Thursday, May 13, 2010

Back From L.A "Now Eat This" Give Away!

I'm back from a fantastic, whirlwind culinary tour of Los Angeles that I won through a contest on Claudia's blog Journey Of An Italian Cook, and I'm offering an autographed cookbook I purchased as a give away -- to see this post, now moved to my review page "Mille Fiori Favoriti - My Back Page," please click here.






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79 comments:

Claudia said...

Oh Pat = what fun it all was and how happy I am to know you face-to-face. I need Rocco's cookbook - after looking at my photos! Your photos are grand - yay you. Made tortilla soup (Rocco's filled with flavor) Later...

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Pat - Looks like you did a lot of fun things while you were away. The array of food looks terrific. I like the idea of that cookbook since summer and bathing suit season is coming up soon.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, So glad you got to make that trip. I KNOW you had a wonderful time... How Special!!!! My favorite comfort food is definitely ICE CREAM....

Great photos.
Hugs,
Betsy

Allie and Pattie said...

Pat, what a trip!! As a trainer, I'd love a look at that book- if I don't win it, I'll have to buy it! So did you shop Rodeo??
xoxo pattie

Jenny said...

I LOVE your recap of our beautiful trip to LA! I know I will never forget it. Wonderful to meet you, love your blog too!

Debbiedoos said...

Pat that was off the hook incredible! Looks like a blast. I had to crack up at the gals on their crackberry's in the limo, all blogging I am sure!

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Wow, lucky you! Was the inside of that limo pink? Cool.

Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway. My favorite comfort food is definitely pasta - give it to me any way, just give it to me!

:)
ButterYum

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

PS - I'm following you!

:)
ButterYum

Natasha in Oz said...

Looks like you had a dream holiday! Thanks for sharing these fabulous pictures. Thanks for the give away too! I would love to be included if I may?

Best wishes,
Natasha.

Natasha in Oz said...

PS I just signed up to be a follower!
Natasha.

Proud Italian Cook said...

What fun to actually meet Claudia and the other bloggers. Love the hotel, the limo, the food, what a great trip!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Wow, that was quite a tour...delicious too! How did you like the SUV limo? I've been in one of those, also being driven around LA....it was a little awkward getting in and out of that thing! But fun.

You were very generous to think of the rest of us and get that extra cookbook for this giveaway!

My favorite comfort food is mac & cheese...made from scratch with lots of cheese and some spicy sausage for extra zip. I don't make it very often, for obvious reasons!

Carol said...

Pat, that looks like an awesome trip! So cool to win and be swept away like that! The food, the hotel, Rocco!

Nice of him to sign the book for a giveaway!

Carol said...

I've been following for a while now, I love the tours of Brooklyn you take us on, brings back such great memories!

Claudia said...

Well -- Dble dang DANG!! The name is the same (claudia) but somewhere I missed the invatation :)

You all look like you had such a blast... thanks for taking us along!

If you get a chance ...link on over to our Friday Finding Beauty... nothing more beautiful than sharing treasured memories with friends!

Hugs
Claudia

Joanne Kennedy said...

Wow! What a great giveaway! Looks like you had a great time. I only wish I knew you were here so I could have come up to visit with you. I'm sure you were super busy though.

That cook books sounds great. Right up my alley and what I need to get my rear back on track. I'm having such a hard time staying on a diet these days.

Would love to win.

Hugs,
Joanne

Unknown said...

Ah..I've had lunch and am so hungry with all the food! I've never sat on a limo..let alone a pink one! You are one lucky bunny Pat, so glad the trip was a fab. Happy weekend. hugs/M

annie said...

The photos are great. So glad you had a good time. What a cool thing to win.
Thanks for sharing the trip with us too.

My name is Riet said...

Oh Pat, what a wonderful time you had. I have been looking at your foto's several times and what yummy food. I don't know the cook but it looks great what he does.

Have a nice day

Old Kitty said...

Oh Pat! You look so adorable! Really!! Awwwww!

And Mr DiSpirito is a DISH!! lol!!

Wow - what a great prize and what a wonderful memorable tour - from the limousine to the hotel to the food sampling to Mr DiSpirito!

Gosh what's my favourite comfort food? Well it's not 350 calories or under that's for sure! LOL!

Chocolate and Banana bread with a lovely cup of strong cappuccino. Yum.

