The CookSister speaks – in Cape Town!

So what are you doing towards the end of March?  I know some people who would hyperventilate at the mere thought of planning that far ahead and committing themselves to be at a particular place in two six hours’ time, let alone six weeks!

But me – I’m a forward planner.  I think it comes with the territory of living in a foreign country – suddenly your planning horizon expands to the next trip home, and to get good deals this has to be booked almost a year in advance… and suddenly you find yourself routinely booking things months ahead.  Some people might say this takes all the spontaneity out of life, but planning trips so far in advance also means that you can make sure that all the cool stuff happens during your visit.

Shortly after I spoke at the Food Blogger Connect ’09 conference here in London last year, I started chatting to my fab friend Colleen of Kitchen Diary about the possibility of doing something similar in Cape Town.  It’s always easier to see the problems and the reasons why not to do something, but after much discussion, many e-mails and a marathon phonecall wen I was in South Africa in December, it seems that the dream is becoming a reality.  This March we are holding the first ever South African food blogger conference in Cape Town, and I have been billed as the principal speaker!

If you’ve ever needed an excuse to visit Cape Town (or, indeed, South Africa), could there be a better time or a better reason?  Here is the low-down:

DATE: Sunday 21st March 2010

VENUE: The Cooks Playground at The Cape Quarter on De Waterkant

COST:  Between R400 – R450 (£33-37 or $52-58) (final price to be confirmed)

Confirmed speakers at the moment are my talented friend Nina Timm of My Easy Cooking, who will be talking about photography and food styling, and… me , talking about the nuts and bolts of blogging, finding your voice, and the law & ethics of blogging.  We are also hoping to have talks about monetising your blog and social networking.  In short, everything you need to know to be a food blogger!

This is an independent food bloggers conference and is not tied to any specific blogging platform and is therefore open to all food bloggers and foodies across all blogging platforms and across the world.  If there are non-bloggers out there who love reading food blogs and are interested in starting up their own food blogs, you are also most welcome to attend.  And of course, sponsors of any kind are ALWAYS welcome!

RSVP: Please can you let Colleen know as soon as possible if you are planning to attend by contacting her on collywolly@24.com  or collywolly50@yahoo.co.uk and leaving her your details so that she can get back to you.

Has there ever been a better reason to visit Cape Town?  Just think – this could be the perfect opportunity to work your way through my Cape Town culinary tips, or my South African omnivore’s 100!

And in other news, have another look at my post on my famous cupcakes – I have posted a few pictures of billboards featuring them that I have seen around London.  If you spot my cupcakes (so to speak…!), please snap and send me a picture, and I will add it to the post!

And in yet other news… there is still time to enter my pancake giveaway!  All you have to do to be entered into the draw to win the goodies below (courtesy of Morrisons) is to leave a comment on my Mexican chocolate & hazelnut crepe stack post by midnight on Saturday 13 February. (Please note that I can only ship to the UK.)