No connection whatsoever between snow melting and this week selection, Artisan Pizza and Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest, our 2 books for Friday Book Giveaway Number 6.

Book cleaning before Spring...

First, Artisan Pizza, To Make Perfectly At Home (Kyle Books, 2015) by Giuseppe Mascoli of Franco Manca and Bridget Hugo.

Secondly, Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest (Timber Press, 2011)  by Lisa M, Morrison

-Question: City where Timber Press is based

First come first serve.

Holly holly, Best Food Writing 2016 and The Hungover Cookbook, make the cut for Book Distancing Number 4.

Each Giveaway is a Twofer, book cleaning before Spring.

First, all words, no illustrations, Best Food Writing 2016 (Da Capo Press) edited by Holly Hughes and featuring pieces by Todd Kliman, Dianne Jacobs and Oliver Sacks to name a few...

Second, The Hungover Cookbook (Clarkson Potter, 2010) by Milton Crawford, title says it all

Answer this question, and you win, first come first serve 

-Question: Name writer who called a hangover 'The Sewing Machine'

First come first serve.

Book Distancing Number 2, Friday Giveaway, 

Each Giveaway is a Twofer, book cleaning before Spring.

Will it Waffle? by Daniel Shumski (Workman, 2014)

The Italian Table by Ron Suhanosky (Kyle Books, 2011)

Answer 2 questions, and you win, first come first serve 

-Question 1: What sauce do you need for a Croque-Madame

-Question 2:  What does Spiedini means?

I will be practicing book distancing with 2 Book Giveaway each Friday until I run out of giveaways.

It will start tomorrow Friday, January 22.

A 2 question quiz will determine each weekly 2 Book winner.

Mary Kondo did not ask me to do it.

To make the 2013 Champagne Day celebration even more sparkling, Champagne Bureau USA just announced Champagne is...Contest.

How to participate?

Guidelines below:

Contestants are encouraged to send an original photograph or video completing the sentence “Champagne is. . .” All entries must exclusively showcase authentic Champagne and support the sentiment expressed in the statement: "Champagne only comes from Champagne, France." Entries that do not feature a Champagne bottle or label will be accepted as long as authentic Champagne is featured.

There are three ways to enter for a chance to win: 

1) Post a picture/video to Instagram using the #ChampagneDay hashtag and tag the Champagne Bureau, USA;

OR

2) Post a picture/video to your Facebook profile and tag yourself and the Champagne Bureau, USA, in the picture;

OR

3) Email a picture or video to [email protected] with the subject line “Champagne Day 2013 Contest Entry.” 

One Grand Prize winner will be selected randomly on October 23 and receive a new iPad mini. The winner will be announced on October 25, Champagne Day. Complete contest rules are available at Champagne Is... Contest entrants may submit multiple entries to increase their chances of winning. All entries must be unique, as duplicate entries will not be considered. 

No need to wait until October to toast the day with Champagne though!

1 Ticket Left to Win for Art of Restaurateur Nicholas Lander Talk Tonight at 92 Y Tribeca.

Here's a food event that you don't want to miss on if you are in NY area on Thursday (November 15, 2012) and that I am happy to feature here as i have been a reader of Nicholas Lander Restaurant Column in the FT Week End for years.

1 Ticket for The Art of the Restaurateur at 92 Y Tribeca is left the taking.

How can you win this ticket?

Answer this simple question:

What is Nicholas Lander's wife best known for?

Send your reply by 3 pm (Eastern U.S) on Thursday, November 15, 2012 to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com

Here's what's on the program:

"This Thursday, join Financial Times restaurant critic and author Nicholas Lander, restaurateurs Will Guidara (Eleven Madison Park, NoMad) and Maguy Le Coze (Le Bernardin) and famed hospitality interior designer Adam D. Tihany (Per Se, Daniel), with writer Bill Buford (Heat), for a conversation on The Art of the Restaurateur, in celebration of Lander's new book of the same name, recently called "a must-read for restaurant lovers" by Details magazine. 

In a world where chefs get all the attention, the panel will discuss the unsung art of the restaurateur and how the owner's creative vision can often be the difference in making a restaurant successful.  Until 30 years ago, restaurateurs were considered the most important figures in any restaurant's success, with chefs consigned to the kitchen. This process began to change with the elevation of chef-patrons in the 1970s and has continued with the rise of the celebrity chef. The profession continues to evolve in fascinating ways that will be explored in the discussion."

Can you think of a better way to take a break from talking about Sandy and at same time celebrate publication of Nicholas Lander The Art of the Restaurateur (Phaidon Press, Fall 2012)?

Good News Monday!

We have been slacking for a while in contest-giveaway department.

