We All Caught the Buzz.....The Second Annual Foodbuzz Festival ~ Good Food Corner

Being one of the lucky bloggers who attended last years Foodbuzz Festival I have struggled not to compare this years festival with that spectacular event. In my books who can top a much anticipated "Outstanding in the Field" dinner with long tables snaking through a warehouse with course after course of sensual taste pleasures. But if we are living in the moment, and not in the past, the whole experience at Foodbuzz 2010 was definitely one for the memory books and exceeded all my expectations, despite comparisons, in more ways than one.

Here it is Thursday already and I am only just now sitting back and savouring every moment of this adventure through attendee write ups, amazing videos, taste flash backs, new friendships forged and old renewed. This past weekend 350 food bloggers descended on controversially the best foodie town in the United States...San Fransisco. With world-class wineries, artisanal cheese makers and small farms just a short drive away, San Francisco is awash in culinary riches. The quality and quantity of the restaurants and food carts here make San Francisco an unparalleled food city. The quality of the food did not stop on the streets of San Francisco but rose to the occasion for the biggest foodie "Lovefest" San Francisco has ever seen!!!! A big thanks to Foodbuzz who worked till they were "dog tired" to create an event that captured the heart and soul of the food industry and the blogging world in one elliptical event.

As I tried to coerce my camera into taking quality photos in low light (taking random and aimless shots does not help:D)lets begin our journey. For me the food extravaganza began when I met Joan of FOODalogue and Norma of Platanoes, Mangoes and Me for dinner at Lar Mar... outpost of Peruvian celebrity chef Gaston Acurio's (chosen by the Ferran Adria and the BCC as one of the eight best chefs in the world) right on San Francisco's waterfront. It is a fitting north-of-the-equator counterpart to it's sister restaurant in Lima's Miraflores district, home to the original La Mar.

Being the tasters that we are we couldn't go wrong with the ceviche sampler, which included four of La Mar's most popular varieties mixto, chifa, nikei and clásico; the causas sampler of Peruvian whipped potato with Ají Amarillo and seafood or vegetarian toppings; Antcuchos de Pulpo (grilled octopus skewers, herbed mashed potato with chimichurri sauce and ají panca); and a flight of house made empanadas with a variety of fillings. As our finale we decided upon traditional Picarones which are traditional warm pumpkin and sweet potato fritters with spiced chancaca honey. La Mar part of Gaston's empire is definitely worth a visit anytime... and if you can share it with two special ladies all the better.

Tasting at La Mar

Joan of FOODalogue and Norma of Platanos, Mangoes and Me

In true MTBT style I wandered the streets of San Francisco for 2 days prior to the big event. I have experienced Chinatown in San Francisco on a number of occasions but this time I wanted to actually see it, touch it, and taste it on some level. The reality of Chinatown is that there are two Chinatowns...one belongs to the locals, the other charms the tourists. They overlap and dance with each other. The old adage "be careful what you wish for" occasionally came to mind.

Grant Avenue

In the past I have never wandered off of Grant Avenue where there is a steady stream of "kitsch" but I would highly recommend venturing out of the mainstream and into an entirely different world of sights, sounds, smells, and of course tastes. Chinatown is still a thriving and active Asian community of young and old all shopping, playing games or practicing Tai Chi in Portsmouth Square.

This is a world of strong reds symbolizing happiness and green bamboo sticks for good luck; a neighborhood where one can find ginseng roots, perplexing herbs piled into bins, colorful knick-knacks, silk, sandalwood soap, and long-time neighborhood residents and visitors elbowing their way through the packed stalls of bargain-priced produce and fish tanks. Here you will find an unassumable Fortune Cookie Factory tucked inside a storefront on tiny Ross Alley where some 20,000 fortune cookies a day are handmade by two women, each manning a conveyor belt of what look like miniature waffle irons. This is the only one where the cookies are still made by hand, the old-fashioned way. Meander down Waverly Place, the street of painted balconies, a picturesque alley full of sights and smells to overwhelm you. It is also the nexus of temples in Chinatown, including Tien Hau which we were lucky enough to visit.

The next time you watch the movie "In Pursuit of Happiness"

you may spy Erhu

I wandered down Lombard Street, the windiest street and muscled my way onto one of the cable cars to my home away from home for a brief respite at the Wyndham Canterbury where we were treated like royalty. I would stay there again in a heart beat!

After a brief respite it was on to the welcome reception at our host hotel the Sir Francis Drake where a brightly attired Beefeater doorman ushers you into a magnificently restored lobby straight out of the Italian Renaissance – with antique crystal chandeliers, gilded ceilings, and a sweeping staircase.

Lobby at the Sir Francis Drake

From there we were bussed in to Fort Mason and the Herbst Pavilion for the Street Food Fare. We caught glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge before entering "foodie heaven". From the food cart street scene we found French takeaway from Spencer on the Go, Tacolicious, porschetta from Roli Roti, Curry Up Now, Mission Minis Cupcakes, Namu (who hosted last years Outstanding in the Field dinner), woodfire baked pizza from you guessed it Pizza Politana, seafood and vegetarian paella from Daimond Lil, Chicarrones and sandwiches from 4505 Meats all served with overflowing glasses of wine and beer from the San Francisco Brewers Guild.

After a good nights sleep our morning was spent soaking up knowledge in sessions from photography to writing with food demonstrations from Alaska Seafood or Fresh Express. From here we headed off to the Metreon for a taste testing.

Enjoy a few sights....

The finale was a cooked to perfection Gala at the Ferry Building presented by The Cooking Channel. Insert picture of twinkling lights and sparkling chrystal here. Wetarted with appetizers from Paula Leduc followed by an amazing meal of Roasted Golden Beet Tart; Seared Scallops with Braised Fennel and Bonny Doon Vineyard Verjus Beurre Blanc; Rosemary and Garlic Infused Rack of Lamb with Local Wild Mushrooms, Pinot Noir Sqauce and Butternut Squash Puree; all accompanied with wines from Bonny Doon Vineyard. It was all followed by a Tarta de Almedras with Oranges with a Spanish Sherry Sabayon.