Have you noticed that "butchery is back with farm-to-table love, boutique butcher shop openings, and sell-out butchery demos"?

Butchers were always there yet the image of them was more of balding and or mustachioed (old) guys wearing bloody aprons.

Now we have hot girl butchers and tatooed hipster butchers as an alternative to rock stars.

If you are serious about your meat, good cuts and all, even if you don't intend to master the art of the butcher, Whole Beast Butchery (Chronicle Books, November 2011) by Ryan Farr gives us a step by step visual guide tp beef, lamb and pork from Flinstone Chops to Pig Trotters.

With our new contest, here's your chance to win a copy of Whole Beast Butchery.

All you have to do is answer the following question:

How many finished boneless lamb leg muscles land on butcher block once his hard work detailing the animal is done?

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

All replies must be received by Midnight (Eastern U.S) on Sunday, December 18, 2011

This contest is on a first come, first served basis as we only have 1 copy to give away.

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

Being a chocolate afficionado is one thing, knowing how to turn raw ingredients into sauces, truffles, cakes and savory meals is another ball game.

If you want to learn if not master all the basic techniques from sauces to ganache, tempering to compression and recipes from Cactus shaped churros and ginger-scented milk chocolate sauce to Soy milk nama choco not to to forget Roasted veal sweetbread medallions and rosemary-scented schocolate sauce, Cooking with Chocolate (Flammarion, Fall 2011) edited by Frederic Bau of Ecole du Grand Chocolat Valrhona is a good place to start. Book includes DVD with a number of lively demos.

Amongst the book's recipes we shared the Homemade Chocolate Spread...

In the spirit of giving, we have one copy of Cooking with Chocolate for the taking.

To win, answer following question:

What is Chocolate Plastic and How long can it be kept before using?

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

All entries must be received by Midnight (Eastern U.S time) on Tuesday, December 13, 2011.

Contest is reserved to U.S and Canadian readers.

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

(* Illustration is Black Forest (Foret Noire), recipe on page 165, photo by Clay McLaghlan, used by permission, all rights reserved)

A gourmet spread could be all you need for the little canapes or amuse bouche you want to offer guests at your holiday party.

The team at Robert Rothschild Farms wants to help.

We have 2 jars of their Caramelized Onion Balsamic Spread for the taking (one jar per winner)

In order to win, List 5 songs or music pieces with Onion in the title.

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

All entries must be received by Noon (Eastern U.S) on Friday, December 9, 2011

This contest is on a first come, first serve basis. It is open to U.S readers only.

If you won a prize in one of our contests in past 30 days, please let others try their luck.

It seems there is not enough time in the day, week or month to mention all the good books that have landed on our desk this Fall.

One of them is Simply Truffles, Recipes and Stories that Capture the Essence of the Black Diamond (William Morrow, November 2011).

We shared one of its recipes, Baked Eggs with Pine Nuts, Sprouts and Truffles, and had the pleasure to have a Simply Truffles Talk with Patricia Wells who penned the book.

If you are keen on expanding your cooking repertoire, we are giving thanks to you all for reading 'Serge the Concierge' before Thanksgiving by giving away 1 copy of 'Simply Truffles'.

How can you win?

Answer one question:

Why is Coppa from Italy perfect to wrap around truffles scallops?

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

All entries must be received by Midnight (U.S Eastern)on Thursday, November 24, 2011.

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

If you missed this book Chocolate Curl Meringue Kisses recipe when I shared it, check it now.

Want to feed your Chocolate Addiction, this Sunday's contest has 1 copy of Choclatique (Running Press, October 2011) by Ed Engoron for the taking.

A number of the 150 recipes in the book are 'Gluten Free', for example Orgasmic Chocolate Soup, Chocolate Almond Butter Toffee Crunch, White on Black Chocolate Creme Brulee.

Other recipes are 'QR Code' enhanced amongst them Caramel Cheesecake Brulee and Boston Steamed Chocolate Cake.

In order to win this copy of 'Choclatique' answer the following question:

Name Native American group from South of the Border which was known for drinking cacao based beverages by the gallon.

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

All answers must be received by Midnight (Eastern US) on Thursday, November 24, 2011

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

All that stands between an OK dish and something that transports you can be down to small things.

Seasoning or the sauce you pick maybe?

