I’m in awe that this is the 1000th blog post I have made since I created Joelen’s Culinary Adventures back in January 30, 2007. Who knew that I would have made it this far?! It’s been quite an adventure to say the least! Looking back, it’s evident how I’ve grown quite a bit more comfortable in my kitchen and in the culinary scene of Chicago. Here are some of my favorite highlights of the past 1000 blog posts…
March 11, 2007 – Home & Housewares Show 2007
I was able to meet so many chef celebrities! Such a fun time with lots of great inspiration from some of the chefs I respect and admire.
June 13, 2007 – Lights, Camera, Action!
I was given the opportunity to be a reoccuring guest speaker for the food & cooking segment of a local Asian news broadcast. I filmed an episode and it was so much fun! It really made me miss my thespian years when I was active in stage plays.
Sept. 28, 2007 – National What’s Cooking Nesties Get Together Day 1
Sept. 29, 2007 – National What’s Cooking Nesties Get Together Day 2
Sept. 30, 2007 – National What’s Cooking Nesties Get Together Day 3
These are some of my favorite moments where talented women from 7 states came together here in Chicago to meet and celebrate our friendship that cooking/baking brought together.
March 17, 2008 – Home & Housewares Show 2008
This was another fun time rubbing elbows with chef celebrities! Even more fun was having fellow blogger, Elly of Elly Says Opa! joining me!
April 6, 2008 – ‘The Hostess with the Leastest Room’
Having made an impact here in Chicago within the Meetup.com scene, a full page, color article was written about my active culinary group, What’s Cookin Chicago. It was just an honor to be recognized in the 8th largest newpaper in the country!
October 11, 2008 – ‘We Came to Party’
A popular newspaper publication here in Chicago is the Red Eye. I was featured in the paper where I shared some ways to make gathering with friends fun and different.
December 18, 2008 – Yeast Fears Conquered!
Thanks to Bridget of The Way the Cookie Crumbles, she helped me get over my yeast issues and now I’m more confident working with yeast!
There are others I’d love to mention including the countless local events I continue to host for What’s Cookin Chicago, my travels around the country to meet fellow food bloggers and readers, the amazing recipes I’ve tried and shared by friends, etc. I look forward to another thousand posts where I hope to continue learning, growing, and refining my skills in the kitchen.
Caribbean Blue, Island Spice Red, Emerald Green, Cafe Brown
Do you have some dutch oven recipes you’ve been meaning to try? Here’s how you can get your hands on a new Lodge Color Enameled Cast Iron 6-quart Dutch Oven:
Some guidelines:
– Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States. My apologies to my international readers!
– You must have a valid email address so that you can be contacted if you win.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment about:
– What do you hope to see in the next 1000 posts on Joelen’s Culinary Adventures? Are there things you’d like to continue such as blogging events? Giveaways? Other kinds of culinary adventure ideas? I’d love to hear your constructive (yet positive) feedback, since it is a celebratory post after all!
Deadline: Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 12 midnight CST.
Winner will be randomly chosen by Random.Org’s Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Friday, January 23, 2009. Good luck!
CONGRATULATIONS JOELEN!!!! HOW EXCITING! Your blog is wonderful…we should all be celebrating that it began!
I love any giveaway – though I haven’t won any that I’ve entered…LOL. I love all your updates and I especially love to hear (and see) all about the get-togethers and parties that you throw! 🙂
CONGRATS..I love the monthly blog events..It makes me step out of my comfort zone and try something new..You have been such an inspiration..
CONGRATS
Congratulations! What a great feat 🙂 I love to see pictures and recipes from your get-togethers that you have. It inspires me to host a dinner party! And I LOVE the themes that you come up! You are so creative.
Congrats on 1000 posts! That’s awesome.
I love seeing your gtg posts. Whenever I need ideas for specific dinners, I come here first. I also enjoy the blogging events.
And great giveaway – I don’t have a dutch oven. I had it on my Xmas list, but no luck there…
I love all the adventures through the ethnic cuisines and informative posts you do. Cooking really has become a dream come true for you. I am so proud. I remember the early, early days of your blog!
I love ethnic flavors and would love to see more recipes that introduce me to new tastes!
Congrats on your 1,000th post!!! I think I can say that I have read all of them. Keep up the great work! I love seeing your entertaining/teaching get togethers.
Tasty Tools always challenges my courage. I end up trying a tool that I thought I could have never used! I also love your dinner party pictures. All and all, your entire blog makes me smile! Keep up the good work!
Congratulations on 1,000 posts! I can’t imagine, I only discovered you recently. Thanks for all your hard work. I love reading about your get togethers, they are so inspiring!
