A Blogger Retreat to Remember: Connecting with Other Entrepreneurs in New Orleans
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I recently had the opportunity to attend a blogger retreat in New Orleans with nine other talented bloggers. We spent four days in a stunning private house, enjoying the company of like-minded entrepreneurs and exploring all that the city had to offer.
New Orleans Blogger Retreat Highlights
The highlight of the trip was connecting with each other on a deeper level, sharing insights, and candidly discussing our businesses.
Day one began with a 45-minute private yoga class to start our day off right! We then indulged in a delicious breakfast prepared by Chef Trimell before diving into a Slickstream session with Raptive.
Afterward, we enjoyed a delectable lunch at Napoleon House and had free time to explore downtown New Orleans. The day concluded with a sweet and savory taste test with La Panzanella and Raincoast Crisps, two artisanal food brands that left us all in awe.
We even had our own photographer, Amanda Kamppinen, who’s images you will see throughout this blog post! She’s incredibly talented and captured the most stunning photos.
The Brands: Del Duca, Raincoast Crisps, and La Panzanella
La Panzanella Artisanal Foods began as an Italian bakery in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle in 1990, serving fresh, unique bread to local hotels and restaurants. Now, their Mini Croccantini™ has become a snack-time staple, made with five simple ingredients and a cooking method perfected over generations.
With eight flavors suited for any occasion, La Panzanella Mini Croccantini™ pairs perfectly with all sorts of dips, spreads, and toppings.
Raincoast Crisps® are the original crispbread crackers, created in 1998 and crafted in small batches with quality care and nourishing ingredients. Recognized for the nuts, seeds, and fruits that are seen through the cracker, these crispbreads are the perfect addition to grazing boards to elevate any experience.
Some of my favorite flavors are Cranberry and Hazelnut, Fig and Olive, and Rosemary Raisin Pecan.
Day two started with breakfast once again prepared by Chef Trimell, followed by a group discussion about scaling our businesses.
We then had a Bento Box brainstorming session with Maxwell PR, followed by a problem-solving lightning round in two parts.
We indulged in a delicious lunch al fresco, also prepared by Chef Trimell, before another free time block in the afternoon. The day wrapped up with a charcuterie workshop with Del Duca, another exceptional food brand that we were lucky enough to connect with.
Charcuterie Board Workshop with Del Duca
Del Duca is a producer of the finest prosciutto and specialty meats, known for its traditional Italian-style artisanal meats. They offer a wide range of products, including prosciutto, capocollo, and other cured meats.
These products are perfect for charcuterie boards, sandwiches, or as a standalone snack. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to learn more about Del Duca and even create our own charcuterie boards during the workshop.
On our final day, we attended the Wednesday at Square Concert Series at Lafayette Square and enjoyed rooftop cocktails at Alto Rooftop Bar at Ace Hotel. We then headed to Commander’s Palace for a closing dinner with the group. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful trip, and we all left feeling inspired and motivated to continue growing our businesses!
Overall, the blogger retreat in New Orleans was an experience of a lifetime. Not only did we get to explore the city and its vibrant culture, but we also had the opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs and learn from some of the best in the business. I am grateful for this experience and will carry it with me for years to come!
Honey Goat Cheese Appetizer Recipe
While there, I was able to enjoy plenty of snack plates and appetizers. This Honey Goat Cheese appetizer was inspired by some of the creations from Chef Trimell.
It has quickly become my go-to when hosting because you only need a few ingredients and it only takes 10 minutes to make!
This honey goat cheese recipe is great because it’s super versatile and it’s easy to substitute ingredients, or even add some in. If you’re not the biggest fan of goat cheese, try this recipe using cream cheese or even feta cheese.
If you want to add a little bit of spice, I would sprinkle on some red pepper flakes or use hot honey instead. And to add a little bit more of a crunch, I would top it with crushed walnuts or pistachios. You can also top them with poached pears!
This Honey Goat Cheese snack would be great to bring to any party or event. You can use it on a charcuterie board or just as is and serve it with your favorite bread or crackers. If you love fun cheese appetizer recipes, be sure to try out my Honey Lavender Whipped Goat Cheese next!
WANT TO TRY THIS HONEY GOAT CHEESE APPETIZER RECIPE?
PIN IT to your appetizer recipes, or goat cheese recipes board to save it for later!
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Did you make this recipe? Post a photo on Instagram and tag me @JZEATS or #JZEATS so I can see! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, too!
Honey Goat Cheese Appetizer
Ingredients
- 4 oz goat cheese
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 package lesley stowe raincoast crisps, any flavor will work but my favorites are blueberry, salty date and almond, and apricot, fig, and lemon.
- 6 oz Del Duca Prosciutto
- 1/4 cup chopped pistachios
- fresh thyme leaves, for garnish
Creamy Herb Dip
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped herbs, chives, parsley, and dill are my favorites!
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 package La Panzanella Mini Croccantini, any flavor will work but sea salt and roasted garlic are my favorites!
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the goat cheese and honey.
- Spread the honey goat cheese over each raincoast crisp and top with prosciutto, chopped pistachios, and thyme.
Creamy Herb Dip
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, fresh chopped herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Serve the dip alongside La Panzanella Mini Croccantini of your choice!
What a fun retreat! And a fun appetizer as a result! Love it all.
This appetizer looks so elegant but is so easy to make! The pistachios give it a nice salty, nutty flavor. I’d love to try the cheese and dip with different types of crackers and crisps!
What a cool experience! Love that you got to connect with fellow bloggers. It’s such a great community.
As for the recipe, it was a hit. Made these for friends over the weekend and everyone was raving about them!
Outstanding recipe thanks so much! tasted so much good!
What a fun and inspirational business vacation! Love a good “meeting of the minds” retreat!