Looking Back at 2010, South Bay Foodies Style!

Happy New Year! With 2011 underway, I’m taking a moment to look back at some South Bay Foodies highlight from 2010.

Last year was jammed packed with so many great things to eat, photograph and write about.  Here are just a few of those memorable moments.

Dining Out

Its hard work but someone has to do it!  Of all the meals I was blessed with in 2010 (not all of them documented on this site), one meal stands out based on a single dish:  The pumpkin and butternut squash soup at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena.  The soup was so good we ordered more for desert!

Cooking at Home With Foodbuzz

I had many opportunities to cook for friends and family in 2010.  A few of those occasions were featured on Foodbuzz, a food blog community and one of the advertisers on this website.

Transforming the patio for a luxury dinner featuring watermelon.

I whipped up some snacks and dishes for their Family Bites feature; Friends stopped by for a full on feast sponsored by Buitoni Pasta; and to top it off I was a viable contestant in Foodbuzz’s inaugural Next Food Blog Star competition.  Remember the fancy Watermelon Dinner!?

Food Trucks

If I had to pick the hottest food trend in 2010 I’d say without hesitation: Food Trucks.  To keep pace I started reviewing trucks and posting them weekly as “Food Truck Friday”.

Lining Up for breakfast from Buttermilk Truck in El Segundo.

It was also fun tracking down and sampling the cuisine from as many trucks as I could from the Food Network show The Great Food Truck Race.

Beer, Wine, and Spirits

Life is just a series of events and wow, 2010 had some great ones.  A few of the memorable ones had folks enjoying their favorite adult beverages!

• The South Bay had its first beer festival, the SoCal Suds Beer Fest, which I attended and reviewed.  I also had the opportunity to do an insightful interview the event organizer.
• I didn’t get to go, but it was great reading about Annalise’s adventures at the San Diego Spirits Festival.  Look for me to be there in 2011! LOL
• The one event to rule them all, though, was the American Wine and Food Festival.  With gourmet food, wine, and revelers spanning acres upon acres of the Universal Studios back lot, this once-in-a-life-time event was the most tremendous food and wine festival I’ve had the pleasure of attending.

Eating and Sleeping on the Go (Travel Writing)

I had the great opportunity to work with the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce to work on a piece focusing on Redondo’s pier and harbor area.

Bathtub with a view in the Presidential Suite at the Portofino Hotel.

It was a great weekend spent not far from home!  I put together a four part series with Part 1 and Part 2 already published.  Look for parts 3 and 4 to come out soon!

Wow! Last year was definitely one for the record books.  Speaking for South Bay Foodies — the website and the people — we enjoyed having you along for the ride.  We’re looking forward to cooking, dining, and partying with you in 2011!