Gallery: Association of Food Journalists Conference

Laurie Triplette, Chef Matt Pelton, and Susan Puckett

Food writers converge, including HottyToddy.com’s Laurie Triplette and Eat Drink Delta author Susan Puckett.

Food writers, critics, and authors from across the United States met in Park City, Utah, September 18 through 20 for the annual conference of the Association of Food Journalists (AFJ). Among attendees were HottyToddy.com food writer Laurie Triplette, and Eat Drink Delta author Susan Puckett. The AFJ is a membership network of professional food journalists that promotes high ethical standards in food writing, criticism and editing.

This year’s conference focused on food-related topics, but specifically on issues affecting all journalists, such as diminished outlets for professional reporting and the increasing importance of social media and alternative venues for communication of all topics. Related lectures and culinary activities at the conference emphasized that farm-to-table local sourcing is an issue of increasing importance in all corners of the country.

On a lighter note, the conferees were treated to samplings of foods in an environment where haute cuisine and campfire cooking coexist and sometime commingle tastefully. On the first day of the conference, local chefs teamed up to provide a taste sampler of Utah’s diverse cuisine. The conference also included a tour and luncheon at a local distillery, underscoring state tourism officials’ statements that alcoholic drinks are available in Utah. The last day of the conference included a plein-air seminar and luncheon on Dutch Oven cooking provided by winners of the International Dutch Oven Society cooking competition(s).

Laurie Triplette shared the photos below from the event: