French Potato Salad with Herbs
A nice alternative to a regular potato salad, this classic French Potato Salad with Herbs is light, delicious, and perfect for a summer barbecue.
Though long a fan of a potato salad I’ve made for many years with sour cream and bacon; this recipe for a French Potato Salad with Herbs is probably my favorite for Easter or a summer barbecue when so many foods are served it’s nice to have a lighter offering.
Not just because it is filled with fresh herbs and simply dressed with an olive oil and vinegar mixture but also because it doesn’t come attendant with a requirement to keep it cool…how perfect is that for summer outings?
This is yet again another recipe that I’ve updated that was too good to languish in the archives of many years ago and is just one of hundreds of recipes from my original food website that I am STILL bringing over to this blog.
I may never get all of them done but this gem is simply too good to be lost in that transition. I was thinking the other day about the hundreds and hundreds of recipes I have with no attribution though. No one claiming ownership, no links to another blog.
Years ago, BI (Before the Internet) and the business of food blogging, people loved to share what they had made; readily giving their friends, neighbors and guests a recipe to use with no regard as to whether someone else would claim it; no small print advising that they had better tell everyone who enjoyed it who had actually come up with the dish.
It was expected that we would all put our own spin on it and if someone came to my home and I served a dish as a result of them sharing a recipe…they did not stand up in the room and announce to everyone present that it was really their recipe.
They might be tickled pink that I had been serious about enjoying something they had made but that was about it. It was that history of sharing that saw recipes traverse this country, get revised by thousands and end up on kitchen tables from NYC to LA; all becoming a part of a thousand different family traditions.
So I might get a bit disjointed when I see the laments about ‘stealing’ recipes and how people start wringing their hands at the injustice.
I get the angst over taking our photos; that truly is our work product but recipes? They are a compilation of years of experience, tasting different foods, sharing meals with others, and more.
I hope you take this recipe, make it my way or your way and enjoy it with your friends and family. Letting me know is fun and showing attribution is considerate if you blog about it, but in the long run?
I want people to enjoy my efforts; be they from years ago or something I created in my kitchen yesterday. I give up thanks to the originator of this French Potato Salad with Herbs salad, wherever you are, and hope my readers, friends, and family enjoy it too…it’s simple and delicious and one of our favorites!
The ingredients list is simple and includes things that most cooks will either have on hand or can easily source, including (full recipe at bottom of page):
- small red potatoes
- salt
- garlic cloves
- Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
- whole grain mustard
- olive oil
- fresh lemon juice
- ground black pepper
- shallot
- fresh chives
- fresh tarragon leaves
- minced fresh thyme
While I love this mixture of herbs, certainly try a combination of those you love too. I personally love shopping for herbs at Sprouts where you can buy the amount you choose, not an entire bottle. Herbes de Provence would be a delightful substitution for the tarragon and thyme. But in any event, try it; it’s a lighter and really wonderful take on potato salad!
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French Potato Salad with Herbs
Ingredients
- 4 pounds small red potatoes unpeeled, scrubbed, and cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
- 4 tablespoons salt
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 4 teaspoons whole grain mustard
- ½ cup olive oil
- 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Small shallots minced (about 4 Tbsp)
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon leaves
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme
Instructions
- Place potatoes and salt in large pan, cover with water andbring to boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium.
- Put peeled garlic into simmering water and partially blanch, about 45 seconds.
- Immediately run garlic under cold tap water to stop cooking and set aside.
- Continue to simmer potatoes, uncovered, until tender but still firm (thin-bladed paring knife can be slipped into and out of center of potato slice with no resistance), about 5 minutes.
- Drain potatoes, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Put hot potatoes back into the pot they were cooked in.
- Press garlic through garlic press or mince by hand.
- Whisk garlic, reserved potato cooking water, vinegar, mustard, oil, lemon juice and pepper in small bowl until combined. Drizzle dressing evenly over warm potatoes and gently mix; let stand 10 minutes.
- Toss shallots and herbs in small bowl. Transfer potatoes to large serving bowl; add shallot/herb mixture and mix gently with rubber spatula to combine. Taste and correct seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately.
- For best flavor, serve the salad warm or at room temperature. To make ahead, follow the recipe through step 7 and then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Before serving, bring the salad to room temperature, then add the shallots and herbs and toss gently to combine.
