An Exclusive Interview With 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards Winner Aimée Wimbush-Bourque of Simple Bites

Aimée Wimbush-Bourque authors the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards winner Simple Bites, which placed 1st in Best New Weblog and 3rd in Food & Drink.

Why blogging? Why did you start blogging, and what drives you now?

In some ways I feel like blogging found me, rather than the other way around. That certainly was the case with my professional blog, Simple Bites, which came across my desk in late 2009 as a very interesting offer from Tsh of Simple Mom. She was launching a small network and asked if this Canadian foodie would be the voice, energy, and workhorse behind the food channel. Ummmlemmethink — Yeah! I had been casually blogging for three years at my personal site, Under the High Chair, with no intention of monetizing or turning blogging into a profession; it was simply my way of showcasing good eats, favourite recipes, and anecdotes about my young children. Then, when the offer came to launch Simple Bites, I bought a MacBook and jumped into the world of SEO, affiliate ads, and viral marketing.



It's a dream to be able to marry your passions together, writing and food, but combining that with raising your young family at home must make for a hectic schedule at times. Describe for us the shape of your life as a wife, mother, writer, editor, and chef at your Quebec forest home.

The fact that I can do what I love and still be at home with my kids is a huge blessing, and one I relish in every day. It's actually a most necessary mental note, as most days I'm buried under dishes, laundry, Tinker Toys and email, and the reminder that I choose this path helps to rise above the chaos. I'm truly happiest at home.

I was homeschooled for most of my life, so that nurtured the time management skills and self-motivation that I now rely on to be proactive with my work and balance home life. Last year required some serious discipline to keep up with writing, two kids under 5 (I pre-schooled my eldest at home), and every thing else required to manage a small household. Fortunately, I have a tremendously supportive husband, and together we found a comfortable groove before we became sleep-deprived zombies!

Where do you find ideas for your content? If you are feeling less than inspired, where do you look for inspiration?

In five years of food blogging, I've never had a dry spell as far as content. Writer's block? Sure. Can't quite nail an intro? All the time. But creative ideas for content are always bubbling up; it's narrowing them down and not over extending myself that is a challenge for me. I credit that well of inspiration to my 'real food' upbringing, world travel experience (four continents), years spent cooking in professional kitchens, and a sheer love of eating!

Share a few of your favourite dishes with us.

A favourite dish is one that the whole family eats without fuss, as my two small boys have rather selective palates. Lemon & Oregano Roast Chicken, Classic Tourtiere, and Chocolate Chip Chili all fall into that category. We're partial to sweets, especially comforting treats like simple shortbread and classics such as strawberry-rhubarb pie.

What is your favourite meal to have from beginning to end?

Well, ahem, since you asked, this one is reserved for special occasions, and each dish is special to the whole.



Are you open about being a blogger? How do people offline react to your online writing? Have their attitudes changed as blogging has become more mainstream?

Am I open about blogging? If people care to listen, absolutely. It's funny, with blogging success (and by that I mean community, not fame or monetary worth) comes less of a need to defend or educate people about what I do. I can accept that many (OK, most) people don't know that "professional blogger" is a valid job position, and those who are aware don't assign much value to it. I frequently get 'When are you going to write a cookbook?" as if, now, THAT would be a real accomplishment. Indeed it would — if I had any desire to publish a cookbook — but I don't. At least not now. In a way, I'm writing my own online cookbook everyday, and the instant feedback is incredibly rewarding. I also get a lot of 'So, now how does that work?' which I'm pretty sure translates as 'Now, how much do you make?', and if that is all they are interested in, then I try to change the subject.



Which weblogs are your current favourites? Which weblogs have been most influential in the shaping of your own blogging?

Calgary's Dinner with Julie and Backseat Gourmet are must-reads for me, just because I can relate so well and they crack me up. Guilty Kitchen never fails to make me hungry, Seven Spoons is ever inspirational, and Cheri from Kitchen Simplicity is my favourite Canadian expat. Canada's got a line-up of rocking food bloggers!

Mentors include the noteworthy ladies of Simple Mom, Life… Your Way, Savory Sweet Life, Food in Jars, and Orangette.

What advice do you have for new bloggers?

