The Food + Wine Conference is an annual conference held in Orlando, Florida hosted by the Family Foodie and the Sunday Supper Movement. This three-day conference is organized each year by Founder Isabel Laessig and an amazing committee of devoted Sunday Supper community team members – after being on the committee for two years, this was my first year attending as a speaker only, so believe me I fully appreciate all the work that goes on behind the scenes make this event run as smoothly as it does.

The Sunday Supper Community member attendee group picture – photo credit Ashley Harmon Photography.  

 

Let’s begin my Food + Wine Conference recap with..

the highlight of my Food + Wine Conference 2015 weekend!

Let me start off by saying that I grew up watching Bob Barker and The Barker’s Babe’s welcoming contestants down on The Price Is Right during the summers, or when I was home from school feeling sick on the couch, so when MY name was called by Michele Northrup, of Intensity Academy + The Sauceology Group, {our Saucy version of Mr. Barker} to approach the stage during her conference version of the iconic game show, I was honestly giddy with excitement and ran right up to the stage to take my place on Contestant Row and proudly don my big yellow price tag name badge. I put on my feathery antenna headpiece, grabbed my marker and pricing board, I was ready to win big!

The prizes were announced and after three rounds of some of the worst price guessing I have ever done – it’s not as easy as it looks when you are actually up there guessing prices – the room became a big blur of people yelling numbers and suddenly I could barely remember how much a tube of toothpaste should cost let alone a BMW mini car! As fellow contestants correctly guessed and moved on to collect their prizes, I was one of the remaining original contestants on the final round and simply hoping there was going to be the chance of a consolation prize in my future. 

Bob, I mean Michele, announced that the FINAL prize would be a “Life Changing Opportunity” – no pressure right. I adjust my headpiece and wrote my best guess on my board. We all reveal our numbers and surprisingly we are ALL over! We erase them and look to the screaming audience of fellow bloggers for advice and then reveal our new guesses. Honestly I can not remember what number I wrote down at that point, but then… MY name was called!! Could there be a mistake? I look over to confirm, yes it is true!! – The “Life Changing Opportunity” is mine!! I think I may have screamed a little and quickly ran off the stage before they could watch the replay and take my silver cow bell away!

So what did I bid on and win? What is the highlight of my Food + Wine Conference 2015 weekend? 

I am the lucky winner of a “three-day trip to Colorado to work side by side with the Beef.org culinary team and recipe testers to ideate, test and fully develop a brand new beef recipe!!! My trip will include a tour of the culinary center, one on one time with their culinary team as well as hands-on testing in the kitchen to see my recipe go from an idea to a triple-tested recipe to be featured on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.” 

“Life Changing Opportunity”? Quite possibly! Stay Tuned for more!!

Karli Millspaugh of Beef.org, Krayl Funch of An Appealing Plan, Erin Weber of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association – side note… this photo was taken the following day after lunch so my excitement level is not accurately reflected here. 

Okay let’s find out what else happened over the three-day Food + Wine Conference 2015… Lots of this…

Friday Night Food + Wine Conference Welcome Parties

“Florida Strawberries Welcome Reception” – Strawberry Martini’s with St. Augustine Distillery, my favorite part of this picture is the smiling Rosen Shingle Creek staff member in the background!

“Florida Strawberries Welcome Reception“ – Rosen Hotels amazing Chef David Ramirez creating chocolate masterpieces.

“Taste of Rosen Shingle Creek” – Lobster Tart

Saturday Events at Food + Wine Conference 2015

” Idaho Potato + Wisconsin Cheese Poutine Bar Lunch” – Anatomy of a Chicken and Waffle Poutine,Egg, Bacon and Chive Poutine, Mushroom and Kale Poutine

Amazing cheese display by Wisconsin Cheese Cheese Board – the Burrata was fantastic!

Did you see my submission into the #WisconsinCheese contest – Nectarine Gallette with Thyme + Gruyere?

“Fields Auto Group #FieldFoodies Fun and Dessert ” – fun with my friend T.R. Crumbley of Gulten Free Crumbley

“Afternoon break with Georgia Peach Council  and Parkesdale Market“ – Krayl Funch, of An Appealing Plan, with Gena Knox, author of Southern My Way.

Gena was just as lovely as you would image a Georgia Peach would be! And those Georgia Peach Smoothies… can I have one delivered to me every morning please.

Saturday Day Night Dinner at Food + Wine Conference 2015

“Around the Sunday Supper Dinner table with Certified Angus Beef and Hess Collection Wines“ – what a joy to top off an incredible day of panels and speakers with our Saturday night dinner around the table with  old and new friends.

Me and THE Saucy Queen herself – as above mentioned our “Saucy Bob Barker”, of Intensity Academy.

Another highlight each year of the conference is meeting friends you have known on-line for years actually in person – Me + Rick Griffin of Midlife Roadtrip taking a break from the Idaho Potato singing heads!

Sunday Breakout Sessions at the 2015 Food + Wine Conference

“The Art of Cheese Pairings with Cabot Cheese + Hess CollectionWines” – yes, this is the perfect way to begin a Sunday! 

Table Sponsor Datz Tampa, launches their new Bloody Mary mix at the Food + Wine Conference Sunday luncheon. 

“The Tale of Two Photographers” break out session with Julius Mayo Jr. of Droolious.com – do you see how fast he is!!

And last BUT certainly not least – I was honored to be a part of the Cookbook Publish Panel for the Food and Wine Conference with these accomplish cookbook authors.

Stephanie Manley, author of Copy Cat Recipes, Krayl Funch, Laura Bashar, of Family Spice.

At the end of the three-day content filled weekend, I am exhausted from the events and at the same time on a creative high from all of the input and conversations. I leave feeling excited about new friends, new tools to apply to my brand and the knowledge that I am in exactly the right place for me, but also I am slightly sad to be going back to “regular life” after 3 days of non-stop action. Travel home is a time to absorb and process all that happened, and to consider what will be the highlight of the 2016 Food + Wine Conference.

Until next year my friends…

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And, if you are looking for even more ways to celebrate everyday check out An Appealing Plan the book.

Call it a trend or a return to the past, but I believe we are bringing back entertaining at home, lingering over a table after a lovingly prepared meal with friends. It has been a way of life and passion of mine my entire adult life, and I am thrilled to be able to invite you on this journey with me through a year of celebrating every day. Filled with recipes, tablescapes, floral inspiration and seasonal entertaining ideas An Appealing Plan :: A Year of Everyday Celebrations, is a dream come true for me a true honor to be able to share it with you. To learn more about An Appealing Plan :: A Year of Everyday Celebrations here. And of course, share how you are celebrating everyday.