Last week I attended my first food blogger conference, and it truly changed my perspective. From the food to the workshops and the networking, the experience was one of the highlights of my year. I’ll walk you through my time at the Everything Food Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
That photo shows my sneakers at the airport as I waited to board the plane. I was excited because I had heard great things about this conference and knew several of my favorite bloggers and creators would be speaking.
Arriving in Utah, I loved seeing the mountains everywhere. I joked about calling them hills until my Uber driver corrected me: “Those are not hills, those are mountains!” Coming from Minnesota, where the landscape is mostly lakes, it was refreshing to see so many peaks visible from the city.
I couldn’t resist a quick hotel selfie.
On my first night I had dinner with six other food bloggers. It was energizing to meet people who do what I do, swap stories and share goals. Unfortunately we forgot to take photos that night, but the conversation was memorable.
The following day I had scheduled speed networking with brands—essentially fast introductions to potential partners. I prepared business cards, polished my pitch and learned about each brand’s needs. I met many interesting companies, and you may see collaborations appear on the blog or my YouTube channel in the near future. By the end of that day I was exhausted but excited.
Thursday marked the official start of Everything Food Conference 2018. The opening energy was electric—hip-hop playing, excited voices and hundreds of food bloggers gathered in one room. Attendees came from across the United States and internationally, making the event feel diverse and vibrant.
Over three days the schedule included workshops, keynote sessions and plenty of networking. I appreciated the variety of topics offered, from SEO and photo editing to producing food videos.
One standout session was Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats, who explained how she grew her blog to millions of pageviews. Her transparency and practical advice were inspiring.
I also attended a workshop focused on growing a YouTube channel, led by creators I admire: Tatyana Nesteruk, Beth Le Manach, Sara Lynn Cauchon and Joanne from Fifteen Spatulas. Their experience with video content, audience growth and practical production tips were especially helpful for creators transitioning from blogging to video.
One of the most meaningful parts of the conference was reconnecting with my friend Imma from Immaculate Bites. Although we had talked on the phone before, spending time together in person allowed for deeper conversations about blog growth and strategy. Her insights were invaluable.
I also enjoyed meeting several Black food bloggers, sharing experiences and building community.
And of course, the food was a highlight. I tried Korean cuisine for the first time—glass noodles with chicken, spicy mayo and another flavorful sauce I initially hesitated to try. The server encouraged me to taste it, and I’m glad I did; it turned out to be delicious.
One evening featured a formal dinner with a beautifully arranged table and refreshing watermelon fruit bowls. I had the salmon entree, which was cooked perfectly.
The Everything Food Conference left me motivated to improve my content, try new formats and pursue collaborations with the brands I met. If you’re a blogger seeking an event to learn, network and refresh your creative energy, I recommend attending a future Everything Food Conference. It’s an excellent opportunity to absorb practical knowledge, connect with peers and enjoy great food.
Thanks for reading my recap. Next time I’ll share a new recipe—see you then and have a wonderful week!