Food Woolf Nominated for Foodbuzz ‘Best Writing Voice’ Award

I got the news today that I was nominated for Food Buzz.com’s food blogging award for “Best Writing Voice.” Amy, my editor at the LA Weekly’s food blog, emailed me with the news.

First of all, it should be stated that I still can’t believe I’m getting paid to write about food. Add to that, the fact that I’m getting paid to write about food at a Pulitzer Prize winning weekly newspaper that won that award for the incredible food writing of Mr. Jonathan Gold. Then, sprinkle on top of that, the fact that the only reason my food editor agreed to interview me for a job was because of the writing found here on this blog–it’s officially mind blowing what this blog has done for me.

I’m jump-up-and-down happy.  Just typing the sentence “my editor emailed me the good news that I was nominated for Best Writing Voice” has my heart racing. I can’t believe it. It’s such an honor to be considered.

It was almost two years ago when I started this slice of the blogosphere. I named this place Food Woolf, as a tribute to my subject matter and literary inspirations (thanks, Virginia Woolf!). From the beginning, I set out to create a blog that would use the power of words to celebrate culinary experiences and my life in restaurants.

And along the way, I found my voice.

I devoured the writings of supremely gifted writers like MFK Fisher, Michael Ruhlman, Ruth Reichel, Michael Pollan, Anthony Bourdain, Alan Richmand and Jonathan Gold. I learned the craft of cooking via chef proxies–recipes from Alice Waters, Suzanne Goin, Mario Batali, Marcella Hazan and Nancy Silverton guided me at the stove and at the cutting board.

I studied my new found craft by following fellow online food writers like Molly from Orangette, Leah from Spicy Salty Sweet, Ari Weinzweig from Zingerman’s on Atlantic Magazine’s online pages, Matt from Matt Bites, Todd and Diane from White on Rice, and Matt from Wright Food. With time, came friendships mentoring from the very people I admired on the page.

Finding my voice came with confidence my friends and family gave to me. My husband’s suport, despite my sudden abandonment of screenwriting for an even more amorphous writing career, has always been my anchor. He cheers me on, eats my dishes (the good and the bad) smiles when I snap too many pictures of every meal, and nods as I describe every mundane detail of what I learned online that day.

My parents–all five of them–give me encouragement, slaps on the back, over-the-phone cheerleading, and even sponsorships. Those folded up envelopes, slipped into my pocket and refused when I tried to give them back, have given me the seed money to step up my game, take pictures, and go after this crazy dream of food writing.  My friends–the around the corner safety nets, the across the country cheering squads–offer around the clock support and ideas that fuel the next post.

To all of them and to you, dear reader, I say thank you.

Of the many things creating this blog has taught me, the most important have been: be not afraid of the things you love.  Don’t be ashamed to be appreciative of the simple things. Be fearless.

So, in embracing fearlessness, I ask that if you have enjoyed the writing here, please take a minute or so to swing by Food Buzz and vote.

*other greats on the Food Buzz nominations that deserve your vote?

1. Best Overall Blog: 101 Cookbooks, The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Smitten Kitchen

2. Best Photography Blog: White on Rice Couple

3. Best Visual Blog: The Sophisticated Gourmet

4. Best Healthy Living Blog:Gluten-Free Girl

5. Best Family Blog: The Pioneer Woman Cooks

6. Best Blogger Humanitarian Effort: Chez Pim for Menu for Hope

7. Most Humorous Blog: Burnt Lumpia, Cake Wrecks

Superlatives:
What blogger would you most like to take to dinner? Steamy Kitchen
What blogger would you most like to cook a meal for you? Smitten Kitchen
What blogger would you most want to see open up their own restaurant? Tartelette