Cookerati

Celebrity decorated lunchboxes will be auctioned off at the 3^rd Annual Lunchbox Auction, Presented by Gourmet to benefit the Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa in the fight against hunger. Chef Mario Batali and Michael Stipe are among the celebrity guests are expected to attend. Alice Waters, Beastie Boys, Cameron Diaz, Conor Oberst, David Chang, Diane Von Furstenberg, EDUN, Ellen Page, Eva Mendes, the cast of Gossip Girl, Gwyneth Paltrow, Heatherette, Kelly Klein, Lanvin, Lisa Marie Presley, Liv Tyler, Mike Myers, the New York Giants, Rachael Ray, Ruth Reichl, Salman Rushdie, Sara Moulton, Sean Avery, Spike Jones, Thriving Ivory, Tom Colicchio and many other have all committed to designing a lunchbox for auction.   Additional VIP’s and celebrity guests will be in attendance.  Date : Thursday, December 11, 2008 / Cocktail reception begins at 8:00pm Where:  Milk Studios in NYC (450 W. 15th St) Tickets: Tickets are $135/person and can be purchased by visiting www.thelunchboxauction.org

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Olive Garden Writing Contest

Olive Garden poses the question to young writers during their annual Pasta Tales writing contest:  “How would you use the Internet to change your community for the better?” The restaurant is accepting essays of 50 to 250 words answering that question from students in the U.S. and Canada. The entry form is available for electronic submission at Online at OliveGarden.com and in all Olive Garden restaurants. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a $2,500 saving bond and a trip to New York for dinner at the Times-Square Olive Garden. A winner also will be chosen in each grade category and will receive a $500 savings bond and dinner at their local Olive Garden restaurant.

All mailed entries must be postmarked by Friday, Dec. 19 and received by Friday, Jan. 2, 2009. Pasta Tales online entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19.

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UNICEF FUNDRAISER  
11 Celebrity Chefs Raise Awareness, $50,000 for Idaho Potato Commission’s "Recipes for Relief” Program Benefiting UNICEF .

Every month in 2008, a chef and his/her potato recipe is featured on www.idahopotato2008.org.   When a visitor clicks on the recipe of the month, the Idaho Potato Commission will donate 10 cents to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF with a maximum donation of $50,000.  Funds will support UNICEF’s programs for children around the world. For more information on UNICEF, please visit www.unicefusa.org. The “Recipes for Relief” program runs from February – December 2008.   (It’s almost over folks, so go click it). This month is Herb Idaho® Potato Wafers By David Burke of David Burke Las Vegas at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino .

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"Dirty Grills Gone Wild” contest

The contest is seeking the grossest grill in America.  Its owner will receive a new Dacor® Epicure® 36” Outdoor Grill and Grill Cart and a year’s supply of Scott Shop Towels.  To enter, contestants must submit a digital photo of their dirty grill by February 2, 2009 at www.dirtydirtygrills.com. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges, which includes Joey Mac’s Smoke Stax, the award-winning grilling team of Joe (Joey Mac) McManus and Wayne Styck.

THE DETAILS OF OUTDOOR COOKING
The Epicure Outdoor Grills, available in 52” and 36” widths, feature brighter halogen lighting to illuminate the cooking surface so the barbecue can continue long after the sun goes down. A patent-pending, optional ceramic sear burner, placed inside the firebox, offers high intensity cooking for perfect searing.
Brilliant Illumina(TM) Burner Control Knobs glow blue when the grill is on, for increased safety and aesthetic appeal to indicate when a burner is in the "on” position and the redesigned premium canopy hood is lighter and more user-friendly.
Three U-shaped stainless steel burners operate at 20,000 BTU on grill models without the optional ceramic sear burner.  Grills that include the ceramic sear burner will feature two high-output U-shaped stainless steel burners. An infrared ceramic rotisserie burner with a heavy-duty removable motor conveniently attaches to the grill when needed, providing limitless cooking options for the outdoor chef.  For additional safety, Dacor’s Perma-Flame(TM) technology will automatically re-ignite the burner flame in the event that it is extinguished unexpectedly.

