I really enjoy writing this blog for all of you, but no one pays me to do it (yet). So you need to know when I get paid to do my job – event management and coordination – I won’t be writing much. So you now know why I haven’t been posting as normal.
In November I had the pleasure and good fortune to work with Yummie Nation on the first FOOD Blogger Conference, Food Fight Write, in conjunction with World Food Championships. It was a test of my skills, strength and stamina and barring one mistake leading to a major screw up, it all went pretty well. Keep in mind this was a first time event, constructed from the ground up this year, and hiccups were to be expected. Next year’s event in Orlando is sure to be a bigger, more bad ass event!
Lesson learned from this job? Never, EVER expect that anyone other than you knows how to do their fucking job. No matter how big a company they are. No matter how long they have been in business. ALWAYS follow up and make sure they are doing what they have been contracted to do. My major failing was that I didn’t follow up. Yeah. That.
A few pics from the Conference and surrounding events:
The lovely Emily Ellyn and I at FFW luncheon
Beauties and the Feast at Inspire – the Beauties with Mike McCloud of World Food Championships
Pals Melvin and Beni getting ready to compete in the Ultimate Chef Challenge
Jelly Queen Donna Collins, Dr. BBQ Ray Lampe and Yummie Nation’s Beth Peterson.
Dr. BBQ and I at the Big Green Egg sponsored luncheon.
A panel of experts! Great info and real talk.
Nikki Miller-Ka, Emily Ellyn and Pal Vic Vegas.
And then there was Tgiving – I host a BIG gathering every year – 25 in attendance this year – and some friends from High School flew in to enjoy the day with us. The Boy was home and there was much rejoicing.
Son Jack, me and Ryan ice skating at the Cosmo – it was 80 degrees!
Friends from High School came to join in for the Tgiving shenanigans! Luca on the left, Mike (Ministry of Happiness) on the right.
And then the debut of Late Knife Chef Fight – Congrats to pal Jolene Mannina for turning a passion project into a TV event! WAHOO!
Jolene Mannina of Relish and the creator of Late Knife Chef Fight at the viewing party with friends at The Bunkhouse
Friends Lynn, Christian (Cutthroat Culinary) and Jesikuh at Late Knife Chef FIght viewing party.
December brings all the usual challenges and stressors. I feel like I should be doing more, handling everything, making an appearance at every party and hosting a few of my own. When I don’t do all of that I internally feel like a failure, even if I am doing more than expected.
Here’s what’s on tap for the near future:
- Best things I ate this year
- Gift Guide – what to give the foodie in your life – both extravagant and not
- New Resto Openings in Vegas…Yardbird and Latin Fish
- Xmas dinner out on the town
- LeAnne-uary (the month when I celebrate my birth) – the Half Century Version
On a completely different note – lately culinary peeps here in town have been sharing “secrets” with me and I am flattered that they trust me with those tidbits of info. I have been sitting on several pieces of info since September and can’t divulge ANY of it because I was told “off the record”. Some have been made public and some have not. It is my sincere hope that one day I will get the honor of BREAKING a story and get to publish first.
You can follow along with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to see what else I am up to by searching Good for Spooning. And this month I am doing the “31 Days of Vegas Cheer” photo challenge promoted by the City of Las Vegas. Watch for the pics on Instagram and Twitter.