Just jump in and start writing. You don't have to wait for the perfect camera, logo, banner, etc. to launch. Blogs evolve; that's what keeps them interesting. All those details can come later, but content does not create itself

CHEAT SHEET

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Name: Location: Weblog: Other Notables: Twitter: 2010 CWA Winner:

Aimée Wimbush-Bourque Greater Montreal, Quebec Simple Bites Under the High Chair @simplebites 1st in Best New Weblog and 3rd in Food & Drink

Nominees of the Day: Food & Drink

The 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards nominees of the day today are from the Food & Drink category.

I read through a bunch of these today, and all I got was a crazy appetite. Seriously. I ended up eating the last of my chocolate ice cream and a gross amount of Cheez Whiz on toast, so be careful.

2Capricieux
Accustomed Chaos
And Then I Do the Dishes
The Art of Baking
Audrey Needs More Wooden Spoons
Banlieusardises
Bu sur le web
Chow with Chow
The Cooking Blog
La déroutée
Dinner with Julie
Dinners and Dimes
Eat Planet. Discover the World.
Épicurienne urbaine
Everybody Likes Sandwiches
Food Guy Montreal
The Gouda Life
Gourmet Fury
Le gourmet galopin
Gourmet Meals for Less
Home for Dinner
Itinéraires gourmands d'une amoureuse des desserts
The Little Chef
Living Food Junkie
Living Healthy in the Real World
The Local-Come-Lately
La Mia Vita Dolce
Miss Papila
Mommy Knows
Le monde de Nathalie
Multiculturiosity
Obsessions Gourmandes
Patent and the Pantry
La Popoteuse
Random Cuisine
Rose Madeleine
Simple Bites
Suzie the Foodie
Tarzile.com
Unsweetened Cocoa
Weighty Matters

Is there a Canadian food and drink weblog that you don't see here? Why not nominate it in the Food & Drink category of the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards? A blogger will love you for it.

2010 Canadian Weblog Awards Exclusive Nominee Interview with Berendina Dykema of The Art of Baking

Berendina Dykema authors The Art of Baking, which has been nominated in the Art & Photography, Best New Weblog, and Food & Drink categories of the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards.

Why blogging?

Well, it all started when I began to visit a couple of blogs on baking. I was inspired by their photographs, writing, recipes, and most of all their hard work of sharing to the world what they love. Then I began to think to myself, I should share my passion for baking through a blog. I received a lot of encouragement and helpful advice from friends and family.

I then set off on my adventure by deciding which blogging creator I would like to choose. There were so many creator websites that I almost wanted to give up; however, I settled with Google because it seemed the simplest blog creator for a newbie to the world of blogging. Then the developing began and "The Art of Baking" was born in January of 2010.

To answer the question directly to why I'm blogging is because I love to share my creativity with others and inspire people to share as well. I love to get people excited and passionate about food, whether it is cooking or baking. The blogging world is ultimately a place to really express yourself and have fun along the way. I continue to firmly believe this and have really had a lot of fun in the process.

What got you into baking? How long have you been doing it?

I have been into baking since I was a child helping my mother bake cookies and cupcakes. It was always fun to decorate and bring my own creativity to a delicious treat. I would say that baking became a passion of mine during high school. I took several cooking courses in my senior year. They were always my favorite classes to attend, and I always learned something new. Those were the first years where I brought my passion for baking home and challenged myself with new recipes. I am now twenty years old, and my passion to bake has evolved into sharing my creativity through my blog.

Do you have a favorite baking moment?

I think all the baking I do has its favorite moments. If I had to choose, I would have to say creating and sharing the birthday cakes I have baked for family and friends. Those were the most fun in terms of creativity. It also brings a smile to my face when people feel happy, impressed, and surprised by the cakes I have made for them.

Your weblog only dates back to January this year, so it is relatively new. Has sharing your passion for baking online changed anything for you, such as what you decide to bake or how often?

Yes, ever since I launched "The Art of Baking", my passion for baking has continuously changed in very positive ways. The blogging world has given me a new-found confidence in myself that I had never felt till I shared my creativity with people. It has definitely pushed me to bake more than I ever did before and to try out new recipes that are more challenging. It continues to help improve my writing and photography skills. The saying "practice makes perfect" is certainly true.

Have you considered writing a cookbook at some point?

I have actually never thought about writing a cookbook till now, and I would actually be pretty interested in writing one sometime in my life. To share my passion for baking to those who may not be avid blog readers would be a fun journey to embark on.

If you were to give some advice to an aspiring blogger, what would you tell them?

