"Welcome to LENNDEVOURS...my new food- and wine-related blog. Here you'll find stories and news on my adventures in the culinary world, including restaurant reviews, wine reviews, commentary on food trends, tales of my fun serving as a recipe tester for various outlets and anything else that comes to mind.
My goal is to eventually make money (maybe even a living) as a food writer...and this is just the first step toward making that goal happen."
Two years ago today, the above was written as the first-ever post on LENNDEVOURS. That's right folks, LENNDEVOURS turns two today. It's hard to believe that it's only been two years, and it's hard to believe that it's been two years already.
Looking back, this has been quite a fun ride. Back in those days, I knew next-to-nothing about wine and never would have imagined that I'd spend more than $15 on a bottle of wine. Now, I feel like I rarely spend less than that.
LENNDEVOURS has opened a lot of doors for me, including my various print writing gigs and my recent appointment as the Long Island regional correspondent for Appellation America. I wouldn't say that I'm anywhere near making food/wine writing my full-time profession, but I'm working on it bit by bit.
Even if this blog hadn't opened the doors that it has, it wouldn't matter. I've met so many great people (both in person and virtually) because of this blog that I wish I would have started years earlier. I've had the pleasure of meeting Derrick, Beau and Fatemeh in person and I've emailed with many of you over the years as well.
Spending time with people who share my passion for fine food and wine is always a pleasure, but it's definitely something special to meet a fellow blogger. It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it...but there is a closeness and a comfort level that you feel even before you shake hands for the first time. It's a bit like meeting a long-lost friend for the first time.
Our blogs are a window into our lives and our personalities and
you're bound to feel friendship, even for someone you haven't met, if
you peer in that window often enough.
Wine Blogging Wednesday, my little baby blog event, has really grown up. April 12th marks it's 20th edition, and it's hard to believe that I launched the event just four months into blogging.
I could go on and on in this post, but I never want to bore you guys.
So thank you, kind readers, for your support these past 24 months. I hope that you enjoy reading LENNDEVOURS more and more every day and please know that I'm always trying to find ways to improve it and bring you more and more interesting information. I look forward to meeting many more of you in the future.
I've been a bit lazy in planning any sort of celebration for this birthday of sorts, but if you're a local reader/blogger and might be interested in getting together in Long Island wine country for a little party, please let me know. If there's enough interest, I'll make it happen.
Lenn,
Doesn't this make you an Old Timer in the wine blog world, an elder statesman, a giant among bloggers? I believe it does.
Congratulations...and congrats on all the success too. I think there is likely more coming down the road.
Cheers,
Tom...
Posted by: tom | March 15, 2006 at 12:02 PM
Happy Birthday, Grandpa! :)
Posted by: Justin | March 15, 2006 at 12:03 PM
Does it make me an old timer? I guess it might, huh? I guess that would explain the apparent, thought still minor, greying of my goatee.
Thanks for the kind words.
And watch it Justin ;)
Posted by: Lenn | March 15, 2006 at 12:05 PM
Hello,
This is just to let you know...
In the issue 31 of the BKWine Brief we mention you and thought you might be interested to know (you may be mentioned in the Swedish edition only, if the subject only concerns Scandinavia):
BKWine Brief is a privately published newsletter on wine distributed free on email. It is the largest independent newsletters on wine in Sweden and also has a pan-Scandinavian readership. The English language version has a wide readership mainly in France, Belgium and the UK.
English version:
http://www.bkwine.com/bkwine_brief/brief_031_e.htm
Swedish version:
http://www.bkwine.com/bkwine_brief/brief_031_s.htm
Some of the info is also in the “blog”: http://www.bkwine.com//blog/bkwinebriefblog.htm
The link to your site from BKWine.com will be permanently on the site in the Brief archive: http://www.bkwine.com/bkwine_brief/bkwine_brief.htm
Best regards,
Britt & Per Karlsson
PS: you can also find our recommendations here:
- Producers: http://www.bkwine.com/vininformation/recommeded_wine_producers.htm
- Restaurants and more: http://www.bkwine.com/vininformation/restaurants_wine_shops_books.htm
- Wine books: http://www.bkwine.com/vininformation/wine_books.htm
_______________________________________________
Per Karlsson & Britt Karlsson
BKWine
http://www.bkwine.com
Posted by: Per & Britt Karlsson | March 15, 2006 at 04:29 PM
Happy birthday! And congrats on going international as well. I guess it comes with age. ;-)
Posted by: Jared S. | March 15, 2006 at 05:04 PM
I am very proud of you and have enjoyed many of the benefits this blog has brought to you! Here's to many more delicious meals and great glasses of wine together.
Love, Your Wife
Posted by: Nena | March 15, 2006 at 05:28 PM
Now come the terrible twos, no?
Big congrats. I'll drink tonight in your honor..
However, something has been killing me: Is it pronounced Lenn-dev-ers (as in endeavors) OR Lenn-dev-ours (as in chows down)
Holla.
-beau
Posted by: Beau | March 15, 2006 at 07:55 PM
Big up, Beau.
You don't truly expect me to reveal such a secret do you?
Actually, I've heard people pronounce it both ways. Originally, I was going to name the blog LENNDEAVORS (rhymes with endeavors) but then I decided to get even "cuter" with the name and make deavors into devours.
So where did that get me? Here two years later with you asking this question.
Hard to argue against saying it Lenn-Devours at this point. So let's go with that. Yeah, that's it.
Posted by: Lenn | March 15, 2006 at 08:02 PM
Per & Britt,
Thanks for listing me in your newsletter..that's really cool!
Posted by: Lenn | March 15, 2006 at 08:50 PM
Auguri, dude. I aspire to be where you are one day.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | March 15, 2006 at 10:13 PM
Hello everyone. I must first say Congrats! I wish Lenn many more outstanding vintages.
But, I did hear that the State Liquor Authority(SLA), in order to raise money for NYS will be taxing bloggers who write about wine. Inter-state wine blogging has been banned from NY since prohibition.The SLA has begun sending out "deblogs" (undercover bloggers) to collect names info and pictures...uh...gotta go...I think there is one right............
Posted by: phermented1 | March 16, 2006 at 09:04 AM
Congratulations on two years. Wish you all the best for the next two years.
Lendevours, Sr.
Posted by: Len Thompson | March 16, 2006 at 11:37 AM
Lenn,
A well written blog with plenty of great information, this blog is one of the best on the web. That says a lot about you as a person, since this is really just an extension of you. Keep up the good work and don't get discouraged, your time will come.
Congrats!
P.S. I wondered about the pronunciation myself and then I heard Tim from Winecast pronounce it on one of his shows. When I heard it, I thought he butchered it, but it appears he got it right.
Posted by: Jathan | March 16, 2006 at 07:09 PM