Take care
x

Catherine said...

So happy you won this fantastic trip! Even the cover on the cookbook looks luscious! Those are great pictures. Love that Limo!

Please enter me in your Giveaway. My favorite comfort food is nice, gooey, extra cheesy macaroni and cheese with a nicely browned top.

Cathy

Lynn said...

Looks like a great trip, and such a fun give-away, thanks!
My favorite comfort food is soup, any kind!

aliceinparis said...

Wow Pat what a fabulous time you must have had! How wonderful to meet Rocco and all those bloggers and sample yummy food and, and.....
Probably all seems like a dream now:)
My fave comfort food like many others is pasta!!
Have a great weekend!
Cheers, Shelagh

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Pat, what a fabulous trip. This is real star power. Wow. Glad you had fun and thanks for all of the fab photos. I'm so glad I follow you so I don't miss anything.
Sam

Nola said...

Your photos were spectacular, as usual! Looks like you had a fantastic time.
My fav comfort food is Czech soup my mama always made in the winter. It is "Kyselica", basically a potato based soup with saurkraut and sausage. I know it sounds weird, but it is heaven in a soup bowl!
Glad you made it home safely!

Nola said...

Hey, don't forget, I'm already a "follower" of your blog. I know you know, but I want to be sure I get a second entry for the giveaway! ;-)

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

What a great time! Thank you for thinking of your readers and getting a cookbook signed for us!

I'd have to say my comfort food is mashed potatoes ... with lots of butter and lots of salt!

Kat Mortensen said...

Get outta town! You won that? Holy Mackerel!

Rocco was just on "CASTLE", one of my fave t.v. shows last week.

What luxury! What fun!

That woman blogger in the pic in the limo, sure is fixed on her Blackberry (I guess she just had to blog about it on the spot.)

What was your favourite dish? How was that huge bed? Lucky girl!

Kat

Linda Lou said...

WOW Pat what a trip-you so deserved this great experience, Rocco is quite handsome, and I bet the food was as fabulous as it looked...my favorite comfort food is PIZZA!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I am enjoying reading about everyone's comfort foods!

To answer some questions..Yes, the limo that picked me up at my home had a pink interior ...it was so unusual!

Sorry, there is no low calorie gelato recipe, Barbara, but there is a creamy chocolate mousse recipe and a few yummy frozen yogurt ice creams :-)

Yes the SUV limo was hard to get in and out of --definitely for the young and limber ..lol!

Twittering, facebooking and mobile blog posting are definitely skills the young bloggers are skillful at doing. I have a lot to learn! ;-)

Rocco is very cute -- and very gracious. We all enjoyed meeting him very much!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

That must have been so much fun! The food looks awesome and I have to say that I have always wanted to stay in a hip boutique hotel. I am so happy that you had this experience and shared it with me. Rocco is a cutie...comfort food? Well, pasta in its many forms comes to mind first. From mac and cheese to pasta with pesto...it all makes me feel happy!
♥, Susan

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Oh, yeah, I am a follower!!
♥, Susan

Helen said...

Could not ~ could not believe all of the great photos! Like being there too. Thank you so much. Comfort food? Scones, clotted cream and jam.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for taking me along Pat. It looks like such a wonderful trip.

My fav comfort food is Irish stew with lots of pepper.

myletterstoemily said...

i'm so happy that the trip lived
up to your expectations! they
can sabotage us sometimes.

thank you for sharing in such a
way that i feel i tagged along.

blessings,
lea

Anonymous said...

That looks like a dream trip for sure, Pat!!! Loved the photos of your good time! My favorite comfort food? I find a yummy grilled cheese sandwich soothes the body and mind!! Glad you made it home safe and sound! L, Dana

Judy said...

Like a dream...is right! What a wonderful experience for you, Pat. Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

Apple pie and ice-cream...comes to mind. Does that sound like All-American comfort food...from an All-Canadian girl?

Susie Q said...

This is all just too amazing! I am SO happy that you had this experience and SO excited for you!
Thank you for sharing it with us!!
What a sweet, sweet time you had!!
Love,
Sue

Anonymous said...

O-H M-Y G-O-S-H!!!! Too, too fabulous! I'd have been happy to be left in the limo! WOW!

My favorite comfort food changes. I must need a lot of comforting because I get tired of them. Currently it's rice pudding. What's yours?