I would tell them to stick with a topic they are extremely passionate about and express themselves in a way that feels right to them. If you choose something that you just like rather than a passion, then you will most likely lose interest pretty quickly. Also, I would tell them to have a lot of fun with it and don't be intimidated by other blogs. Just go with what you know and everything will fall into place.

What weblogs are your must-reads?

I have tons of blogs/websites I love to read, but for the ones I can think of at the top of my head would be:
Martha Stewart is one because it has many creative cooking, baking and craft ideas.
Food Network Canada, because I always trust the recipes to turn out how they are described in the recipe and the photographs.
Jenn's Baking Chamber because it's the first blog that actually influenced and inspired me to start my own blog on baking.
Joy of Baking, because it was the first baking website I started to use for recipes and they all turn out wonderfully.
Living Food Junkie is my sister's blog that began a little after mine and is inspired from sharing healthy living food recipes. She does a lot of un-baking as well.
Easy Cake Ideas has wonderfully impressive cakes, frostings, and fondants that can be done so easily.
The Random Adventures of the Rambling Artist, because it's my good friend's impressive artistic abilities shared with the world.

Berendina Dykema is a young adult living on Vancouver Island. She is new to the blogging world, starting The Art of Baking in January of 2010. Her great passions in life are food, baking, art, photography, and writing. She believes that baking is a great way to express your own creativity along with sharing the joy with others.

We've Got Talent: Amy Jo Ehman of Home For Dinner Publishes a Book

Amy Jo Ehman, author of Home for Dinner, a Food & Drink nominee in the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards, is a published author!

Ehman challenged herself to a year of eating food that was grown and raised locally in Saskatchewan, and this challenge not only expanded her knowledge of Saskatchewan food and international cuisine but also grew into her book, Prairie Feast: A Writer's Journey Home for Dinner:

Prairie Feast taps into a universal desire to find ourselves, our community and our history through the food we eat. It's not about miles or greenhouse gasses or "doing the right thing" (although that is a bonus), but about rediscovering the roots of a daily ritual that nourishes us body, mind and soul. (Amy Jo Ehman)

If you are going to be in or around Saskatoon, Saskatchewan this month, there are two opportunities to meet Ehman, pick up a copy of Prairie Feast, and experience the local food.

The official book launch is being held tomorrow night, May 8th, at Souleio from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $25, which includes tapas and wine tastings alongside the good company and excellent literature.

The second event is being held at McNally Robinson Booksellers on May 19th at 6:30 p.m. The event includes a three-course feast featuring a variety of Saskatchewan-grown foods, including an appetizer of homemade ravioli, a main course of grilled chicken breast layered with mozzarella and served on a bed of spinach and chickpeas, and a dessert of choke cherry coulis and a saskatoon berry crème brulée. Tickets are $37.50.

Visit Prairie Feast's website.
Buy a copy of Prairie Feast.
Check out Amy Jo Ehman's weblog, Home for Dinner.

2010 Canadian Weblog Awards Exclusive Nominee Interview with Suzie Ridler of Suzie the Foodie

Suzie Ridler authors Suzie the Foodie, which is nominated in the Food & Drink category of the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards.

Why blogging?

I left the world of blogging for three months last year and tried to write my foodie book and felt so lost and alone. I missed the blogging community, their feedback, support, and comfort and, yes, even the mean comments I get now and then. My blog had been about a sacred life and, well, my life just no longer felt sacred. I followed the energy and found that I wanted with all my heart to be in the kitchen and write my foodie adventures and hope that someone would care and, maybe, just maybe, pick up a wooden spoon and make something themselves. That is the power of the blogging world. Day after day, people come and see me, a woman with a disabling illness on the brink of insanity from pain and exhaustion, pick up my wooden spoon and try again. If I can do it, they must know they can do it, too.

How did you arrive at being a foodie? Is it a passion from childhood, or have you come across it more recently?

Heck no! When I left university I did not know how to boil an egg. I did not grow up on my mama's knee in the kitchen. She shooed us out of there, and I went and played outside.

Food was a complete and utter mystery to me, and I was always so picky, nothing was good enough. Once I moved out on my own and moved from Toronto to Ottawa and lived with my future husband, who accidentally poisoned me a few times with his questionable cooking techniques, I realized if I wanted to survive I had to learn how to make food.

