It Gives Me Great Joy
Seventy-five posts ago, I quietly launched Kitchen Confidante. I announced it to friends and family as my “new baby,” and just as any parent would, I nurtured it with love. It is an extension of me, and I am proud of it. And like my real children, my food blog continues to mature and surprise me.
If you were to tell me when I started this endeavor that I would be entering a contest called Project Food Blog, I surely would not have believed you. For those of you who are not familiar with Project Food Blog, it is the first competition of its kind, hosted by Foodbuzz, where food bloggers compete in a series of culinary challenges, until one (just one!) food blogger is left. As I read through the series of challenges, I couldn’t help but feel excited about Project Food Blog and the idea of challenging myself to see how I could tackle each one. It will be fun! {Incidentally, voting begins September 20th.}
So, here goes. This is the first challenge:
“For the very first Project Food Blog Challenge, we’re asking you to create a blog post that defines you as a food blogger and makes it clear why you think you have what it takes to be the next food blog star.”
Star. Wow, what an interesting choice of words. I have humble expectations for this blog, but exceedingly high standards. My journey as a food blogger is a reflection on the things I value deeply in life. Family. Friends. Beauty. Exceptional taste. Culture. Exploration. Emotion.
Because when it comes down to it, I am an emotional eater.
Tell someone you are an emotional eater, and they instantly picture you with an unhealthy relationship with food, secretly gorging on comfort foods in the middle of the night to cope with life stress. But I’m talking about the power of food. How it can transport you – to your childhood, to a different country, to specific memories in your life. It can connect you to people who are equally passionate about food, whether they are professional chefs, wine lovers, or home cooks. And yes, good food can make you happy. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Food transcends time and place. The food I share with you pulls from platefuls of memories. Growing up in New York, and having lived in amazing cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, I have had the pleasure to explore some of our country’s best regional cuisines. And I am forever grateful to my parents for giving my brother, sister, and I the chance to travel all over the world, to taste the most amazing foods and cultivate an international palate. These food adventures have given me the chance to learn what really exceptional food tastes like, whether it is my grandmother’s Philippine kitchen, the bazaars of Istanbul, the street fairs of the Midwest, or the fanciest restaurants in New York City.
But really — why do I blog? To be frank, for very selfish reasons. It gives me great joy.
It Gives Me Great Joy
… to share family favorites…
…showcase the flavors of my heritage…
…play with my food and develop my own recipes…
…reminisce about flavors discovered through travel…
…explore new tastes…
…meet other food bloggers….
…and share the stories behind those passionate about food.
For me, Kitchen Confidante is my way of extending the hospitality of my upbringing beyond my kitchen and this culinary-rich part of the world I am lucky to call home.
I always hope to bring you beauty through food, one post at a time.
Liren, I am so glad to have recently discovered your blog. It is beautiful to look at and interesting to read. Good luck. It’s hard to compete against your peers (I struggled with my post) but at the end of the day, the personal challenge of competing will make us all better bloggers!
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 7:24 am
Hi Mardi, thanks for the well wishes – good luck to you, as well! I know it can be strange competing against peers and friends, perhaps that is why this first challenge is maybe the toughest! I know you will do well and I look forward to seeing what everyone can do with the challenges!
Congratulations on being chosen for Project Food Blog! I have recently discovered your blog and love it. You are so right about food being able to “transport” you to many places. Keep giving great joy with your food adventures.
Your blog is so lovely, it’s clear that you approach it with love and joy. Thanks for sharing all of your great recipes and pictures.
great post!
lovely entry! definitely a great way to answer the question!
So beautiful, you deserve all the accolades you have received and will receive for your blog! So glad I found it!
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 7:52 am
Lindsey, it never ceases to amaze me how this blogging world can connect such a group of amazing people. I feel the same way about you and your talented writing. Thank you so much for your positive thoughts!
Lindsey replied: — September 20th, 2010 @ 6:15 am
You’re more than welcome! Just voted for you!
Beautiful post…good luck!
This was a great post…best of luck! I love your beautiful pictures and recipes. Your blog brings joy to many I’m sure.
Liren you are the sweetest and I am so glad we know each other and are friends now for fgood ew months. Your quiet confidence is so elegant and your dishes reflect it so beautifully. Love reading your blog and congrats on this project. Shulie
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 7:50 am
Shulie, I feel so lucky to have met such lovely friends through this blogging experience, and you are indeed one of the sweetest. Thank you so much for everything!
Beautiful pics & great post!
Liren, beautiful post! I’m glad to have met you through foodbuzz. I think you are already a shining star and you will take this competition by storm! I’ll be there routing for you all the way :o)
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:34 am
Susi, you overwhelm me! I am so glad to have connected with such amazing and talented people through Foodbuzz — you, for sure, are one of them! Your words mean so much, thank you!
