I’m still recovering from my whirlwind weekend in San Francisco for Blogher Food 2009. Every time I visit the City and the Bay Area, I get a little sad because I don’t live there anymore and I have to remind myself to visit more often.
Lunch at the conference was sponsored by a frozen pasta meal company that shall not be named. It was awful and that is putting it mildly. Rocco DiSpirito (who is gorgeous in real-life) was there promoting the products and trying to convince all us food bloggers that frozen meals are great and that he has a freezer full of them. We were encouraged to Tweet the frozen pasta meal company and Rocco during the meal to ask questions about the product. The Tweets were projected on a big screen. If your question was picked, you won some prizes.
Fueled by the wine served at lunch and encouraged by the women sitting at my table, I tweeted Rocco and asked him: “Hey, I’m newly single. Want to go out?“. It was fun and carefree, but Rocco never responded. :'(.
Prior to asking him out, one of my questions about the frozen pasta meal company was picked and I won some prizes which I will now share with you.
I have a copy of Rocco DiSpirito’s Rocco Gets Real: Cook at Home Everyday. If you would like it, let me know what you think. Should Rocco have responded? Did he miss a great opportunity? 😛 Please leave a comment and let me know your opinion by 11:59pm on 10/5. Winner will be randomly selected.
Thank you to Carla of Chocolate Moosey for selecting this week’s Tuesdays with Dorie recipe. I made the full recipe and served it a dinner party. It was very delicious and people enjoyed it. I loved the crunch the nuts added. Oh, and I used honey-roasted cashews because I couldn’t find honey-roasted peanuts and sprinkled the tart with cocoa powder. If you would like the recipe, please visit Carla’s blog or buy the book.
Pink Stripes 
Your tart looks yummy. If course I think Rocco missed out on a good opportunity 🙂
You bet he missed an opportunity! You are stellar!! 🙂 Love the tart too, looks wonderful 🙂
Im glad you had a good trip and you enjoyed the tart. It looks yummy!
Ooh, your tart. Can’t believe you got it done. I didn’t come home until last night, so I’m going to try for a two for one next week. But I’m having a giveaway today, too!
Rocco, Rocco, Rocco. Hmm. Good lookin’, yes.
A lady’s man. YES! You’re probably better off. Especially if he’d be cookin’ you frozen dinners. (Oh, don’t put me in the drawing. I got one of those, too. I was one of the lucky ones who got to go to the dinner the night before–and try five more of the pastas for a total of 8 pastas in less than 24 hours! 😉
I actually didn’t even realize you were at the conference until Rocco announced your question! So fun to meet you! That whole day of conferences was crazy, so it was hard to really get to do more than just meet people.
i really need to start remembering to use cocoa powder to make things pretty 🙂 like your tart!
Rocco should have answered, his loss! but then again… if he’s going to be serving you those awful frozen meals…. you might be better off 😉
Oh he totally missed out…. But I have to say, I think I’d rather steal him for myself than let you have him!!!! He is so beautiful, isn’t he?
🙂
How could Rocco not respond to you?! He’s missing out! I’m glad you had a great time! I loved this tart – yours looks delicious!
The tart looks wonderful!
As for Rocco, glad you went for it, but I remember reading that he has a girlfriend.
Of course he missed a good chance… The tart looks delicious!
I hate to say it but I have lost a ton of respect for Rocco over the years. It all started with the Fancy Feast and now ending with the whole frozen foods are good. I hate frozen pre-made foods with a passion. I have yet to have one that does not taste like mush.
You are better off without him and his massive ego 😉
Ciao ! Great looking tart !! Rocco lost a chance obviously but wouldn’t you be jealous with such a guy ???
It was so fun meeting you! We need to meet up again sometime! Your tart is gorgeous…and you never know, maybe Rocco will call you sometime? Ha!
