Foodbuzz Festival: Dinner & Awards Ceremony

November 8, 2009

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.

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The Greenleaf produce warehouse was such a cool setting for a foodie dinner! :-D

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The dinner tables extended all around the warehouse.

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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!

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Shannon and me!

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New blog friends! :mrgreen:

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One of the passed apps during the cocktail house was a crostini with tuna puree.

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Cocktail hour in the warehouse was happening! :-D

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Our place settings consisted of mismatched plates, handmade bamboo chopsticks, and customized menus. So neat!

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The meal started with a light appetizer of marinated veggies.

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Bloggers! :mrgreen:

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Then we were served a soup of mushroom dashi, maitake, shimeji, enoki mushrooms.

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Next was Udon, grilled Monterey calamari in a browned butter ponzu reduction, cucumber, kaiware, frisée and yellow pear tomato with chojang and sesame vinaigrette.

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We had fun with the old school seltzer bottle! ;-)

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The main course was salmon with garlic and curry.

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And a creamy mushroom risotto with koshihikari rice and crispy maitake mushrooms. So delish!

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And more wine.

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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!

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I ate 2 servings.

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There was also soy braised beef cheeks and oxtails served with baby carrots and fingerling potatoes.

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The beef was incredible!! It was sooooo tender!

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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. :-?

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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! 8-)

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I am totally floored and honored! Thank you, readers and Foodbuzz! What an amazing night for Carrots ‘N’ Cake! :mrgreen:

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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!!! :-D

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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!

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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.

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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! :mrgreen:

G’night!

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{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }

Madelin @ What is for breakfast? November 8, 2009 at 5:17 am

Well done Tina!!! The food looks incredible!

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Nicole November 8, 2009 at 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

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Diana November 8, 2009 at 6:08 am

Congratulations Tina! :) Well deserved, in my opinion.
Glad you’ve been having a great time!

Have a good sunday!

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Katy @ These Beautiful Feet November 8, 2009 at 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. :)

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Erica November 8, 2009 at 6:59 am

awwwwwww congrats!

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MelissaNibbles November 8, 2009 at 7:10 am

Congratulations!

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Julie November 8, 2009 at 8:20 am

Congrats Tina!

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Marisa (Trim The Fat) November 8, 2009 at 8:20 am

Congrats, Tina!!! What a fabulous event!

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Food Makes Fun Fuel November 8, 2009 at 8:25 am

Congratulations! Way to go!

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Jess (Fit Chick in the City) November 8, 2009 at 8:27 am

Tinia, Congratulations! All your hard blogging efforts are paying off! Enjoy the rest of your time in SF

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Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) November 8, 2009 at 8:48 am

Congrats Tina. 3 awards…. total accomplishment. You rock sister.

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diana(mymarblerye) November 8, 2009 at 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!

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Melissa O. November 8, 2009 at 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!!! :)

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candice November 8, 2009 at 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!

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Sarah R November 8, 2009 at 9:40 am

Oh my gosh Tina! Congratulations!! What a night for the HLS girls and their blogs!!!

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Katie November 8, 2009 at 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.

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Jessica @ How Sweet It Is November 8, 2009 at 9:56 am

Yay!!!! Congrats!!!

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Niki November 8, 2009 at 10:03 am

Congrats!! That’s so awesome girl!

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Meg @ Be Fit Be Full November 8, 2009 at 10:03 am

Congrats on winning all three! That’s awesome and you absolutely deserve it!

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Katherine (blissful-body) November 8, 2009 at 10:11 am

congrats – dinner in the warehouse looks incredible!!!

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Bree November 8, 2009 at 10:21 am

Congrats! What an amazing night!

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Madeline @ Greens and Jeans November 8, 2009 at 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!

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Cynthia (It All Changes) November 8, 2009 at 10:22 am

That food and setting sounds like a TOP CHEF episode :-)

Congrats on your wins. You totally deserve them!

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Dori November 8, 2009 at 10:42 am

I voted for you for all three — so glad you won! You deserve it.

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Tasha November 8, 2009 at 10:43 am

Congrats on winning those awards! You look like you’re having a blast out there.

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Stephanie November 8, 2009 at 10:44 am

Congrats on the exciting wins Tina! Looks like a wonderful evening :)

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Jenna November 8, 2009 at 10:58 am

tina! congrats on all three awards :)
jenna

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BethT November 8, 2009 at 11:00 am

Way to go! You can make me a drink anytime as long as it’s not a dirty martini.

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Melissa November 8, 2009 at 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!!!

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Lizzy November 8, 2009 at 11:08 am

congrats tina! :) how amazing, so proud of you

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Jessie (Vegan-minded) November 8, 2009 at 11:25 am

Congrats on all the awards. :) You deserve it girl!

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maria November 8, 2009 at 11:44 am

What a fun weekend. Congrats on your awards too! I voted for you:)

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FoodFitnessFreshair November 8, 2009 at 12:34 pm

Great pictures. This looks amazing! And awards, so exciting!

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Anne K. November 8, 2009 at 12:36 pm

I love all the pictures. And congrats on the awards! That’s so awesome :)

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Gelareh @ Orange Truffle November 8, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Congrats! That is wonderful :)

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Kailey (SnackFace) November 8, 2009 at 12:47 pm

HUGE congratulations on the three awards! Jadore Carrots N’ Cake and feel off when I don’t get daily doses!

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Kel November 8, 2009 at 12:57 pm

Congratulations! I imagine the awards are the icing on the cake. The real prize is a healthy you!

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Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) November 8, 2009 at 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.

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Joelle (The Pancake Girl) November 8, 2009 at 12:59 pm

Congrats Tina! That’s so great!!

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Jen November 8, 2009 at 1:07 pm

Congrats! You deserve it! This blog rocks!

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Christina November 8, 2009 at 1:16 pm

Congratulations! It’s not hard to see why, you rock!!

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Lynn (The Actors Diet) November 8, 2009 at 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

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caronae November 8, 2009 at 1:28 pm

Congratulations! You rock!

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Janna (Just Flourishing) November 8, 2009 at 1:31 pm

WOW! That’s amazing! Congrats!!!

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Tay November 8, 2009 at 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!

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Khaled November 8, 2009 at 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.

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Khaled November 8, 2009 at 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.

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Jenna November 8, 2009 at 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!

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Lori Z. November 8, 2009 at 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!)

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Mimi (Damn the Freshman 15) November 8, 2009 at 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.

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