Congratulations on your bolgerversary!
I love any kinds of recipes and I LOVE LOVE LOVE giveaways!
Congratulations! I am fairly new to The Nest but since I have been reading your blog I look forward to reading about your get togethers. They always look so fun and the food looks delicious!! Here’s to a thousand more!!!
Joelen,
Congratulations. Your passion for food and cooking has been unifying to us foodies. Keep doing what you love. I too am interested in the use of exotic ingredients such as grains of paradise.
You’re the best!
Robert
congratulations on 1000 posts, joelen! i love reading about your ethnic adventures and also seeing your wonderful recipes for unique things. i look forward to seeing 1000 more! it is so great to watch someone live out their dream and passion for cooking. 🙂
COngrats on your 1000th post. I have 1. I would like to continue seeing what you are doing now.
I would like to see more blogging events. I would like to see more recipes. More giveaways. I would like to see more on entertaining.
I love your blog!
Congrats Joelen!! I love you monthly blogging events. I like being challenged to come up with different recipes and try things I may not of. Heres to 1000 more!
Congratulations!!! That’s such an awesome accomplishment!
I love the blog events – and love how you incorporate them with the “real” events you have! I always like seeing what’s coming up and trying to find something to make for it! Thank you for always having such great events … and always commenting on our blogs!
Wow, 1000 posts. That’s unbelievable! Congrats. I really like seeing your recipes for Asian food and I can’t wait to see more. I think my favorite part of your blog is all of the different cuisines you explore. Keep it up and of course, we love giveaways.
Just continue with what you are doing. 🙂
Congrats! I want to see more posts of your get togethers across the city.
Woohoo! Congrats. I am almost to 100 on my blog…but a 1,000 is incredible. I love your monthly blogging events. I am too scatter-brained to participate but I always enjoy reading the round-up.
1000 posts… amazing girl! And, wow, we must be on the same wave-length or something because I just put this EXACT dutch oven on my Amazon wish list yesterday!
Okay, so I totally hope that sometime within your next 1,000 posts that there will be another Nestie weekend get-together! 🙂 And, this summer I want to go on a Chicago Foodie tour with you!
I’m excited to see what you have in store and loved what you’ve done already! Thanks for all the wonderful posts!
Congratulations on your 1000th post! You have a great blog! I would love to see dinner for two recipes and menus.
Congrats Joelen! What an accomplishment!
I’d love to see more ethnic recipes and book/chef reviews!
Thanks for all of your hard work! 🙂
Congrats on the big landmark occasion!!! My favorite thing about your blog is the variety that you have incorporated into your repertoire – it inspires me to push past my usual recipes into new and uncharted territory!
1,000 posts, WOW! Congrats!
I really love your blog. It is so inspiring to me. I espcially love reading all the new recipes that pop up in my google reader and trying them out in my kitchen. In the future, I’d love to see even more new recipes that I can try.
I also love your giveaways! I think it so neat that you give things away so often. I would love to have a dutch oven. I pass up so many recipes because I don’t have one. It would be nice to not have to miss out on some of those!
Joelen,
Congrats on your 1000th post…it’s a huge blogging world accomplishment. You’ve been such a great resource for ideas and menus. I’ve used several of your theme nights when constructing my own dinner GTGs. I’d love to see even more theme menus with the recipes (it’s easy to just email guests with a recipe for them to bring). I’d love to see more wine pairing suggestions and wine recommendations. Keep the giveaways coming (I’ve never won any but have only entered a handful).
Congrats Joelen! How awesome for you! Thank you for making me feel so welcome. I guess if I had to say what I would like to see more of is what you already do. I love how you do foods from so many different ethnicities. As an avid travel and world language teacher, those recipes always speak to me. Maybe give-a-ways that are diverse like your food, too…like a tapas platter? Congrats again!
Congrats! I love reading your blog and I think you have so much talent. I am looking forward to even more posts and blogging events!
Wow! Thanks for all your hard work and for sharing all your yummy ideas.
Keep up the good work with all of your mouth watering dishes.
[email protected]
Congratulations! A thousand just seems like such a huge achievement. I’ve only been reading your blog for a few weeks, but I love it. I love the pics and the recipes, so all I can say, is keep it up for another thousand 🙂
Joelen – you have such a fun blog. Congrats on 1,000 posts (in under 2 years – incredible!). I love reading about the creative get togethers and swaps you have. this is one blog where I can find practically anything I’d ever need or want. Great Job!
congratulations!!!! i love reading your blog! however, if i have to choose one, i would love to see more original recipe posts from you… i always love how you tweak an old time classic with ingredients readily available..
keep it up, and hoping for thousands worth of posts to come….
