Foodbuzz: Growing and now 2,000 strong

Check out this press release from The Food Monster Blog's Publisher Foodbuzz. Now a very real force in the foodie community.

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2,000 FOOD BLOGGERS FLOCK TO FOODBUZZ FUELING
1000% ANNUAL GROWTH AND CREATING THE THIRD
LARGEST ONLINE FOOD PROPERTY

San Francisco – April 23, 2009: Foodbuzz announced today that is has surpassed 2,000 food bloggers in its online food community. These partner food blog websites, when combined with the foodbuzz.com “hub” website, reached 6.7 million people per month according to third-party traffic measurement service Quantcast. This ranks Foodbuzz as the third largest online food property after less than two years of operation. (See Quantcast Media Planner.)

“Our goal is to be the number one online food community by promoting the talent, enthusiasm and knowledge of food bloggers around the globe,” said Ben Dehan, founder and CEO of Foodbuzz. Of the top three properties, Foodbuzz is the only true community that combines social networking for foodies with food content search for everyone. “Both our monthly users and page views grew over 1000% in 2008, and we are on pace to reach the number one spot within the next 12 months”, said Mr. Dehan.

Foodbuzz digs deep into the “long tail” of food publishing to discover and promote thousands of small, yet high-quality, food bloggers. “We are providing a platform for food bloggers to pursue their passion in a community that nurtures and encourages the sharing of quality food and dining content daily,” said Ryan Stern, Director of Publishing. Foodbuzz offers these bloggers a compelling solution for building their traffic, connecting with like-minded foodies, and making money. Foodbuzz has exclusive advertising relationships with partner bloggers which provide brand advertisers the reach and share-of-voice they need to effectively engage the food community.

About Foodbuzz
Based in San Francisco, Foodbuzz is a global online food community of over 2,000 food bloggers connected by the foodbuzz.com “hub” website. In the past month, this community reached 6.7 million people and 33 million impressions according to Quantcast. Foodbuzz.com provides a full suite of social networking features enabling foodies to interact and share their food experiences. With over 900,000 high-quality food blog posts in its searchable database, foodbuzz.com is an essential resource for everyone interested in exploring the world of food. Foodbuzz is a 2009 Webby Awards Honoree!

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Philly Steak Factory, a review

Each and every time I return to the triangle, the first place I try to get to is the Philly Steak Factory in Durham. I also think to myself, that it will be good like I remember.... and then I take a bite, and it is never like I remember. It is always 100% better, and I try to figure out why I don't go more often.
I have recently moved to Raleigh, and thus don't get over to Durham as easily anymore. However, this past Friday, I was planning on heading over to the campus at UNC, for the annual Carolina Comedy Festival with headliner Lewis Black. This particular night featured Keenan Thompson, who did a fine job, although, I am looking forward to Rory Albanese of the Daily Show, returning to his role as Emcee.
My friend Joel accompanied me and suggested our favorite restaurant so we hit it up on the way.
My order always seems to be taken by the same guy each time (the owner) which gives it a great community feel. We got 2 whole (Philly Steaks) with fries and a drink. They have other items from salads, to Pitas, but I've never bothered to try anything else. I'm sure they are amazing but, if it isn't broke, don't fix it.
As noted in my previous posts on my short Philly Steak Tour, It's all about the little things. The fact that the marinated (hot) meat juice is poured over the hand-chopped meat to melt the cheese, the cajun seasoning for the fries on every table, the fresh brewed sweet tea, you just can't find these things in PA. Above is some great hand chopping going on.
As Joel and I tasted our fresh made sandwiches, we both remarked out loud how it was better than we remembered. I vow to be back, soon, very soon.
As I brought along my camera this time, and we had some time to kill before the comedy show, we walked by Time Out for a Vanilla Chipper. Basically, it is 2 pints of Vanilla Ice Cream sandwiched between two enormous chocolate chip cookies.
Although it takes awhile to eat, as you can see from the pictures, it isn't possible for this to a bad tasting dessert. Enjoy.

