As a public relations professional and a food blogger, I’m in a unique position to give feedback on public relations efforts targeting food bloggers.
While I’ve been thinking about this topic for a while, reading Food Mayhem’s thoughtful post on the subject really inspired me.
Overall, I think it’s great that blogs are being recognized as influential by restaurants and companies. Bloggers generally have loyal readers who trust their opinion and count on them for reviews, opinions, and insight. Companies are and should be building these relationships and getting their relevant products …

Wanted to share a story in the print edition of today’s Austin Business Journal on the power of online reviews in the food scene. I spoke to reporter Christopher Calnan for the story to give background on the awesome Austin food blogger community.

Friday, June 5, 2009
Wining and dining ‘Yelpers’

The value of getting bloggers behind you
by Christopher Calnan ABJ Staff

Local software executive Jack Newton was one of 40 elite Yelpers at Max’s Wine Dive last month. He joined Yelp about three years ago.

It was only 5:30 p.m. on a …

I’m super excited about the Summer 2009 issue of edible AUSTIN, available at the downtown and Sunset Valleys farmer’s markets on Saturday! Associate Publisher (and Austin food event regular) Jenna Noel tells me that they will deliver this free quarterly magazine around town at these locations starting Monday.

The issue will include Joe from Rockstar Bagels, who is joining us on the KGSR late show tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. From the table of contents, it looks like there will be articles about chefs and romance, gardening, local sweeteners, tea time, …

Adam and I had such great time last night at the Austin360.com party at Whole Foods. I can’t tell you how cool it was to see good friends and meet in person with bloggers who I felt I already knew through Twitter and their blogs.
Jesse Griffiths from Dai Due supper club and Tyson Cole from Uchi wowed us with cooking demonstrations and tasting. We also enjoyed a blind taste test of Texas wines vs. wines from around the world.
But the BEST part of the evening was the people. I saw …

Addie Broyles JUST posted on her blog the news that the much anticipated (at least by me) Austin360 Food and Wine Blogger Bash has been announced. Here is what she had to say:
A week from today, local and national food and wine bloggers will get a chance to eat, drink, mingle and celebrate the vibrant food scene in Central Texas at the first ever Austin360 Food and Wine Blogger Bash, sponsored by Whole Foods Market and the Go Texan program of the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Here’s the flier from the …