What do fourteen women bloggers do when they get together? Talk, eat and shop of course. Last weekend I was one of those fourteen bloggers invited to a get together at Penny The Comforts of Home’s lovely home in Asheville, North Carolina. The states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia were all represented.
From left to right:
Back row: Ulrike, Angie, Mary, Sherri, Jeanne, Jennifer, Melinda
Front row: Me, Penny, Rhondi, Diane, Penny (our hostess), Donnie
I apologize to Kim because somehow I’m missing her in this photo. I have no idea why she’s not pictured. Here are a few shots of getting to know each other before brunch.
Penny is a talented mosaic artist with a studio in her home. She is a fantastic decorator and her home and gardens are gorgeous. She also happens to be a great cook. For brunch she prepared a selection of delicious homemade quiches, a lovely fall salad of baby greens, pears and nuts, and for dessert a yummy pumpkin bread and fresh fruit.
After brunch she took us to her favorite spots for antiques in Asheville. We went to six antique malls, including The Screen Door, which was my favorite. In addition to lovely antiques, collectables and fascinating yard art, The Screen Door has a large bookstore with an absolutely huge selection of cooking and decorating books – all at half price.
We all had a fabulous time. I’ve met so many wonderful friends through blogging and now I’ve had the opportunity to actually meet some of you face to face. This is the second blogger get together I’ve attended. Last June you may recall I met some of my Tennessee blogging friends at Larry Big Dude’s Eclectic Ramblings home on beautiful Lake Tellico in eastern Tennessee and did a post. Blogging is such fun, isn’t it?
Thank you again Penny for hosting this wonderful get together in Asheville last weekend. On the way home we took a couple of pictures of the fall foliage in western North Carolina. It wasn’t quite at its peak as you can see, but it’s getting there.
In my last post I featured a restaurant and quiz with a cookbook give-away for the first person to be able to identify the name of the restaurant. I didn’t realize that it would be as difficult as it was, so I’ve decided to provide a clue.
Here’s the clue – one of the gentlemen in the photo is Patrick J. Dunne. Although he’s not the chef, with that lead you should be able to follow the crumbs on the internet to the name of the restaurant.
I really want one of you to receive the give-away - Top Chef's Tom Colicchio’s great cookbook Think Like a Chef. The rules remain the same. The first person to correctly name the restaurant will win the cookbook. There will be only one winner, so best of luck. Please post your guess on the actual post featuring the give-away, not this post. Thanks so much.
Update: The Quintessential Magpie Sheila has correctly identified the name of this restaurant. The race is over. Check out her answer.
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Sam, this looks like so much fun. I love all the quiches and the bread. Your give away is TOUGH!
ReplyDeleteI spotted u right away..what fun!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like all of you had a wonderful time. :)
ReplyDeleteSam! I got it! It's a place called Chez FonFon in Birmingham! And Patrick Dunne decorated it. I told you he looked like he was from NOLA, and he is! I knew this restaurant had that New Oreleans look that is so classic. It does remind me of Galatoire's with it's understated good looks.
ReplyDeleteAnd the party looks like fun. I have seen pics from around the internet. Hopefully, the next time you get down to Florida, we can do lunch with some Florida bloggers.
XO,
Sheila :-)
P.S. My great niece just got a job as a chef in NOLA. I'll find out more later and let you know.
A great get-together! It seems you had a great time.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
Loved all the remembrance of the blogger brunch in your great photo's. It looks like some one answered your giveaway questions and I'm glad for her. It was tough.
ReplyDeleteI had a second look could the restaurant be the Peristyle in the French Quarter of New Orleans?
ReplyDeleteNope, Sheila was right. I had fun searching for it though. Have a great day.
ReplyDeletewow what fun and love the fall colors up there sob we went too early
ReplyDeleteHOw lucky to have met such great people sharing common interests. So envious! So glad you had fun!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been so much fun.
ReplyDeleteLove all your beautiful photos. Would have loved to be part of it.
Hoep you are havning a great week end.
Rita
Such a fun meet up! Still trying figure out who is who! ^_^ Will check out their site after this. Thanks so much for sharing. Hope you're having a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Kristy
How fun! That would be fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI had the best time Sam! Thank you and Meakin for coming all the way here to visit me!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Shelia!!
