3 Christmas giveaways from Tiny Bites
28 Comments
Karen Hamilton
December 21, 2009
Merry Christmas! The gift recipients have been announced:
Vancouver Cooks 2 cookbook – Oana
Anita’s Organic yellow (popping) corn – Tina
Teroforma Whisky Stones – BradThanks to all who participated. If you still want to grab any of the items we described below, make sure to read where we got our stash and see whether you can still get one for you and/or your loved ones.
‘Tis the season to eat and be merry – at least that is how we Hamiltons tend to spend Christmas holidays. Due to our anticipated arrival in the new year, we are unable to fly out to Winnipeg, as is our usual, to feast and carol with my husband’s side of the family in true White Christmas fashion. While that means homesickness for my husband and none of my mother-in-law’s phenomenal tourtière for us on Christmas Eve, there is a silver lining for you, dear readers: I get to play Santa in Vancouver this year!
You shouldn’t be surprised that the gifts we tend to get our circle revolve around food. We do surround ourselves with plenty of like-minded food lovers, after all. Below are the 3 things that I just had to grab for my family in 2009, and while I was at it, I grabbed extras to give away to you.
Vancouver Cooks 2 cookbook
The Chefs’ Table Society of BC, our client that you may know from the Spot Prawn Festival they put on each year, just came out with a second compendium of recipes from 70 established and emerging Vancouver restaurant chefs. I bought my softcover copy of Vancouver Cooks 2 when I had the chance to get it autographed two of the authors (above) and in order to access the recipes for Bistro Bistrot’s rabbit with two mustards (p69) and for the late Fuel Restaurant’s carnaroli risotto on an heirloom tomato and basil salad (p143). I also just noticed a recipe from Bishop’s that is advertised as a Christmas recipe: oven-braised venison ragout with juniper berries and fresh herbs (p176).
The two extra softcover copies I bought from Hamilton Street Grill are going to one of you and to my mother-in-law in Winnipeg. If you think this would make a great gift idea for a loved one, you can find softcover and hardcover editions for sale at Barbara Jo’s Books to Cooks, your neighbourhood Chapters, and at many of the restaurants that contributed recipes (these are usually autographed to boot).
Anita’s Organic popping corn
I was first acquainted with Anita’s Organic when I bought into a pilot CSA program with Urban Grains this past year. When we decided to go for a Circle Farm Tour jaunt to Chilliwack in August, Anita’s was one of the places on our list. Good thing, too, as my popcorn fiend of a husband went bonkers for their organic yellow corn.
Last week, he finally ran out of the stash he had bought that day. He’s been grumpily settling for the Orville Redenbacher variety ever since. I hope that the 25lb bag of kernels that I’m putting next to his Christmas stocking will last him through the first half of 2010. The amount I’m giving away to one of you is much smaller in quantity, but hopefully it will be enough to convince you that local and fresh will beat microwaved convenience!
This one is currently a bother to source in the city. None of Anita’s usual retailers, such as Whole Foods, Choices, and Spud, carry this popping corn. One must either get it shipped direct or drive out to Anita’s retail market in Chilliwack for a fix. You can help me to rectify this situation by calling your local grocer and asking them to consider stocking it on their shelves. I’ve already put in my two cents with the Whole Foods on Cambie.
Teroforma Whisky Stones
Photo used with permission from Teroforma
This product came to my attention when I toured the cook shop at The Dirty Apron Cooking School after a particularly fun lesson in chocolate. These babies are soapstone cubes, found and milled in Vermont, that one chills and then uses in place of ice into your favourite dram of whiskey. One set of Teroforma Whisky Stones lets you chill 3 drams at a time without diluting the flavour of your beverage or scratching your glass. A perfect stocking stuffer for my husband!
I thought that this product was something I could easily pick up before the holidays, but apparently, Vancouver has a ton of whiskey fanatics that people are dying to buy Whisky Stones for. All of the usual Vancouver retailers (Dirty Apron, La La Home Decor, and Homewerx) have been cleaned out with waiting lists for January stock. Even Teroforma lacks a Christmastime supply at their HQ.
I lucked out in that Nicole, who is opening the new Lynn Steven Boutique in Gastown this week, hadn’t soft-launched the store until I had the chance to secure two sets of Whisky Stones in advance. I dropped by this afternoon to purchase a set for my husband and a set for one of you. She still has ~20 in stock if you’d like to call ahead at (604) 899-0808 and pick one up for yourself.
How to get a gift from Tiny Bites this Christmas
All you have to do to qualify for a Tiny Bites Christmas present is to tell us which 1 of the 3 things described above that you’d like to see most under your tree. Comment on this post, reply to me on Twitter, post to our wall on Facebook…or bombard us on all three. Remember – just pick one!
