FBC2014 has come and gone and we're still wrapping up odds and ends here and there. But it was a great weekend full of new friends, old friends, dear friends... learning, eating, and a lot of fun.
Once again, a big thank you to all of our sponsors who make a conference like FBC2014 possible. It simply would not happen without their support and assistance.
Another big thanks to our host venue, the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, for looking after all of us so well. And a very big shout out and thank you to our hard working volunteer crew of Shareba Abdul, Sondi Bruner, Janice Lawandi, Sean Neild and Michelle Peters-Jones who made the weekend run so smoothly.
We thought we'd share some of the photos from the weekend. Thank you to Sean Neild who took all but two of them! And at the bottom, we've added links to recaps by our attendees (if we missed yours, be sure to let us know!)
Thursday
First up was our Thursday intensive pre-conference food photography and styling workshop led by the renowned duo of photographer Matt Armendariz and stylist Adam Pearson with help from Butter Baked Goods photographer Janis Nicolay. Limited to just 20 people so everyone could have the one on one attention a workshop like this requires, the group styled and photographed salads, sandwiches and lots of cookies!
Friday
The Friday night cocktail reception was full of bits and bites from our sponsors:
Top Row (L-R): Food Network Canada brought goodies from Vancouver's Beaucoup Bakery | Dairy Farmers of Canada hosted a cheese tasting | Mushrooms Canada and Ontario Beef combined to promote the Blend & Extend concept.
Middle Row (L-R): Crosby's Molasses Crispy Cauliflower with Molasses dipping sauce | Canadian Lentils spiked lemonade | BC Egg's Deviled Eggs (recipe from FBC Member Karen Humphrey)
Bottom Row (L-R): Chicken Farmers of Canada walnut, spinach and chicken quiches | Blend & Extend Beef & Shiitake Mushroom Pot Stickers (recipe courtesy of FBC Member Lisa Bolton) | Canadian Lentils Yellow Lentil and Golden Prairie Corn Salad with Curry and Camelina Aioli
Next up was our keynote dinner sponsored by Dairy Farmers of Canada and featuring dishes made with 100% Canadian milk products!
Top Row: FBC co-founder Ethan Adeland kicking off the night
Middle Row (L-R): Sparkling wine from Sumerhill Winery | the crowd gathers to kick off the night
Bottom Row (L-R): Executive Chef Ned Bell of Yew and the Four Seasons | our amazing keynote speaker, Robin Esrock
Saturday
Saturday was the first full day of sessions and we combined lots of learning with lots of food!
Top Row: Breakfast with Whole Foods included fruit salad and goodies from Butter Baked Goods for the coffee break
Middle Row: The Speakers and Sponsors cocktail reception included albacore tuna tacos and beef & crimini mushroom meat balls
Bottom Row: Dinner with Blend & Extend and Samuel Adams
Top Row: lots of learning happening!
Middle Row (L-R). Session 1 with Corwin Hiebert, Julie Van Rosendaal and Shauna James Ahern | Session 2 with Robert McCullough and Tara O'Brady | Session 3 with Andrea Kolber & Duncan Clark
Bottom Row (L-R): Session 4: Dianne Jacob (pictured with Valerie Lugonja) | Dinner speakers Matt & Michelle of Thug Kitchen | Rosie Daykin, author of Butter Baked Goods
And there were, of course, lots of prizes! Here's just a few of our winners over the weekend
Top: The winners of the Canadian Living giveaway with Andrea Kolber of TC Media
Bottom: Charmian Christie with her prize from Salt Spring Coffee | Heidi Fink with her brand new iPad, presented by Allyson Marcolini of Turkey Farmers of Canada | Janice Lawandi with her $500 gift certificate from Dana Norsten of Nordic Ware.
Sunday
More great food to kick of Sunday!
Top Row: a hearty breakfast complete with a design your own omelet station courtesy of Burnbrae Farms!
Middle Row: Jordan from Vancouver's Cartem's Donuterie serves up delicious doughnuts - regular and gluten free!
Bottom Row: a take out lunch from Foodee featuring two of Vancouver's favourite food trucks, Tacofino and Roaming Dragon
And last but no least, Sunday sessions.
Top: FBC co-founders Melissa Hartfiel and Ethan Adeland with an update on FBC happenings.
Middle Row (L-R): Session 1 with Laura-Jane Koers, Aimee Wimbush-Bourque and Melissa Hartfiel | Session 2 with Matt Armendariz and Adam Pearson | Session 3 with Julie Van Rosendaal and Ashley Rodriguez
Bottom Row (L-R): Some of our big FBC announcements - The Toonies for Tummies campaign (more details coming soon!) | Okanagan Food & Wine Writers Workshop writing contest | The Taste Canada Awards Canadian food blogging award with Food Bloggers of Canada (more details coming soon!)
Recap Posts
Here is a list of posts from FBC attendees recapping their experiences throughout the weekend.
- The Piquey Eater
- Grated Expectations
- Merkato PR
- Delicious Mess
- Heather's Eats
- Fox in the Kitchen
- Nurse Loves Farmer
- Alisha Enid
- Sondi Bruner
- The Primal Desire
- A Canadian Foodie
- The Guilty Nutritionist
- I am a Food Blog
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Outstanding recap! I will just link this back into mine! Your “feature photographer” did a brilliant job! And as for the conference – well, anyone reading this will definitely be registering for the one in Montreal next year. I think you missed that – at the end of your post! ;0
Still standing, clapping and cheering both of you on!
Love,
Valerie