Mexico. Chilequiles. Margaritas. Guacamole. Best friends and great people. What else could you possibly ask for??
I’ve been in Playa del Carmen at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya for the past week for Food Blogger Camp. Can you say fabulous?!? Because, that is what it was. There were endless amounts of guacamole, and really what more could a girl ask for?!? The sessions were educational and inspiring. The resort was mind blowing and breath taking. I was ready to call my boyfriend back in LA and have him pack up the apartment and meet me in Mexico so we could move into the Grand Velas permanently. I’m fairly certain that if I was able to get The Real Housewives series in Mexico, then moving there would be a simple thing to do! But, I have my priorities people – so I am back safe and sound in L.A.
It’s hard to sum up the event into a post, so I want to share a few of my favorite things…
Between learning valuable info from all the great leaders, I got to spend the week with one of the most beautiful people in the world, my roommate, Brooke from Food Woolf. She is amazing. Love her to the moon and back.
I got to spend amazing time with some of my best friends Brooke, Matt, & Adam, and some of my favorite people, Lucy, Carrie, Marla, and Michael. I also was fortunate enough to be with some amazing role models and mentors Todd and Diane, Elise, David and Jaden and met so many more fabulous people.
The tequila and margaritas were in abundance… as was the guacamole. Obviously the idea of guacamole available at all hours of the day is extremely exciting to me! At one point in time I thought I might have overdosed on guacamole… but about 45 minutes later I got over it and was back to my food of choice!
Mexican food buffets were around every turn. I think I have turned into one giant Mushroom Quesadilla – because I literally ate 3 plates of them a day. Happiness.
I was eager to try a Lebovitz Isle. Fabulousness in a cup. Pineapple juice and champagne. Perfection. I’m bringing that drink back to L.A. for sure! It’s the perfect poolside cocktail!
And of course there was 24/7 room service which we took full advantage of in the wee hours of the morning…
All in all the week was amazing, delicious and yummy 
I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful resort to kick off 2011. I’m already looking forward to next year, wherever camp might be!
Read more posts about Food Blog Camp 2011:
(I’ll be updating this all the time – so if you write a Food Blog Camp post – leave me your link and I’ll add it ASAP!
Food Blogger Camp (Website)
Food Blogger Camp Photos (Flickr)
Food Blogger Camp Riviera Maya (Family Fresh Cooking)
10 Lessons Learned from Food Blog Camp 2011 (Food Woolf)
Pool Time! Video (Matt Bites)
Food Blog Camp: Seeing the Light (Confections of a Foodie Bride)
The Greatest Job in the World (Confections of a Foodie Bride)
Food Blogger Camp 2011 (David Lebovitz)
Food Blog Camp! ¡Hola! México! Part Uno (Kitchen Conundrum)
Food Blog Camp 2011 (Mommy Cooks!)
Food Blog Camp 2011 (Deliciously Organic)
Food Blog Camp: Hello from Mexico! (Daily Nibbles)
What I learned…Food Blogger Camp 2011 (A Communal Table)
Playa del Carmen, Mexico: Food Blog Camp 2010 (Adventures of an Amateur Foodie)
Hola from Riviera Maya (Savuryandsweet)
If You’re Happy and You Know it, Eat Foie Gras (FRANtastic Food)
Food Blogger Camp: Molecular Gastronomy Demonstration (The Recipe Renovator)
Community Across the Globe: Food Blog Camp 2011 (The Urban Baker)
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh wow. WOW!! Looks like you had SO much fun!!! Love it all!
Glad you had fun!
I can’t believe the amount of fun we had. I’m going to cry just thinking about it. LOVE YOU!
If you do cry, Matt, I request that you catch it on video using your 8mm iPhone app. Thank you.
It looks as though you had an amazing trip. I’m looking forward to reading the other posts.
Gabi,
It was such an amazing trip! I am so glad that I got to catch up with you!!
I think I am going to do a guacamole cleanse effective immediately.
Thanks for allowing me to hang out with you n’ stuff.
Oh, I just knew that would be an awesome time – so jealz, but thrilled to read about it too. Gorgeous pics!
Such great photos, Gaby. Thank you for sharing. All of those delicious dishes have got me drooling, and boy does that beach look inviting after a chilly winter! Love your bit about being unable to catch Real Housewives in Mexico, ha ha! We all need our guilty pleasure TV, and I’m definitely guilty of that one too. Looking forward to more amazing Mexican-inspired recipes from you!
What a great recap! It was such a blast! Great spending time with you.
Looks like a fabulous time with all kinds of food and drink overload! I am sorry I missed out, especially after hearing that I could have been hanging out with Jaden in a wheelchair! Next year…glad you all had SO much fun!
So glad you’re having fun, Gaby!
Guac LOVE all round – lovely spending time with you in paradise – didn’t we learn LOADS? Like how to wave for the camera like a 50s starlet and that no food or plate was beyond the super powers of Adam Pearson’s food styling…
It all looks divine! Glad you had fun and I can’t wait for the installments! Snow flurries outside my window – I will just keep looking at your photos of blue sky…
so fabulous! looks like you had an amazing time!!
sounds and looks amazing…
Ah, the memories! Great write-up. I’m so glad I got to meet you!
lucky lady! this sounds sooooo good…especially the great people, the margs, and the chilequiles
Gaby, LOVE your re-cap. I cannot believe what an AMAZING time was had by all – well of course I can, it was paradise. So happy we made the leap & seized this opportunity. Love you girl
XO
Glad you like the Lebovitz Isle as much as the rest of the world…it’s an international sensation!
Wow, I think my whole office just heard my stomach growl as I perused these photos. Guacmole, chips, quesadillas and some of those amazing pineapple-champagne drinks would make me a very happy lady just about now. I hope I can make it to camp in 2012!
Hi Gaby,
Great pix and post! So fun to spend time in Mexico with such a great group of ppl. As requested, here’s the link to my post on molecular gastronomy:
http://www.reciperenovator.com/2011/01/food-blogger-camp-molecular-gastronomy.html
omg! it looked like you had an amazing time! congrats to you gaby. xxoo
Wow! This looks SO incredible. What a wonderful trip! Happy that you got to experience that…
That looks beautiful! I wish I had a reason to go to Mexico!
Hey Gaby! Great photos. It was so nice meeting you in Mexico. I’m loving looking at everyone’s recap. Wish I was still there….
What an amazing trip it was and your photographs really showed how much fun and bonding the week was. Awesome job and keep up the great work on your blog. Much success to you in 2011!
You’re one lucky girl! Hope you got inspired by some of the local fare and will share a recipe (or two) with the rest of us. xo
Gaby, Your photos are lovely! I look forward to digging into your blog. Hard to believe that I am back home in SNOW, and lots of it.
GREEN WITH JEALOUSY!!!
I’m even more jealous that you had brooke as your roomie. *SIGH*…
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