Well Fed Network

Who’s running this this year? Who are you guys? Who is behind Well Fed Network at this point? What are the award rules? At this point, I’m going under the assumption that this award has been hijacked until there is a little more transparency and Kate makes some sort of comment.

The Food Blog Awards are being run by The Well Fed Network, just as they were last year. Kate, Meg and Tara sold The Well Fed Network back in July. The FBA have most certainly not been hijacked. Geesh. As far as “who’s running this year,” readers NOMINATE sites in each category, so it’s anybody’s game right now. Once the polls close on Friday, the judges will come up with Top 5 for each category, and then it goes back to the readers to determine the winner. Rules have been clearly stated in this and each individual post below.

Thank you Cate. It’s a huge task to take on and you’ve done it with grace.

Can’t wait to find some new sites!

You don’t mention who these “judges” are anywhere??

Kate,

What about a category for Food Blog podcast?

Are we to assume that all Well Fed blogs are inelligible to win?

Kate may not bother to make a comment, because she already has. See http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php/2006/10/27/food_blog_awards_announcement

Just curious about making nominations, are comments held for moderation or is something going on with comments that I’ve left and don’t see posted?

Cybele - yes, comments are moderated. Way too much spam otherwise. I’ve gone through everything that was there - any of yours missing?

The blogs are kind of funny, I really enjoy to read it. And you use chorizo in a lot of your recipes, that’s so good, maybe your chorizo is not the same like the real chorizo mexicano but, you have to try it.
Good webpage!!

Hi Cate,
I think the question “Who’s running this this year?” has to do with who is running the contest, not what sites are in the running. Specifically, what individuals are managing this event? And who are the judges? These are fair questions. For the last two years, everyone involved in the contest knew exactly who was running it and who was involved in judging it.

Elise is correct: That is good informtion to share. Best to be upfront about everything at the start so no one can make wild assumptions. By the way, I am delighted to see a “rural” category. Lots of good “farm-fare” blogs out there! I am constantly amazed and delighted with all the talented bloggers.

Well Fed is “running” the awards, just like last year. Very little has changed. Judges will be announced on Friday morning, the last day of voting.

Mimi - see above. Just doing things in stages, very simple. Judges announced when judging is near to begin.

As I said, i am happy to see a rural category. It will be fun visiting here to see who’s been nominated!

Well Fed is “running” the awards? Well then, who is behind “WellFed”? The About section does reveal one single name. Very impersonal, not to say shady.

Mimi - I agree, I think the category was a wonderful (and needed) addition.

Karin - Kate, Meg and Tara sold and left Well Fed in July. I took over then. I “run” Well Fed, along with a team of wonderful editors. Everyone’s Bios, editor title as appropriate, and information is included under each respective site. All of this was announced back in July (I believe it was the 17th) when Well Fed changed hands, so I assume you’re not a regular reader. As far as Well Fed being impersonal, I find that surprising. Most of our Editors and Writers have their own personal web site, and if you check out their Bios, you can see this information. It’s a wonderful way to get to know them. Moreoever, our site is interactive and we love to hear from our visitors. Shady? Hardly.

I am really surprised by all the skepticism associated with Well Fed and our running of the Food Blog Awards.

It comes down to this: the editors and writers names are all upfront and center in the About section of the blogs and the authors name is noted in the post byline. That’s hardly hiding anything.

If you feel that Well Fed is too impersonal with the bylines and biographical information, then don’t participate in the awards.

I have hosted the Does My Blog Look Good In This (DMBLGIT) awards and participated in other similar events in the past and I can tell you that I have NEVER seen such grumpy curmungenous posts anywhere else. I gotta wonder who these people are and how this little trend got going. Its very curious indeed.

Its very telling but I am having a hard time articulating exactly what it is saying about these commentators. Perhaps insecurities?

