Eat Write Retreat – The Products

posted on May 27, 2011 by Beth // 43 Comments »

Note: All of the photos in this post were taken with my droid phone using the picplz app

One of the best parts of a food blogging conference is discovering new products. Some of them show up in the swag bag, others via a raffle, and many are simply offered as part of a meal or snack.

At Eat Write Retreat, every attendee went home with more than a few goodies, including a higher ticket raffle item like a toaster, knife set, panini press, or mandolin. My big score was not any of those, but instead something that was perfectly suited for me.

I was the lucky recipient of the OXO 7 piece barware set, steel cocktail shaker, and muddler seen above. I seriously couldn’t have been more thrilled! This gift not only tickled me, but it made my husband pretty happy too.

 

When we were given Lifeway Frozen Kefir as a mid-morning snack, I hesitantly took a small taste. Having never tried any Lifeway product or any kefir before, I had no idea if I’d like it or not. Wow. Let’s just say the bites got bigger and it was gone in a flash.

The store locator on the website shows that Kroger, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter and Publix all carry their products, but I’m not sure if they all have the frozen kefir. I checked the Publix near my office and they didn’t, but I’ll keep searching around town and let you know where I find it.  (or if you’ve seen it, let me know!)

 

Lindsay Naturals Green Olives kept showing up on tables during various events throughout the weekend, and even when I wasn’t hungry, I was still popping them in my mouth. Mild, smooth and buttery with a hint of nuttiness, they’re not salty like many olives. I wasn’t surprised when I read online that they had been voted “favorite olive” by the Lindsay Olives employees. Rightly so.

I haven’t searched for them in the stores yet, but the website says they can be found in Tennessee at Publix, Costco and Wal-Mart. Hopefully I won’t have any trouble hunting them down, because I’m hoping to win some cash in their “Love This Recipe” contest!

 

Definitely the largest swag I brought home, this Calphalon 12″ griddle gave the TSA agent a chuckle when I took it through security at the airport. He said it was the funniest traveling companion he’d seen all day :-)

Not only did Calphalon give me this awesome gift, but they’re giving my followers something too! Between now and June 6th, readers of Eat. Drink. Smile. can receive 10% off their online purchase by following this link and using the promotional code:  C95926*

*the fine print: Clearance Items and Gift Certificates do not qualify. Excludes John Boos & Co. Cannot be combined with other special offers or applied to previous purchases. Terms subject to change. Offer valid through June 6th, 2011.

 

 

Although Goo Goo Clusters were not a new product discovery for me (they were, after all, what got me to this conference in the first place), it was fun to see and hear others’ reactions to a candy I’ve been eating my entire life. To say they were well received would be a huge understatement. Each attendee received a 3-pack box in their swag bag, and one girl even admitted to me that she’d eaten her entire box within 24 hours!

So there you go, a few fun new products to be on the lookout for. As I promised before I left town, I’ve also got a little something for a few of you.

I’ll randomly choose 3 lucky winners to receive some Goo Goos! Two of you will get 3-pack boxes, and the other will receive a special tin filled to the brim with Goo Goos!

~Contest Closed~

The winners:

#22 Antoinette – 3 pack of Supreme Goo Goo Clusters

#34 Angela – 3 pack of Original Goo Goo Clusters

#12 Eleanor – tin of  Original Goo Goo clusters

 

 

To enter:

1) Leave a comment below regarding any of the products I’ve featured. This is the only requirement to enter the contest.

if you want to increase your chances, do either (or both) of the following for an additional entry:

2) Follow @betheats and @GooGooClusters on Twitter, then come back here and leave another comment telling me you do so. If you’re already following both, just tell me.

3) Like Eat. Drink. Smile. and Goo Goo Clusters on Facebook, then come back here and leave another comment telling me you do so. If you already “like” both, just tell me.

Contest will end on Monday, May 30th at noon Central. At that time I’ll update this post with the winners’ names, but I’ll also email directly and will need a response back within 48 hours, so please make sure you use a valid email address when entering.