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Gift Ideas from Maine

Eight palate-pleasing, wallet-friendly gift ideas from Maine, sure to please food lovers this holiday season:

We all scream for (peppermint) ice cream!
Gifford’s Ice Cream’s "Pink Peppermint Stick" Ice Cream:
Peppermint is a hallmark of the holiday season, and Gifford’s Ice Cream’s “Pink Peppermint Stick” ice cream is just the ticket. The peppermint treat will hit market shelves throughout the northeast this December. The luscious wintertime treat is a pink peppermint ice cream with a colorful red and green peppermint crunch. Perfect for holiday desserts.
($5 for 32-oz quart. Available at markets throughout the northeast and online at www.giffordsicecream.com)

Picky foodie on your list this year? Here’s your flavorful solution:
DennyMike’s Maine-made, all-natural BBQ sauces and rubs from this self-described “die-hard Yankee and Maineiac” are packed with flavor and “oomph.” Great for stocking stuffers or party gifts. DennyMike’s BBQ Gift Pack arrives in a branded wooden box filled with two of their best-selling sauces (Sweet ’n Spicy, Hot ’n Nasty) and two popular rubs (Chick Magnet for poultry, and Cow Bell Hell for meat and wild game). Recipe cards for quick and easy dishes are included, to boot. All for less than a night at the movies.
($19.95 Use promo code “holiday” for 10% off at www.dennymikes.com)

Earn an A+ this year from the beer fan on your list.
Gritty McDuff’s Holiday Gift Bucket:
Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company is offering a special Gritty’s Gift Bucket this holiday season, complete with a 100% cotton T-shirt with full-color classic Gritty Kettle logo, a Gritty embroidered baseball cap, two Gritty-logoed pint glasses, a $25 Gift Card for use in any of Gritty McDuff’s three pub locations (Portland, Auburn and Freeport), a handy bottle-opener keychain and fun Gritty’s bumper sticker.
(Retail value: $79. To order online, visit www.grittys.com) 
Lose yourself in the Maine Mystique.
Subscription to Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine:
A “can’t-miss” gift. Since its launch last year, Maine Food & Lifestyle has made a splash with its memorable stories of Maine farmers, fishermen, and artisan food crafters, its lush photography, and recipes from Maine’s renowned chefs.
(annual subscription, $29 4 issues/yr To subscribe, visit www.mainefoodandlifestyle.com/subscribe)
Maine Lobster for dinner…the easy way.
Claw Island’s certified Maine lobster:
Wow family and friends this holiday season with the "just-caught" goodness of certified Maine lobster. Claw Island’s all-natural lobster from Maine’s icy waters is fully cooked to make entertaining a breeze. Just thaw, heat and serve. Whole cooked lobster or fully cooked claw and knuckle meat selections are available – perfect for entertaining this season.
($12.99 for whole lobster; $9.99 for 6-oz claw and knuckle meat; or $14.99 for two-pack of lobster tails. Available in the seafood section of local grocers in ME, MA, CT, MD, VA, GA, FL, IL, TX, and CA.)
Family in town for the holidays?
Good Clean Food’s Balsamic Mushroom Simmer Sauce for Poultry and Pork:
Keep your guests full and happy at mealtime with Good Clean Food’s new, all-natural Balsamic Mushroom simmer sauce. The flavorful sauce makes healthy meals in minutes. Just brown chicken or pork, simmer and serve. Holiday guests will love you for it.
($7 for 12.5 oz jar. Available in fresh seafood and poultry sections of markets from Maine down to Florida, and at www.goodcleanfood.com) 
Cookies so good you may hide ’em from Santa…

Granny Kirkwood’s Shortbread Holiday Giftbag:
Satisfy your sweet tooth, and how. Maine-made Granny Kirkwood’s Shortbread is offering a wallet-friendly Holiday Shortbread Giftbag this year. A reusable, colorful fabric giftbag comes filled with either 12 single shortbread cookies ($27.95) or six single shortbread cookies ($18.95). Individual cookie packages are also available, and make great hostess gifts or stocking stuffers ($1.69 each or $19.95 for a baker’s dozen). All after-tax proceeds of Granny Kirkwood’s shortbread directly benefit Portland, Maine’s Gibson Pavilion at Maine Medical Center.
(For easy ordering, visit www.grannykirkwoods.com/products) 
"Wine and dine" all year long.
Annual Membership to Damariscotta River Grill’s Wine Club:
Have a wine lover on your list? A gift that really does keep giving all through the year is a gift membership to Damariscotta River Grill’s popular Wine Club. Membership includes six multi-course wine dinners held at the popular Damariscotta restaurant, led by some of the most interesting wine experts to visit Maine’s midcoast; special pricing on every wine on the Grill’s Wine Spectator Award-winning wine list at every visit; discounts at area wine stores, and more. Order before Christmas and receive a $25 restaurant gift certificate.
($180 per person for six dinners throughout 2009.  www.damariscottarivergrill.com To order, phone 207/563-2992)