Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Blog Giveaway - Culinary Tour of L.A. from Bertolli Foods

We've made it to Day 4 - one day closer to picking a winner for the all-expense Trip to L.A. courtesy of Bertolli Foods. One day closer to packing your bags. One day closer to a Celebrity Chef Event with Rocco DiSpirito. What do they say in "Les Miz?" "One More Day." (When you're in theatre, everything's a song from a musical.)
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Life's funny. There are great sadnesses and greats days of mountainous happiness. Life has gotten full - in ways I never would have fathomed. But I'll tell all of you the other "stuff" later. Suffice to say, there's little time to cook. But somehow - lots of time to eat.
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I hope you try these small tasty savories - my "parvines." They'll put you in the mood for our culinary trip to L.A. and what's to come. We're nearing the end of the Giveaway - today is the last websiode for Into the Heart of Italy - Bertolli Foods. I've tried to crawl into my monitor to join Marisa Tomei, Dan Cortese and Rocco DiSpirito as they unlock the culinary secrets of Italy - but I do not fit. In the same way my summer clothes do not fit!

And this is why. I'm not cooking much - but eating too well. These are "Parvines." A cross between verrines - the tiny, clear-layered amusements the French so lovingly dish up and their heartier parfaits. I do not have many 1-2 oz glasses but I do have wine glasses and cordial glasses (hmmm, no comments on that).

Tomatoes, a one ounce medallion of goat cheese and I am all set to eat while I watch Into the Heart of Italy. This is the last webisode before we pick a winner to go on a culinary tour of L.A. May 10-12. I'm rooting for all of you because I have met so many people through blogging, it would be an absolute treat to visit with you face-to-face.
And eat I do. I cut 6 cherry tomatoes in half, lay them in the bottom of the glass, cover with1/4 ounce of goat cheese, cut another 6 tomatoes and put them on the goat cheese, layer another 1/4 ounce with goat cheese. Put a raspberry on top, drizzle all with a little balsamic vinegar.
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And eat. Savor.
Most happily.
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And settle down to watch Webisode 3. ( apparently linked you to Episode 4 yesterday - oy vey.)



If you cannot view the video, please click here to see it.
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Recap: To win, you must simply leave a comment telling me the "clue" in the webisode and your favorite part - just 'cause I like hearing it and seeing if it matches up with my favorite parts! (I know, I'm a story nerd.)
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You may go back and comment on the previous days webisodes if you are new to this. Upon my return home from work tomorrow, May 6th (somewhere between 9 and 10 p.m. CST), I will print out comments, number them and let random.org hand me that random number list they do so well. And go down the list and the first commenter that matches up with Random.org's numbers and can actually go to L.A. will be chosen and notified. (Be sure I have a way of reaching you.)
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Disclaimer: Winner receives an all expense trip (transportation, meals and hotel) to L.A. on May 10-12 which includes the aforementioned Celebrity Chef Event with Rocco DiSpirito and a culinary tour of the City of Angels. All courtesy of Bertolli Foods. Winner must be located in the continental US and be free to travel May 10-12.
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Talk to you tomorrow. I can hardly wait.

18 comments:

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...

oh boy this looks sensational! Love this dessert so pretty :)

Linda said...

Claudia - This is the same webisode 3 as yesterday with Carnevale in Viareggio. Is there some snafu?
Love the tomatoes/goat cheese dish.

Claudia said...

And I was wondering why the comments were about Episode 4! I totally copied the code, went to the phone and I bet the next one started playing. I copied code again and away I went. Well, theatre is always more interesting when you switch back and forth instead of being linear!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

OK, so I'm not going nuts. I see you put the other video up about making the lasagna. The egg clue leads to pasta and I thought the chickens flying around and spooking Marisa was too funny! Good luck to that lucky winner whoever he or she may be.

Kathleen said...

This sounds totally delish!

Barbara GF said...

This looks like so much fun, Claudia; life dishes out many surprises. I love the nibbles you have been making, especially the veggie-frittata muffins. Good luck, and safe journey! I can't wait to read about the trip and the lucky winner.

Kim said...

Claudia - I love your layered desserts! They look absolutely delightful. I hope you have the most wonderful time in LA. Take lots of pics of Rocco. Sounds like a fabulous time.
(P.S. My summer clothes don't fit either) Whatever should I do about that?

Topher said...

Clue was eggs plus semolina = pasta

Find the most famous authority on eggs in Italy.


Thanks for the giveaway.

Chris

zekks at yahoo dot com

Jeannie said...

This sounds like a fun give away...pity am too far away to join in huh? Your parvines look devine!

Mary Bergfeld said...

These look divine. I love savories. I hope the mountains of happiness come more frequently than the valley's of sadness. Thinking of you. Blessings...Mary

Anonymous said...

These parvines looks terrific, I want to try them!

Proud Italian Cook said...

Claudia, How exciting for you, I wish I could arrange my schedule but I have a commitment I can't break, I would love to have a chance to win along with the others.
I can't wait to see all your photos. Looks like the stars are aligning for you Claudia in so many ways... So happy for you!

janet said...

The balsamic is the perfect thing, those look amazing!
No matter what else, there does always seem to be time for eating!;)

Jen_from_NJ said...

The clue is eggs and my favorite part is when they all sit down to eat that lasagna. Wish I were there!

I love your parvine - very creative!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I never heard of parvines Claudia, but they look so good! The clue was eggs and semolina. I was surprised the chickens were fed goat's milk as part of the meal.

My favorite moment was making the pasta...the dough looked so rich and good!

sweetlife said...

these look amazing and a splash of balsamic adds the extra touch, have fun on your trip..take lots of pics..

sweetlife

Just call me "B" said...

The clue is the eggs, but the whole episode is fantastic!!!

Wow, I would LOVE to win this one!!!

OysterCulture said...

First, the dessert sounds wonderful and unique - and the video was hysterical - loved it!