Wonderful alternative!
I know you would love it Jane! I love that it’s lighter but I also love that it’s got herbs in it, it’s just a great potato salad.
French potato salad is my favorite. Such a classic dish, and thanks to whoever invented it hundreds of years ago. And to you, too, for sharing your version. 🙂
They were having a barbecue in the area surrounding the Eiffel Tower I bet! 🙂
I LOVE this potato salad. I’ve made it so many times over the last few years that I now have it memorized.
Ohhhhh this sounds so delicious!
I’ve made a similar recipe, that comes from Ina Garten (there’s my attribution). Your spin is beautifully presented, simply by the way you sliced the potatoes. Oh yeah, you can steam the spuds in your pressure cooker, next time! One of these days, if I ever find time, I hope to recreate some of my early recipes posts. They’ve gotten lost, and boy, do they need a photo update! Thanks for updating this one, so I can include this for a beautiful summer side dish.
This is beautiful! I love how light this sounds. Perfect for summer and outdoor dining. Definitely making this soon!
We are completely on the same page for both potato salads (I love this kind best of all), and authorship-ownership of recipes. Once we put a recipe out into the cybersphere, we’ve let it go, like a child going off the college. I can say it’s mine, but truthfully it’s inspired by everything I read, clip, save, and follow. And when someone takes it and does a little twist on it, they’ve added me to their long list of what inspires them. What makes me happy is that something I created and posted gets someone into the kitchen to try a new vegetarian dish. I don’t have the time nor inclination to track down overtime one of my recipes was tweaked and reposted. I would, however, like to get credit (and paid something), when my photos are used. That’s a whole other controversy….I sure hope we meet someday. I think we’d have some great conversations 🙂
My favorite potato salad! German with warm bacon dressing is a close second. You’re right — this is picnic perfect. Thanks.
Nice to see you on the news this morning. I’ve subscribed for quite a while now, but as of a few weeks ago I don’t receive your blog and quite a few of my other faves. It happened a few years ago, also, but they were different blogs and one day they just showed up again after maybe two years. I try to remember to visit you (and the others) on Sundays (and of course on FB, but it’s not the same for some reason,) but I’m frustrated and think it’s likely a Comcast issue. grrr!
Continued good luck. The potato salad looks really lovely. I didn’t mean to get so heavily into this other issue.
Oh yum, I am making this for our dinner party next week!! I love potato salad in all its forms.
Wow- this was so good! I’ll be making a lot of this over the summer. Thanks!
Even though I love my traditional mayonnaise laden potato salad, I must give this a try. Sounds delicious Barb and as always great photo. I’ve only read what Michele wrote and must not follow any other bloggers that attended. I did however, read a similar sentiment from a newer blogger who nervously attended a meetup in San Fran last year. She was talking to one of the big name bloggers and in mid sentence, big name blogger simply walked away to talk to a a bigger name blogger that had just entered the room. Just rude nonsense.
I do truly love this recipe. This is my kind of potato salad. I can’t do the gloppy, deli-counter variety, but this kind is perfection. Thanks for sharing and for being an inspiration!
Barb –
I love this recipe! My mom makes one pretty similar, I think, and I keep meaning to ask her for the recipe…and now I don’t have to! I may make it today.
I love potato salad in all forms; this looks fresh and savory.
First of all, I adore potato salad. This would be my request as my last meal (with a side of stir fry rice. yes, I love carbs!)
Me too Nelly and beyond the more serious issue if this is your last request meal…you have made it easy. One thing I love about it.
Girl- you have every damn right to speak your mind. In addition to bad social etiquette at conferences, I’m noticing a ton of bad etiquette in the comments section of posts lately. It’s fine when we don’t always see eye to eye, but when we disagree we should do it as we would in our own living rooms, not in a mud-wrestling pit. Love you.
Feeling is mutual. That is all.
You can come to my conference Lora. My Denver Food Bloggers Backyard Convention. My house, bring a dish. I’ve got wine. Let’s chat. 🙂
I can bring cake or how about a pie?:) Maybe some Prosecco?;)
Now I wish I had this recipe as a side dish for my roast this weekend; delicious! And that chocolate pie you made was awesome too!
Thanks Claudia…guess both of them just need a protein with the mix and we’ve got a meal!
