Arbitrary Food Housekeeping

Has it been a year of NEAROF! already?

This peanut butter chocolate cupcape from Calgary's Crave bakery was promptly devoured after this photo was taken. Happy anniversary, NEAROF!

It’s kind of amazing to think this site has been up and running for a year.

I’ll admit I wasn’t sure what to expect when it launched, but with more than 160 posts so far and readers from more than 120 countries paying a visit, it’s become a fun (though time-consuming) part of my life.

While I sort of don’t want to think about how much time and resources I’ve sunk into this curious little website (note: decent studio lighting is expensive), I’ve been consistently amazed at the amount of traffic it gets. Thanks for that, web friends.

I’ve learned that it’s hard to predict which stories will get the most traction initially, and which stories will turn into sleeper hits. My review of Starbucks’ Cake Pops continues to rack up the page views, as does my take on Palm Bay’s line of coolers, New York Fries’ Butter Chicken Poutine and even Red River Cereal.

There have been ups and downs, and some unexpected developments. Since the launch last November, I’ve moved to Calgary, I’ve watched my traffic steadily grow, and I’ve learned more about Brazilian sweets than I ever thought I’d know. (A special shout out to NEAROF!’s Brazilian readers and the wonderful Jujuba Gourmet blog. You can read it in English through Google Translate.)

It’s been a blast having people comment on stories, share links on Twitter and Facebook, and get in touch using the contact form. Knowing that somebody out there is reading has made it worth continuing.

What’s in store for the next year? I’ve got a special shelf full of food just waiting to be eaten and photographed, and I’ve even got plans for an international event of sorts. More on that as it develops. 🙂

I’ve had tons of fun with this site over the last year. Thanks for sticking with NEAROF!, coming back regularly and sharing the site with friends.

Cheers,

Iain

3 Comments

  1. Congrats on your first year anniversary. At the risk of sounding stalker-like, I’m currently in Houston airport and thought of you when I bought a chocolate bar. I know you like to try chocolate bars from the US– ones we can’t get at home. Well, I hit a doozy! It was made by Reese and was a hybrid peanut butter cup in bar form mixed with crispy crunch type bar! It was so delicious. I ate a king size bar in record time. I will definitely bring some home with me.

    • Thanks for reading! I’m a sucker for airport snack shops. Do you have any airport candy favourites? I usually stock up on gum, Skittles, Mentos and, if the mood strikes me, a Snickers bar. Tradition demands it. 🙂 Besides, it makes for decent snacking if there’s a delay on the runway, or if I feel like a snack but don’t feel like paying $8 for an inflight sandwich.

      Also, that Reese bar sounds heavenly. I’ll keep an eye out for it next time I visit the U.S.

  2. One year already??? Wow! Congratulations! I may not read your entries promptly, but I do eventually read them all. I like what you do, so keep it up. You have an audience!