For those of you who may not know, Nourished by Nic started on social media back in 2018. Video content barely existed then, and I was just a nutrition student who loved taking pictures of the food I made. As my social media grew, I quickly realized I needed a blog as a home for my hundreds of recipes. Unlike a lot of bloggers, my blogging journey has been a little backwards. So I'm always looking to learn from others and connect with people in the food space online, which is why I was so excited to have the opportunity to attend Fresh Air Retreat.
I've never really thought of myself as a food blogger. Content creator? Yes. Recipe developer? Yes. Registered dietitian? Yes. But a food blogger? I never felt like I had enough of a grasp of what blogging truly meant to claim that title. With many bloggers running their sites for 12+ years, I constantly feel like I'm playing catch-up on all things "blog." So when I first walked into Fresh Air Retreat, I didn't know what to expect. I was taking time off work and hopping on a 3.5-hour flight, hoping I'd learn something. Would it be worth it?
About Fresh Air Retreat
This past September, I had the opportunity to attend Fresh Air Retreat in Austin, Texas. Created by Liz Della Croce of The Lemon Bowl and Lauren Grier of The Curious Plate, this twice-yearly retreat brings together 10 carefully selected bloggers. The goal is to connect, learn from each other and break free of the stuffy conference-room setting to get into the nitty-gritty of what's working (and what's not) in our businesses.
I'm so grateful to have been given this opportunity. From the minute I walked in, I felt like a queen. It's clear that Liz and Lauren put their heart and soul into every detail, from the guest list to the itinerary to the table settings.
Who Was There?
Unfortunately, due to some airport technical issues, our retreat ended up with only eight attendees (Dani Spies from Clean & Delicious, we missed you!). Joining me were:
- Annie Holmes from Sweet Peas and Saffron
- Alicia Wolf from The Dizzy Cook
- London Lea from Evolving Table
- Mallory Harr from Munchies by Mallory
- Shaunda Necole from The Soul Food Pot
- Yvette Marquez from Muy Bueno
One of my favourite parts of the retreat was chatting openly with so many wonderful women who do the same work I do. I thrive in small groups, and it was so refreshing to get to know each other in a laid-back environment and talk about the things that excite us and the questions we'd been wanting to ask.
The food was truly amazing. Cooking for a group of food bloggers can't be an easy feat, but Chef Trimell created the most wonderful dishes at every meal. From breakfast to dinner, each meal was inspired by a different cuisine with Chef Trimell's signature flair.
And a huge thank you to photographer Kimberley Mufferi, who captured the whole experience so beautifully.
The Details
One thing that makes Fresh Air Retreat so special is that nothing feels forced. Everything is planned to give us opportunities to learn from one another. Our amazing sponsors (Mediavine, Church Brothers Farms and Sunset) were woven in seamlessly so we could learn about their businesses, and there was still plenty of fun and downtime to recharge.
Day 1
Arrivals, followed by a happy hour kickoff with an amazing asian-inspired spread from Chef Trimell. It was at that moment that I knew I'd made the right decision to come.
Day 2
We woke up to sunrise yoga and breakfast before diving into each other's business questions. For lunch, we headed to Terry Black's for the most incredible Texas BBQ I've ever had. Afterward, we moved outside to hang by the pool while continuing to talk business. I loved the whole retreat, but this was one of my favourite memories because it captured what Fresh Air Retreat is all about: breaking free of the conference room and connecting with like-minded people. For dinner, we celebrated Taco Tuesday with a delicious meal from Chef Trimell, which, to no one's surprise, was also amazing.
Day 3
On our last day, we met with the Mediavine team for website audits, and I left with new insights into what I can improve on my site. We also had a colour analysis done, which was such a fun experience. It turns out I'm a cool summer, so I'll be running out to buy more pinks and purples soon!
Next up was a build-your-own salad bar with Church Brothers Farms, and by this point there was nothing I was craving more than a big bowl of vegetables. I obviously had to try every one of their new Little Gems Salad Kits, adding some extra protein to build the best bowl. All the kits are made with premium Little Gems lettuce and paired with dressings made with avocado oil and sweetened with agave syrup or honey. You could taste how fresh and crisp they were! I can't decide on a favourite, but if I had to pick two, I'd say the Sweet Onion and Tuscan Zest.
After lunch, the team from Sunset stopped by and led us through a Tommalier (tomato sommelier) experience. Similar to a wine tasting, we sampled a five-tomato flight of their Lolli Bombs™, Honey Bombs™, Tomato Branch™, Sugar Bombs® and Flavor Bombs® to discover how unique each variety is and which pairings bring out their flavours. Every tomato was so distinct from the last, but my personal favourite was the Honey Bombs™. I can now officially say I'm a certified Tommalier and an expert in all things tomatoes (kidding… sort of).
At-Home Tomato Tasting
October is National Tomato Month, so if you want to try a little tomato tasting at home, here are my recommended pairings:
- Lolli Bombs™ + tzatziki
- Honey Bombs™ + brie and a drizzle of honey
- Tomato Branch™ + a charcuterie board
- Sugar Bombs® + salty feta, a drizzle of balsamic glaze or a sprinkle of chili flakes
- Flavor Bombs® + flaky sea salt and olive oil
To close out the retreat, Mediavine hosted dinner at the Four Seasons. It was filled with amazing food and great conversations about everything from the future of blogging to Bravo TV shows, and it was a lovely send-off for our final evening in Austin.
Final Thoughts
Despite my initial nerves, I left the retreat feeling connected and inspired, and I'm ready to hop on a plane to the next one ASAP. Being around so many encouraging bloggers helped me break out of my impostor syndrome a bit and gave me the confidence to fully embrace that I am a blogger. It felt more like a fun girls' trip than a work event, yet somehow I left more inspired and excited about my business than I ever have after a conference. We just couldn't stop chatting and learning from each other!
If you're a food blogger or content creator interested in attending, I'd definitely recommend it (you can find the application here), and if you have any questions, please reach out!
xo Nic
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