Things I learned at FBC2016

Nitrogen-frozen peanut butter ice cream, made in the new Breville standing mixer.

Mushrooms galore at the Mushrooms Canada display.

• Don't compare yourself to others. We are all already filled with self doubt, and comparison will only lead us to a spiral of despair - Deb Perelman, Smitten Kitchen, FBC 2016 keynote speaker.
• Do ONE THING every day. Whether it's photographing, or writing, or posting on Instagram, or just eating a bowl of oatmeal, if it feels like it's getting you closer to where your goal is, do it. Every single day. - Dennis Prescott (Eat Delicious), Joel MacCharles and Dana Harrison (Well Preserved, Batch)
• There will be days in your life when you feel like you're not where you want to be... But you're not where you were, either. - Dennis Prescott.
• If you're into photographs...
  • Photograph something other than food, but do it for yourself. Not for IG, not for your mom. For you. For your craft.
  • Take a step back from your subject. Up close and personal is fine sometimes, but for variety's sake, try foodscapes. Set a high aperture, use a tripod and shoot the hell out of your scene.
  • Move around your subject before you decide what is the best angle to shoot it. Don't get complacent.
  • Use odd rather than even numbers of props in photographs. It will ALWAYS create a more dynamic scene.
  • Create contrast and break apart groups of the same - or similar - colour.
  • Have things peeking out of the frame.
  • Add the human element - a hand, a just-used napkin, crumbs. It helps create movement, and is especially crucial with smartphone photography.
  • Empty space is your friend. Helps lead the eye to where you want it to go.
  • People view images from top left corner to bottom right. Remember that when planning your layout.
  • Identify "The Drip" moment - the perfect imperfection in your shot.
• Make friends. Create connections. You never know when you're going to need them. - Pretty much everyone at FBC2016.
• There is a story in everything. Don't be afraid to reach out, explore and tease it out. - Shayma Saadat, Spice Spoon.
• Think of your Proust moment - what made you want to come? Your North Star - what is your goal? Always remember why you're doing it all. - Shayma Saadat, Joel McCharles and Dana Harrison.
•  Writing a cookbook is damn hard work. However long you think it's going to take, triple that and that add about 1,000 hours of emotional anguish on top of it. And then think again of whether you really, really, really want to do this. - Zoe Maslow, Appetite by PenguinRandom House
• Sometimes, you have no idea where life is going to lead you. You may think you have the job of your dreams... until one day you wake up in the morning and discover that it's become anything but. - Claire Tansey, former food editor for Chatelaine and author of upcoming cookbook Uncomplicated.
• Sometimes, you think you know what your dream job is. And you work and you work and you work for it. And then, you discover you are actually exactly where you need to be. - Noelle Chorney, Amazon in the Kitchen and Tall Order Communications.
• Never stop dreaming, for dreaming is a form of planning. - Me, based on this weekend and on Gloria Steinem.

What do you think? Have you learned anything new about your passions and dreams lately? I'd love to hear your lessons!

I took part in Food Bloggers of Canada FBC2016 as a volunteer. I received no monetary compensation in exchange for this post, and as always, all opinions expressed here are my own; you can always expect me to be honest with you guys!

A new friend I made on the Food & Farm Care Ontario farm tour.

A group lunch on the Food & Farm Care Ontario farm tour.

The star of the show: a lentil salad at a lunch on the Food & Farm Care Ontario farm tour.