Giveaway: Do you host a local chili cookoff?

Someday, the Democratic National Convention will be over, hurricane season will settle down, and it will be chili cookoff season again.

And imagine this: I just got something called "Chili Cook-Off in a Box," a sort of book/kit by Gina Hyams. It includes a cookoff handbook, judge badges, numbered pot IDs, judging scorecards and prize ribbons.

A group that holds a chili cookoff deserves this. So: I'll give it away. Email your contact information and details on your chili cookoff (time, place and what it raises money for, if anything) to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com. Make sure you put "chili kit" in the subject line of your email.

Deadline: 9 a.m. Friday.

This week in Food

While I sort through this pile of notes and photos from New York for future blog posts (food truck festival! Soulful skate francese! corn pudding with bottarga!), take a look at today's food coverage at www.charlotteobserver.com/food:

• We've got advice and lists for people starting new kitchens (or people who want tips for their old ones).


• We have three prizes for the best answers to the question "Which six people (living or not) would be around the table at your perfect dinner party?" Send your answer to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com for a chance to win. Deadline is end of the day Friday. I'll share answers and announce winners right here next week.


• I've got details of three N.C. culinary stars who did great at last weekend's James Beard Awards in New York.


• Catherine Rabb has advice for people who want to go into the wine business.

Who wins the Ball canning kit?

Gretchen, it looks like you won't need that coupon. You're the winner of the canning kit. Send your address to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com and I'll get the kit in the mail to you.

Thanks, everyone, for playing. And for all of you who expressed in interest in learning how to can, you're on the right track. It's really not difficult.

Guess who won a wine book?

I'm a bit late on this one, folks. I apologize. I had to go out and eat all that gas-station chicken -- and then find a gym that was open for 24 hours to make up for it.

But Random Generator has spoken: The winner of "Drink This: Wine Made Simple" is Suburban Prep. SubPrep, send me your mailing address at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com and the book will be on its way.

Cookbook Giveway: Missing 2 winners

I'm still waiting to hear from Debbie from Mount Pleasant, who won the Julia Child DVD "The Way to Cook," and Mpierce/Michelle of Rock Hill, who won "The Golden Book of Baking." Ladies, if either of you is out there, please send your mailing addresses to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com.

And now, time for a new giveaway. Italian cookbook fans should recognize the name Michele Scicolone. In addition to teaching cooking classes in New York, she's written 14 cookbooks, covering every aspect of Italian cooking. Well, almost everything: Her newest book is just out, "The Italian Slow Cooker." Given the slow, braised nature of many Italian classics, this one looks like a natural, and it's almost screams "winter food."

If you'd like to try for a copy, post a comment here with a name I can use to recognize you. We'll have a random drawing next week.

And if you enter, don't forget to check back to see if you won.

We have a cookbook winner

Sorry for the delay. We should have had the totally-random cookbook drawing Wednesday. But when that big food holiday called Thanksgiving lands in my life, time gets gobbled. (Ow. Did I really type that?)

Speaking of our Thanksgiving package and books, I hope you've taken a look at the Holiday Cookbook posted at www.charlotteobserver.com/food. It takes about 1 minute to load, but it's worth the wait. It was a co-production of the Observer and the Raleigh News & Observer, spearheaded by my food-writing colleague, Andrea Weigl, and we're very proud of it. Also, Paul Malcolm's video on turkey-carving is worth reviewing before you have a hot turkey on your hands.

OK, without further ado, the winner of Cooking Light's "Way to Cook": It's Ann from Fort Mill. Ann, do the equivalent of coming on down -- send your mailing address to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com and I'll find a box for this big fat book.

To the rest of you, thanks for playing. The Monday Cookbook Giveaway will take a break next week (as will your food editor -- I'm taking a vacation). It will return when I do, on Nov. 30.

Monday Giveaway: See the 'Light'

Ready for another cookbook giveaway? This time, we're offering "Cooking Light Way to Cook: The Complete Visual Guide to Everyday Cooking."

This one is filled with step-by-step photos, plenty of tips and useful stuff. Like most Cooking Light productions, the recipes are sort of healthy and sort of indulgent. Clocking in at almost 500 pages, this would be a great guide for an eager beginner or intermediate cook.

Enter your name in the comments here. Remember, if you're signed in as Anonymous, make sure you include a name we can recognize you by. Deadline is 9 a.m. Wednesday. We'll announce the winner Wednesday afternoon, so make sure you check back here.

Cookbook giveaway: Did you win?

You did if your name is Cheri, and you sent the message "Put my name in the (stock) pot." Cheri was drawn at random to get the copy of Sur La Table's new book "Tips Cooks Love."

