Food is often a social activity, but the process of food blogging is not. Editing photos, uploading images, researching online and writing text can seem a lonely task at 3am. Creating an opportunity to meet fellow food bloggers was the impetus behind Chocolatesuze and I organising the first ever Sydney food bloggers Christmas picnic in 2009.
Our regular annual event has grown ever since, and last weekend, in our 4th event, 67 food bloggers gathered at Centennial Picnic for an afternoon of food and frivolity.
Sydney food bloggers
The food blogging community is a diverse group - some people write restaurant reviews, many concentrate on recipes, and others focus on specific diets, cuisines or lifestyles. We estimate there are over 400 food bloggers in Sydney alone, and each week someone new takes the plunge and hits "publish" on their first ever post.
Creating events like this is more than just an opportunity to put faces to names. It's a celebration of the strength of the food blogging community and its welcoming inclusiveness, a catalyst for new friendships, and a reassurance that there really are other people out there as maniacally food obsessed as you.
Tofu and egg rice paper rolls by Angie Lives to Eat
And of course the best part about picnicking with food bloggers is the impressive spread. Ayana's Swiss deco-roll [pictured at top] was the perfect centrepiece for a massive feast of savouries and sweets that left everyone clutching their distended stomachs by the end. Here are just a few of the homemade treats on offer:
Thai chicken in crispy wonton cups by The Sticky and Sweet
Risoles and krokets by Irene's Getting Fat
Jasmine tea creme brulee tarts by Excuse Me Waiter!
Gingerbread men by Polkadots and Chopsticks
Chocolate chiffon cake by The Way It Crumbles
Thanksgiving turkey Oreos by Gucci & Gyoza
Pims and lemonade by Citrus and Candy and Rasberri Cupcakes
Sydney food bloggers Christmas picnic 2012 (photo by Simon)
Thanks everyone for coming. We hope you had a blast!
#sydfbxmas2012 attendees:
A Food Story | Alana Bread | Angie Lives To Eat | Belly Rumbles | Bite Me Show Me | Bull In a Cake Shop | Can’t Believe It’s Not a Food Blog | Chew Town | ChocolateSuze | Citrus and Candy | Clean Spoon | Confessions of a Glutton | Cook Suck | Cooking Crusade | Corridor Kitchen | Crunchy Tiger | 84th and 3rd | Excuse Me Waiter | Flick Your Food | Food Booze Shoes | Food Is Our Religion | Food Porn Nation | Food Scene Sydney | Fruit Salad Mixed Veg | Gourmet Getaways | Grab Your Fork | Gucci and Gyoza | Here Comes the Food | Insatiable Munchies | Irene’s Getting Fat | JB Jose | Jen Is Hungry | Jugernauts | Love Swah | Milkteaxx | Miss Potato Princess | Ms Brulee | Much a Munch | Muppy | My Delicious Blog | Next Stop Food | Nic Cooks | Oh Ayana | Phuoc n Delicious | Polkadots and Chopsticks | Raging Cravings | Ramen Raff | Raspberri Cupcakes | Scoff and Quaff | Simon Food Favourites | Spoon Fork and Chopsticks | Spoonfuls of Goodness | Star Loz | Sugarlace | Tea Thymes | The Food Mentalist | The Heart of Food | The Home Food Cook | The Lamstock | The Random Foodie | The Sticky and Sweet | The Two Taste Buds | The Way It Crumbles | Vegetaraian | Veggies and Me | When the World Stops Spinning
Thanks for organising such a successful event Helen! It's always fun catching up with old pals, meeting new faces and getting into a coma from all the food.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic event! Next year ill be more into all things food blogging and will go to all these events!
ReplyDeleteThanks for organising the epic picnic Helen and Suze! It was hard to keep myself away from eating lol
ReplyDeleteWhat an afternoon it was! Had an amazing time, thanks Helen for co-organising! :) Can't wait for next year - will definitely have to make sure I bring something savoury next time haha
ReplyDeleteso much foods oh man
ReplyDeleteI'm SO disappointed that I missed this years picnic...it's always such fun and I LOVE meeting new bloggers and seeing old friends again. Epic haul of food as usual...yum.
ReplyDeleteGreat wrap-up :) thanks for organising such a great event x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on what was clearly a very successful event! I'm disappointed that I had other things on that day, but look forward to making it to next year's picnic. :)
ReplyDeleteWell organised. So much food, so little time nom nom :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks to you and Suze for organising all of this! It was great to finally put a face to the name and to all the other bloggers!
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen & Suze for yet another great blogger event. You guys did a superb job. I've never seen so much stealing with KK in my life and it was hilarious. Always great to see you ladies and hopefully will see you more ;)
ReplyDeleteHelen big thank you to you and Suze for organising yet another great event. I can't believe that it was number 4!
ReplyDeletethank you so much for organising this event! always good to meet and catch up with everyone! will try to stay a lot longer next time :p
ReplyDeleteShame I had to miss out this year but it looks like there was a great turnout with loads of food as usual!
ReplyDeleteThanks for organizing the amazing picnic with Suze!
ReplyDeleteThere was so much food, my tummy was very satisfied :)
Missed it this year... good to see that there savoury/sweet ratio is getting more balanced :) The Oreo turkeys are awesome!
ReplyDeleteWe had a blast, the food was awesome so thank you Helen and Suze for organising =).
ReplyDeletethanks Helen for organizing! looking forward to the next year picnic already! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for organising! Had a great time!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for organising the picnic again this year, it was great fun! Hope you liked our tarts :)
ReplyDeleteAlways a well-attended and fun event and, like you said, a good chance to connect with other crazily food-minded individuals!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had an amazing picnic Helen - so, so much food and it all looks great!
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ReplyDeletenice one buddy, forgot to say gday
ReplyDeleteThanks for organising yet another successful Xmas picnic.
ReplyDeleteSo, same time next year? :)
Looks like a great day :D Im SO sorry I didnt make it!
ReplyDeleteOh I am so sad I couldn't make it. It looks like you all had the best time! You and Suze are such legends to organise this event :)
ReplyDeleteEverything looks fantastic! Must've been one delicious event xD So sad I missed it! Looking forward to next year's ;)
ReplyDeletethanks again Helen
ReplyDeleteSo much good food! Sorry I couldn't make it - looks like a brilliant day.
ReplyDeleteAfter much thinking I finally started my own food blog this week~ I really love this post and it's great to see food blogging going strong in Sydney. I seem to see so much about it overseas and not here!
ReplyDeleteLooks like it was a great day full of yummy food x
www.unocappuccino.com
Thanks for organising a great day
ReplyDeleteThanks again for organising! Here's to another delicious year :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Looks like a great day! All that food looks delicious! I want to know what's in that bowl behind the Thai chicken in wonton cups - it looks like chocolate chip cookie dough with apple slices and digestive biscuits?? :) YUM!
ReplyDeletexox Sarah
Would love to attend next year just to get to know you all better :) Looks like you all had fun!
ReplyDeleteHumans! Asians! LOL :) Looks like you guys had lots of fun! :)
ReplyDeleteHumans! Asians! LOL :) Looks like you guys had lots of fun! :)
ReplyDeletei would like to buy a ticket to next years, please!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for organising it Helen (and Suze)... sorry I took over stealing santa!! and then had to leave you to finish it off. x
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