Ps: LOVE your potato salad. I love the addition of champagne vinegar. I don’t like heavy potato salads and yours looks light and wonderful:).
a very earnest recipe with words to match. much appreciate your honesty.
Crap – I forgot to comment on your potato salad recipe – It looks delightful!! Very season appropriate. 🙂
[K]
Before it gets over looked, I love your potato salad recipe. I am so making this Saturday 🙂 Barb I just love what you wrote and that you had the conviction of most who wouldn’t, to be your own person and voice your opinion. To me food is an extension of family and friendship…it embodies hearth and warmth. My hope has always been to convey that with my blog and I look forward to welcoming blogging friends of all shapes and sizes to partake in that simple pleasure with me. You know me, maybe a group hug would benefit all 😉 Awesome post!
Seems I’ve been criticized for writing this post because I wasn’t there but in fact I wrote it because of my friends who were and what I’ve seen and heard for over two years now. After reading a lot of event wrap-ups during that time, the two things that have struck me most are…the joy of meeting new people and forging friendships and the pain of being treated in a manner that reeks of class distinction. I’ve had so many friends share with me that hesitate to speak up for fear of retribution that it was planted in my head and in truth…those words just sort of came out organically as I wrote that post; it wasn’t planned at all! The comments that have been forthcoming make it clear it’s not my imagination; it is a real issue and I don’t regret I felt moved to say what I did.
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I do crave a traditional, heavier potato salad, but I adore non-mayo potato salads, like this one, so much more! They are so much more flavorful and the potato really shines through. I just made a potato salad with some homemade basil pesto, and I was blown away at how good it was….
As for the blogging world…. sometimes I sit stunned-stupid as people suck-up to others on twitter, facebook, in blog comments…. It has me sick to my stomach, and it makes me want to hurl. The popularity contest is out of control. I don’t write about Starbucks coffee with the hope of getting gift-cards, just like I don’t constantly blog about nutella so that more people will click on my blog. I don’t suck up to a blogger on twitter, then tell my best bud that said-blogger has the grossest recipes ever. And I don’t blog about a certain product with the hope of getting free tickets to a blogging conference. I just can’t do it. Maybe I have too much pride. I don’t know. I was raised to be honest, to work hard, and that good actions and hard-work will be rewarded, or rather that I should be proud of my accomplishments achieved through dedication and perseverance.
The thing is, it’s hard to rise above it all, and it’s hard to get just 1 comment on a post/recipe that I’ve worked so hard on when somebody else gets hundreds for a recipe they basically copy-pasted (i.e. “adapted” – as if!) from a cookbook, not even changing the wording of the recipe, and only contributing their own pretty photo. It makes me sad. I digress…
Hey Barbara, You hit the nail on the head, and the truth hurts. Two words/High School. I hardly ever go on twitter anymore since it is so evident. Thanks for putting it out there. I am too old to give a shit. My site is for family and friends.
Hi Barb,
You know how I feel about this conference and what a disappointment it was after attending my first large event. I was so excited to see some old friends and expected to connect with some people I “knew”, but they were not really interested. I guess my blog is not big enough to matter.
We are doing what we love and these travels have changed our lives. My blog may not be the “popular” site, but it matters to us, the people we meet and to my readers.
Thank you for having the courage to speak out.
Gwen
Hi Barb, I love that you tell it like it is. It takes courage and self-confidence and you clearly have lots of that. I’ve been to the previous 2 BHFood conferences in SF, and, after that and Foodbuzz’s festival, decided to take a break from these events this year, as much as I love connecting with Twitter/blog friends in person. Of course, the feelings of exclusion, of being ‘not good enough’, of being the ‘black sheep’ will always be there. I think it’s an undeniable aspect of life, especially in a creative field like food blogging. There are always going to be morons in every single field – whether or not it’s about ‘community’ – the question is what do we do with it. Let it get us down or ignore and keep going our own way, finding like-minded people to connect with? I’m in favor of the latter. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, but it gets easier with practice. Just like your potato salad I’m sure! 😀
I made the potato salad very similar to this one a few weeks ago, and it was truly wonderful Let’s not neglect it:) It deserves the accolades!