Here's one that you don't want to miss on if you are in NY area on Thursday (November 15, 2012) and that I am happy to feature here as i have been a reader of Nicholas Lander Restaurant Column in the FT Week End for years.

Two Tickets for The Art of the Restaurateur at 92 Y Tribeca are for the taking (one ticket per winner,two winners). 

Here's what's on the program:

"This Thursday, join Financial Times restaurant critic and author Nicholas Lander, restaurateurs Will Guidara (Eleven Madison Park, NoMad) and Maguy Le Coze (Le Bernardin) and famed hospitality interior designer Adam D. Tihany (Per Se, Daniel), with writer Bill Buford (Heat), for a conversation on The Art of the Restaurateur, in celebration of Lander's new book of the same name, recently called "a must-read for restaurant lovers" by Details magazine. 

In a world where chefs get all the attention, the panel will discuss the unsung art of the restaurateur and how the owner's creative vision can often be the difference in making a restaurant successful.  Until 30 years ago, restaurateurs were considered the most important figures in any restaurant's success, with chefs consigned to the kitchen. This process began to change with the elevation of chef-patrons in the 1970s and has continued with the rise of the celebrity chef. The profession continues to evolve in fascinating ways that will be explored in the discussion."

How can you win these tickets?

Answer this simple question:

Name something Nicholas Lander and Simon & Garfunkel have in common.

Send your reply by Midnight (Eastern U.S) on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com

Can you think of a better way to take a break from talking about Sandy and at same time celebrate publication of Nicholas Lander The Art of the Restaurateur (Phaidon Press, Fall 2012)?

Winners will surely want to bring someone along.

Tickets are $18 and available via 92Y Tribeca website...

Bonne Chance!

The recipe might not have been prescribed by a doctor yet in many European countries the Euro Cup currently under way rovides a welcome relief from the debt crisis.

Since 2007, a parallel event dreamed up by Daniel Burns, who was then pastry chef at Noma, pits 20 teams composed of chefs and cooking staff from Copenhagen restaurants against each other.

The aptly named FoodBall combines a live game on Sunday, June 24th at 1 p.m in Frem Parken  paired with a do good component which for second year in a row raises funds for Action Against Hunger...

As organizers point out:

"You don’t have to live in Denmark to take part in the fun or support Action Against Hunger. Foodies the world over can participate by buying raffle tickets (see link below) for a chance to win dinner for two at one of sixteen top restaurants. Tickets go for $10 US apiece, or $50 for 6, and 100% of the raffle proceeds go to Action Against Hunger. There will be 20 teams from participating restaurants, and the restaurants will also fundraise for Action Against Hunger. Some of the restaurants include: NoMA, Denmark: 2 Michelin Stars, Voted #1 of The 2012 World’s 50 Best Restaurants Chez Dominique, Finland: 2 Michelin Stars Geranium, Denmark: Rising Michelin Star Padaste Manor, Estonia Bloom in the Park, Sweden."

Don't put your foot in your mouth, join the fun and donate.

With sunny weather in past few days and Spring around the corner, I thought it was time to bring back the weekly contests.

Instead of Fridays, here's a Monday morning goodie.

What's for the taking?

I have a signed copy of Hello, Jell-O! (Ten Speed Press, February 28, 2012) by Victoria Belanger aka The Jello Mold Mistress of Brooklyn for the lucky one.

In order to win all you have to do is give us names of 3 creators/ agitators who use Jell-O to create other things than food, art pieces if you will.

Send your entry to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com 

All entries must be received by Noon (Eastern US Time) on Friday March 23, 2012 

There is 1 signed copy for the taking so this contest is on a first come, first served basis.

This contest is limited to U.S and Canadian readers.

Bonne chance!

Call him an accidental chef, Mourad Lahlou started cooking while he was a graduate student in San Francisco.

He cooked more from memory of the flavors and colors of dishes he grew up with in his native Morocco than recipes. These humble beginnings led to Aziza, his popular Bay Area restaurant.

Mourad Lahlou first cookbook Mourad: New Moroccan (Artisan Books, Fall 2011) is filled with love and soul satisfying recipes.

We learn about basic spices, the dance of the seven salads, lamb bacon, burnt honey ice cream and a lot more.

All this served with a dollup of family memories.

We have 1 copy of Mourad: New Moroccan for the taking.

Try your luck by answering the following question:

What is the Moroccan equivalent of Chicken Pot Pie?

Send your entry to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com

All entries must be received by Saturday, December 30, 2011 at 8:00 AM (Eastern US).

This contest is open to U.S readers and is on a first come, first served basis.

If you won anything from us in past 30 days, let someone else try their luck.