Monday, September 29, 2008

Best Day Ever

Want to know how to throw a party and have it catered for free?
Invite food bloggers.
If you live in a target-rich environment like the Bay Area, it isn't hard.
You can even invite bloggers you haven't met in meatspace yet, and you not only get a yummy potluck dish or two to share, but you will make new friends.
That's what Zoomie did yesterday. She and her hubster opened their fabulous home to a dozen of us vagabonds. She cleared off the dining room table, put out a tub of ice, some plates and utensils, and a gourmet picnic happened. Wine, iced tea, pickles, cookies, bread, cold cuts, salads, smoked ribs. All first rate.
Heck, I didn't even have to take pictures. This one was expertly snapped by the Rev. Biggles, thank you, sir.
(You'll have to check at Meathenge for photos of the... well, the meat. If he posts 'em.)
All the guests got to take home each others' leftovers. And we each got a party favor: a bag of beautifully harvested wild fennel seeds from Zoomie's plant.
Nice.

26 comments:

Dagny said...

That Biggles takes the coolest photos.

Anna Haight said...

Dr. Biggles has a wowzer camera for sure, but the tastes beat the photos!

Nancy Ewart said...

It certainly was a wonderful day and the company couldn't be beat. Now I have faces to put to the names.

Anita (Married... with dinner) said...

I am so sorry we had to miss it -- but we had so much fun at Sean & DPaul's wedding festivities that it's hard to be too upset. We'll just have to have another picnic soon! :D

cookiecrumb said...

Dagny: Thank goodness for cool Biggles. I didn't even have a camera with me.

Anna: Wasn't it good eating? And good schmoozing.

Nancy: So nice to meet you and now I know about your blog.

Anita: You might have been at the better party. :(
Hooray for Sean and DPaul.
But. We had a GREAT gathering, and missed you.

meathenge said...

I'm awesome on the internet and in person!

I'm done with barbecue dry rubs. It's salt from now on, hands down that was the best of the 3.

xo, Biggles

cookiecrumb said...

Biggles: You're awesomer in person.

Remember last summer, when you dug a fire pit in our yard? Cranky and I had salted a whole tri-tip in advance, instead of mucking it up with chile and coffee and cocoa. It was superior. Salt rules.
Nice food ya brung, dude.

PS: People in the living room were moaning about the beef. I heard them.

tammy said...

You and your California clique. I'm not jealous.

Unknown said...

Nice! is right! Oh, I do love a potluck. A potluck with foodies, even better. A potluck with foodie food bloggers, the best!

Passionate Eater said...

Wow, I am jealous of the other attendees! I want to go to a potluck with Cookie and Cranky!

meathenge said...

Moaning about the beef? Since I was there I'm going to guess that's a good thing?

I believe I'm going to do that again this coming weekend, only in a smaller batch.

Biggles

cookiecrumb said...

Tammy: You wouldn't believe what a ragtag bunch we were, all shapes and ages. One guy arrived on a bicycle. One gal showed up three hours late, just as the party was busting up, so we started the party all over again. There were no fisticuffs.

Lannae: Usually when I go to a potluck, I only want to eat the food I brought. But at a party like this, you're just going in circles around the table.

PE: If you ever meet us, you'll be horrified. A couple of old farts, we are.

Biggles: I also engaged in a conversation about gout. Just so ya know.

peter said...

I'm jealous. And I have a cold. Crankier than Cranky, I am.

Sam said...

I, too, was sadly unable - since another food bloggerette was having her wedding shower - the first one I've ever been to in my entire life! But I am glad y'all had fun anyhow. And Esme has always been one of my favourite names. Not enough people are called that these days.

Nikki @ NikSnacks said...

That's nice. Really really nice. I wish there were more food bloggers in my area so I could do something like that.

I have a crazy story about trying to find fellow bloggers in my city to network and meet up with. You know? I think I'll post about it tomorrow. It's really interesting. Thanks for the reminder.

Oh, and not to negate the importance of your post: I'm glad you get to meet & greet & eat.

cookiecrumb said...

Peter: You're cranky *without* a cold! Poor you. Hope you feel better soon.

Sam: I wish I knew who the bride-to-be is.
Now, Esme is taken. Shall I call you Thyme?

Nik: Dumb me; I was gonna say "try to find bloggers in your area!" But you've tried. Can't wait to read that post.

Michelle said...

Aw, food bloggers really are the best kind of friends to have over for a meal, aren't they?

Heather said...

Lucky! There're only a couple of up here. How nice to get the fennel seeds!

Patricia Scarpin said...

Oh, I wish I lived nearby. ;)

cookiecrumb said...

Michelle: I've been so pleased to read about you meeting Hawaiian food bloggers. It really is nice.

Heather: It's fennel seed season. Need some? I am here for you.

Patricia: I wish you did too.

Nancy Ewart said...

I put Zoomie's fennel seeds to good use by cooking salmon with fennel seed. The recipe called for pernod but I didn't want too intense a taste so I just used white wine. Yummy!

Rev. Biggles - I am carefully using the meat that I got to take home with me. If it's a quiet day, you can hear the moans from SF.

Zoomie said...

Biggles, they are all moans of pleasure, I assure you! :-)

Cookiecrumb, thanks for the publicity and for your generous contributions to the fun!

Barbara said...

I'm jealous. No other food bloggers in my area to meet up with. I do at least get to have lunch with The Old Foodie when go to Brisbane.

meathenge said...

Dang, sure a lot of moaning going on around here. I believe this is the first time I've been the cause, and yet so far away.

Biggles

Sam said...

Ms Food Musings, is the answer

cookiecrumb said...

Nancy: That sounds good. Much more connected to the earth, but same flavor.

Zoomie: You got quite a lot of publicity, if you zoom around the blogosphere. Mahalo.

Barbara: I feel so rich, with these friends. It's been a blessing. I'd love to picnic with you, too.

Biggles: You got the touch!!

Sam: Oh, so soon? I am happy for them. Sigh...