Syrian Foodie is One Year Old

A year ago I sat myself down and started writing. I always wanted to do something about my love of food. I couldn't do it as a job. I loved entertaining people and cooking dinners for friends but I wanted to do something more. I thought about blogging for sometime before I actually started writing, partly due to laziness and partly because I am a terrible writer. Writing was never my thing. I would struggle to finish half a page no matter what the subject is, a love letter or a scientific paper. My shawerma post remained an idea in my head for over a year. Then one day some bigoted ignorant homophobic person got me started.

This guy started this awful campaign on the net and it got me so angry. I always thought of the Syrian online blogging lot to be forward thinking liberal and tolerant. I was shocked to read the amount of ignorance and bigotry that came out of some people. But on the other hand my faith in the Syrian blogosphere was restored reading Abo Fares, Dubai Jazz and many other great Syrian bloggers replying to this awful campaign and standing up for freedom of choice. I got inspired, I decided it is about time to start my blog and I got writing. I am so glad I did.

This year has been great. The blog got to a slow start as expected, it took me two months till I reached 10 visitors in one day. I was delighted! Things picked up pretty quickly after that. More and more people noticed the blog and come back. Bit by bit, the word spread around and I started to have followers and regular readership. Many people helped a lot along the way with endorsements, links and blog posts, Thank you very much each and every one of you. A special thanks to Syria News Wire, Syria Comment and Line Attallah who had a great hand in this blog success.

Writing about such a niche market subject as Syrian cuisine suddenly makes me a world expert on the subject. I found my self giving quotes to magazines, filming an interview for a coming documentary and advising production companies filming programs in Syria. One of these shows will be on Discovery Channel in the near future.

Finally I would like to thank every person who followed this blog, read a post, left a comment and livened up a discussion. You made this year a successful satisfying experience worth every effort I put into it. Thank you.


17 comments:

Anonymous said...

3id milad s3id! I am so glad I discovered your blog, you really got me addicted, although it makes me miss Syria a lot sometimes... Please continue!
Sarah

Miriam said...

Hey, congrats!!

Kavey said...

It's a wonderful blog, congratulations on your 1st birthday!

Mine is in 2 days time, so it seems we're class mates graduating together! :)

Su-Lin said...

I've only discovered your blog recently but I love it - happy bloggaversary!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! I am also very glad you started your blog! And I am absolutely amazed that you don't think of yourself as a good writer! I LOVE your writing. (You must have extraordinarily high standards!). It is also lovely to hear how your blog has been appreciated and your knowledge and love for your food passed on.
Cheers!

Gill the Painter said...

Happy birthday Syrian Foodie.
I particularly like your posts when they pop into my google reader inbox, Kano.

What the???!!! you've got 68 followers

Luiz Hara said...

Hi Kano,

Wow, it's been a long but most enjoyable year I hope. I have enjoyed reading your blog, cooked from it, had dinner parties themed on it, learnt so much from it. I am so glad you decided to start writing the Syrian Foodie in London, I read your blog for months before I started my own, and have great admiration for what you achieved. So, how are you celebrating? I think a Syrian meal at one of your favourite restaurants would be in order???! I am awaiting my invitation. Happy 1st Anniversary!

Luiz @ The London Foodie

cmiranda said...

Congratulations Kano!!!
I really enjoy reading your blog and have learned so much about Syrian cuisine from you.

Kano said...

@Sarah, Miriam, Kavey, Su-Lin, Joy, Gill, Luiz and Cmiranda

Thank you very much guys for your nice words and thank you for reading and coming back again and again.

Corina said...

Congratulations!

I think your blog is fantastic. I stumbled across it just the other day when I was googling Kebab Hindi. I must say I found your blog useful and was extra tasty with the added pine nuts.

I am married to a Syrian doctor who also loves cooking, but is too busy with work to cook a lot of Syrian cuisine. He unfortunately married an English wife who can just about make Ful, Kebab Hindi, and Ouzi with ease. Everything else is a struggle.. but I have a good feeling your blog with help me improve and impress my husband!!!

Thanks again for all your hard-work and ddedication to this blog.

tasteofbeirut said...

Congratulations Kano, for publishing your blog and sticking with it! It must not be easy considering everything else that you have going in your life! I am -more than ever- interested about what you have to say re: Syrian food and all its intricacies and riches.
Joumana

Kano said...

@Corina
Welcome to my blog. I am really glad you like it and I hope you cook many delicious dishes in the future.

@Joumana
Thank you very much. You are right it is not always easy especially since I moved to my current hospital it has been a struggle, But the joy I get from it keeps me going.

Dimah said...

Happy 1st blog anniversary!

Kano said...

Thank you very much Dimah.

Paul said...

Thank you for all the delicious recipes, and recollections of Syria! Long may you continue...

Sarah said...

Happy blog birthday, hoping for many more. Excuse me while I browse your 101 mezze posts, those are getting me hungry! The film, was it Planet Food?

Kano said...

@Sarah

The documentary is a long term project by a lovely Portuguese couple, called Eat the World.

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