ottawa foodies

I've been toying with the idea of writing a food blog. I've had a few culinary adventures over the past little while that I would like to share with those who share my passion for delicious fare. My question is: what makes a good food blog? I have a few that I follow, and I think that good photos and descriptions are a nice place to start, but other than that...I'm drawing a blank. What makes particular blogs stand out to you? Oh, and any suggestions for a name would be most welcome : )

Pictures! Lots of pretty, BIG pictures!

Recipes - where applicable.

Personality - use your own "voice" - bad grammar and all :)

nooschi (Nooschi) has a food blog that incorporates all of the above and is fantastic in my opinion :) plus she throws in food reviews while traveling, interviewing restauranteurs/chefs/fellow foodies and sometimes even give-aways.

That's definitely helpful advice. I would love to know which blogs you guys follow. It gives me a good example of what to look for. I just checked out Amelie eats, and I love her blog. Its so great. I'm heading off to check out nooschi's blog next. Keep 'em comin'!

Smittenkitchen is my new favourite. Great food porn and easy recipes. (Thanks to Pam for recommending it!) In addition to the recommendations here you can click on the "wiki" link on the toolbar at the top of the page then click on "links". There are tons of leads there. Good luck in your search.

i love smitten, more for her writing tone and gorgeous pictures, then for the actual recipes. many are far too time consuming for me and some have turned out just ok, not fantastic.

i would suggest not to embark on a food blog with hopes of one day being discovered and having your life made into a movie. there are thousands and thousands of food blogs our there covering more topics than you can imagine! what would make yours different or interesting. what are you hoping to do with it?

one of the neatest things i have seen in a while is someone using their twitter to share recipes condensed down to 140 characters

twitter.com/CookBOOK

I have no illusion that fame will find me as a result of my blog like it did for Julie Powell. I just want to use the blog to chronicle eating : ) I've eaten at far too many stellar restaurants and had so many great dishes that I think it would be helpful for myself, and for others to see. I'm completely on board with food porn, and I guess that's what my intention is. I'm aiming to be the Hugh Hefner of the food world ; )

My favourite food blog is: www.latartinegourmande.com/

Her food styling and pics are awesome and the stuff she makes is mostly gluten free and really creative.......

Smitten is awesome, but I find the recipes are hit and miss. Some are incredibly awesomely simple (I am a big fan of simple whole foods) and then some are just...complicated. Too many ingredients, or specialty cookware required.

I guess that is another requirement for me - the recipes have to be accessible :)

my favourite food/cooking blog isn't actually a cooking blog, but her recipes, photos and descriptions are prety wonderful:

heart-of-light.blogspot.com

also, i'm a fan of smitten. i think what gets readership is when there is a constant in the blog. for example, there's one guy in toronto who runs a food blog that is essentially about cooking in the smallest kitchen possible. apartment therpay came out of an idea similar.

good luck!

Wow! Who knew what a treasure trove of food blogs there are out there. So far all of the ones recommended have been great! I've got the concept down for my blog; now I need some content : ) I'll let you know how it goes, and thanks so much for the feedback!

Would you like to become a contributer to a blog? that's always a great way to start.

Post lots of pictures. Have a look at what others are doing:

the99centchef.blogspot.com/

cooktobang.com/

beyondrecipes.blogspot.com/

www.myfirstkitchen.net/

cookincanuck.blogspot.com/

www.thewickednoodle.com/

poorgirlgourmet.blogspot.com/

A few more to add to the mix:

pinchmysalt.com/

nikas-culinaria.com/ (including a fairly extensive food photography tutorial)

blog.fatfreevegan.com/

I'm a fan of beFOODled ( www.befoodled.blogspot.com/ ), and our very own Rachelle Eats Food's (www.ottawafoodies.com/u/1272 ) blog rachelleeatsfood.blogspot.com/

I have to add in a plug for my food blog now! My blog is called Carling Ave. Foodie and can be found at www.carlingavefoodie.blogspot.com My blog is an exploration of fabulous food finds I have made along that famous road known as Carling Avenue. I also have been known to venture off Carling, as when I went to Florida and India. Alas, due to the exigencies of work and motherhood I haven't been able to update it much lately, but the ideas are churning!

My advice is to pinpoint what it is you want to express and focus on that. Most food blogs include recipes (mine doesn't, cuz I find recipes a bore), but if you are only interested in talking about great restaurant meals you have experienced, don't bother with recipes. Write about what you are most passionate about; those conversations running through your head that you just have to share with the world.

And as for a name, how about www.amusebouche.blogspot.com?

Have a look at this tutorial from the Pioneer Woman.
www.wepc.com

First, some shameless self-promotion of my own food blog:

www.lordofthewings.blogspot.com

(Chicken Wings Reviews Recipes & News)

As been said already, photos are key. And Poutine's link to the Pioneer Woman's guide is bang on.

I would also ask what you want to write about - are you looking at doing cooking and recipes? Restaurant reviews? Make sure what you write about really interests you and is sustainable - so many blogs get started and peter out within a year or less. As for a name, make sure you search to make sure no one else has something similar. Good luck!

Here are some other food blogs I read as well:

bumblingbaker.blogspot.com/
www.nibblemethis.com/
www.foodieprints.com/blog/1
www.thefoodpornographer.com/