ELIZABITES

In about a month, this caloric little food blog will turn 3. I got to hand it to wordpress for offering up all kinds of interesting stats along the way, from blog hits to incoming links, and sometimes, the most fun of all…the random search terms that led people here. I can’t really judge the person who googled “pickle in a pouch” or “clear jello” as those very topics were covered in some capacity on my blog. But it’s still fun to see how they found me…more from the search engine stats…

A surprising number of people are very curious about the calories in Molly’s Cupcakes. They were out of luck when the came upon this, but I mean..at this level of decadence, what’s an extra ass cheek?

People wanted to find out more about tiny Japanese food toys, dining pods and whipped cream logs (no idea)..and an unexpectedly high number of google searchers wanted to know how long it took to make a Peep. I mean, has anyone really attempted this? Holla back and tell me if you have!

The most searched term (besides the blog name-ranging from eliza bites to elizabytes) was Hot Doug’s..the least? Jello moulds (sadly, 5 people spelled it that way).

When I first heard of the idea of the Dose Market, a monthly European-style market of local fashion and foodie finds, I thought of the Brooklyn Flea and other NYC markets I’ve been lucky enough to stumble upon. I looove covering local artisan confectioners, roasters, chocolatiers, jam, syrup and preserves gurus, tea companies and other tiny companies started by one or two people that simply had to find a way to jar, can or serve up their culinary passion, and I’m all for getting them together in one place (get your next Dose July 10). I couldn’t wait to check out the yesterday’s kick-off event, where companies like Rare Tea Cellar, Truffle Truffle, Rare Bird Preserves, Sofia Vintage, Seedling Fruit, Chicago Honey Co-Op, Suitor, Sprout, Blis, and dozens of others took to a table with their wares…from which I scored a jar of Rare Bird preserves and bottle of Blis Tahitian vanilla maple syrup (try it drizzed over strawberries and chocolate ice cream)..a few pics of other favorites spotted below…Dose Market, River East Arts Center, 435 E. Illinois

Truffle Truffle's I love Chicago truffles made with Half Acre beer, Metropolis coffee and Spice house spices

Rare Tea Cellar

Snookelfritz ice cream by pastry chef extraordinaire, Nancy Silver

Toscano to sample from Old Town Social

Rare Bird Preserves

Sprout Home city gardening haven

Sno Jo Syrups and a kick-ass Japanese sno-cone maker

Blis syrups