Homegrown Holiday Giveway: Macaroni Kid Contest Winner Named

Macaroni Kid blogger and Homegrown foodie enthusiast, Ellen DeFrancesca informed me of our Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook Giveaway.

Drumroll please:

The winner is Monica W. 

Congratulations, Monica! 

I couldn’t be happier for you – and your family and friends who will also enjoy the Homegrown Long Island Cookbook stories, photography and recipes from the Island’s best chefs and the growers and artisanal food makers who inspire them.

Sharing a bit of personal. local commentary, Macaroni Kid blogger Ellen wrote to me: “The winner was thrilled when she found out

(I must share the story about how ecstatic I was on my first-ever win – a full Thanksgiving dinner from Sickles Market the year our house was under renovation and I had no kitchen!)

“And she actually lives close by to me so I was able to drop it off.  She told me she planned on trying a few recipes for the holidays.”

Homegrown Kismet.

Thank you, Ellen and Macaroni Kids entrants for your enthusiastic support for “The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook” and all the outstanding chefs, growers, fisherman and butchers and bakers and … well, all the best of homegrown Long Island.

Happy Homegrown Holidays!

www.longbeachmacaronikid.com

and as a somewhat related sidebar -- I have an autographed book to a "Dear Monica" from a New York Horticultural Society talk and book signing because I was so engaged in conversation with Homegrown fans that I did her signing twice!  

So if anyone knows a homegrown Monica, don't hesitate to let me know.  We have a cookbook for this lucky lady!

Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook Author Leeann Lavin to co-host reading, tasting & Hurricane Sandy relief event at AMARELLE restaurant, Long Island

The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook Author Leeann Lavin to co-host reading, tasting &  Hurricane Sandy relief event at AMARELLE restaurant,  Long Island On Thursday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. Amarelle Restaurant in Wading River, along with Leeann Lavin – that’s me! -- the author of The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook and Examiner Food & Drink editor, will host a special reading, tasting and book signing event to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Amarelle chef Lia Fallon will be preparing her recipes as featured in the book and both Lia and Leeann will be signing copies of the new cookbook.  The Andrews family – chef Lia’s inspired growers will be featured guests at the Homegrown book celebration.  The Andrews family farm and stand is located at 1038 Sound Avenue, Wading River, NY, 11792. http://www.andrewsfamilyfarm.com  You can get your fresh, just-picked Thanksgiving menu ingredients, including winter squash, cabbage, sweet potatoes, red and golden beets.  And fresh eggs.  And…  A special raffle to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts will be held to win a bottle of local wine, an Andrews Farm harvest vegetable basket, and a signed copy of The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook. In addition, 25% of the evening’s book sales proceeds will go to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief. The Hamptons and Long Island Homegrown Cookbook is a collection of outstanding recipes from Long Island’s finest locavore, homegrown chefs who give every plate a striking sense of place, and the farmers they work with to bring the freshest locally grown, sustainable foods to their menus.  Filled with beautiful photographs and fantastic recipes, this book will be of interest to foodies and chefs everywhere and is available at bookstores and online retailers now. Amarelle is located at 2028 N. Country Road, in Wading River, 631-886-2242. You can visit them online at www.amarelle.net THE HAMPTONS & LONG ISLAND HOMEGROWN COOKBOOK by Leeann Lavin Voyageur Press June 2012 Original Trade Hardcover with 4-color photos $30.00 US Follow Leeann and The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook on Facebook!