Congrats on 1000 posts! I love your stuff.
I’d love to see more giveaways. They’re so much fun!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Wow indeed! 1000 posts is such an acomplishment. I think no one, myself included, would turn down more giveaways but I’d love to see more documentations of your get togethers/cooking classes. The dim sum class was one of my favorite posts from you. I liked that you explained what you did with the people that came and gave a recipe.
Congratulations! I look forward to you mantaining this site for all the ideas that you give and bring together. It has given me many ideas and I hope to achieve the type of culinary status and depth that you have!
I love reading about all of your events you host and the different recipes that people make to bring.
Congratulations and I wish you many more thousands of posts!
Congrats!! I love your site- it has so many awesome recipes. I guess just keep up the good work- keep the recipes coming.. the giveaways coming. You do an awesome job.
Wow! That is really awesome, 1000 posts! I’m a very very slow blogger so I really bow down before you.
I don’t check in to your blog that much but I always enjoy reading it and hearing what’s up with you and with the Meetup group. I look forward to more events with you all.
The Home and housewares show sounds fun. Do you think it would be possible to organize a group visit to the show?
As for future post suggestions, maybe posts on how you improvise recipes. I really am in awe of people who can think up recipes on the spot!
Jenny
1,000 posts in just under 2 years? Way to go, Joelen!
Personally, I’d like to see more pictures of ME! No? Well hmm…
More how-tos, and maybe a few more original recipes (especially those that call for spinach….and artichokes….and dip….;-)).
Congratulations! I love trying each of the new recipes that you post…some of my favorites come from the blogging events that you host. Someday I hope to be brave enough to participate.
I would love a dutch oven, as that was the one kitchen thing we didn’t receive as a wedding gift.
Wow! Congrats, that is amazing. I love seeing local Chicago stuff on your blog so keep it coming!
Congrats, Joelen! I can not believe it has gone by so very fast, I remember just sharing recipes on the Knot and then the Nest. I hope in the next 1000 posts we see much more culinary dishes, experiments with regional foods found in the Chicago area. I think it’s a great idea to continue blogging about all of your food group meetings/swaps. Its so fun to see what everyone at your events comes up with, and of course the giveaways are the icing on this delicious cake you bring us each week.
I’m all about healthy, but easy, so I love learning and reading about shortcuts, substitutions, etc etc. Congratulations on 1000! I’m pretty new to your blog but I love it. Also I am learning about how busy you are-you have this huge blog, but you always see when i have a new post and you not only take the time to read it, but you post a comment on every single one. It means alot…I know my blog and food isnt anything special, but I sure get a kick out of it!
Wow, 1000 posts! Congrats to you!
I found you on Facebook, though I have seen you around on some comment pages! I look forward to checking out the rest of your blog!! I love blogging events so please keep those up!
Congrats! Looking at my own blog and needing to update! I for one LOVE seeing when you have an event and everyone brings something to the party. I have (ahem) stolen many a recipe to try out on my dear hubby from those get togethers you post! Thanks for keeping the blog going! I love to read it!
Angel
I know you may have some good ideas for us who are trying to reduce amounts fats and sugar from our meal planning. This isn’t easy and so I felt this might be a focus to look into for some recipes to share with your avid readers. I find myself eating more fish and shell fish and these foods are of interest to me for future recipes too.
Thanks very much.
First off, congrats on the 1000 posts!! You go girl!!
I love reading about your cooking classes and the blog adventures. It motivates me to try something new in my cooking!!
Also, great giveaway :). Hope I get this….totally great for soup season!!
Congrats on 1000 posts…i think i made it to 7 before i gave up! I’d like to continue seeing the asian foods on your blog.
Congratulations on 1000, and here’s to 1000 more! I love your food adventures and how you have great get togethers for different holidays. Keep up the great work!
Congrats on your 1000th post. Your blog was one of the first food blogs I ever read. It is such a wonderful inspiration. I love seeing all of the international specialties you make.
Congradulations on your 100th post! I remember you from Copykat 🙂 I love that you post pictures of all the recipes.
Congratulations on your 1000th post! I love reading about your get togethers. It’s amazing to see how you put them together and what you serve your guest. It gives wonderful ideas!
I’m a lurker but love seeing new takes on standard recipes and when you do an event or dinner party and share details. I’d like to see more challenges to readers to expand their skills in a specific area.
Congrats on your 1000th post, it's such a great accomplishment!
I love looking to you & your blog for great recipes, cooking advice & reading all about your fun food adventures.