Haha, what a great post! The tart looks great and I love that you’re honest about the terrible pasta. It’s sad that Rocco didn’t reply, but it’s great that you did it anyway 🙂
I made this for a pot luck and it was a huge hit but I never got around to photographing or blogging about it. I did find time however, to live vicariously through all your tweets from Blogher and will definitely be going next year. Glad you had fun.
Great looking tart too!
Mmmmm… beautifully done Pink!
Rocco definitely missed an opportunity! I love your tart, it looks absolutely perfect.
Wendy, Great meeting you and Rocco is completely missing out. I think the Bertolli PR machine is shielding him from all the tweets…especially the ones that say “frozen food. hell no.” 🙂 I have a photo of you on the Tweet deck on my flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/foodlibrarian/3961965191/
P.S. I don’t want to win the book, RecipeGirl gave me her extra copy! 🙂
Hey, a single girl has got to at least try, right? 🙂 Your tart is perfect! Looks delicious. Rocco is hot.
Put me in the drawing! My question never got picked OR I didn’t tweet it right. That’s a possibility. Rocco was adorable but pretty high strung. I say Rocco should have answered your question. It would have been fun for him to say something in front of the room in a fun joking manner. I bet it was a question on a lot of single girl’s mind. He should have played with that question!
It was nice meeting you at the conference. Hope we meet up again at the next! 🙂
Oh sorry, I forgot to tell you your tart is beautiful. Love the dusting of power on top! 🙂
Rocco obvi doesn’t know what he was missing!! HIS LOSS!! Your chocolate tart looks awesome and I’m glad you enjoyed the Blogher conference!!! Wish I was there!
Rocco totally missed out! I haven’t tried his cook book yet, but he does look pretty dreamy. Sounds like a fun time at the conference despite a frozen lunch.
I think it’s obvious! I’d take your sublime homemade chocolate caramel tart over his sub-par frozen food any day.
Oh delicious cashews! I think that Rocco should have definitely gotten back to you! You could have straightened him up about the frozen meal deal.
I still can’t figure out why they served ya’ll that crap when everyone there is so passionate about food. Very interesting!
Definetly missed out, he needs to hurry up and settle down! Love the site!
Your tart looks fantastic. Of course he missed out. I’d go out with you if you promised to make me tarts like that.
Well, of course, he missed a great opportunity. Blond, bakes, close by. What’s not to love. What he should have done was “Just Say Yes”!!!
Your tart is lovely. I like the cocoa sprinkled on top. Great job.
He totally dropped the ball on that one. Although, maybe he doesn’t play in your field?
I laughed out loud about the frozen pasta meals being awful – because I’ve heard a few bloggers say how great they were.
All personal preference, right?
Rocco totally missed out! Sounds like you had so much fun. Your tart looks amazing (as usual!)
SF that day was 86 degrees, one of the hottest days I have ever experienced in the city. We ended up walking around and enjoying the cloudless day.
Your tart looks beautiful!
Next time let me know when you’re in the city, I’ll buy you a decent lunch! 😉
Killer tart, it sounds like a combination of everything sweet and delicious!
Rocco does not know what he is missing! I can only think that he is biding his time and will look you up at a future date to avoid any possible claims of inappropriateness at this event.
The tart is so smooth and perfect looking. We don’t get Rocco here on Canadian Food Network, but I would love a chance to cook up his recipes!
hahahaa! i think it’s TOTALLY ironic that Rocco’s book is called Rocco Gets Real… because, well…. that lunch he was pimping was not real at all! he’s such a sell out…. amazing!
so… he didn’t respond? i think you came out ok on that one… he probably would have made you frozen risotto and passed it off like it was actually the real deal. no good.
I bet it was fantastic with cashews! It looks so professional with that dusting of cocoa.
Your tart turned out perfectly! Shame about the meals – and the fact that Rocco never answered ! His loss. I think he should have answered – with a yes 😉
Your tart looks great! I think it was a good pick for a dinner party dessert.
He totally should have responded! Maybe he’s really shy? Or just really embarrassed by the frozen meals?
The tart looks excellent. And of course he missed out!
