AUTHENTIC SPANISH FOOD IN NEWARK'S IRONBOUND DISTRICT

A recent visit to Newark, New Jersey, revealed a number of hidden treasures, including the magnificent Newark Museum -- and the culinary delights of the city's famed Ironbound District.

Here, I found Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian restaurants, grocery stores and bakeries. Almost all looked inviting, but I dined at Mompou, where I had dish after dish of authentic and delicious tapas, including Falda A La Plancha (grilled balsamic marinated hanger steak), Albondigas de Pollo (chicken meatballs), Spicy Chorizo, Tortilla Herminia (classic tortilla made with spinach, onions and Yukon Gold potatoes) and a delicious salad. Had it been humanly possible, I would have tried the restaurant's Tres Leches, a homemade cake topped with heavy crem, condensed milk and evaporated milk. Next time I may have to start with dessert to make sure I get to taste at least one of Mompou's sweets.

My Last Souffle - PS

Here's my photo of the La Goulue souffle, which I just extracted from my iPhone.

The Perks (Benefits) of Being a Food, Wine & Travel Writer AND of Being a Member of IFWTWA

To help potential members (and those who are members already) IFWTWA's president, Maralyn Hill, has included in her President's Column in the upcoming issue of Press Pass this list of benefits:

Some Benefits of Belonging to IFWTWA

2009 New Benefits

Annual Conference with Professional Development

Culinary Division
New chef profiles have been added and all of our chefs' profiles have been added to Global-Writes chef category.

IFWTWA Home Page Member Profile
This is an area to showcase yourself, with your bio, websites, books and clips. You update and keep this current yourself so it always reflects the image you want. Both regular and associate members have the benefit of this page.

IFWTWA Home Page Regional Membership Directors (RMDs)
In order to encourage regional networking opportunities and a time for prospective members to check out what we are about, RMDs have been established. There is room to expand the number of RMDs. Since a kick-off in Phoenix in the spring, we just had another event in Temecula. IFWTWA RMDs are going to be there to act as liaisons to assist members and prospective members in their areas.

On-line Networking Groups: Linkedin, Facebook & Twitter
Due to the popularity and ease of using online networking, many of our members like to have discussions on these sites. These groups are open to non-members so they can see what we are about. We have many PR group members, so it is a great place to throw out your questions.

On-line Press Kit
We now have media rates in our on-line press kit with a reduced, reasonable rate for Associate Members. The data for our website page views are updated daily in our online press kit under About Us.


YOUTUBE Video Channel
This feature was just set up in August by our new board member, Trisha Miller. After you upload your food, wine or travel video, sent it to Trisha@IFWTWA.Org and she will add it to our channel.

WiFTy Scholarship
This is the first year we are offering a scholarship for aspiring food, wine and travel writers. We plan for this to be an annual offering.

Partnerships:

Food4Media.Com and TravMedia.Com .
All of our general press releases are published to their data bases of over 10,000 journalists. We are listed in the calendars of these partnerships. Also, they send out a press release when new stories post on Global Writes. Associate members get a 30% discount on their releases as long as they indicate their membership in IFWTWA.

Travel4Press.Com (Members Only sign-in page)
Designed to meet the needs of the professional travel writer, Travel4Press offers free, fast and easy access to all the latest travel news sources. Travel4Press is continually monitored by our team of travel researchers to bring you the most up to date news releases, contact details, upcoming worldwide events and online coverage. In addition to standard benefits, IFWTWA members have additional benefits shown on our members only page.

Special Contacts:

US Embassy for Mexico

Vice President Michelle Winner convinced John Palmerin, U.S. Consular Agent in Mazatlan, mazagent@prodigy.net.mx to be our liaison if we are not getting the clearest answers from www.usembassy-mexico.gov.

2008 Added Benefits

IFWTWA On Line Magazine Global Writes
We have an Editor, Kim Rahilly, who is professionally editing member's articles and sending them to our webmaster, Tim Lack, to upload on a regular basis. We try to have a minimum of one new post a week, sometimes more. So keep the articles coming. Global Writes showcases our members' articles and automatically updates to your profile.

IFWTWA Home Page Blog
Use this as a spot to say thank you or ask questions. Only members can post questions, but anyone can make comments.

IFWTWA Website and Global-Writes Website Updated
Our webmaster, Tim Lack, did all of this and keeps working with us to improve what we offer.

Ongoing Benefits

Media Trips
Our goal is 2-4 media trips a year plus a conference. In 2008, we had two media trips and in 2009 we featured three plus the conference.

Membership Referral Fee
When you are responsible for bringing in a new member and the person names you on their application, your dues for the following year will be credited 20% of the amount of their membership fee. They must put your name on the application. This is an incentive for you to bring in new members.

Official Press Card
This assists you with your media credential for media rates and benefits.

Press Pass (for members only)
Editor Marilyn Green makes sure each monthly issue of Press Pass is filled with association news, upcoming trips, markets looking for writers, contests, story opportunities and new member information. In my own first two years of membership, Press Pass alone was worth my investment in the nominal annual dues. I know many people who get their writing assignments from Press Pass. Regular Members: You can announce your attainments: new books out, awards, recognition, to your peers and to the public relations community in Press Pass. Associates: You can have any new story angles, press trips or new clients announced in Press Pass.

As a non-profit organization, with one employee, our Executive Director, Patricia Anis, your Board of Directors is continually striving to keep bringing you benefits and staying current with today's trends. I'm sure I've overlooked some benefits, like the wonderful friends you make through exceptional networking and shared experiences, but these were the basics I could list. I'm confident the list will keep growing.

Associate Members
In addition to those listed above, here some additional benefits for Associate Members
You can send a profile of yourself for Press Pass, but you can also make it public on our member profile page and keep it updated there.

You can link your site to ours on our links page.

You can have our Executive Director send out an e-mail blast every couple of months announcing what is happening in your area to all of our members—advise them of new story opportunities.

You can network with our Regular Members on line and at our annual conference or on our media trips.

You can participate in our professional development.

Press Page - We now have media rates in our on-line press kit with a reduced, reasonable rate for Associate Members. The data for our website page views are updated daily in our online press kit under "About Us. "

We will work with you to arrange media trips or regional luncheons.

You will have access to all of our members, public and private.

You can also submit articles to Global-Writes.

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So, if you are a food, wine and/or travel writer (or aspiring to be one) or a PR person working in this field, I would recommend joining the IFWTWA.
The next IFWTWA press trip will be to Mexico's Copper Canyon in November.

Posted by
John Lamkin
Freelance Travel Journalist & Photographer
Board Member and Chairman of Membership Committee of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association
Website
Suite 101
Examiner.com