Twenty Questions with Sweetopia
There are some food sites that put us in a happy mood purely because they exist…Sweetopia is one of those. If you enjoy baking, you’ll be inspired the very moment you enter the wonderland Marian has created – and if you don’t bake, you’ll still enjoy seeing her amazing creations!
How long have you had a food blog (or other foodie type site)?
Since February 2009.
How would you describe your site to new readers?
Sweetopia is a site about cookies, cupcakes, cakes, gingerbread houses etc. In general, sugar art inspiration and tutorials. Occasionally I also cover topics on home decor, fashion, wellness and cute things.
What made you decide to start your site?
My brother suggested it first over Christmas last year (2008). He thought I should create a site where I put down all the information I know about decorating cookies etc. so that I could direct others to it when they asked me about how I make my baked goods.
I started to look into it in January of 2009 and it was ‘born’ in February of 2009.
Is there any personal meaning behind the name?
I wanted to choose a name that encompassed all the things I love, and wanted to first and foremost highlight my main hobby – sugar art. Sweetopia to me is a utopia of everything I think is sweet – sugar-crafting, cute things, home décor etc.
What advice do you have for new bloggers?
Blog about something you love – that way you’ll stay with it.
What’s the best thing about being a food blogger?
Meeting other people with the same obsession, I mean passion I have. Learning about the ‘technology’ behind it all has been a huge learning curve for me. It has sometimes been challenging, but at the same time extremely rewarding – I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I overcome another hurdle.
What the worst?
I wish I had more time to get down all the ideas and posts I want to write!
What food blog inspires you the most?
That’s such a difficult one, there are so many… I’ve been really inspired by Tartelette’s lately; she’s such an amazing photographer. I’d like to learn to do great food shots like her. http://www.mytartelette.com/
What camera do you use?
Canon Rebel Xsi
Do you have any formal training in the field of cooking?
Some job experience, some college training, some courses at Bonnie Gordon’s School of Cake Decorating, and recently a Culinary Arts additional qualification course at Queen’s University. Mostly self taught with books though.
Do you watch a lot of cooking on TV?
About 4 years ago it was ALL I watched – Ina Garten, Giada DeLaurentis, later on Ace of Cakes. I don’t watch much TV anymore though, but if I do, it’ll be Barefoot Contessa first.
How challenging has it been to find a loyal reader base?
I think I’m still slowly on the way. I have found my readers to be extremely sweet though! (No pun intended –really!)
What types of food do you enjoy preparing most?
I definitely have the most fun with desserts, but I do love making spaghetti sauce.
Do you have a signature dish or two?
Decorated cookies – although they aren’t really a dish per se.
Favorite kitchen gadget?
Kitchen aide mixer
If you could choose to be any food, what would it be?
Chocolate
If you could banish just one food from the earth, what would it be?
Kohlrabi
What’s the one super power you wish you had?
I once saw a Twilight Zone episode where a lady found a trinket in a boxed food product, and when she wore it around her neck and said “Stop”, time actually froze. She could also start it back up again… How great would that be?! I’d get so much done!
What’s your favorite thing about “Refrigerator Soup”?
I like that it’s a food site with a personal touch. It feels like more of a community than an anonymous photo sharing group. Thanks for featuring me!
To see more of Marian’s food photography, recipes and subscribe to her blog, please visit her at Sweetopia.
To learn about how you can get Featured, please email us at contact [at] refrigeratorsoup [dot] com. Note: Priority is given to those bloggers who consistently submit photographs, so please keep that in mind before inquiring.
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