Liren.. lovely intro post!!! I am entering too.. finger crossed :) GOOD Luck Girl!!!
“The food I share with you pulls from platefuls of memories”
I love this idea that every bite not only encompasses the one immediately in front of us but all of the food memories and associations of our past. What a gorgeous and delightful notion!
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:36 am
Steph, I’m so glad you can relate! I do feel as though there are so many layers to the food we experience — all the senses of the here and now, combined with the tastes we remember from the past — such a complex and amazing thing!
Liren, this is such a wonderful entry…I have always been impressed by your lovely blog and warm spirit :) Best wishes to you in this contest…
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 7:59 am
Aw, thank you so much for your warm wishes! It always makes me smile to see your comments – people like you make my blogging even more worthwhile!
I’m glad you are participating! I will soon post my first challenge too and it was hard to write it in the right tone but at the end I think the most important is to have fun and take the competition as a personal challege
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:00 am
Sara, I agree! This first challenge was indeed harder than I expected! I can’t wait to run over and see your first post! Good luck to you as well – and yes, let’s have fun :)
lovely post and pictures
have fun
You ROCKED the first challenge! Your post shows a lot of thought behind it and it’s well written. The photos are gorgeous! I’m sure you’ll be on to the next challenge!
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:03 am
Aww, thank you, Kath! I’m honored you think so! Thank you so very much!
Just checkin’ out the competition. You look strong! As I knew you would… Good Luck. GREG
Your pictures are always so lovely! Nice post :) I’ll be joining the pack tomorrow! Good luck!!
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:15 am
Thank you so much, Evan! Good luck to you as well!!
Oh, Liren! You are so cute! I love that you blog and whatever happens, I know you will be amazing! I have humble expectations as well, but honestly, I have so much faith in you! You will always have my vote. Best of luck!
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:12 am
Chandara, know that you will always have my vote, too. The beauty and personality that you exude in each of your posts and photographs is just phenomenal! Hugs!
This is very touching post for me :) Liren, you are a very good blogger because you let your readers feel you. Thank you for sharing this with us :)
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:17 am
Jan, thank you! I’m touched that you were touched :) Really, though, I sincerely appreciate your comments – it’s so nice to know that am able to connect with you through my writing and photographs!
damn, these are great pictures. good luck to you.
Liren- I love the emotion and sincerity you captured in your post, it is very representative of who you are! I know that you truly love what you are doing, it shines through in every post you write and picture you take, not to mention the fact that your recipes are wonderful. I am thrilled to call you a friend.
Your blog is always inspiring, and I know you are going to do well on this challenge…and the ones to come! Your photography is always so beautiful, and the dishes you present tempt me week after week. You love what you do, and your passion is evident to us all!
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:19 am
Monet, you are so encouraging and so wonderful! Thank you, thank you – I am so flattered to know that you can sense that I love what I do!
Thank you, everyone, so much for your supportive and kind words! I really am quite overwhelmed by it all, and am just so touched. Each one of your sweet comments make blogging so rewarding and really inspire me!
Liren, you have a very interesting blog with lots of beautiful pictures. Wishing you the best of luck.
A wonderful and truly worthy entry Liren – warm, eloquent and really very sweet! Can’t wait for the next one :) The very best of luck to you!!
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:20 am
Denise, you’re the best :) Coming from you, the compliments mean so much. Thank you for the good luck wishes!!
p/s – I forgot “beautiful”!!! ;)
Good luck to you. Enjoyed this post. I had a difficult time in writing about myself and I can’t wait to meet you in San Fran.
Liren best of luck to you! I’m glad to read another post about being excited about rising to the occassion. I was lured in a long time ago by your amazing photos, but it was your uniqueness that kept me coming back! Best of luck to you. Hope we can meet too one day.
-Gina-
Liren replied: — September 16th, 2010 @ 8:22 am
Thank you for the well wishes, Gina, and your kind comments. I really am genuinely excited about this competition – I see it as a way to grow, as well as have fun. I hope to meet you too! Any chance you will be attending the Foodbuzz Festival in November?
I guess I’m an emotional eater myself. Like you, Liren, I associate food with a lot of things about my life — family, friends, successes, frustrations, losses. And that’s what’s great about blogging – we get to share this with everyone — our love of food, love of our family. You have a lovely blog, Liren and you have a lot of beautiful ideas. Best of luck to you. Looking forward to reading your posts.