We’ll announce three names on Christmas Day. If you’re one of them, expect a post-Christmas package on your doorstep with the gift you chose.
Good luck,
Karen
Categories: Books and Such, Food, Yummy Products
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28 Responses to “3 Christmas giveaways from Tiny Bites”
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They all sound great but I’d love the popcorn. My husband eats microwave popcorn almost every night and I have no doubt Anita’s is better. I didn’t even know they carried it.
I had my eye on those whiskey stones too, but the source I was going to use (ThinkGeek.com — at least, I think that was it!) was out of them too. They must be the big hit this year!
(My husband and I are down in Texas, but my inlaws live in Vancouver — they retired there from Manitoba! So it’s funny that the two places you mention are the two places in Canada I’m most familiar with!)
Ooh I’d love the cookbook!!
Hi Karen,
Long time reader, lazy commenter here.
But those whisky stones have whet my appetite, and I know just the condescending whisky snobs to give them too.
Add me to the list ! muchas gracias.
Matt
P.s – love the blog, great stuff you’ve got going on here… how ever did you get into food blogging in the first place ??
The cookbook for sure!
I’d love the book!
A cookbook. A prize? What an interesting concept at Christmas. A brilliant idea! HO HO HO
Whiskey stones. Then I have justification in asking for gifts of whiskey to go with them. Gotta keep the moist or they’ll crack, right? RIGHT?
That popcorn sounds amazing! And I know just the tummy for it…
“Pick me!” she shouted.
Hilary
I would love to see the popcorn under my tree. First off I love popcorn, secondly I love all things organic and third I am obsessed with eating and trying excellent snacks. Yummmy.
Popcorn under the tree. hooray!
Pick me. Pick me. The whiskey rocks are awesome!!!
What a great giveaway – hard to choose just one. I know my husband would love the whiskey stones but I’d love the cookbook under my tree
Great stuff. The whiskey stones are amazing, a great way to create space in the freezer, and not dilute the whiskey. Those would look great under our tree, then into our glasses.
Vancouver Cooks would be very welcome under my tree. I would love to cook my way through that book – the recipes look amazing. Thank you!
Chambar crew no suprise bringing in the Teroforma Whisky Stones, I love that team, big, big fan.Way to go with the Dirty Apron, amazing success!
Hello everyone, can’t wait to find out who gets each gift!
Tina: Anita’s has a range of options for their yellow corn. You can buy it in small doses at $0.50 per 100g at their retail store. You can also pick up or mail order 1kg and 11kg bags. As far as quantity goes, 100g is already enough for 2 large bowls of popcorn.
Amy: I’m glad you’re acquainted with Vancouver and Winnipeg! If you win, would you want me to send your gift to your in-laws or to you?
Matt: That’s cute, coming from the guy that made me start this blog!
Lorraine: the Whisky Stones are best kept dry between drams but I think you can get Teroforma to agree that they cry when they’re not in use
Anthony: are you simply paying a compliment to Dirty Apron or are you also placing yourself into the giveaway for Whisky Stones? Please confirm.
Hi Karen,
I would like to enter for the cook book please.
I enjoy reading your food blogs but also have been really enjoying your baby bites photos and blogs. I am 3.5 months pregnant and it’s really nice to see other Vancouver mothers-to-be out there. Miss baby bites will be a healthy beautiful baby with all the good food her mother has been feeding her! Congrats and I look forward to seeing your little one soon!
I really want to say the cookbook, but I know my fiance would love the whiskey stones and his birthday is in Feb… so I am going with the Whiskey Stones!
Happy Holidays
mmm, I’d love some popcorn!
Hi Karen, I’d like to enter for the Whisky Stones.
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Cookbook!
Such a great give away! =)
Happy Holidays!
Hi Karen,
Would love one of the cookbooks.
Happy Holidays and thanks in advance !
Merry Christmas, Tiny Bites!
Although I am an avid popcorn popper, I have to say that the whiskey stones have me most intrigued! So that is my vote!
Many warm dishes and wishes from Winebard!
love those whiskey stones!! apart from using them in beverages, could i use them for a chill stone massage?! anyways, they are absolutely cute and functional
Cookbook, Cookbook, Cookbook!!!!!
Pliz, Pliz, Pliz, Pliz, Pliz, !!!!!
Because you guys like me
And because it’s the perfect way for me to get even more involved in cooking
And because you will get the chance to try whatever I prepare for the next potluck.
Dime que si!
Irene
I’d love the book! I desperately need some new cookbooks to try out in the new year.
Please put my name down for the whiskey stones. They look amazingly chic. Thanks!