This past weekend I was up in San Francisco, attending the Blogher Food ’10 Conference. I did not go last year, yet I was told that it was something that could not be missed. I anticipated this weekend for months. I booked my flight, I made my hotel reservation and I planned my eating itinerary. I packed thoughtfully (however, next year I need to bring another suit case to cart back all the “swag”) and I remembered all my computer cables and charged my camera battery! I was set to go.
I was looking forward to spending face time with some of my posse (Gaby, Brooke, Carrie, Jenn, Marla) and I was really looking forward to meeting new people. I took my camera with an extra memory card, anticipating taking tons of pictures. Well, I got caught up in the moment and didn’t snap as much as I had hoped. Maybe I was a little “star struck”, or just plain overwhelmed. I am kind of mad at myself for not being the shutter bug that I can annoyingly be, yet with that said, I LOVED my weekend. I was inspired, I learned, I ate, I laughed, and I even cried.
The highlight of my weekend was meeting Dorie Greenspan. For years, I have admired her from a far, have been reading her columns in magazines, studying and cooking from her various books, reading her posts on facebook and of course, following her blog. Dorie is lovely, approachable, humorous and humble. I revere Dorie as my mentor as my inspiration and now, my friend.
In celebration of a fabulous weekend, I have made the savory cheese and chive bread from Dorie’s new book; around my french table
HP provided this VERY COOL photo booth,
we went a tad crazy snapping fun-silly photos!
savory cheese + chive bread
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all purpose
1 Tbls. baking powder
1/2- 1tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper
3 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 generous cup grated Gruyere
2 oz. English white cheddar, cut into cubes
1/2 cup minced fresh chives
1/3 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
Instructions
• center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350*
• generously butter an 8″ x 4 1/2″ loaf pan
• whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and white pepper together in a large bowl
• put the eggs in a large bowl and mix for about a minute, whisk in milk and olive oil.
• pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. using a sturdy spatula, gently mix until the dough comes together.
• stir in the cheeses, herbs, and walnuts. this is a thick dough
• spread into the prepared pan and even out with a spatula.
• bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the bread is golden and a slender knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
• remove and set on a wire rack to cool for 3 minutes. then run a knife around the edges and then turn the loaf over onto the rack. invert and cool, right side up.
The Urban Baker / SusanSalzman.com
lucky you! meeting dorie! love her style of cookbooks…..sooo foolprooF!I made the same cheese bread on monday to serve with homemade souploving the new book and the bread!your bread looks way better than mine!!! I blame altitude! lol
You are so cute!! I loved hanging out with you! You blog is delightful!Super re-cap girl~Blesings!Amanda
This looks incredible!
So fun to meet you, Susan! Great recap. Hope we meet again!
It’s great to meet your heroes, no? So great to hang out with you, watch you spread your wings, and fly among the other bloggers. Yay!
I am so glad we were able to meet in person! I had a great time with you! Dorie is the best, I agree:) Love this recipe!
Susan, We had so much to talk about — barely scratched the surface. I love this new phase of your career. Let’s keep in touch, okay?
Your blog is very cool… The bread looks very delicious too.
By the looks and sound of it-you had a blast. Hope you go to the one next year in San Diego and we can meet face-to-face!
Sounds like you had a lot of fun! Plus, you met Dorie!!!! Lucky you… Love the recipe you posted!
Susan, you are a wonderful woman & I am so happy that we got to spend that speciall early morning walk together on Sunday. We have bucket loads of stuff in common & I look forward to happy futures and sharing a fabulous friendship together! xo
What a great recap! I went to Tartine on my way out too. So amazing!
Being in San Francisco is grand enough, but to meet up with blogger friends and Dorie – now that’s fantastic. And your photos are excellent. Thanks for sharing your adventure.And thanks for visiting my blog. I really appreciate your comment.
Kind of wishing I had stayed for Saturday, but I had to see my girl! So much fun andlLucky you – getting a photo op with Dorie! It was great meeting you and having dinner on Friday night. Hope to see you again soon.
So lovely and I am jealous…I am still not up to being invited to anything in the blog world…someday! I feel like Charlie looking into the chocolate factory before he got his ticket. I have a lot to learn to deserve my “golden ticket.” Looks like you had a great weekend full of food, friends and fun!!!!
Looks like a fun trip! These foodblog conferences seem like something I should attend someday. Can’t quite justify it at the moment, with three small kids and a blog that’s just starting to take off.The bread looks fantastic as well, I think I might have to make that soon!
I really wish I had made it. C’est la vie! Have you eaten at Bar Tartine? Also superb.
These comments helped me overcome my BHF withdrawls!icedteaforme – dorie is the bomb!amanda – you’re cuter! you’re my baking “sista”!debbie – it was really delish. especially the next day, toasted with lots and lots of butterditto, elaine! we will meet again, hopefully very, very soon!brooke – chirp, chirp. it has been a long time since I have felt like a bird. so liberating!Maria – I loved our time together. And I love our posse!Dianne – I adored our time together. to be able to get that much one on one time, in a setting like this was priceless! you inspire me.Zoe – loving your comment! so appreciate it.Naomi – I would love to meet you in S.D. It is on my radar!Kim – if you have an opportunity to go to something like this – DO IT!Marla – you know how I feel about you! I feel blessedCarrie – next year we go to Tartine together! There is nothing like it, ANYWHERE! Cathy – thanks for the kudos. My only regret is not taking more photos!Priscilla – dinner was perfect, just the 3 of us! We will meet again, very, very soonNIcole – you do deserve your golden ticket. just jump on board and dive in. you won’t regret it!Carolyn – it is really great to be in a room, of 300, and all have a common bond. You must treat yourself to this experience!Kimberely – there is always next year!Your comments keep me going! Keep them coming!xx
I’m so envious, you could take part in this conference, and meet Dorie Greenspan :)what a treat 🙂
Dorie is a true joy. So happy you got to meether. I met her in NYC at a cookie pop up shop she opened and she was so gracious and amazing! I’m looking forward to getting to BlogHer Food next year and hopefully meeting you 🙂