What a learning curve! I had no TV, no cookbooks, no internet. It was horrible! I had no natural ability for it, it was all trial and error, and I started to get easy cookbooks from my family as presents. I never thought I would like doing it. I wanted to, but I had no mentor. I was alone and learned everything the hard way. The great thing is, after a while, you can figure out how to make stuff up and take risks and figure out what you like and what you will hate FOREVER! When I realized I could make everything I wanted the way I wanted, well, that was so liberating! I could not even experience that in restaurants. I was hooked. Baking came later, living on a mountain in BC with no money and no way to get to a store, I realized, if I wanted cookies, I had to make them. I had never had homemade cookies before; my mom never baked. Well, there is no comparison between store-bought and homemade. Then we got The Food Network, and I became like Neo in the Matrix, absorbing EVERYTHING, and I went from being hooked to having a lifelong addiction to making everything in my kitchen.

Are there any dishes that you have yet to prepare that you would love to try your hand at?

I have still yet to find an authentic Pad Thai recipe that I love. I have had many recommendations thanks to a recent disappointment and think it is time to make it my own way based on all the recipes people have sent me. I love doing that, studying recipes, finding the commonalities, omitting what I am wary of and adding my personal touches. I am still on the hunt for that super moist homemade macaroni and cheese recipe, but I will find it. I always like a challenge.

If you could spend a week cooking with any one chef, who would it be?

Alton Brown. He is someone who wants to know every element of food, including the chemistry, which I have a passion for. When he makes a dish, he strives for perfection and authenticity, which I love! He is willing to wait all day if it means having the perfect dish, and I can relate to that. I am not interested in fast and easy dishes if it means compromising flavour and, honestly, he is one of the coolest foodies ever!

Food can be difficult to make look good in photographs, but you take beautiful images of the food you prepare. Do you have any tips for good food photography?

Oh thank you! That is so nice. OK, the key is natural light, of which my home gets almost zilch! I snuggle my food right up against my living room window to squeeze every ray of sunlight onto that dish. Do not think it is easy for me, it is very challenging. I suggest a point and shoot camera for the kitchen photos and a DSLR for the final "money" shots. I like my photographs to be real. This is really my kitchen, and, yes, I may move a dishrag out of the way, but I leave the mess where it is. Kitchen shots are the reality of the food making process. The final photo I spend more time and energy on, shooting at many different angles (while my poor back says, "Enough already!), and I always check the white balance. If you do not know what that is, go look at videos on Youtube, there are fantastic tutorials for visual people like me who find manuals daunting.

What are your must-reads?

Unfortunately, due to my health, I actually can no longer spend a lot of time online, but I of course visit both the Canadian version of The Food Network and the American one.

I know the chefs very well from the shows and from their recipes have figured out whose palettes are similar to mine and who might be best to avoid. This is not a judgment call. Different people like different food flavours. I do not have a lot of energy to waste in the kitchen, nor do I have a lot of money to risk when it comes to food. I strive for perfection every time, and so I take on recipes from people I trust and then change them mercilessly!

If you were to impart knowledge to an aspiring blogger, what would you tell them?

Be yourself. The blogging world is for real people, and people are drawn to authenticity. Do not be afraid to share your mistakes. Celebrate your disasters. Conflict is fascinating. Tell your story. Even if it is pathetic and boring, you have a story. Take that tension, the problem, the issue, and try and do something with it. My life is a constant struggle against my physical challenges, and yet I pick up my wooden spoon and create something out of nothing. What can you make? What are you drawn to? Show us. Tell us. Find your story.

Suzie Ridler of Suzie the Foodie is a foodie, writer, photographer, and self-taught cook and baker. She creates joy through making food.

Nominees of the Day: Food & Drink

The 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards nominees of the day are in the Food & Drink category.

First, if you are the smallest bit hungry, I must caution you to eat something before perusing the following Food & Drink weblogs. They take you on international recipe tours, share the joys and adventures of eating locally, invite you to follow along as they bravely journey through a month of raw food, tease you with photos of Jérôme Ferrer's cuisine, and make it possible for you to cook up delicious food with beautifully photographed, back-to-basics recipes. Oh, and then they make you jealous by doing things like hanging out with Anthony Bourdain. You will be hungry by the time you're done, I promise you. Drop in and leave comments to let these foodies know you stopped by:

2Capricieux
Dinner with Julie
Eat Planet. Discover the World.
Home for Dinner
Living Healthy in the Real World
Suzie the Foodie

If you know of a foodie weblog that deserves some extra notice, nominate it in the Food & Drink category of the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards. Show them some love!