No matter how long I’m gone, I don’t check luggage anymore. When I get off that plane I’m ready for adventure, and the lazy river luggage carousel isn’t my idea of a good time.
When I arrived at the BlogHer Food conference in San Francisco last week, it fell at the end of a two-week long road trip. I checked into the hotel Thursday with an overstuffed suitcase and a bulging briefcase and then proceeded—for the next three days and nights—to collect serious conference booty. Really good stuff too. Stuff that would have been nice to cart home (bottles of wine, charcouterie, cheese, oil and vinegar cruets . . . shaped like fire extinguishers!) What’s a carry-on-only girl to do?
Leaving the bulk to the hotel cleaning staff, I picked out four things that would fit in my very stuffed bags. Here’s what I kept.
Food Gawker T-Shirt—Let’s just say I’ve got a girly figure and the typical T-shirt does nothing for my short curvy frame. Once I saw theirs were simple, straightforward and fitted, I went looking for one. Bag it.
I was happy to make room for the scant 10-ounce box of Scharffen Berger unsweetened chocolate, enough to bake 5 pans of Cakey Fudgy Chewy Brownies, frost 2 1/2 of my Chocolate Cake That’s Got it All or make Hot Fudge Sauce for 3 dozen! That solid bar of chocolate—gold bullion to me—slid in one of the pockets just beautifully.
The Nielsen-Massey Vanilla was a tight fit but I managed to slip the 2-ounce bottle of liquid gold into my 1-quart bag (which made it through security just fine).
And finally, Luna Bars gave out ChicoBags. You roll that thing up and it’s no bigger than a pair of socks—an easy stash.
My book—Perfect One-Dish Dinners—was also a gift in one of those swag bags so I brought that home too. But from now on, I’m not assuming these conference attendees have got the luggage space to bring it home. I’m including a self-addressed stamped padded envelope with each book so that when people check out, they can hand the package to the concierge and say, “Pop this in the mail, would you?”
You are a doll! So thoughtful 🙂 Love the idea of the padded envelope! Congrats on NYT bestseller list today.
I went home from BH with 50 extra pounds of swag!! Could not believe it. I am happy a chunk of it was your book! I even left lots for the hotel staff too—–
Just realized that the PODD party is going on today. Bummed that I missed it. Guess I will have to throw my own party – first up the GIANT Lindzer Cookie. XO
I bought home – the books I received, the Luna Bar bag (which I love) and some kitchen gadgets, but everything else stayed. VERY frustrating! Would have loved to bring so much more back. And I even had to check a bag! Good call on the padded envelopes.
After last year, I was prepared to check a bag just for the swag. I’m still sifting through everything a few weeks later! It was great meeting you Maggy, and again congrats on the NYT list!
I drove…and brought everything home with me – and a few other LA area blogger’s stuff. It’s freakish with how much trunk space I’ve got, I barely had room for everything [even had to use my back seat].
Marla – I’ll join you in that party…totally bummed I missed it too…
There was so many amazing things in those swag bags! My suitcase was packed coming and I knew I would be in big trouble coming home. Especially hearing rumors of how great the swag bag was at the final party. So you know what I did…I ran and got a small duffel! I know, I’m a dork but I was happy I could bring all that amazing stuff home. 🙂
Loving all the recipe posts today and can’t wait to receive my cookbook so I can try them too. Congrats on everything and I absolutely adore the video….cried like a baby!
I would have HAD to make a run by the post office. Everything can be shipped home for a few dollars! Imagine if everyone at the conference left their loot in the hotel… that’s a lot of happy people…. but I’d be happier to bring it home.
Except I left on Sunday morning–no post office I know is open that day. I think conference sponsors should offer to ship it back–just the cost of doing biz.
Purely unrelated but I do feel compelled to share-
We made Lamb and Potato Stew with Lemon and Dill (from your new book, of course) and it was AMAZING. I am *craving the leftovers, which will be for dinner tonight… if they last that long:).
I didn’t get one of your cook books for la petite soiree-I snuck in 🙂 but I’ll pick it up if it ever gets to Alaska 🙂 or I guess I could quit being lazy and buy it from Amazon
I do think you should host a once a month party for one dish dinners, it would be fun
as far as swag, I gave SCADS away, couldn’t fit it all in, gave even more away and left a bag for a friend at the hotel–crazy but fun!
Great idea on the padded envelope. I actually learned after a recent trip to pack an extra duffel in my suitcase. Then, voila, pop that baby out and fill ‘er up. I also learned the hard way the price of a second bag on Delta is cheaper than the price of an oversized.
Congratulations on the NYT Best Seller list. Much deserved, Pam.
Congrats on NYT Best Seller! Couldn’t happen to a nicer person!
I say bring a broken-down cardboard box – one that fits in the suitcase flat as a flitter, a small roll of packing tape and a shipping label made out to your home address. Most hotels will be happy to ship stuff to you and you can pad things with socks and t shirts.
This was my first BlogHer Food and I was *shocked* (and delighted of course) by all of the swag! Nect time I’ll take a bigger bag!
Congrats on the NYC Best seller list! You SO deserve it Pam!
Use Fedex next time to ship home the goodies. No need to leave them behind, although the hotel staff must love you.
I was “sent” here from Bell’Alimento and look forward to going through your site. The one-pot sausage cassoulet she made got my attention!
I agree with you on the swag, I only kept a bunch of mine because I was driving. Otherwise it would have been ditched!
Blogher usually has some sort of swag recycle area, I think this year it was on the floor near registration. They donate whatever is left to a local food bank (works best with food items ;-).