Cookerati

• LAY’S UNVEILS HAPPINESS EXHIBIT SPOTLIGHTING SIMPLE MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS AS CAPTURED IN CONSUMER PHOTOS Select Photos to be Featured on Millions of Lay’s Potato Chips Bags and in PEOPLE Magazine. Lay’s potato chips, America’s favorite potato chip, and a brand from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, launched a nationwide campaign asking Americans to help create the world’s largest “Happiness Exhibit” – a digital work of art made entirely from consumer submitted photos that showcase simple happy moments.  Beginning today through May 31, 2010 people can visit the exhibit at www.lays.com to continually upload and view the growing collage that collectively celebrates simple happiness in America.

From the online exhibit, select photos will be chosen to be featured on millions of Lay’s potato chip bags sold nationwide, and in commemorative ads in issues of PEOPLE magazine.  Pictures contending for a special Mother’s Day advertising spread in the May 10^th issue of PEOPLE magazine can be uploaded now until March 31, 2010.  Photos for a special American Summer-themed spread running in the May 24^th dated book can be uploaded between April 1 and 18, 2010.  In addition, visitors to the exhibit can also interact with fun applications such as Smile-O-Grams, video e-cards and wallpapers.

• First annual Food For Life evening benefit reception raises more than $400,000. More than 250 New Yorkers united to wine, dine and raise money for a common cause – Met Council’s Food For Life campaign, supporting the expansion of Met Council’s Kosher Food Network, distribution program and services. The premier event was held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage on March 11^th and guests were treated to a sumptuous array of international food, wine and a scotch tasting followed by a formal program to honor local individuals and businesses dedicated to helping hungry New Yorkers. The following were honored at the benefit:

Kenneth Chenault - Chairman and CEO of American Express, Mr. Chenault received the Leadership Award from New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as a business leader whose contribution to Met Council helps ensure that thousands of hungry New Yorkers have access to healthy kosher food in a dignified and dependable way.

John Doherty - Principal of Wolfpack Hospitality and Former Executive Chef of the Waldorf Astoria, Mr. Doherty was awarded the Humanitarian Award by Menachem Lubinsky for his spirit and dedication to helping New Yorkers in crisis. Mr. Doherty has pledged his assistance to Met Council in the establishment of a commercial kitchen at one of the three “free restaurants” run by Met Council.

Pomegranate – the successful Brooklyn kosher supermarket owned by Abraham Banda was awarded the Community Partner award as a local business that bridges private business with philanthropy and highlights the principles of the Food For Life campaign.

Central Synagogue – Kenneth Heitner accepted the Tikkun Olam award, which in Hebrew means “Healing the World”, on behalf of Central Synagogue. Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, a member of Met Council’s board, presented the award, which recognized the synagogue for its breakfast program that feeds nearly 200 people in need each week.

• Amazon.com announced the addition of new cookbooks–including Mark Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything, Completely Revised 10^th Anniversary Edition,” Rose Levy Berenbaum’s “Rose’s Heavenly Cakes” and Nancy Baggett’s “Kneadlessly Simple”–to the Kindle Store. These cookbooks join the thousands of other books in the cooking category. Some of the other new and most popular books in the Cooking, Food, and Wine category include:

· “So Easy: Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week” by Ellie Krieger, published by Wiley

· “The Best Recipes in the World” by Mark Bittman, published by Broadway

· “Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom: Essential Techniques and Recipes From a Lifetime of Cooking” by Julia Child, published by Knopf

• It’s March Madness for foodies on The Food Channel ® with a Munch Madness Recipe Tournament – the perfect complement to an office basketball pool or for those getting together to watch the college games. Food Channel editors have selected 16 recipes to battle it out, divided into four categories: pizza, sandwich, wings and chili – with each category having four competing recipes. A Munch Madness article explains the entire voting process and visitors then click on the Launch Bracket tab to be transported to a recipe- voting landing page. From there, they vote for favorites in each category, with those recipes having the most votes advancing to the next bracket.
• Red Roof guests staying at selected inns are being treated to a free breakfast courtesy of BURGER KING® restaurants. The promotion began on February 1 and runs through April 18, 2010.  Every night a guest stays at one of the selected Red Roof locations they will receive a coupon good for one breakfast CROISSAN’WICH® at a nearby restaurant. A total of ten Red Roof properties were chosen for the test program: four Red Roof properties in Atlanta, Georgia; two in Tampa as well as West Palm Beach and Orlando, Florida; one in Reynoldsburg, Ohio and one in home of Red Roof headquarters, Columbus,  Ohio.