I'm glad YOU had your camera instead of your cellphone! Wait. . . did you take that picture on your cellphone? LOL!

Together We Save said...

Oh wow - how exciting!!

nanny said...

Oh what a wonderful trip....wish I had been there!
Comfort food....hummmmm, in the winter it is a big bowl of soup....
in the summer....big slice of cold watermelon...(see how I said "big" on both comforts)ha! I need Rocco's help!!!!
I can't wait to see more of your wonderful pictures!

Jenny said...

Wow! Wow! Wow! This is sooooo cool. No-one deserves this treat more than you Miss Pat! What a wonderful surprise for all of you! I had to laugh at everyone twittering away in the limo. I would have been hanging out the sun roof!

Thanks for the lovely giveaway!

But most importantly thanks for taking us along on your lovely trip!

Vee said...

My favorite comfort food is corn on the cob, meatloaf, and baked potato with sour cream. If I have to narrow it down to just one...the potato and sour cream.

Wow! What a trip! I must say that the bloggers look a little disinterested in their surroundings. You, on the other hand, appear to be very engaged and present. Yes, you know how to enjoy the moment!

nycstylelittlecannoli said...

I didn't think you were going this quickly! Looked wonderful, so happy for you! It goes to show you have to enter contests to win them. Rocco seemed like a very nice guy. Food looked amazing...being 100% italian - I am jealous!!! :)

Jojo said...

That is so exciting!!!!! What an incredible trip!

Americana Lady said...

Wow, how exciting! I am interested in this cookbook because I am cooking more at home and trying to eat healthier. My hubby loves Mac & Cheese. My comfort food is anything chocolate! I have signed up to follow too. Thanks, Joan

Sara said...

I am so thrilled for you that you got to go on this wonderful trip!

That food looks so so good...

My favorite comfort food - is either mac and cheese or Shepherd's Pie...

Sara said...

And, you know I follow you on Bloglines and I just became a follower -

Sue said...

What a fantabulous time you had,Pat!! You always have such fun on your outings. I'd love to be entered in the give-away. I'm always looking for new ways to make food taste better, especially now w/ Mr. S's health issues. I know that it is certainly far from fancy, but I always love a nice, thick, juicy homemade hamburger as my comfort food. Ohhhh, I can taste it now!
hugs, Sue

Sue said...

And you know I am a follower....
:-)

Sue said...

It looks like a wonderful time was had by all...I noticed not many comments were left about favirte comfort foods....Not me!! Mine is mac and cheese made with Asiago and sharp sharp white cheddar...I wonder how Rocco makes that 350 calories....I would love to know...after last nights pancake and bacon fiasco I need to go on a diet....and when handing out that prize...don't get me confused with the Sue above me and send her the cookbook instead!!..."ANother Sue"

Sue said...

Oh....and ofcourse I am a follower!!

Trotter said...

WOW!! That looks a great adventure!! But I always suspect of those low calories... they grow us fat... ;))

Sent an email with the answer to your query!
Have a great weekend and look forward to reading you at Blogtrotter Two!!

Just a little something from Judy said...

What a wonderful privilege for you. I am so happy for you. You must have felt like royalty getting to ride in a SUV like that one. You documented your time so beautifully. Thank you for sharing your special time with us.

As for my favorite comfort food, it would be my mother's homemade chicken potpie. Eating that would make everything right in my world, but I'm sure the servings were not under the 350 calories like his will be:) Good news to me.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I'm still so thrilled for you! That was a dream trip! Wowza!

Kathleen said...

Pat that sounds like a wonderful trip..how exciting!
I am so glad you enjoyed it..
I'll have a nice juicy hamburger with great fries, and a piece of home made devils food cake with wonderful choc icing..and thank you!
Tomorrow's our 40th anninv. I posted our wedding pic. My 4 yo gson wanted to know how we got so old! :)

Laura in Paris said...

Oh, I'm so envious!!! So glad you had such a good time (and take me in your suitcase next time!!!)

The Gathering Place said...

What a fun gift! How lucky for you.
JoAnn

Anonymous said...

Oh Pat you represent the blogging world so graciously. My favorite food is mac and cheese with lots of butter. I would love that book. Congrats on your great trip.
QMM

La Petite Gallery said...