You know what I think, and I don’t want to repeat myself. We are on the same side of the boat:)
Thank you for writing this post, Barb. Like Yuri, I have not been to a conference and will not probably attend one soon. I count my blessings that I meet WONDERFUL people here like YOU.
Mean people suck.
Amen girlfriend! We’re going to have to have some lunch and talk this one over! Now, back to food business. I love this recipe. You are so right about it being the perfect picnic side with the absence of proteins that can spoil. We’re having the ribs tonight that I didn’t get around to making yesterday, so maybe I’ll whip this up and serve it on the side.
Hear, hear! Well-put! We’re better than all that petty, backstabbing, childish behavior. Let’s get on with the sharing and caring and leave that crap behind!
Very well said! I am new to blogging and as shyness is something I’ve always struggled with I know that I would find a blogging conference too intimidating. What I find the most shocking is the rudeness of these people! What has happened to good manners?!
Your potato salad looks so tasty, I will be trying it soon!
Your potato salad is lovely, Barb! I just made one yesterday–very similar to this one. Just editing the photos now.
You know, I heard the same things about last year’s BlogHer conference. Which is why I’m in no hurry to rush out and attend one. High school is over for me, and going back to that atmosphere isn’t something I’m interested in. At all. Happy to see you speaking your mind!
Almost lost in this conversation is the wonderful potato salad which I am reminded I could be having now for a late lunch; thanks Elle!
Barbara, there is a sad irony to the fact that the culture of blogging, not just food blogging, has turned competitive and commercial. I personally will be glad when whatever the next big “thing” is hits and people flock to it in the hopes of finding fame and fortune. The overwhelming majority of bloggers I have met over the last four years have been warm, gracious, and welcoming. But I’ve seen the other side as well. And no, it’s not pretty.
What I find really interesting is that the bloggers I’ve met who fall into the Mean Girls category really don’t strike me as being superstars. If anything, they come across as being insecure and insincere. I was present when a blogger said that her “followers would buy something if she told them to”. Um, hello, arrogant much? And that’s really kind of sad. Especially when some of the real superstars of the food blogs are so genuinely lovely people.
I have chosen to unsubscribe and unfollow bloggers because of this. That’s how I deal with it. Let them get their cult of personality fix from somebody else.
So true Wendi on all counts…thanks for your great observations.
I would sign up for the food blogger pajama jammy jam. But I think I’ve decided that instead of setting myself up for disappointment with the ginormaconferences, I’m going to stick to the smaller gatherings, and maybe look for alternate events like food road trips. It’s hard to be a jerk when your face is covered in melted butter and bbq sauce.
My dream conference is in my buddy B’s backyard, where I plan on sunning in butter, soaking in wine, and enjoying the “flours” in that amazing backyard retreat!
Wow – next time go to Plate2page. Small class with outstanding instructors.
Gurrl power all the way with a few guys there too to keep it real.
Life changing experience.
Móna
I would have…the trans continental thing made it impossible but so many of my friends were there. Jamie, Meeta, Ken, Jenn…I might just have to start saving my pennies now!
Potato salad is one of my all time favorite foods, and this recipe sounds great!
Although there are a lot of bloggers I’ve “met” through Twitter I’d love to meet in real life, going to one of these conferences does not appeal to me at all. I spent enough time being the unpopular girl in high school, I don’t need that kind of attitude now. My blog is a place for me to express myself and share recipes and ideas. I enjoy writing it, and anything that would make me or my blog feel “less than” is not worth my time.
I hope the community takes posts like this to heart, because those doing the snubbing are the ones missing out.
That’s pretty much where I am. I’m lucky to live in a large enough metro area that I’ve met a lot of local bloggers. That has helped immeasurably too.
This is my first time on your blog, and as I read your entry, there were times I wanted to shout YES. When I first started my blog, I initially didn’t want to ‘food blog’ because of the snobbery and the cliques. However, I just wanted to record my own things, and ended up becoming a food blogger…
You’re so brave in speaking out about it!
I attended the conference and, for the most part, you are spot on. I’ve been blogging for almost four years and have attended five of these big blogging events, and I still felt completely insignificant for much of the weekend. There were many genuinely nice people there, but also a whole lot that weren’t. Kudos to you for telling it like it is (because that really is how it was)!
