HankOnFood.com's 1st Anniversary!!!

Wow!  Hard to believe one year ago today, I decided to finally take some of my disparate videos and write ups about different restaurants and build a blog around restaurants, recipes and food I love.  In looking back I'm grateful to the following:

• Those who were examples to me of good, professional foodblogging:  Mijune Pak, Richard Wolak, Melody Fury, Albert Nurick, Jack Tyler and Mai Pham especially.  You all set a good example of the right way to do it, but also a couple of you encouraged me to find my own style, refine it and take it up a notch

• Those restaurants that inspired me to write this blog--my love of burgers for such places as The Burger Guys, Guy's Meat Market, The Hubcap Grill, Jerry Built Burgers and the Counter.  Asian and Asian fusion places like House of Bowls, Tony Thai, Uchi, Nabi and Sushi-pop.  Fine eateries like Cactus Club Café, BRC Gastropub, Café Bellini,  PHAT, Sylvia's Restaurant, Union Kitchen, and Kasra Persian Grill.  And wonderful pubs like Flying Saucer, Liberty Station, The Gingerman,  and the Richmond Arms.

• My mom and dad who'd said at times when I was a kid (back in the 1970s) that someday I might go travelling around writing about good places to eat to let other travelers know all the places I enjoyed.  Little did they anticipate the internet and blogging would lead to their sayings coming true.

• A couple of family members and friends who enjoyed trying different restaurants and weren't averse to using a few coupons or specials in order to try something different than the usual.  

• My patient, kind, tolerant wife who has put up with me more than anyone ever should have to

• Several teachers who tried to encourage my writing, even though it can be pedantic and meander at times.  

Wayback Machine:

Pre-Blog--First Food Video

Pre-Blog--First Restaurant Review Video--Five Guys Burgers and Fries:



First Short Posted Review  posted on May 14, 2011:  Fadi's Mediterranean Grill .

First Long Post Review was posted on May 30, 2011: Café Bellini  in San Francisco.  

First Full use of the Foodie Professor Report Card was for  Sushi-pop  on August 19, 2011.

First Event Reviewed:  Nabi Houston Grand Opening on November 19, 2011.

In Closing:

I want to thank all of y'all who have read this blog during the past year... Over 29,000 page views since I started a year ago, with an audience from all over the world, though concentrated in North America.  It's been a fun year and I am going to continue to refine and improve my process as I go forwards.  My goal is to explore more new restaurants and types of cuisines, to seek out new local restaurants in any locality I visit... To Boldly Eat Where No One has Eaten Before.... (okay maybe not that last part... but still...)

Thanks again for a great year of Happy Eating!  Looking forward to another year to Eat Happy!

Hank L.
HankOnFood.com