Philly Steak Factory
(919) 490-9753

5410 New Hope Commons Dr
Durham, NC 27707

Time Out (open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
133 W Franklin St # D
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 929-2425

Guest Blogger: RambleWriter, Pisgah

Our Ramble Writer series last left off in Asheville, NC. Near there in the Pisgah National Forest, is Pisgah, NC. Let's see what Nick has to say about the Pisgah Brewing Company (follow this link, or the post is below).

And with moving and taxes and now working taking a toll on my time, I'm a few ramblings behind, as they have been to NY, through Memphis and worked their way south already. I will try and catch up this week.

Enjoy,

-The Food Monster

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Pisgah Brewing Co. Brewery, Black Mountain N.C.

March 7, 2009 – 3:11 pm

By: Nick

Last night I had a chance to make the 20 minute ride east to Black Mountain and check out the tap room at the Pisgah Brewing Co.’s brewery. Pisgah prides itself on brewing great, entirely organic beer (with primarily American-bought ingredients). I went with some friends, all of whom told me they had been meaning to get out there, but hadn’t. In fact, everyone I talk to about the place says that same thing. My advice to those people is lie to your husband/wife/girlfriend/probation officer, make any excuse you have to, and get yourself out there post haste.

Upon arriving, we turned into a large dirt parking lot with surrounded by looming warehouses. It felt a bit like an old detective film scene down by the docks. We eventually found the brewery by the fire burning out back. Inside it was a warehouse. I don’t mean it was an old warehouse that had been converted into a bar and designed to retain it’s cool ‘warehouse’ feel. I mean it was a working warehouse… with a bar along one wall. There were 20 or so people hanging out and drinking beer, a guy playing well selected soul numbers on a set of turn tables on a small stage and some art on the wall opposite the bar. There were a few folding tables, not nearly enough seats for everyone and the general atmosphere of a speak easy. In other words, it was rad.

The beers at the bar were (for the most part) very reasonably priced and you could sample all sorts of stuff that isn’t readily available anywhere else. I made the mistake of not realizing it was cash only, and so was forced to appeal to the generous nature of my friends Eruch and Isaac. I started with a porter and headed out to sit by the fire. The porter was good. Not amazing, but a good solid example of a porter. Outside there was a fire pit and some seats. People passed by us, heading to a little shack out back that houses a pool table and arcade games. This is clearly a company run by guys… young guys.

Dave Quinn (pictured left) is one of those young guys. He was tending the fire and happy to talk to anyone who would listen about his beer. He is quite passionate about it, and it shows in the beer. We chatted a bit and he kindly bought me a pint of Vortex II (an 11% imperial stout). It was great. Wonderful beer. It tasted of burnt caramel with maple on the finish. The Saison (a raspberry farmhouse ale) was excellent as well. It would hold it’s own with any number of more expensive Belgian farmhouse ales. In addition to the great beer and the friendly people, I liked that the place wasn’t overdone. There was a smattering of decorations, and a good pot of beef chili in the corner on a Bunsen burner for all to eat. It wasn’t any more organized than a good college party. I like that.

I hope that as this brewery expands (as they certainly will), they manage to hold onto that patchwork, salt of the earth feel that fits them so well. If you are in the area, get out there and check it out while it still has that wonderful, youthful, organic feel (no pun intended). Starting next week, they are expanding their hours to include Saturday, and adding tours of the brewing facility 2 days a week.

Check out their wesite at www.pisgahbrewing.com for directions and news about whats going on at the brewery.

Denny's Free Slamwich

Denny's if you recall, offered us a Free Grand Slam. And now, the diner chain famous for baseball themed breakfast plates and smokey late nights is offering a Free Slamwich with purchase of a Grand Slam. While it is not as good as just free for showing up, I still expect a great turnout April 8th from 6am - 2pm. Get them while they are hot, as they say.