• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Vindulge

BBQ and Grilling Recipes with Wine Pairings

  • Home
  • About
    • About Mary
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work With Me
  • Cookbook
  • Wine
    • Food and Wine Pairing
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Resources
    • Fundamentals For Learning How to Grill
    • Guide to Pellet Grills – Common Q and A
    • Best Pellet Grill – MAK Two Star General – Versatile American Made Pellet Smoker
    • Blogger Resources
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop Wines
  • Cookbook
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Wine Guides
  • Blogging Resources
  • Connect with us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Home » Education » Food Blog University (Cancun, Mexico) — work + family time = win win

    Food Blog University (Cancun, Mexico) — work + family time = win win

    November 4, 2015 By Mary 9 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    0 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Last week I returned from a weeklong trip to Cancun. When friends asked me if the trip was for work or vacation, my answer was yes, and yes.

    Sunrise from Dreams Riviera Resort Cancun

    I was there for the inaugural Food Blog University held in Cancun, Mexico. A conference that is in its first year can go a couple of ways. It can be a completely disorganized mess, or it can blow it out of the water. It can be a large group and sell out quickly, or can be small and intimate. But in a location like the Dreams Riviera Resort, I figured even if it was a flop, hey, I was in Mexico.

    Food Blog University completely surpassed my expectations!

    There were two factors that motivated me to sign up for the conference just hours after hearing about it without any hesitation.

    Food Blog University

    1: The lineup of speakers.

    Food Blog University Speakers

    This included some of my favorite food bloggers, Lindsay and Bjork Ostrom from Pinch of Yum and Food Blogger Pro, and Jaden and Scott Hair from Steamy Kitchen. See any commonalities? They are both couples. And the conference organizers intended it to be a family-friendly conference where spouses/partners and also children were not just invited, but also included, which leads me to…

    2:  I was in desperate need of a family vacation.

    Recreation at Dreams Riviera Resort Cancun

    The combination of a work related conference that could also extend as a family vacation — in Mexico (!), at an all-inclusive resort, with sunshine, and tacos, and margaritas, and pools (!!!), and learning from some of my food blogging heroes and getting one on one coaching and advice and photography lessons from them — sounded almost too good to be true.

    But it actually happened. And it was awesome!

    Photography Lessons from Lindsay Ostrom from Pinch of Yum

    It was incredibly inspiring to be surrounded by a talented group of motivated bloggers focused on growing their blogs. I made some great new friends and received invaluable (and practical!) hands on photography and blogging skills from some of the most successful in the business. And Sean got to be a part of it all too. As a couple building our own business together it was important for us to get some advice from couples who are already succeeding at working together.  And in the end that is a key theme the conference reinforced throughout the week; being a business owner and an influencer is a critical success factor in what we do.

    Food Photography Lessons from FBU

    I’ll be putting much of what I learned at the conference to work here on this site as well as sharing everything I learned with those of you who couldn’t attend in the weeks to come.

    Food photography lessons from Food Blog University FBU

    Highlights from Food Blog University

    If you heard about the conference and were on the fence about going this year, I highly encourage you to consider it for next year. There were so many positives about this experience, like:

    • Being  a part of an intimate group. Our group for 2015 was small, but I predict it will grow by leaps and bounds as word gets out about the value of this experience. Having a small group was instrumental in developing some great and I expect long-lasting relationships. Hi guys!!!
    FBU15 group photo

    FBU attendees & their families, photo courtesy of Dreams Riviera Resort

    • FBU organizers Diana and Eric Johnson of Eating Richly Even When You’re Broke and Melissa and Luis Llado of Serendipity and Spice went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly, that included lots of behind the scenes organizing and smoothing out hotel issues prior to the event, transportation for all attendees, and so much more. Traveling outside of the country (especially with small children) can be worrisome for some people, and they ensured everything was smooth, safe, and stress-free. You can definitely trust that these people will take good care of you!
    • As far as conferences go, it’s hard to beat one located at an all-inclusive resort on the beach. And the staff at Dreams, especially the service at all seven of the restaurants, provided excellent hospitality.
    • Photography lessons from Lindsay of Pinch of Yum. I’ve admired Lindsay’s work for years now, and have a whole separate post about how her advice has helped me grow in my own freelance work (coming soon). To be able to get hands on lessons from her was worth the trip alone.
    Photography lessons from Lindsay Ostrom Pinch of Yum
    • Blogging lessons, business tips, and inspiration from Jaden and Scott Hair from Steamy Kitchen. Wow! They offered a behind the scenes look at what it takes to succeed at running a business together. Scott’s secret? “An unwavering commitment to success.” What it comes down to for them is hard work and commitment to achieve your goals. There are also practical tools that can help you achieve this success. You will learn those tools at FBU.
    One on one coaching at Food Blog University