Congratulations on your 1000th post! You do a fantastic job on your blog and are an inspiration. I love hearing about your get togethers and the different types of food you serve to your guest.
First of all….WOW for getting to 1000 posts and for giving away what such a great item! I would love all the events you do…especially the ones you do in your home with all the food. The only thing I would like to see more would possibly be more recipes post of things you make, whether they be original recipes or other peoples recipes that you try.
Wow and congratulations, Joelen! You have been an inspiration and a resource. Thank you for all the time spent hashing out Filipino recipes and culture. You have helped me impress DH with some wonderful food.
During your next 1,000 posts I’d like to see you use your knowledge to critique recipes and techniques. Is the classic was of making something the best or is there a newer version that is actually better? Things like that.
Giveaways are great and I like that yours are not contingent on us having a blog.
Congratulations, Joelen! You are truly amazing!
I love the blogging events. In fact, I didn’t even know what a blogging event was until I found your blog! I also especially love seeing the ethnic dishes and geographical cuisine dishes you post. Keep doing what you’re doing because it’s all fantastic! 🙂
Congratulations on your 1000th post!
I love seeing all the posts about your culinary group and the wonderful foods everyone comes up with for each theme. I’d like to start up something like that in my area and they are great inspiration.
Yay Joelen! Congratulations on your 1000th post!
I love your blog and really don’t think you need to change a thing! One thing you could maybe do is a post about how you pull of all of your events! I am in awe of how you do it all…
Congrats Joelen!! 1000 posts!?!
I love your blog, especially all of the great ideas I get from it. I love the get togethers you host. I am trying to entertain more.
I love your site and of course the giveaways are always nice. Maybe if you keep having them I might win! I’d like more lowfat meals. Thanks!
YIPEE JOELEEN for 1000 posts! You are truly an inspiration and the heart of the What’s Cooking board. I really admire all your dedication and love for food, and cooking. Honestly, I would say keep doing what you’re doing because I always look to your blog for fun ideas.
It’s amazing after 1,000 posts, your blog still feels fresh! I enjoy your “voice” and love learning about your events. I’ve even been inspired to have a few (admittedly small) events of my own. Thanks, keep it up, and congratulations!
Congratulations! 1000th post – what a terrific milestone to celebrate!
Yours was one of the first cooking blogs I started to read. You are so down to earth and I love the blog entries about the group you have that does different ethnic, etc themes – it’s like a little glimpse into a different world – and it gives me courage to try something new!
Here’s to your next 1000!
Congrats!
Probably my favorite posts are your ethnic dishes (any) and your posts about your events you host (especially the ones where everyone brings something and you have all the recipes). These are neat because they show a variety of recipes from a variety of people.
CONGRATS JOELEN! I can’t believe you’ve posted 1000 times – that’s amazing! I havce truly enjoyed your blog the past year or so (when I discovered it!) and I think you should keep doing what you are doing! I love the new giveaway feature!
Love your blog, Joelen! I’d like to see more of Chicago on your blog. If’s one of my fave cities, and I don’t get to see it very often!
Congrats! I’ve been a fan of your site since the wee days after my wedding in June of 2007 that I wandered from the knot to the nest and found a comforting place on the What’s Cooking board. You’ve been so helpful and supportive (and your comments bring a smile to my face) with my blog that I can’t help but be excited for the next 1000 posts on yours 🙂
Congratulations! I especially love your monthly blogging events, especially when they’re tied to an ethnic cuisine. The motivation to try something new is great =)
Congrats on 1000 – that’s huge accomplishment! Since I already have a dutch oven, I don’t want to enter the contest so I can give others a shot. Just wanted to congratulate you!
Congratulations, Joelen! What an awesome accomplishment. My favorite part is, like others said, the monthly blogging events.
I also love that you helped fix the formatting in my blog and that you comment on my recipes. You are so nice to do that!
Congrats on 1000! I love your ethnic adventures! And I really like your gtg round-ups.
Congrats Joelen! Your blog is one of my favorites – I especially like all your Asian recipes. Asian dishes can be daunting and it’s nice how you make them so approachable. I love seeing your cooking parties too, makes me wish I could go! 🙂
I think it might be fun for you to take your cooking party on the road, and maybe help a local culinary novice to throw his/her own themed cooking party of their own with their friends. 🙂
Congrats! What a great milestone! I can’t wait to see what you cook up in the next 1000 posts!!
I love seeing all your foodie events that you host! They’re so interesting to see! They’re always so unique! I wish I got to do as much hosting as you do!
wow i cannot believe you are at 1000!! and here i was, just celebrating my 200th! ha! conggrats 🙂 you’ve come a long way, joelen. i love that you are doing giveaways now… i have always enjoyed looking at your big foodie GTGs though. so interesting to see what everyone brings or what is learned.
keep up the good work! 🙂
Congratulations on 1000 and here’s to 1000 more!
