long and all of those awards are well deserved!
rebecca lustig — November 8, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
CONGRATS lovely lady!!! You deserve it <3
janetha — November 8, 2009 @ 9:33 pm
super good to meet you lady! congrats on the awards. the brussel sprout dish was my fave! hope you have a safe trip back. xo
Light Delight with TouTou — November 8, 2009 @ 9:43 pm
Wow! big Congratulations! that’s really amazing! so happy for you!
Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter) — November 8, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
Congrats Tina! So excited for you. Sounds like a fabulous weekend – so wish I could have been there!
Gina G — November 8, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
congrats Tina! =D =D
Geneviève — November 8, 2009 @ 10:04 pm
Congratulations Tina!!! You absolutely deserve all 3 of those awards!!! Glad that you were recognized for all your hard work and your dedication!! thanks for being a part of my daily life!!!!!
Keep on inspiring us around the world to eat a little healthier every day!!!
Ameena — November 8, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
Congratulations! You guys really deserve awards for blogging so regularly. It really is a full time job and I don’t know how you do it.
Danica — November 8, 2009 @ 11:21 pm
Yeah, yeah and yeah!!! It was so awesome to watch you win so many awards and seriously – you totally DESERVE them. LOVE your blog and love ya! You have to be one of the coolest and funnest bloggers I know. I LOVE the passion you have with it all and it really shines through in all you do
Keep up the fantastic work – your blog and pictures get better every day. I seriously LOVED your pictures on this post (oh, except me being a dork in the back) but they are all so professional looking
Katie — November 8, 2009 @ 11:32 pm
Congratulations Tina!!!
Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl — November 9, 2009 @ 12:26 am
Wow. Those are some fantabulous photos! What an amazing time you’re having!!!
And congrats on those awards. Girl, you’re rockin’ the blogosphere!!!
*smiles*
Michele
BroccoliHut — November 9, 2009 @ 1:04 am
Wow, congrats on all the awards–you deserve them, chica!
Nate — November 9, 2009 @ 2:49 am
Congratulations! you take the cake.
Lu — November 9, 2009 @ 9:44 am
Congratulations! It’s great that you won! The dinner looks delicious. I love the mismatched dishes, and the brussel sprouts sound awesome.
Whit — November 9, 2009 @ 9:56 am
Congrats on the awards!
Lindsey @ Eat, Read, Run — November 9, 2009 @ 10:57 am
Congratulations!!! That is soo fantastic!
Jasmine (Sweet and Fit) — November 9, 2009 @ 11:20 am
congrats Tina! you definitely deserve it!
It was a pleasure meeting you at the dinner and chatting with you about Nuval.
Hope to be in touch =)
Jill — November 9, 2009 @ 11:54 am
I’m dying for those roasted brussel sprouts!! I love getting to read all about your trip. Looks like you had an amazing time!
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers — November 9, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
congrats on your awards! i love your blog & think you’re very deserving.
Scott — November 9, 2009 @ 12:59 pm
Congratulations on your hat trick! I’m so proud of you!
Angela @ A Healthy Fit — November 9, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
Congrats on your blog awards! I am new to your blog (and a new blogger as well)and love reading it!
Nick — November 9, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
Congrats Tina! Looks like a good time… I was sad I couldn’t make the trip out!