    One-on-one coaching sessions at FBU

    • Did I mention it’s family friendly!? That’s a big deal for me, as someone who constantly travels for work. To be able to combine work with a family time is priceless.
    Kids on the beach in Cancun Mexico
    • I should also mention this conference is not just for food bloggers. I’m still primarily a wine writer, but have learned through my own trial and error that certain skills (like photography, and behind the scenes of blogging in general) are vital to my growth, no matter what subject I write about. I was also able to share some of my own wine expertise with others in the group — like talking about the awesome versatility of Malbec with Lindsay and Bjork who have recently become fans of said grape. Go Malbec!
    • Making non-blogger friends, like this little guy.
    FBU Iguana, as seen at Dreams Resort Cancun
    • And finally, moments like this…
    Playing on the beach at Dreams Cancun
    Playa Del Carmen
    Fire Red Sunset at Dreams Riviera Resort, Cancun, Mexico


    … and sunrises like this.


    You can also see what Brita Britnell thought of the trip here. She provides some gorgeous photos of the experience and a video inspired from one of the sessions at FBU.

    Mellissa Sevigny of I Breathe I’m Hungry relived her favorite treat of the meal, a recipe for Mexican Coffee, and provided 10 reasons you should attend FBU in 2016.

    Melissa Llado of Serendipity and Spice, one of the organizers of the conference, provides her thoughts on the behind the scenes and what it was like to hold the conference at a location of “Unlimited Luxury”.

    And Marissa, from OMG Food, recounts her highlights from the experience and what it was like to combine vacation with work, including some gorgeous photography.


     
    « Anchorman Halloween Costume: Happy Halloween from the Channel 4 News Team
    Smoked Lamb Chops, Roasted Acorn Squash Salad, and Wine Pairing »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bjork says

      November 10, 2015 at 12:26 am

      What am I doing with my cheek?!? 🙂

      So fun to hang with you Mary (and Sean too!). Hopefully see you again soon. Keep up the good work!

      Reply
      • Mary says

        November 10, 2015 at 11:28 am

        Haha! I was wondering the same thing (about your cheek). That must be your “focused” look. I think Lindsay is pinching her cheek too, but you just can’t tell at that angle 😉
        Was so awesome meeting you two! Until next time.
        Cheers, Mary

        Reply
    2. mellissa @ ibreatheimhungry says

      November 05, 2015 at 9:10 am

      Thanks so much for including a link to my post Mary! It was SO great meeting your family in Cancun and we’re really glad that we got to spend extra bonus time with you guys during the progressive dinner! It was fun seeing the trip through your eyes via your gorgeous photos – you definitely win at sunrise pictures especially! Hope we’ll see you back at FBU 2016 next year – and maybe sooner if we make it up to Portland or you’re ever down in NY! I know the guys have some plans that involve fire and food, so either way it will be delicious – and I’m all in for some Malbec too! 😉

      Reply
      • Mary says

        November 05, 2015 at 10:27 am

        Yes! The progressive dinners was one of my favorite events! And glad you liked the sunrise pics. I was just making the most of waking up so darn early with the boys 😉
        And I would love to see you and your family in Portland! I know the guys have a lot to talk about now that Sean is planning to build a backyard oven! I’ll provide the wine 🙂

        Reply
    3. Melissa says

      November 04, 2015 at 10:39 pm

      Such a beautiful recap Mary! I’m ready to go back after reading this!

      Reply
      • Mary says

        November 05, 2015 at 10:27 am

        Me too!!! Can we go back next week? 😉

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Fire and Wine Cookbook Cover.

    Get Ready for Summer

    Smoked Brisket

    What’s on our Grill

    Pao de Queijo in a bowl

    Brazilian Cheese Bread – Pao de Queijo Recipe (Gluten Free)

    Smoked Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos on a platter

    Smoked Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos Recipe – With Crispy Tortillas

    The Best Gluten Free Drop Biscuits – 5 Ingredients

    Smoked Hot Honey Ribs Recipe

    More

    As Seen On

    Products we love

    taking the temperature of a porchetta roast on the grill
    We use Thermoworks Signals BBQ Alarm to monitor the internal temperature of the meat while it’s cooking, then double check with an instant read thermometer, like the Thermapen One.

    Vindulge Wine Club

    join the wine club side bar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Vindulge

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    0 shares