My Favorite Week of the Year

This week is my favorite week of the year. The weekend starts with the Bastille festival at Seattle Center.

The Bastille day festival (this Saturday) is a milestone in my food obsessed world. Two years ago I volunteered at this festival because I was looking to meet new people.
From then on, I kept volunteering at every event that I could find, meeting food people, networking and here I am 2 years later enjoying all the connections that I managed to make.

Saturday night is the Bal des Pompiers (Fireman's ball), an evening of music and dancing in the streets.
Sunday is The Bastille day festival, a festival with chef demos, food and music.
It's free and open to everyone so bring the kids to this family friendly event.

Sunday I will be judging The Chocolate Salon again. Last year was a great experience so I am really interested in seeing the creative choices this year.
I think I still have a blue cheese chocolate truffle with a bite in it from last year in my fridge.
Here is my post from last year.
Bastille Day ,July 14 Events:

Cafe Campagne Bastille Festival:
Live music, food and Burlesque performances


Le Pichet Bastille Celebration
From 6 pm and till late hours
French food and Live Jazz from Absinthe Minded Professors (7pm) and DJ Miss Broadway (11pm)

Maximillian Bastille Day Dinner
Enjoy a $35 3-course meal on the patio, overlooking the water. They have live music too.

I will try to make all 5 events. Will I be able to make it to all of them?

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.