The Writing Life

I came across this very funny, and fairly accurate account of how one writer / stand-up comic / musician copes with his freelance lifestyle. Yes, you have to multi-task (I think it helps avoid burnout say, in writing, though I have no musical skills worth selling!). Yes, you keep weird hours sometimes to get the job done. And yes, you do need to schedule non-work activities, hopefully ones that are enjoyable or fun. Otherwise it's all work, all the time.

Click here to read "Diary of a Self-Help Dropout: Flirting With the 4-Hour Workweek" by Chris Hardwick

Top 10 Trends for 2008 and Trends to Watch in 2009

Let's compare the trends that we came up with in class with the ones that the "pros" conjured up:

Epicurious (Bon Appetit and Gourmet): Trends to Watch in 2009

The National Post's Appetizer (On-Line Food & Drink Section): Top Ten Food Trends in 2008

More Edmonton Blogs....

They're coming out of the woodwork now. Here are two new Edmonton food blogs that have contacted me this week. I'm now passing them on to you:

The Last Chance Supper Club

Take It and Like It

The World's Top 10 Food Blogs

...well according to the London Time's writer and food blogger Simon Majumdar. Check out his list:www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article5238429.ece

I also was made aware of another Edmonton food blog: The Last Chance Dinner Club, by writer Paul Bergen.

Culinary Memoir a la Bon Appetit magazine

Hi all,

Sue emailed me this link to post. (Thanks Sue!) Indeed, here's an example of culinary memoir that is obviously good enough to get into the higher circles of the food writing elite. It's written by Molly Wizenberg, longtime food blogger on her site Orangette (since 2004...which I suspect is why she is a columnist now for Bon Appetit) and soon-to-be-published-author. What do you think?

www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/01/a_taste_of_pate_past

A visual lesson in food photography

Curtis Trent, the photographer who gave me all those great food styling and food photography tips to pass along to you, has also uploaded a gallery of images for you to look at. Here it is.

Oysters!

In our discussion on Food Trends to Watch, "oysters" came up as a potential ingredient to watch. We put it on our list and I just wanted to let everyone know that I've noticed a few articles in the past few days on oysters. So yes, we were "on trend." The main article that sealed the deal for me was the December food feature in Western Living magazine. It's not on-line yet, as it's in the current issue. I'll keep checking to see if it does get posted.