An Anniversary, A Give Away & My 5 Favorite Blog Posts

My blog turned 5 in June.  Can you believe it; I've been posting all of my favorite food things for 5 years now.  It feels like only yesterday I started this venture.

So how did the idea of a blog come to me?  Well it all started one hot summer night back in 2007.  Sitting by the pool with one of my oldest (not in age) friends, Don Black, having a chat session about the Phoenix food scene or lack there of.  We were both east coast transplants and were use to having food experiences that were special, local and unique at our fingertips.  Moving to Phoenix took a lot of adapting; a lot of hunting and a lot of cooking at home.

Don Black, 2011 Geico Commercial

After hours of venting Don suggested I start a blog "let others know how you are dealing with this change in food culture" his thought was there had to be people out there just like me that would benefit from what I'd been through and how I've adapted.

So that's what I did.  The first few posts were short; barely a paragraph.  They got minimal views and even less comments. But I didn't care and I plowed through.  I was enjoying having my own personal space to talk about my passion and I didn't expect much more to come from it.

Fast forward 5 years and I'm still blogging....not so much about the Phoenix food scene anymore or my tribulations to adapt but more about my food experiences in general.  My posts have grown in length and my followers have grown in numbers.  It's been a fun 5 years for me and I hope you've been enjoying it too. 

Here's to at least 5 more and to Don for giving me that kick in the butt to get this started.  Without his push the 5 blogs below....my favorite...would never have been written. 

1.  Cooking and Climbing in Praiano, Italy

2. I'm Having An Affair

3. Eating My Way Through Philadelphia Part 1 and 2

4. Getting Reservations at Babbo and How I Met Mario Batali

5. Philadelphia Food, Friends and Turning 40

 ***The Give Away***

In honor of this blog milestone I'm giving away a copy of Southern Living's Big Book of Cup Cakes. All you have to do to be entered is leave a comment on this post.  Contest ends midnight, est. 7/23/2012.  One lucky comment leaver will be randomly picked to win this book.  Good Luck!