Are you crazy obsessive about all things food? Do you read recipes, cookbooks and food blogs instead of novels? Do you force your friends and family to taste test your latest and greatest food experiments?  Are you reading this right now at some odd hour because you’re scouring the web for the latest recipe contest?

Well, I can’t help save you from yourself.  Because we are cut from the same tablecloth!

I’m Beth … an award-winning recipe competitor and home-entertaining expert. I’m a Midwest suburban Mom of three of the hungriest & fastest movin’ kids around. I love a good party, especially when I am hosting it!

So, pull up a chair to my table, Beth’s Table, for a plate full of “behind the scenes” coverage of the recipe competition world.

This is where you can find out everything you want to know about the people that compete, the best recipe competitions out there and all the other delicious happenings. Beth’s Table is the “who’s who” and the “what’s what” from the perspective of a fellow recipe competitor. We’ll chat about:
• Adventures, victories & flops in competitive food experiences
• A look and a laugh at our near obsessive drive to compete
• Best contests, tips for competing and interviews with competitors

And as an added bonus, I’ll be mixing in some recipe-competition-world-meets-People-magazine flavor, because I’m sucker for a good bit of celebrity chef gossip!

To kick things off in a seriously fun way, my first stop is the Sunshine State…I’m taking my pasty-pale self and heading out of this wintry Midwest to meet these six FCFs (that’s Food Competition Friends, of course) in New Port Richey, Fla.
This Chicago girl could use some sunshiny people right about now. And how great are these ladies? They’ve already planned a boat ride on the gulf, a picnic on an island and other activities, naturally, centered around food.

Joining me for this fun Florida trip is a pack of fabulous cooks and friends. First, Linda Bonwill – I think that trophy says it all. What a hero! A 2012 World Food Champion! Woot! Then, there’s Josee Lanzi Fisher “Girl Extraordinaire.” She’s a tough chick and a serious competitor! Next, it’s Debbie Reid, an incredible cook and she has the awards to prove it! And last, but certainly not least, Susan Chase. Don’t be fooled by that sweet smile, Susan is one tough recipe competitor!

We’ll exchange tips, get a glimpse inside their kitchens and dish on their unique perspective on recipe competitions. We are kindred spirits, having met either at a competition or through recipe chat rooms. I love that they are taking time to hang out and feed me! This is the real gravy of the food competition world – the unexpected friendships I’ve made across the country have been the most unexpected and cherished aspect.

Come back next week to see how it all went down. Find out which competitions these ladies are entering next. Gather around Beth’s Table next week for great pics, video, and a whole lot of friendship! Can’t wait to see my Florida FCFs!

Now, the big question…where is my sunscreen?

To read more from Beth, visit: http://bethstable.com/