Cheri, send your mailing address to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com, and I'll put the book in the mail.

Don't forget to check back next Monday, when we'll do another Monday Giveaway.

Monday Giveaway: "Tips Cooks Love"

Sur La Table branched out into publishing its own books a couple of years ago with 'Things Cooks Love." The latest installment is a small but handy collection of cooking tips and recipes compiled by Rick Rodgers.

Here's a taste, from the Meat chapter: "There's no need to add oil to the skillet when panfrying steaks or chops. Trim a piece of fat from the perimeter of the meat. As the skillet is heating, grasp the fat with tongs and rub it over the inside of the skillet, creating a thin coating of fat. That will be just enough to keep the meat from sticking."

(And here's an added tip, from me: When you're searing steaks, chops, chicken breast or fish and you want to know whether it has finished browning, nudge it with a pair of tongs or whatever tool you're using. Meat that hasn't finished browning will cling to the pan. Browned meat will "let go," so you'll know it's time to turn it.)

Now, here's something else from me: This week's cookbook giveaway. I've got a copy of "Tips Cooks Love." Add your name here in the comments and we'll announce the winner on Wednesday. If you sign in as Anonymous, remember to give me a name so I can identify you.

Speaking of identifying winners, I'm still waiting to here from Scott Sitton, who won "Simple Fresh Southern," by Matt and Ted Lee, and Michelle in Rock Hill, who won "The Golden Book of Baking." Scott and Michelle, send your mailing addresses to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com. My desk needs cleaning off.

"Lee Brothers" book giveaway: We have a winner

Congratulations to Scott Sitton, who wins a copy of "Simple, Fresh, Southern" by Matt and Tedd Lee. Scott, send your mailing address to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com (don't post it here, for all the Web to see) and I'll put the book in the mail for you.

I'm still waiting to hear from mpierce, Michelle in Rock Hill, who was the winner of "The Golden Book of Baking." Michelle, same drill: send your mailing address to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com and I'll send you the book.

Thanks for playing, and for all the enthusiastic entries. In case you're wondering how we pick winners, I number the entries as they come in, then use the Web site www.random.org to generate the winning number.

Check back on Monday, when we'll give away a small book packed with tons of information that would make a great Christmas gift for a cook.

Monday Giveaway: It's the Lees, Peanut

Ever since Matt and Ted Lee stitched up a brown paper catalog on an old sewing machine and went into business selling mail-order boiled peanuts, they've been attracting attention. These days, they divide their time between Charleston and New York, while they write books that combine simple techniques with classic Southern ingredients.

They're still attracting attention, and they'll have plenty of chances in Charlotte this fall. They're making three stops here with their new book, "The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern," a collection of recipes such as Shrimp Pate and Sweet Potato and Okra Fritters.

Their schedule here:

Noon to 2 p.m. Friday, they'll do a cooking demonstration and sign books at Williams-Sonoma, 6401 Morrison Blvd.

3 p.m. Nov. 22, they'll sign books at a fundraiser at Park Road Books at Park Road Shopping Center. Proceeds will go to the Women's National Book Association and First Book, which gets new books to kids who need them. The store also will serve samples of the Lee Brothers' recipes.

7 p.m. Dec. 10, the brothers will speak about their food writing careers at Friends of the Library at Queens University, in Sykes Auditorium, 1900 Selwyn Ave. (I've heard them speak several times, so I'm sure this will be fun. Picture a cross between Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Ira Glass.) Reservations are required, and Park Road Books will sell books there, too. Call 704-607-6548.

OK, now you know whens and wheres, here's your chance at the what: I have a copy of the new book to give away. Post your name here in the comments (if you sign in as anonymous, give me a name you'll recognize if I pick your entry at random.) Deadline is 9 a.m. Thursday. We'll announce the winner later that day, so don't forget to check back.

Cook Giveaway: We have a winner

Mpierce -- Michelle of Rock Hill -- you're the winner of "The Golden Book of Baking." Contact me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com with your mailing address and I'll send you the book.

And thanks to all of you for playing. Check back on Monday, when we'll have a new book up for grabs.

Giveaway winner: Bonnie Blanton, come on down

Bonnie Blanton is the winner of a copy of the cookbook "Momofuku," by David Chang. Bonnie, if you'll send your address to me at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com (don't post it here where the whole world will see it), I'll mail you your book. After I sneak over to the copier and swipe a copy of his recipe for his red-eye "gravy" made with srirachi. It's wicked good.

And for the rest of you, thanks for playing and come back next Monday, when we'll have a book that will make the bakers happy.