I will be charitable and suggest that they are merely newbies to the scene and need a little exposure..? If not, then I have to wonder what seasoned bloggers are thinking, behaving like this.

Newbies? Yeah, right.
I think it is perfectly acceptable to ask for more transparency with the organization of this contest. Regardless of Kate Hopkin’s previous relationship to the Well Fed Network, those of us who have participated in the contest the last two years have associated the contest with Kate herself, right or wrong, and have come to expect a certain level of disclosure regarding how it is run.
Thank you Cate, for clueing us in to the actual people involved in running the contest, and for letting us know that the identity of the judges will be forthcoming.

Elise - No problem. As you can see, I am more than happy to answer most any question. My only surprise is the tone of some of the comments. Kate was more than welcome to take the FBA back to her own site when she left Well Fed, but chose to keep it here. For the most part, I kept everything exactly the way she ran it, going over everything before jumping in. Because it was an existing event, I wanted to keep it as consistent as possible. Those in the food blogging community know that I am an active member of the community, participating in Food Blog S’cool, joining in various events and running Sticky Date, as well as my own site and Well Fed. The benefit of the doubt would be nice, that’s all.

Cate - I’ve submitted to the Humor category twice (once yesterday and once today) but I don’t see them appearing there (or any note that my comment is being held for moderation).

For the record … as a regular reader of both Accidental Hedonist and Well Fed I had no trouble telling that the current awards were a continuation (they were hosted at Well Fed last year, after all) of last year’s format.

Cybele - thank you. As for your nomination, there’s nothing in the queue right now. Send me an e-mail with the info and I’ll get it in for you. Not sure why they didn’t appear…?

I see some rigged votes here - some websites being nominated by the same bunch of people in all categories. If I made everyone in my family and extended family vote for my food blog in all categories, obviously I’d be winner, but that is cheating.

I did go and cast my votes for whom I thot best in certain categories, but now I feel it is quite a waste of time.

What is the authenticity of each vote? Or can I myself sign in as 20 different names and email ids and cast votes for myself?

Nandita,

Fear not. The Food Blog Awards are still in the nominations stage. Five finalists will be selected by a panel of judges (who will be publically announced this week before judging begins). Then everyone - all the readers, etc - will be able to come and place their votes for their favorite.

Just because a blog is nominated doesn’t automatically make it a finalist.

Now, on the point of those going through and nominating the same blog for every category, you are not buying yourself a better chance…Just making yourself look bad for doing so.

S

Corduroy Orange at: www.corduroyorange.com

This site is very informative, colorful and fun.

Nandita - remember this is NOT the voting stage. This is just nominating websites. This stage closes tomorrow at midnight, and then the panel of judges convene to come up with their Top 5 from the sites nominated. Then it’s back here for visitors to vote for the winner of each category.

http://fancytoast.blogspot.com/

Cate - I’m not sure why it’s not working either, but I give up. I tried again today to nominate in Theme.

Here is my partial list:

Best blog covering the food industry (and more): Michael Ruhlman
http://blog.ruhlman.com/

Best food blog (humor): MattBites
http://mattbites.typepad.com/

Best new food blog: MattBites
http://mattbites.typepad.com/

Best food blog by a Chef: Corduroy Orange (very well written, thoughtful content)
http://corduroyorange.com/
(Or two chefs: Ideas in Food: http://ideasinfood.typepad.com/)

Best group blog: The Ethicurean
http://www.ethicurean.com/

Best non-blogging food site: Fork and Bottle
http://www.forkandbottle.com/

Best Rural: Farmgirl Fare
http://foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/

Best Photography: Kuiadore
http://brandoesq.blogspot.com/index.html

Best Writing: Shuna Fish Lydon’s Eggbeater
http://eggbeater.typepad.com/

Type your comment here.
I know it is too late but if you missed My Husband Cooks you might want to have a look

eggbeater.typepad.com

It misses the podcast category for cuisinerenligne.fr and casse-croute.com