International Food Blogger’s Conference (IFBC) – New Orleans, LA
The dinner Saturday evening was a real treat with a formal sit down dinner and Chef John Besh as a guest speaker. What impressed me most about Chef Besh is his genuine passion and love for the food and the people of the city New Orleans and the region (there will be more on Chef Besh at a later date).
Dinner menu from Saturday evening
* Mr. Bunkycooks and Chef Besh found something very funny!
In the end, the best part about these conferences is the people you meet and the connections you make. I feel like I have found some really great friends that share many of my same passions.
The rest of my weekend’s gal pals (think Entourage) included Lora of Cake Duchess (she is just as cute and sweet as she is on Twitter and on her blog) and Sarah from Taste of Home. We all laughed and cried so hard in three days, especially at The Carousel Bar in the hotel. What a hoot we had there! Laughter is the best medicine of all, no matter what ails you.
Spin around and around and around at The Carousel Bar!
* Only in New Orleans…a guest at the bar, Sharice showing us her ta-tas! I’m tweeting about it!
It was also a pleasure to meet other presenters and attendees like writer Diane Jacob, photographer Andrew Scrivani, cookbook author Nancie McDermott, Shauna of Gluten Free Girl, and Deb of Smitten Kitchen, to name just a few.
Thank you to everyone that was involved in the planning of IFBC and to everyone that attended. It always goes back to the people that make conferences special and this one truly was.
* Gotta love these ladies!
Thank you to all of the other sponsors of IFBC not mentioned above.
* These photos and the top photograph are courtesy of Lora (Cake Duchess).
Hi Gwen,
It was wonderful meeting you. Thanks for posting all these great pictures and helping me relive the IFBC memories.
Cheers!
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
It was great meeting you as well. I hope to see you at another conference in the future!
Gwen
That’s it. I MUST go to this one next year!
Sounds like so much fun. I wish I could have popped over to New Orleans for the event! The beignets are calling my name. I need to visit again soon.
Keep those tatas under wraps!
LOL! That wasn’t the worst picture. 😉
Such an amazing conference! I’m so glad I was able to meet you! We’ll have to reunite our little “entourage” again soon! xoxo
Hi Sarah,
Yes, it was SO much fun getting to meet you and spend some time together in New Orleans! We definitely must have a reunion at some point!
Gwen
I have enjoyed reading everyone’s post-conference commentary. Enjoyed your presentation on Friday!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you and thanks for stopping by.
Gwen
I love this, Gwen! I’m so happy to have met. Thanks for everything 🙂
Hi Andie,
It was great meeting you too! Thanks for the opportunity to speak at IFBC. I had a great time at the conference and hope to see you again at another one soon!
Gwen
what fun and you got to show off New Orleans… looks like a great conference and I hope you post more about it…
Hi Drick,
You know I love New Orleans and it’s always good to have an opportunity to share this very special cities with others! There will be a little bit more to come soon…
Gwen
Looks spectacular!!! Worth braving the August heat in NOLA, for sure!
Aw this is a wonderful post… great pictures, great memories! And we will definitely spending more and more time together, we four babes… oh and maybe 5 or 6… what a fantastic weekend and conference and what amazing people we not only met but actually got to be friends with. I am so glad you took my pushing and decided to come. xox
Hi Jamie,
Yes, thanks for the push and encouragement. It was so worth the trip to get to meeting you in person and spend some time getting to know each other. We had so much fun with Lora, Sarah and Nanice…I miss everyone! 🙁
I hope I see you before you head back to France!!
Gwen
Sweet Gwen! Always a pleasure reading your adventures. Looking forward the the future posts 😉
I am sooooo jealous. Looking forward to IFBC in Santa Monica though. GREG
Hi Greg,
You will definitely have a great time in Santa Monica. They really did a nice job putting this event together.
Gwen
Great recap! The photos are taking me right back to NOLA! It was nice meeting you while at the IFBC and I enjoyed your presentation!
Hi Kevin,
It was great to finally meet you as well. I am glad that you had so much fun in New Orleans and I hope to see you at another event in the future!
Gwen
That photo of you and Sharice…I don’t know how I snapped that photo b/c the tears were blocking my vision. What a fun moment at The Carousel. The whole weekend was incredible. What a joy to have met you in my new favorite city: New Orleans. We’ll meet again soon. Maybe with the rest of the entourage?;)xx
Hi Lora,
I was laughing so hard I cried too! Sharice was definitely a hoot…only in New Orleans! We have to meet up again sometime soon…it is lonely without our Entourage. 🙁
Gwen
Thanks for sharing your experience, looks like a great time!
Great post and photos, Gwen! You’re so photogenic, I might add 🙂 It was wonderful meeting you! You’re such a sweetheart, I just wish we’d had more time to sit and get to know one another. Hopefully we’ll have that opportunity soon. I so wanted to join you at the bar when I saw you Tweeting!! 🙂 All the best…
What a wonderful experience! I so wish I could have joined you guys!
So fun, Gwen! I can’t believe that woman…and too funny that you were tweeting it. So cool that you guys got to meet Chef Besh. I wish I got to see and hear your session!
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