Second Annual Foodbuzz Blogger Festival – Farewell Brunch

I recently flew to San Francisco – one of my very favorite domestic cities – to attend the 2nd Annual Foodbuzz Fest (here’s last year’s write-up).  Follow along for the next two weeks as I recap my weekend trip! 

And all too soon, it was time for the farewell brunch, sponsored by Nature’s Pride.  I was told to hush when I wondered aloud and via Twitter “What are the gluten-free bloggers eating here?” – I’m not sure why I was told to shush (ahem!), since it was a genuine question.  I won’t say concern, because I’m sure they didn’t go hungry (or didn’t attend the brunch), but I was curious because I don’t know much about being gluten free except that even touching gluten can send some people into… attacks?… and that gluten appears to be in everything I like to eat. 

In any case, my plate above contained bacon, country white bread and pork sausage gravy, and a roasted vegetable Spanish frittata with twelve grain bread stuffing.  We were confused how that worked, but I decided the ‘stuffing’ was actually on the bottom of the platter (the mish mash of stuff on the lower left hand part of my plate), which was actually super flavorful and yummy, but you had to go out of your way to scoop some up.  The frittata was… interesting, and the other bit, I didn’t taste any sausage, so that was disappointing.  At least the bacon was cooked properly. 

Strawberry puree over yogurt, a granola parfait of sorts.  Not bad, and I adored the small portion size. 

Yep, I pig out even at brunch, but for you, dear readers, so I could show you what else there was!  Fruit up top – cantaloupe and figs (you can barely see the figs), and then two salads down below: pear salad, wild arugula, frisee, toasted almonds, balsamic vinaigrette and multigrain croutons (bottom left).  I didn’t see any pears, but it was nice to get some greens in my diet for the weekend.  On the bottom right, seasonal panzanella salad, roasted wild mushrooms, red onion, toasted 100% whole wheat [croutons].  I tried to get mushrooms, but somehow ended up with more onions… but this was pretty tasty, with a nice flavor.  I’ve rarely thought to do mushroom salads, I think I’ll start trying that.  Gosh, and this will sound weird but it’s the thought that just popped through my head, I can’t wait until I have people to force to eat my food, people who live with me and I can just make food and shove it in front of them and say “Hey, how does this taste?  Do you like it?”  I guess that’s why people have kids…

This year’s offerings appealed way more than last year’s – last year, I attended, didn’t eat anything, and went off to throw a Banh Mi Battle.  This time, I attended, said goodbye to my new friends (and met some people for the first time!), then walked over (alone) to Turtle Tower and Saigon Sandwich for an early lunch and something to eat during my flight – posts to come tomorrow. 

I had a blast during the entire weekend, even with the small complaints I had here and there.  Foodbuzz Fest 2011, are you going to be there?!  I know I will…

Thanks again to Foodbuzz – as a Featured Publisher, the entire event was free.