Fancy a gluten free addition to your pantry, we have 2 jars of Gluten Free Lemon Wasabi Sauce from Robert Rothschild Farm for the taking.

What do you need to do in order to win?

Offer 2 dishes/ foods for which this sauce is perfect companion.

Use the comments to share your ideas or e-mail us at info [at] njconcierges [dot] com

All entries must be received by 8 PM (US Eastern) on Thursday, October 27, 2011.

We have 2 jars for the taking (one per person).

Winners will be picked on the basis of best suggestions.

This contest is opened to US readers only.

Are you ready for the first ever Chocolate Weekend NYC (October- 14-16, 2011)?

If you are and still finalizing your plans for the week-end, we have a treat for you.

There are 2 tickets (one ticket per winner) for the taking for Wine & Chocolate Pairing at Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar on October 16 ( 4-5pm).

"Ayza Wine Bar will present an elegant guided Chocolate tasting by NY's only Chocolate Sommelier, Roxanne Browning of Exotic Chocolate Tasting featuring famed chocolatier Jacques Torres truffles.
3 Jacques Torres chocolates paired with 3 wines for $29.99
Enjoy the pleasure and fine nuances of chocolate in a fun, delicious experience. Learn how cacao farming helps the rain forests and its indigenous people, what to look for or avoid on a label, health benefits and chocolate origins in a truly memorable event."

In order to win answer this question:

-Name pastry chef who created a chocolate cake named after the Louvre.

We must get your answer by 12 Noon on Saturday, October 15, 2011 (US Eastern Time).

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

(* One ticket per winner, photo above fron Chocolate Week End NYC site)

We mark the arrival of Fall with a return of our weekly contests.

Don't you get bored once in a while, turning to the same recipe.

Using a different glaze or a new set of spices might be all you need to give dinner a fresh touch.

If plat de resistance is chicken breast, how do you feel about finishing your dish by basting it with Cranberry Merlot Sauce from Robert Rothschild Farm in Ohio.

It's all natural and gluten free by the way.

It seems to work as well with duck according to J Lohr Winery who shares a Duck Breast with Cranberry Merlot Sauce by Chef Janie Gwen.

We have 2 bottles for the taking.

How can you win?

Offer your own suggestions on how to use this Cranberry Merlot Sauce.

The 2 most appetizing entries will each win a bottle of the secret sauce.

Send your entries by e-mail to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com

All entries must be received by Midnight (Eastern US time) on Thursday, September 28, 2011.

This contest is limited to residents of the US and Canada.

(* Prizes for this contest are donated by Robert Rothschild Farm)

Here's an invite to meat-eating readers in New York and New Jersey.

Fancy attending a book launch party.

Be my guest at Butcher's Guide to Well Raised Meat book launch celebration in Brooklyn on June 9 (tomorrow) from 6 to 9 PM.

Ladies you don't have to send me pictures of your best Lady Gaga meat dress impersonation.

Using Comments, share your best memories of rabbit in Italy, lamb in Jamaica or any other authentic experience. Keep it short and entertaining. I will pick the winner.

All entries must be received by 2 PM on June 9 so I have time to contact you for details.

I have only 1 spare ticket for the taking.

To make sure I can contact winner, e-mail your contact info to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com after you share your story so I can reach you.

To clear things up first, this contest is not our idea.

We thought we should share it in case anyone (in the U.S) wants to try their lucky at winning a trip to Holland, a country with much to offer beyond tulips, gouda and windmills.

Airline KLM and Holland's official tourist office joined forces for this campaign.

How can you try your luck and what's the prize:

"With Just Be. In Holland you are given the chance to get a taste of Holland with a luxurious World Business Class trip for a 3-night hotel stay in Amsterdam for TWO! All you have to do to enter is head to the KLM or Holland Facebook page and answer what 10 cities the chosen U.S. cycling teams will be touring in Holland."

Visit the Holland and the KLM USA pages on Facebook, try your luck and see what happens.

Did Holland Tourist Office share snapshot of bicycles and canals (on Facebook) to make us green with envy?

I don't know if you will meet with local band Mecano (are they still active) and be drawn into discussing the guillotine and Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky as happened to me on my one and only visit to Amsterdam.

Contest ends on Sunday May 29, 2011 so there is no time to waste.

(* This is not a Sponsored Post. It could have been)