Pat,
What a fabulous trip. Congratulations.. Let me know the best recipes, have to lose 30 pounds by Dec. Trip to NYC.
My Niece Capt D is getting married in Long Island..I am thinking of staying at the Algonquin hotel
for a few nights and seeing a show.

yvonne

CatHerder said...

OH MY GOSH PAT THATS A DREAM COME TRUE!!! Awesome pics...ooh im so happy for you that is so COOL! :-)

CatHerder said...

oh and ps..my FAVORITE comfort food? Impossible to pick just one since i am the ultimate foodie....anything cooked from the heart i suppose :-)!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, Pat! What a fabulous trip you had! I'm excited for you that you got to go, and it's looks like you all had a blast. Look at that limo! And that hotel room! And that Rocco! Is he good looking or what??? Forget the food! LOL! ;-)

I'm so glad that you had the opportunity to go do this, and I would love to be entered at a chance to win the cookbook. It looks great!

Thanks much...

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, WAIT! I need to tell you two things. YES, I am and have been a follower of yours forever!

And my favorite comfort food??? That would have to be chocolate, and I mean anything chocolate. I'm not supposed to eat it, but I dove headfirst into a great big chocolate dessert the other day after I had a bad fall. I'm still recuperating from both. ;-)

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

One last thing, I would pick a chocolate torte or maybe chocolate chess pie as my very favorite. I have a good recipe for the latter.

Amanda said...

Beautiful, beautiful post Pat! You really captured our trip. Love your pics! :)

Annalisa said...

What a nice post, dear Pat! It must have been fun to meet the bloggers and also Rocco!
Oh, it looks like you had a very great day!!!
:) I like this post a lot,
Love,
Annalisa

julie said...

Oh wow! Now THAT's a blog giveaway you definitely want to win. Congratulations! I found you through Mommy's Kitchen Friday Follow.

diane b said...

Wow that was quick.What a fantastic give away. Just up your alley with all that delicious italian food. Well done.My comfort foods are fresh dates and chocolate.

~Cheryl said...

Thank you for once again transporting me into another world! What fun to zip from one side of the country to the other for such an amazing adventure. I will choose pot roast for my comfort food because it reminds me of my childhood. I am also very comforted when I come home to the aroma of the pot roast I left in the crock pot when I scrambled out the door to work much earlier in the day!

~Cheryl said...

Pat, your blog was one of the first ones I discovered when I began my little blog. Then we migrated to Twitter! Now we are Facebook friends; it's wonderful traveling Life's pathway with you! ♥

Willow said...

Favorite comfort food? My dirty little secret: mac cheese! But I just don't eat it much anymore...sadly.

Kat said...

Pat, what an incredible trip! The hotel looks just gorgeous. And to meet fellow bloggers in such a setting is just amazing. Favorite comfort food? Fried chicken (really, really good, home made fried chicken) or mac and cheese. What a fantastic trip. Kathy

Maria M. Boyer said...

Hi, Pat! What fun! Hmm... favorite comfort food? Spaghetti with white clam sauce! That is comfort food, isn't it? It is to me! (Ha ha.) You know I'm a follower. I LOVE your posts! Fingers crossed! Maria

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What an amazing trip! I know you had a ball and I love seeing the photos! I've had this post open for a couple of days, reading it again! ♥

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

My favorite comfort food is chicken and dumplings...made from scratch! It makes me feel warm and good all over to eat a big bowl! Love your post! ♥

Joyce said...

Wow! What an amazing trip. Love the pink limo too and meeting Rocco had to be so much fun. My comfort food is usually a big piece of Italian bread that I dip into pasta sauce. Thanks for posting your amazing trip. I have a new computer finally and will post again soon. Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip with me.
Joyce

Lorrie said...

Hi Pat, I'm so happy to finally be getting caught up with my blog visits. I love to savor your posts, because they're so special.

I am still so thrilled that you won this trip and it's fun to see the pictures. What a neat limo--and that food is more like works of art.

I love chicken pie as a comfort food, and also chocolate chip cookies still warm from the oven with a cold glass of milk--heaven!

Unknown said...

Hi Pat, Loved all your photos and envious of the food! What a fantastic few days you had! I can't post my favorite comfort foods here, there's not enough room! BTW, I was at Borders over the weekend and picked up a copy of Artful Blogger and saw your beautiful photo in there. Congrats again on that Pat!