Is it just me, or has the media (particularly the UK media) lately been packed with stories of people who met other people on the internet and then had something ghastly happen to them? If you are to believe what the tabloids say, then all the normal people live exclusively in the analogue world and all the weirdos lurk in the digital world, just waiting for one of us Norms to step over into the seedy underbelly that is the Internet, where we will instantly either be groomed, perverted, brainwashed or killed. Single friends of mine (obviously not bloggers!) regard me in undisguised horror when I suggest internet dating. "But you'll meet freaks!", they say. Ummm... I met every man I've ever dated in person - in a bar, in a club, at a friend's house - and i have to say that a proportion of them turned out to be freaks (in their own lovable ways, of course, for any exes reading this! - Ed.). But I seem to be a voce in the wilderness on that score.
So when you tell your nearest and dearest that you plan to spend the last Saturday of November hanging out with a bunch of people that you MET ON THE INTERNET, be prepared for some raised eyebrows and shocked gasps.
Yes, folks, those crazy-freaks-you-met-on-the-internet, also referred to as food bloggers, are getting together for the first food blogger seminar in the UK. And the big news is that I will be speaking!
The plan is to gather at Levant restaurant in London, to mingle, meet and eat, and then to hear a number of top bloggers speak on topics relevant both to new bloggers and those who have been around for a while. Here is the outline:
A) Food Photography & Styling - Meeta from What's For Lunch Honey and Kang from LondonEaterB) Writing Style & Voice - Jeanne from Cook Sister! and Jamie from Life's A Feast
C) Creative Marketing & Social Media - Kang from LondonEater
Sound interesting to you? Well why don't you sign up to attend! It's not every day you get to see a talking Cooksister :)
WHAT: Food Blogger Connect
WHEN: November 28th, 2009, 1 PM to 5 PM
WHERE: Levant Restaurant, London, W1
WHO: Everyone who is or wants to be part of the Food Blogosphere, from the UK, Europe and even India. Food Blogger connect is open to all, and you don’t have to be a long-time blogger to attend. Are you thinking of starting a food blog? This is the perfect time to come and learn how. This event is open to Non-UK Food Bloggers as well.
HOW MUCH: £30 for food and 1 glass of wine. This is the only fee and it covers the meal.
WHERE CAN I RSVP: Go to www.rsvpit.com. The event code is 2009.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
I just signed up.I live in the Netherlands, recently started blogging and have already made a few firm friends. Sod statistics....they don't add up, blogging is very much an 'outlier'! Now I will no longer look in envy at those who get to attend BlogHer and the like. Yipee!
Posted by: Kitchen Butterfly | November 06, 2009 at 09:24 PM
Sounds great. But a Saturday? Busiest day of the week :( Will have to continue lurking in the underworld.....
Posted by: James | November 06, 2009 at 11:52 PM
I commented on a website once and when I woke up I was in an ice-filled bathtub and my kidneys were missing and then when I looked in the bathroom mirror it said welcome to the AIDS club.
Posted by: anthony | November 07, 2009 at 03:42 AM
=(
i Wish i could come tooo.....
Posted by: ilingc | November 07, 2009 at 05:22 AM
Sounds exciting, looking forward to our event!!!
Posted by: ninan | November 07, 2009 at 06:16 AM
How fab!! I so wish I still lived in the UK!
Posted by: Megan@Feasting on Art | November 07, 2009 at 11:28 AM
This sounds great. We just had the food and wine week in New York recently and although it was mainly chefs sharing their cooking skills, there were also plenty of food writers and bloggers. These kinds of events are not only interesting and valuable to us foodies, its a delicious way to make all kinds of contacts too. Have fun at yours!!
Posted by: Fiyola | November 08, 2009 at 02:50 PM
I'm thrilled to be sharing the floor with you! And strangely enough, my skeptic of a husband - skeptical about people one meets over the internet and, well, people you meet anywhere and in general, is thrilled about Food Blogger Connect and has come to see how great most are! So I am super excited! See you there!
Posted by: Jamie | November 09, 2009 at 02:41 PM
i am gutted i won't be able to make it... but £1000 for a catering gig are not to be snuffed at in the current economic climate ;-)
Posted by: johanna | November 11, 2009 at 12:12 AM
£1000? Wow! Now I'm really jealous but then again I'm a terrible public speaker and I jibber and jabber while pissing in my pants at the same time - multi-tasker! Anyway, can we sit next to each other so that people can see I'm associated with you? ;-)
Posted by: Michelle | November 11, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Oh how fun! I have met quite few bloggers all over the world, you included ;-), and you guys are more sane than the people in my 'real' life. Ther might be a nut case commenter here and there, but food bloggers for the most part rock!Wish I was there to hear you.
Posted by: courtney | November 14, 2009 at 11:31 PM
I'll be there :-) Please come and say hi!
Posted by: Paul | November 15, 2009 at 02:39 PM
Hi Jeanne, I enjoyed your talks yesterday :-)
I have posted a review of the event here http://www.getmecooking.com/blog/review-of-food-bloggers-connect-london-november-2009
Posted by: Paul - GetMeCooking | November 29, 2009 at 06:34 PM