Hugs,
Penny
What a brave soul Penny is to prepare lunch for a group of foodies! Looks like a fine day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, and it sure looks like everyone is having fun.
ReplyDeleteThis looked like so much fun - I really must find more MN bloggers!
ReplyDeleteDarn, Sam. I just got to my computer this morning. I knew I recognized Patrick Dunne, but I could not remember his name. I think he owns Lucullus Antiques in the French Quarter. (All things culinary). Been busy with family. Glad Sheila got it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice blogger gathering. I would love to put one of these together here in South Fla. Maybe something to work on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration.
Be well
Oh, that looks like fun! I do hope one day to go to a blogger get together!
ReplyDeleteHi Sam, I'm your newest follower, am also a food columnist for our local newspaper, and LOVE the small island of Grand Cayman, can't wait to lok around more!
ReplyDeleteanne
www.anniebakes.net
What a fabulous meet up. Love that you've taken the time to take the photos and document so we could all feel like we attended. I've never heard of Patrick Dunne, I saw a comment about Peristyle Restaurant, I've been there, sure doesn't look like I remember. Plus, I thought Peristyle was a Susan Spicer chef'd restaurant. I'll sure be surprised at the answer.
ReplyDeleteMeeting nice people is the best part of blogging, in my opinion. It looks like everyone had so much fun at this get together. Antique shopping is one of my favorite activities, I just wish I had the space to collect more. ``
ReplyDeleteHi Sam, I enjoyed reading about your get together. Sounds like lots of fun and the Quiches look so good! The fall colors are pretty.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blogger meet-up! Brunch looks like it was delicious and I love antique shopping!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to see you all enjoying your time together. I'm sure there were many stories to tell.
ReplyDelete~Dianne~
Looks like a fun group! Hope everyone had a blast!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a weekend to make life long connections. I got together with 7 Seatttle area bloggers on Saturday. It is such a blast don't you think!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun blogger party, Sam! Looks like you had a great time with some great food!
ReplyDeleteSam, I'm having computer issues, and my post just vanished! Just wanted to say I'm so happy about the win!
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to make plans to visit Chez Bon Bon as it looks like a wonderful place, and now that I've read about Patrick (whom I recognize from "Southern Accents" I think), I want to be sure and visit his shop in New Orleans.
Thank you again for this. I noticed in my response that I was so giddy with glee that I wrote it's instead of its. My fingers got ahead of my brain! ;-)
XO,
Shiela :-)
What a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow bloggers. Making new friends is one of the best parts of blogging. It looks like you enjoyed a grand party.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Sheila.
Love the looks of that blogger brunch. Quiches are divine! What fun you all had. I would guess that is somewhere in New Orleans, just a guess though. It reminds me of a place we used to love in the French Quarter called the Gumbo Shop. Great contest.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun event - great food and great friends! (And, I hate to admit I'm still clueless on the restaurant. I guess I just cook at home too much!)
ReplyDeleteWow, it seems that you all had a great time...what a lovely event. By the way, the fall pictures are awesome :-)
ReplyDeleteAsheville, N.C. in the fall no doubt is stunning-being able to meet-up with some your favorite bloggers, priceless. Blogging opens up a whole new world.
ReplyDeleteSam - Your get together sounds like a wonderful time spent with great new friends.
ReplyDeleteLoved your pictures of the fall foliage. So very beautiful!
Congrats to the winner!
I truly would love to have a get together in Montreal the way your gals in Ashville did...great food and lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your reader who got the prize...at least I knew in was in the States ;o)
Have a great weekned Sam.
Ciao for now,
Claudia
I've loved reading and seeing the pictures of the wonderful time you all shared.
ReplyDeleteAnd, congratulations to Sheila on her win.
Oh, I so love when food bloggers get together! And over food? Fabulous! What a fantastic day, Sam!
ReplyDeleteAww how fun! I love Asheville! Hope you ladies had a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteCame here lookin for a new post but am so thrilled to catch up with all this fun and deliciousness galore!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool get together. I wish we had more bloggers out here where I am.
ReplyDelete