A look back at Vegenista’s 2011
WOW! It’s hard to believe that another year has passed! I feel like I was just sitting down to recap 2010. Meant to get this out days ago, but I’m a bit backlogged & blame Pinterest, my new Apple TV & Angry Birds for occupying my down time.
2011 has felt like a whirlwind filled with cooking classes, vegan pairing events, my very first “vegan conference,” getting an article published in a vegan magazine, & countless hours of cooking, photographing, & blogging. I’ve learned & grown a lot this year & Vegenista has grown as well - to over 2200 followers!
(Hopefully) in a separate post I will share some of my most popular food & recipe posts. Here I am taking a look back at some of the accomplishments, events, & trips I enjoyed!
I started off the year taking a vegan cooking class at Sur La Table with my Mom…
We had such a blast making “Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Chile Crema, Portobello Mushroom Carpaccio with Arugula-Shaved Fennel Salad & Truffle-Lemon Vinaigrette, Gingered Soba Noodles, Tacos with Quinoa & Spiced Walnut “Meat,” & Chocolate-Avocado Pudding.”
In March, I celebrated my birthday month with a trip to New York City to visit my BFF, Anne. As a special birthday treat she took me to Pure Food & Wine where I had the best raw meal of my life…
We also made a few trips to BabycakesNYC…
I enjoyed countless vegan pairing dinners & watch the vegan scene begin to flourish in San Diego. The first pairing dinner was at Stone World Bistro...
We feasted on 4 courses of vegan eats & washed ‘em down with beer…
Which was followed by LOVELIKEBEER’s first event at Sea Rocket Bistro & the start of a great friendship with Kory & Derek, the masterminds behind LLB.
Who knew that their events would take San Diego’s vegan beer & dining scene by storm?
I covered & photographed their second event at Blind Lady Ale house & had my photos featured on Vegansuarus & Finding Vegan…
I later interviewed Kory & Derek (of LOVELIKEBEER)…
& my interview was published in the inauguaral issue of Chickpea Magazine!
Took a quick trip to the Bay Area with my friend Paul, also known here as “P” or “Pdubbz.” We managed to turn 2 days into vegan dining adventure - checking items off my vegan bucket list, & visiting Cafe Gratitude…
My Summertime Scramble was featured on One Green Planet…
Anne came to visit & we took road trip to L.A. where we went to Babycakes….
And M Cafe…
Attened an intimate “Vegan Garden Dinner” prepared by Chef Mickey Walker…
Went to Portand for the first ever Vida Vegan Con (sorry, I never did get you the “full” recap)…
Which meant a trip to Voodoo Doughnuts…
Cooked a special birthday dinner for Anna. Something with “okra” was her only request…
Attended very special wedding where I acted as makeup artist & vegan cupcake baker…
Morrissey Concert…Swoon…
Bought my first pair of Cri de Coeur Boots…
And so much more. Looks like I had a pretty great year & I am looking forward to what 2012 has to offer!