I love reading about the parties you host with the different themes; very inspirational.
I always visit your blog first when I am looking for something scrumptious and unique to make. Thanks for the great ideas!
I love the cooking parties and look forward to seeing more of those!
WOW! Congratulations on hitting such a wonderful milestone! I particularly enjoy reading about the events and parties on your blog, I would love to read more about how you plan and throw such great parties. I’d love to see some of the behind the scenes action. I also love the giveaways, maybe I’ll win one some day!
Wow, a thousand! I can only dream of the day…
Congrats!
As far as what else I would like to see – I’d like to see more of what you’ve already been doing. Everything is great and I love your blog. Keep up the good work! (for at least another thousand more posts :P)
Oh, I’d love the green one please, so I’d really appreciate it if you picked me!!
Congrats on the 1000th post too!
I like cooking contests, giveaways, and all things food related.
It just goes to show my husband that I am not the only one who lives, breathes and thinks for food 24/7!
Congratulations. It’s great to know I can come here and ask you any food related questions and you will give me the answers I need. You are an awesome person, so very talented.
Oh – congrats! I enjoy seeing all the recipes from your get togethers. They inspire me to cook for people when they’re at my house! And of course, the vegetarian dishes…
Congratulations on your 1000th post! It would probably take me 5 years to get that far with my blog. I love reading about your get togethers that you host in your home. I also like when you post the recipes, especially for some of the ethnic foods you have made.
I’m new to your blog, and must say, I’m impressed so far! It’s hard to find good food blogs that you can relate too! Keep them coming and congrats on 100 posts!
Happy 1000th! I most enjoy seeing your culinary adventures – they’re always so unique and creative!
congrats on 1000! I love you party menues and when you link back to the party goers blogs. They always look like such great events!
Wow, a thousand posts, congratulations!
I love your blog! Congratulations of your 1000th post! What an accomplishment! I love to see all your different recipes and your photos are amazing! I look forward to seeing 1000 more of your posts!
([email protected])
Congrats on 1000 posts. I am in awe since I am still trying to get to 200 posts.
I love your blogging events and give aways.
How about highlighting one ingredient (like chicken) and having people submit dishes using that ingredient?
Congrats!
I love seeing how passionate you are about cooking and how you take that enthusiasm and create the same within your groups.
Things I would like to see…. I like you blog as it is, but maybe once a month or one a quarter have a poll for readers to choose something for you to make. That would be fun!
Congratulations – this is an incredible blog and such an accomplishment to have so many posts. My favorite part of this blog is how you will describe an evening of food and then break down each recipe separately so that I can copy the whole evening or just one part! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Congrats Joelen on the 1000th blog post. That’s awesome!
I use your blog for inspiration, and for stepping out of my “comfort” zone when cooking, and trying new things.
Also, I love the cooking class re-caps that you post, with what other people brought and the recipes.
Congrats on everything! I honestly like how everything is currently and how it all gets done. Its easy for me to check in and see whats new and I’ve gotten some awesome ideas from your blog. Its because of blogs like yours that I decided to start my own 🙂 thanks for everything!
Congrats! I must admit I just found your blog a few days ago and have been perusing all the useful info and great recipes. You can tell you really love cooking and it shows in what you do.
I am a wino and love to have friends over for different types of wine and apps…so your wine and dine events seem to be right up my alley. I would love to see one with the wines of Argentina and some really good empanadas.
Congrats again!
I love the blogging events and give aways! Congrats!
Congrats! I love reading about your cooking group, and all the yummy pictures that result from them.
Congrats! I love your blog. The get together posts are great and I love the recipes you post. Keep up the FANTASTIC work!
Wow Joelen! I can’t believe it’s been 1000 posts! You always have so much to offer to your readers, whether it is your meetup roundups, giveaways, Tasty Tools or wonderful (and sometimes exotic) recipes.
I don’t know what to say about what to expect in the next 1000, but I can say that even if you don’t do one thing differently, you will still have one of the best blogs on the web!
Congrats!
-Ally
I would love to see more baked goods and more ‘comfort’ foods. I love the blog and the diverse aray of recipes you highlight!
Love the cooking classes at your house, they look FAB
Mabuhay!
Wow! Congrats… Your blog is always fun to read and you are so creative…
[email protected]
Congratulations on your anniversary! I’d love to hear more about what you’re cooking at home.
Congratulations!
I just discovered your blog and love it. I’ll be back for more.