Foodportunity

Hi Readers,
I wanted to tell you about an event that I am putting together. It's called Foodportunity. Details are below, sign up for the speed networking event by
emailing me at info@foodportunity.com


“Foodportunity”
To Connect Seattle's Vibrant Food Community

Seattle, June 8, 2009: The inaugural “Foodportunity,” a networking event for Seattle food professionals, will take place July 22, 2009, from 6-9 pm at Palace Ballroom in downtown Seattle.

Tom Douglas, awarded National Restaurant of theYear by Bon Appetit magazine & James Beard-award nominee, will provide his Palace Ballroom facilities to host the event, organized by Seattle food blogger Keren Brown. It will feature appetizers from Seattle's most talked about restaurants, the chance to network with food company representatives, a panel discussion on the topic of new media, as well as a “speed networking” event for the first 40 people to sign up.

The Q&A session on new media will be lead by editor Mina Williams (Northwest Stir) and will feature several of Seattle's best-known writers and bloggers: Nancy Leson (Seattle Times), Rebekeh Denn (formerly of the Seattle PI), Matthew Amster-Burton (Hungry Monkey) and Ronald Holden (Cornichon).

Appetizers will come from several sources, including Tom Douglas' restaurants along with a line up of Seattle gems such as Rovers, Andaluca, Olivar, Art of the Table, Dinette, Maximus Minimus and Serafina. Columbia Crest and Vin Du Lac wineries will pour their wines and other beverages will be available for purchase. A range of food products will be on display.

Foodportunity is open to food journalists, bloggers, public relations professionals, restaurateurs, farmers and all food-passionate people. Admission is $25 which includes bites and two glasses of wine (plus tax and fees). Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com. Space is limited. Palace Ballroom is located at 2100 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle. More information at www.foodportunity.com.




Foodportunity Schedule

6:00-6:30 pm: Meet and greet, snacks provided by a selection of food companies

6:30-7:30 pm: Reaching Consumers Through New Media
Learn how to communicate your Message effectively Through Blogs, Twitter and Facebook
Q&A session
Moderator: Mina Williams, editor of Northwest Stir, Industry news of the Northwest for culinary professionals

Panelists:
- Nancy Leson, Seattle Times Food Writer and KPLU food commentator
- Rebekah Denn, James Beard Award winning food writer, formerly from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Matthew Amster-Burton, food writer, author of Hungry Monkey and contributor for Gourmet magazine.
- Ronald Holden, food writer and creator of Cornichon.org, named among the Top 10 food blogs according to GourmetFood about.com

7:30 – 9:00 pm: Networking time, raffle prizes and bites from Seattle restaurants. Food companies will provide booths and snacks as well.

8:30- 9:00 pm: An optional "speed networking" session for the first 40 to sign up led by Rachel Belle, food writer and former KIRO radio restaurant reporter.

Ruth Reichl Meets the Bloggers at Olivar

This month's Seattle Food Blogger event was a Q.A session with one of the culinary world's most influential writers, Ruth Reichl.
The event took place at Olivar on Capitol hill in Seattle. Chef Philippe prepared some wonderful appetizers and Vin Du Lac Winery served three fabulous wines.


Ruth started off by clearly reminding us that her new book " Not Becoming My Mother" is not about food. She went about saying this, somewhat apologetically as if food is all you would expect of her. Within a few seconds the group was mesmerized, each blogger intently leaning forward to hear more about Ruth's life journey.


The pictures at this event were taken by Lara Ferroni of Cook and Eat and Rina Jordan of Rina Jordan Photography. These two photographers did a wonderful job at capturing the intense moments that filled the room.
The photos on this post are by Lara Ferroni.
Rina Jordan's gallery can be seen by clicking on this link.

Thank you Ruth for meeting with us.
Thanks to everyone for coming! Thank you Chef Philippe from Olivar and Larry from Vin du Lac.
Thank you Lara and Rina for all the photos.



Photos by Lara Ferroni




Photos by Lara Ferroni




Photos by Lara Ferroni




Chef Philippe Thomelin of Olivar




Photos by Lara Ferroni

Matthew-Amster Burton contributing writer for Gourmet and author of Hungry Monkey with Ruth Reichl editor of Gourmet





Chef Philippe's appetizers. His signature albondigas always win the crowd

Photos by Lara Ferroni



Photos by Lara Ferroni

Photos by Lara Ferroni


Ruth Reichl and Jaden of Steamy Kitchen

Chef Ethan Stowell to Open New Restaurant Soon

Chef Ethan Stowell of How to Cook A Wolf, Union, and Tavolata is opening another restaurant called Anchovies and Olives on the corner of 15th Avenue and Pine in Seattle's Capitol Hill.

The kitchen will be completely open with only a large-scale butcher block separating the dining area and kitchen. A bar will provide seating for eight and the dining room will accommodate 36 guests. Anchovies & Olives will be open from 5pm to 12am seven nights a week.

Anchovies & Olives will have a daily menu ($5 to $18 items). Every dish will have a seafood item. Some menu examples are Grilled Octopus with Chickpeas & Parsley Pesto ($12), Grilled Porcini Mushrooms with Bottarga, Parmigiano-Reggiano & Rosemary ($11). Spaghetti with Anchovy, Garlic, Chilies & Herbed Crumbs ($14) Grilled Branzino with Artichokes, Lemon & Celery ($18) and Baked Ocean Trout with Farro, Fried Cauliflower & Prosciutto ($15).

This is exciting since "How to Cook a Wolf" is a favorite of mine. It always makes me laugh when friends call me asking me the same question each time. " Keren, do you know a place called How to Eat a Wolf or something?".

Black Bottle Baby

Black Bottle Does Lunch! This Belltown Gastro-Pub is just the place to go to get some drinks and some snacks with some friends at night. I know about the lunch menu for a while, read about the Pho-bulous soup on Cornichon a while back,
but only lately did I drop by for lunch.

Prices from 7- 11 dollars with options like hot pastrami bomber, hanger steak on greens and lemon caper squid salad. Check out the lunch menu

I loved the leek and emmenthaler tart!

As I was looking around I noticed that they are expanding and opening a room for private events.

I am kicking myself for not going for lunch earlier,ouch!

If You Live In Seattle, You better Love Chocolate!

Lately it seems like chocolate is becoming the new Seattle choice for foodies.
New chocolatiers are everywhere and the selection is getting a little overwhelming!

Some new chocolate venues......
You can try Chocolopolis in Queen Anne or Claudio Corallo
in Ballard.


The other day I was strolling through The Chocolate Box when I noticed that they had some beautiful, yet familiar chocolates. They looked like Cosmic chocolates to me but
I wasn't sure. Could it be? Cosmic chocolates in Seattle? Oh and yes, they are here.......
Read more about Cosmic here.

Now my last tidbit of chocoinfo is that I got a little sneak peak at what Theo is offering for the holidays. Yes, I know it is early but winter is on the way in.
Flavor combinations like milk chocolate covered peanut butter and vanilla caramel graham, dark chocolate covered peanut butter with vanilla caramel graham, milk chocolate covered marshmallow with vanilla caramel graham, and dark chocolate covered marshmallow vanilla caramel graham.... I love the milk chocolate peanut butter one....

Theo will be selling S'mores from August 21-August 23. For 3 dollars a hit you can choose your own chocolate combination. The hours are from 3:00- 6:00 PM.


What is your favorite chocolate flavor? Where do you buy your chocolate?