I wish it were not right…but heartfelt comments and DM’s tell the true story for a lot of people. The ones I know who did not feel that way…typically were in the upper echelon or speakers and while I do not hold them accountable for not knowing from their perspective…it does not mean it’s not happening.
A lovely salad! I bet it tastes gorgeous.
I totally agree with what you said. This post speaks about everything I have been thinking since I started blogging six years ago. I hate rude people, clans, jealous individuals, this whole snotty attitude about blogging… I like to consider myself a person who likes to be close to my readers and always keep an open mind. My blog is all about community, sharing my passion for food and giving love. I could never become a food snob.
Cheers,
Rosa
Yes Rosa…it is so simple and so fantastic. One of the main reasons I love having my own herb garden.
I think so many of us feel the same way and love that ‘my’ community includes so many wonderful people. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Hi Barb,
I don’t know what I liked best – your potato salad recipe (which is the style I absolutely love after trying it a few years ago!) or your “spot on” comments!!!
For me this whole “blog thing” has been amazing – I’ve “met” (IRL or online) truly wonderful people and encountered some that well … weren’t . Like you, I have zero tolerance for mean and rude people – life is simply too short!! Unlike you though, I haven’t always been courageous enough to call people on it – and your post has inspired me to confront bad behavior.. wherever I find it. I think that is what is one of the things that is missing – our seeming willingness to accept bad behavior and tolerate it. So, when we see people being treated badly each of us needs to step up – otherwise we are part of the problem!!!
Thanks for having the courage to bring this out into the open Barb – you are truly a “blogger stateswoman”!!!
I totally agree with you. It needs to be said, but I’m afraid will fall on deaf ears. There will always be clubs, cliques and hurtful people. I agree with Meeta, it makes ones job easier because then you know who to avoid. ;o)
I’ve been to two blog conferences and loved both of them. Yes, there were stars there, but it was no big deal. I just chose to make different friends.
So true…the people who need to take stock of their poor behavior will neither recognize it or own up. Maybe just saying it out loud will make more people know it is what it is…and form a plan before attending to insure their own success. Find a buddy before you go maybe?
I think it is important also to speak up. In blog posts and in emails. Too many people get away with obnoxious behavior because no one calls them out. I think it is high time they are. If someone offends me, in person, up close. I’m no longer going to sit by nicely and allow people to think they’re as nice in person as online.
I agree; I get the impression there is that element of fear; you know, if I speak up and say something I’ll somehow be blackballed in the blogosphere. It’s a big world out there and if I’m blackballed by the people who don’t like hearing what some of us say. Oh well.
It makes me happy to know that there are strong people out there that speak their mind. Call me naive but I do not get why some people have the need to play the holier than thou game. Blogging has given me so much and after five and half years I so enjoy meeting new people and learning new things from them. I cannot imagine – ever – looking down on a person because their traffic or hits are lower than mine. What a ridiculous way to judge a person and what a waste of missing out on maybe meeting a great person of interest. I (along with Jamie) was one of the instructors and the Plate 2 Page Workshop, which four of us put together with a lot of hard work and care. From the beginning it was clear we would only have a limited number of people so that we can really give each one of the participants something of value. I think we did. BUT what was even better – I came away with new ideas and feeling so elated to have new views to look at and have met some awesome people. And you know what – traffic did not matter.
A genuine person makes a great blog however, it happens only too often that a mediocre blog rises to make a monster if marketed well enough.
A huge hug for you Barbara!
We are so on the same page Meeta..maybe I need to be on the Plate to Page path…missed being with all of you a lot! Hugs back to you Meeta…til one day we can do it for real.
I look forward to that day Barbara – very much!
Your salad looks like it would be a wonderful side dish to any meal but especially during this grilling season. While reading, I was wondering if it was served hot or cold so happy to see your last note on it.
I admire and commend you for your ability and willingness to speak your mind so fluently about some of the behaviour taking place at conferences. I have yet to attend one but shortly after I started blogging/twitter, I remember reading a fellow blogger’s post on the first conference she attended. It was painful to hear about her experience as she recounted the behaviour of others.
From subsequent posts I have read on blogger attendance, it would appear that the rude behaviour continues to grow exponentially with the numbers attending. Such a sad reflection on the ability of some to leave *high-school* behaviour in the past. However, as in every *community* gathering, I think you will always have a few small-minded, self-centered individuals who value cliques of people over quality substance of people. For those who do, they are truly depriving themselves of the enriching experience a conference could offer if they only left their attitude and baggage at the check-in.
