the buzz

“Strong Buzz News”

Dear Readers,

Some of you may know that I created and launched The Strong Buzz website over ten years ago, way back in 2003, well before any foodies or magazines or papers for that matter had much of an online presence. I was not sure how things would go at first, but as luck (or the marketplace) would have it, the site took off and soon The Strong Buzz had developed into a well-followed source of top-notch food news with a strong (excuse the pun) following. 

The years passed and things only got better. Readership grew, advertisers came (who knew!), television appearances were requested (Top Chef, Food Network, and more), and my life as a food writer began to evolve in a way I had not expected. I have met such a fantastic array of people, from chefs, to bartenders and artisans, to fellow writers, editors, and publicists. It gave me a great appreciation of the hard work, incredible talent, and dedication that make up the foundation of our industry. The Strong Buzz also gave me the platform to create and launch Dining for Darfur, a nation-wide dine out held in 2006 and 2007 to benefit the International Rescue Committee’s humanitarian relief for victims of the Darfur genocide. I am so grateful that I have had a career that has given me these rare opportunities.

But in 2009, when I had my daughter Emily, my attention shifted. Gone were the days of opening parties, of scouting out important new talent, of dinners out five to six nights a week. I was a mom. I wanted to be with Emily. I was making dinner at home, not eating it out. I was bathing Emily and reading her stories, not shuttling from bar to bar. And by 9pm, I was knocked out. Going out to dinner at that hour just seemed ludicrous. (How in the world had I done it before?) My life had changed. I had, too.

For the past four years, I have loved being Emily’s mom, and I have found a new career at Brooklyn Law School, where I write and edit my alma matter’s alumni magazine. Here at the Law School, I write about leaders of fashion houses, sports teams, and even those who run restaurants. And, I have managed, with the help of my longtime writer Bao Ong and a rotating cast of wonderful interns, to keep the Strong Buzz going. 

But now that the birth of my second kid (a boy!) is imminent, I am going to take an official break. He’s due in May, and at some point in the future, I hope to continue to post news, events, and reviews, but since these may not happen for a whiles, I will no longer send out my weekly newsletters. Also, the advent of Twitter and Facebook as ways of connecting with you all has made the newsletter model a bit out of date. So, please follow me on my Twitter account (@strongbuzz) with any new posts so you can follow me there to keep up with The Strong Buzz.

I am so grateful for your readership. The next chapter is ahead, and I hope to be able to reconnect in the future.

Until then, happy eating! 

Andrea

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