I love your description of an emotional eater. Food takes me back to a time and place often and reminds me of dear friendships and special. It is so much more than the food for me and extends to the relationships of the people whom we share the food with :)
What a beautiful post! I’m loving all the different approaches to answering that challenge 1 question … yours definitely has the most gorgeous photography by far. Good luck and I’m excited to read more of your posts!
You’ll do great! Your blog is gorgeous and so well written.Good luck, Liren!
Liren – Great post – well written and from the heart! Best of luck to you on the contest!
Liren, at this point there’s nothing more I can say that I haven’t before. Your posts are always a joy to read and I think you have raised the bar for everyone else (me included) when it comes to quality blogging. I don’t doubt at all that you’ll swiftly progress to the top of this contest. :-) I’m a fan!
Ms Liren: This is a beautiful, well-written and laid out post. There are so many quotes from this writing that should be quoted for it’s eloquence in which it was said. I have no doubt that you will take this all the way. You have Challenge 1 in the bag.
I’ve been following your blog practically since you started and I’m always in wonder that you hadn’t been doing it longer with your style and presentation.
I’ll be cheering for you all along the way!
Yummm….love the pics. And especially love the phrase “emotional eater”. I can relate to that. All the best with the competition. It’s nice to read other PFB blog posts….it’s amazing how we can present the same topic in so many different ways!
What a beautiful post. Well written- just beautiful! I love your point of view. Best of luck in Project Food Blog!
Beautiful post! I’m so happy to discover your blog through Project Food Blog!
Liren, I’ve enjoyed your beautiful photographs, unique recipes and well written, heartfelt posts over the months and look forward to more :) Good luck in the challenge!
Liren, my vote is counted! Best of luck!!! :)
Hi Liren,
What a unique name you have? I like it.
I just found your blog and I’ve really enjoyed viewing your beautiful pictures as well as reading your stories.
I’m glad I just finished eating lunch or I would have been hungry again looking at your dessert pictures.
Good luck on project food blog.
~ Lea
Liren replied: — September 22nd, 2010 @ 12:00 pm
Hi Lea! Thanks for you lovely comments and well wishes on PFB! I really do appreciate it and am so glad you found my blog. Oh, and yes, I do have a rather unique name. As a child I was not too fond of it, but now I love it, especially since it is a combination of my parents’s names: Linda & Rene. They were too corny :)
Great post, as always! You certainly don’t make it easy on the rest of us, lol. I voted for you! =)
Good luck!
Check out my PFB post: http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/503
Liren, very happy to have stumbed across your blog. Thank you for sharing your talents both in the kitchen and with the camera with us. Good Luck in PFB ! You have my vote !
Hi! I just stumbled upon your blog through Project Food Blog (I’m also in the running). I loved this post and this quote especially, “And yes, good food can make you happy. Theres nothing wrong with that”. I agree! There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Actually, the title of my last post says just that, “a very happy belly helps make a very happy heart” :) Your photos are beautiful, and how they show your journey as a food blogger. Isn’t it wonderful how multi-dimensional our reasonings actually are? It’s not just a love for food, but a connection, and something deeper than meets the eye.
XOXO Best of luck
I love your work and your pictures! You have my vote!
There’s nothing wrong with cooking because it makes you happy, it’s the same reason anyone picks up any hobby. Your photos are beautiful, we’ve got some good ones from SF Chefs too. Best of luck in PFB, you’ve got our vote!
Lick My Spoon
I love the title of your post – it really describes why you do what you do. I cast a vote for you and I hope you make it to challenge 2! My PFB post can be found here: http://bit.ly/9JXLNL – vote for me if you’d like.
The joy you have in blogging is obvious from your exceptional writing and beautiful photography! I’m rooting for you to go all the way in Project Food Blog – I just voted! 8-D
You do beautiful work and you certainly have my vote. I want to see more!
Gorgeous photos and beautiful post! I don’t think you’ll need my vote, but you’ve certainly got it!
You got my “heart” dearie! Mabuhay ang Pinoy. Let’s keep promoting Filipino culinary to the world. Hope we all make it to the next challenge.. Cheers!
I voted for ya…I mean, how can I not?! Your pictures are ALWAYS amazing and you are my POM buddy :)
P.S. I LOVE SIFT – BEST CUPCAKES EVER!!!
I can’t wait to see what you come up with for the other challenges! I will be voting for you along the way! Your photos are beautiful and your food looks simply amazing! Good luck!
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Hi, ma’am… just taking a trip on your site and read this one
BEAUTIFUL WORK… interesting sets of food blogs and Im very much curious to read and see your first ever blog… Im just gonna take my tour here…
…it just inspires me more to pursue this JOY same as yours about cooking, food, family and LIFE…