I may be short and I may be shy Barb, but I stand shoulder to shoulder with you in your opinions stated here.
The poor potato salad got sort of lost and it should not have but it’s the way I work. I just start writing and it just sort of came out. I would be happy to stand shoulder to shoulder with you Paula.
What a thought-provoking post. This was the first time I attended the conference as an attendee. (I’ve attended it before to film it and scout for talent.) I was openly frosted at the first morning breakfast, by someone whose work I admire(d). If someone snubs me, it actually makes my job easier. I don’t have to expend any energy deciding whether I want to work with that person or not. I don’t take it personally anymore. At the end of the conference when everyone was trying to make last-minute introductions, I walked up to this person and said “It was great not talking to you at the conference this weekend!” And I meant it, for reasons they probably did not understand.
Stick together, friends! Together, we can do amazing things. Thank you for writing this post for us.
And my thanks for you sharing your real life experience. Many will say…’Oh that doesn’t really happen.’ Oh yes it does.
Barb, you’re my hero. You know my feelings on this. I believe to food blog is to build a community – one of readers, friends, family, and other bloggers. There’s no room for this petty stuff. Heck, I barely have time for people I know and like in my life, much less the “popular set” who may not enjoy my company. Their loss.
I’m glad I ended up at Eat, Write, Retreat the other weekend. Maybe it was the small size, maybe it was the group we had, but none of this cr@p went on. Everyone hung out, chatting, and said hi to everyone else. So, I guess, for those who have never been to a conference – I think they can be inspiring, allow you to meet friendly faces, and the like, but you have to be choosy about where you spend your money.
It seems to be that the smaller the group, the better the group dynamic. I’ve often kidded that I want to put on a conference. Not business, not SEO, not advertisers. Nope…how about a Blogger Slumber Party? We chat, we eat, we share with each other…it’s a dream,, but who knows; I might one day just make it a reality!
PREACH GIRLFRIEND! I sure hope the “Mean Girls” read this! I’m so glad I saved the money. I’m sure I’d have been deemed the smallest minnow in the sea of Whale Sharks. I love your honesty! The fact that you’re real. Makes me love you even more!! Let’s start our own conference and weed out the mean girls.
By the way, I had the same mini-hater in High School, for the same exact reason. She’s now as wide as she is tall. 🙂 Karma is a b!tch! I’m a firm believer in that!
Hogs & Quiches
Heather
I’m in! And you? Why I love you back!
Well you know my views and how I feel about this post. Thankfully during most of the conferences I had the opp to travel, which I take in a minute. I would rather commune and discover a new culture than deal with this mess. I love blogging but not the territory and culture that goes with it. I made up my mind a long time ago to maintain my sanity and health and do it on my terms. The whole cliqueish nature and competition was throwing me off. And for that I much happier. From my perspective I see a lot of other mess going that I don’t want to touch on either. But this post was needed. Here’s is to good food and friendship with people that appreciate the true worth and value of it.
Amen sister!
Hi Barb, You know one thing I like most about you is that you aren’t afraid to speak your mind. Often echoing what others think but not dare to even whisper for fear of consequences. I have never been to any conferences so I can’t vouch firsthand of what’s happening there, but I can say there are many circles whether less known or famous on twitter. I simply un-follow with no sentimental value, even if it’s a ‘must follow person’, when I see ‘high school’ behavior. It’s not worth it to subject myself to that even if just by observing self indulgent behavior in my timeline.
Seems like there is much pressure for hyping one thing/person or another and differing opinions aren’t welcomed, many will pounce on you before you utter any thoughts, opinions or even just question, ponder or even think out loud. With saying that we need to look closely, handful out of the many people, that might be complaining, might have indulged in the same behavior before, only this time faced it themselves. Two wrongs don’t make it right but I think each one of us needs to self reflect. I know I started with 0 followers, no one I knew was on twitter when I joined and launching a blog was foreign and insane to anyone around me. SO when I encounter a newbie that engages me I respond and try to help, or at the least be nice, because some other strangers were nice to me when I had exactly 0 followers.