Forget him- he should’ve accepted! 🙂
Oh yes, he should at least have acknowledged your question, it’s just rude not to! This tart, well, it speaks for itself, it’s just gorgeous. Honey roasted cashews are the best. 😉
It sounds like Rocco is just shy. He’ll come around 🙂
Mmmm…honey roasted cashews!! Sounds wonderful. And it sounds like the conference was fun, too. Rocco definitely missed out on something special here! ;o)
Gorgeous tart! I love cashews, and I’m sure they were amazing in it! This was one of my favorite Dorie recipes to date, and a perfect dessert to serve at a dinner party.
Ooh, that tart is beautiful! And Rocco totally missed out- but if he planned on serving you yucky frozen pasta for a date, it was probably for your benefit 😀
I can’t believe Rocco didn’t tweet back! The tart looks fantastic, super yummy with the cocoa.
Blogher sounds fabulous and your tart looks wonderful too!
Your tart looks great! And it sounds like you had a fantastic weekend–I enjoyed ready the tweets throughout the conference. =)
Your tart looks great! And it sounds like you had a fantastic weekend–I enjoyed reading the tweets throughout the conference. =)
it’s his loss that he didn’t respond…he coulda had a slice of that gorgeous tart!
Wow! This tart looks yummy!
Rocco definitely missed an opportunity. You might have escaped a dinner date of nasty frozen meals though haha!
your tart looks awesome sprinkled with cocoa powder! honey roasted cashews also sound wonderful. 🙂 haha – of course he should have answered!
that is one yummy looking tart!~
wow! you must have had an awesome time @blogher!
rocco blew it!
He definitely should’ve tweeted. He missed out.
I don’t like Rocco — I haven’t ever since I watched his reality show, the restaurant. I think I read on a Top Chef blog a few years ago (not sure who wrote this, maybe Tom C?) something to the effect that it was important to remember that even though Rocco pimps himself out for just about everything, he’s still an excellent chef. IMO, Rocco seems like a guy that’s happiest dating himself — he loooooooves being Rocco, doesn’t he? That’s my long way of saying that I personally think you can do so much better than yucky Rocco. And, he totally missed out because he’d be lucky to get you.
Rocco aside, the tart looks fantastic & what a great idea to sprinkle cocoa powder on top!
your tart looks delicious- cashews sound great. sounds like the blogher conference was fun (except the food!). Rocco missed a great opportunity!
Ha-ha! Yes, I’m thinking he shoulda give ya a wink and a nod!
~ingrid
Rocco is seriously missing out. He TOTALLY should have responded. Hey, his loss. Hehehe
Hey, at least you tried! That’s the first step… ah well, Rocco’s loss.
Your tart looks perfect… love the dusting of cocoa, it’s the perfect touch.
he could have at least responded…his loss!! that tart looks divine!
You tart is gorgeous! Love the cocoa powder on the top. Yum! I think Rocco totally missed out!
He missed out. I’m not sure if you did though, since he’s associated with said unnamed food company. I do like HIS recipes, though.
I love the cocoa powder sprinkled on top! Your tart looks fabulous. And ABSOLUTELY, Rocco should have responded! You’re a catch who can bake–how could he do better?
Your tart looks wonderful! I especially like the ideas of sprinkling cocoa on top and using cashews instead of peanuts. Beautifully done!
The cocoa powder looks so beautiful on the tart. Blogher sounds like it was a blast. What a marketing blunder to have the frozen pasta meals served still rather frozen. Oops!
Obviously missing out. Think of the fun he could be having at your next random meeting people in a bar adventure!!!
I can’t believe he didn’t respond! What a cool giveaway and your tart is gorgeous!
Your tart is so lovely!
It’s Rocco’s loss…
The least he could have done was replied.
the tart looks delicious! i say, go for it, girl, you never know! who knows, maybe he has a gf, at least you tried!
I say why the heck not. You should always go for what you want. And really, if he can, maybe he gets 1000 questions like that a day- but if he could he should have responded.