This giveaway is officially closed as of November 8, 2010. A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Maranda Medina for being the winner of this most fabulous cookbook. Happy cooking Maranda. Hope you'll love this book as much as I do!!!
I'd never been to a book signing before, so when I found out that Dorie Greenspan was going to be at Anderson's Book Shop in Naperville, IL signing copies of her new cookbook "Around My French Table", I knew I had to go, and I knew my sister Lynn needed to be right there with me. We've both been huge cookbook lovers for as long as I can remember so this was certainly going to be a great treat!
I purchased my copy of "Around My French Table" a few months back for the purpose of joining the online cooking club: French Fridays With Dorie. Here is the actual blog badge (also shown on my side bar) and the trivet I painted for myself to coordinate and celebrate my participation in this wonderful new club. I'm a proud member indeed!! Blog badge:
The trivet: LOL. Just in case you couldn't tell.
By the way, anyone interested in information regarding a custom hand painted tile can email me at: info@kudoskitchenbyrenee.com
Since joining "French Fridays With Dorie", this past month has found me blissfully cooking and baking away in my kitchen with Dorie sitting sweetly on my counter, all the while whispering steps, techniques and charming French stories and recollections in my ear.
As you can see, I don't keep a pristine cookbook. I like my cookbooks well worn and broken in, like a good pair of blue jeans. They're all dog eared and written on with my personal notes and comments. For anybody who ever gets a hold of one of my cookbooks, they know exactly which recipes I've made and how, or if I'd made any of my own changes to it (come on, you know I can't help myself with that).
Yesterday was the day I made Hachis Parmentier on page 258. If you're wondering how it turned out, you'll just have to wait until I post my finished dish this Friday, October 22nd. Heck, they don't call it French FRIDAYS for nothing you know :) What I will tell you though ... I wasn't disappointed!!!
Here are my FFWD posts to date if you'd like to see my finished dishes so far for the month of October. Gougeres (recipe on page 4) and Gerard's Mustard Tart (recipe on page 154)
Well now, back to my story:
Walking into Anderson's that night was exciting, to say the least! As if meeting Dorie wasn't enough, I knew I was also going to have the distinct pleasure of meeting two food bloggers I totally admire: Amanda of "Amanda's Cookin'" and Michelle of "Big Black Dog's" . Here we are, all together at the signing. It was wonderful finally getting to meet them in person. I felt as comfortable with them as if I had known them a long, long time. Amanda even brought cookies for us! How sweet is she???
From left to right: Me, Amanda and Michelle. (Special thanks to Lynn for taking the picture)
Dorie was as charming and as engaging as I had imagined she would be. I've been lucky enough to have had the distinct pleasure of corresponding with her a tiny bit on twitter and a few short emails when I painted the following trivet for her to commemorate the launch of "French Fridays With Dorie"
In one of her emails to me after she'd received the trivet she wrote back simply to say: "Every time I catch a glimpse of it in the kitchen, it makes me smile!" I can't tell you how much it meant to me that she took the time out of her own busy schedule to let me know that. From that moment forward, Dorie Greenspan holds a special place in my heart. Not only as an award winning cookbook author, but as a wonderfully warm and caring woman. It was my honor and pleasure to meet her that night at the book signing.
Here is what she wrote in my book:
Priceless!!! Thank you SO much Dorie. I love your cookbook and loved getting to meet you in person even more! Thanks for sitting on my kitchen counter while I cook and I'm thrilled that a little piece of me is sitting on yours as well :)
And now, for the moment you've all be waiting for (I'll bet you think I've forgotten, haven't you?)... The giveaway that you've drooling for...what can it be you ask??? A hand painted tile? A plate of Hachis Parmentier? Nope.
Wait for it..................................TA DA!!!!!
There, now you can cook just like Dorie Greenspan too :) This charming cookbook has wonderfully heart warming stories, deliciously enticing photos with mouthwatering recipes that are easy to recreate in your own home kitchen (even if you don't live in France). They all taste like you've traveled abroad and are seated in the finest French restaurant or the quaintest French sidewalk cafe.
To enter for your chance to win Dorie Greenspan's new cookbook "Around My French Table" here are the steps you need to follow:
1. Leave your thoughtful comments here on my blog about why you'd like to win. Multiple comments, multiple entries.
2. Tweet and re-tweet about this exciting Dorie cookbook giveaway. @Kudoskitchen on twitter.
3. Visit my tile portfolio pages on the right hand side bar of my blog (comments are always welcome and encouraged).
4. If you're on facebook, *like* my hand painted tile page (if you don't already), where there are occasional special offers plus fun interactive games with prizes for the winners.
Special note to all who enter and the lucky person who will eventually win: Your copy of this excellent cookbook won't be signed by the author. I encourage you to meet up with Dorie in person one day and do that for yourself. You'll be glad you did :)
This special giveaway offer expires 3 weeks from today, Monday November 8, 2010 and the winner will be notified shortly there after for regarding a shipping address specification. No charge for shipping either! Can this get any better??? Nope! I think not :)
Enter early, enter often and tell your friends! Good luck and thanks for stopping by!!!
Fondly yours,
Labels: cookbook giveaway, Dorie Greenspan, stuff in general