Well, Shulie…I heard from a well known blogger last week how much backlash she suffered because she did speak her mind on a similar topic so it’s a real leap of faith to move forward with my thoughts. Though I don’t rely on my blog for revenue, my business is a resource for a lot of bloggers so my speaking honestly could be financially hurtful but at some point…you have to be true to yourself. And truth is…someone I care about was treated badly…that fired me up more than if someone had tried the same thing with me!
Well said, Barb. I know some who would not attend again this year merely for the issues stated above that were evident at last year’s conference as well. I attended neither because I see the same thing happening throughout the food blogosphere at large…and it has become the ANTITHESIS of what food & feeding people is about: love, kindness, culture, nourishment & caring. Popularity & perceived status are silly notions anyway (not to mention downright ugly when people let it go to their head), and are nothing compared to the beauty of compassion, talent and the desire to share and encourage others. When it comes down to it, no matter what the topic, it’s all about love.
Thank you Sandie…you reiterated exactly what I’ve heard over and over. Makes me wonder how long these conferences can be sustainable with so many not just having a bad experience but then detailing it to their peers? Also makes me wonder how they are a part of supporting this culture?
Well said, Barb. Ask 90% of food bloggers why they started blogging in the first place and they will say that their blog was simply a vehicle to stare recipes with family and friends. While it turned into so much more than that for many people – a place to express themselves, to experiment with different flavors, to practice food photography – we each need to be reminded of the roots. Building community and sharing ideas are so important and there shouldn’t be any room for large egos and snarkiness.
Thank you Dara. And for the record I have no problem with people earning income from their efforts; I certainly know firsthand how timely it can be to offer regular contributions to readers. I simply have a problem with the culture of perceived hierarchy and the way some members who consider themselves better than others treat their PEERS. Popular does not always equate to good, I do know that for a fact!
This post has opened my eyes, Barb. I thought conferences were all about making friends and meeting Twitter/blog friends IRL, but makes sense that some [insecure] ppl act like this. I haven’t been to a conference yet and still I can tell u about similar things that have happened to me already on Twitter: not everyone is as nice as you. Lesson learned. Sometimes insecurities and low self-esteem make people do stupid things. U see these girls with chameleon personalities who would do anything to be “popular”. I just delete and keep my distance, life is too short to deal with bs. On the other hand, I love people like Jamie: we’ve been tweeting each other for almost 2 years. She’s been a good friend from back in the day when I had less than 100 followers and no blog. Same goes to Rebecca from Chow and Chatter, I really like these ladies and hope to meet them IRL someday. You are pretty nice too 😉 Maybe we should make our own “nice people with no issues” conference 🙂 have a lovely Tuesday, Barb! xoxo
Yuri, I believe that is why so many flock to them, hoping to connect with their own ‘tribe’ but too often it seems just the opposite happens and they leave feeling, quite literally…bad about themselves. I made a comment on Twitter last week or the week before about the culture of ‘My cake is better than your cake’ and a friend corrected me and she was right. The culture is ‘My blog is better than your blog.’ Reminds me of my kids…when they were little.
Brilliant post, Barbara and I can’t agree more. Bad behavior comes back to bite you in the ass, pardon my French. I have only attended a few conferences and have spoken at each I have attended (or organized) and if anyone considers me one of the “biggies” or “popular” bloggers I don’t know. But what I do know is that I try and meet everyone, talk if only briefly with anyone, am super flattered if anyone wants to meet or talk with me. It is difficult to meet and speak with everyone when there is a crowd, but turning one’s back on and ignoring someone who introduces themselves is horrid and inexcusable! This really should be a community, a community of shared goals and shared passions, kindness and generosity. I am so lucky to have found like minds, souls and hearts and relish these friendships. But yes, sadly even on twitter I am snubbed by certain bloggers who must think I am not worth their time or notice. I see cliques and I hear of people saying rude things about fellow bloggers on twitter, in public. These people should no longer be invited to attend or speak at conferences! Thanks for your courage and honesty in writing this. It must be said! xoxo
Everyone talks about it ‘under cover’ and fears some sort of retribution for being honest, calling things like they are. We all understand being busy and not being able to manage meeting everyone but it is the out and out unbelievable rude behavior that sort of put me over the edge. I guess I’m still a champion for ‘my girls’ even if they’re not my daughters…they’re my friends.