Life has been something of a whirlwind lately. I made it through the Seattle leg of my book tour and now I’m now in Portland, hanging out with the family, teaching canning and getting ready to be on TV in the morning (I’ll be doing a pickle demo on AM Northwest at 9 am tomorrow morning).
Soon, I hope to do a bit more of a Seattle round-up, as well as post a recipe (this is still a food blog, after all) and remind you Portlanders that I’ll be at the Hawthorne Powell’s on Saturday at 2 pm. However, there’s a giveaway that I’ve been promising for weeks and I have to get it up before another day goes by.
Back in April, the folks from Wüsthof got in touch to tell me about their Defining the Edge campaign and asked if I’d be interested in helping spread the word about the campaign and also do a giveaway of their new 7-inch Chai Dao knife. After losing a good half-hour watching the chef-focused videos and how-to segments they’d produced for the campaign, I said yes.
I love good, creative video that features people doing interesting stuff in food and think that the segments they produced were worth sharing. They managed to select three people who deserve the spotlight, including San Francisco’s Richie Nakano (I knew him originally from his blog Line Cook and he wrote a really interesting and honest essay about participating in the campaign).
I’m also always willing to check out a new knife. I love cutlery and I’m constantly on the look-out for a new favorite tool. Before I left Philly for this tour, I was really enjoying having this curved-blade, easy to rock knife as part of my kitchen workforce. I think it will come in very handy this summer as I head into the season of chopping, mincing and breaking down massive piles of produce (the wide blade is awesome for smashing garlic).
If you’re interested in winning yourself 7-inch Chai Dao, here’s what you need to do.
- Leave a comment on this post and share what motivates you in the kitchen. Good produce? Music? Delicious chocolate?
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm eastern time on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) and will be posted to the blog on Thursday, June 21, 2012
- Giveaway is open to U.S. readers only. My apologies to those in Canada and beyond.
- One entry/comment per person, please.
If you’re interested in watching some of the videos that Wüsthof produced, I’ve included them after the jump.
Disclosure: Wüsthof sent me a Chai Bao knife so that I could try it out and take pictures of it for this post. I received no other compensation for this post. My opinions are all my own and have not been influenced by the receipt of the knife.
For more information and the occasional giveaway, make sure to follow the Wüsthof Facebook page.
Nothing like an outstanding blade to make a difference in the kitchen. Without it how could we do an outstanding julienne to make a proper stir-fry? That Chai Dao looks like it would be an outstanding addition to my kit. (Hope I win!)
An interesting new recipe to try out.
I was given the gift of a passion for gardening from my parents and am always inspired in the kitchen by fresh local produce, especially grown in my own backyard.
Ghosts…
That’s what motivates me in the kitchen. The ghosts of my mom, my grandmothers, and my great grandmother. And all the ethereal cooks in my kitchem who helped influence those people. And it’s made even more special when I get to use the kitchen tools that they used to create food in their kitchen. Tools like- pasta knives and cutters, pie and cake pans, pastry cutters, fruit pitters, and specialty tools like a handmade pizzelle iron with my great grandfather’s initials in the design (NS). But magically, when you make these pizzelles and turn them out and over, the initials can be seen as ‘SN’ ….. could it be Saint Nick?
How can you not be inspired, when these friendly spirits are there to guide your hand?
What motivates me? Chocolate -always or all ways? Both. Seasonal cooking and canning. Health and happiness for myself and my family. Sometimes that illusion of control is all we have in the tough times and cooking is that for me, a salve for my soul.
Right now it is summer entertaining with friends and family and fresh produce at the farmers market…soon it will be from our own garden. Good luck with the book tour.
My motivation is having someone to cook for. Now that the kids are all grown and out of the house, hubby and I eat simply. It’s wonderful when the kids come with their families and I can try new recipes and delight them with childhood favorites. Another incentive is food that might go bad…gotta use it up so as not to waste!
I just signed up to follow via email. CAn’t wait to see what is in store!
I am usually motivated by interesting recipes I have read and also by whatever is ripe in the garden and needs cooking.
What motivates me in the kitchen is when all those tomatoes start to ripen at once and I need to get to making suace. A knife like that would help with all the prep that goes into great cooking.
I’m motivated by tradition and knowing that I’m part of a living human history, but also by new (exciting!) ideas–I love thinking of new flavor combinations, new presentation, and how food communicates all of the above.
A cool glass of wine and some hot music are my best motivators in the kitchen.
What motivates me? Knowing that even in the depths of winter, I can still eat local, organic produce that I prepared myself!
I’m motivated by the end results. I know I should focus more on the journey, the chopping, the preparation, but I always tend to focus on the fruit of my kitchen labor!
I love to have my gospel music just a blaring….
Some really good tunes and a beer always motivate me to get cooking along with getting my bf to try new foods… always a challenge I feel up for.
Having time to relax with my family and friends motivates me in the kitchen. Hunger too!
Beautiful, seasonal produce from my local farmers market and new recipes. This will be my second year canning and I just love it. I love to share my recipe experiments with my friends and family.
All the produce from my CSA and my garden waiting to be used before it wilts is great motivation for both cooking and canning. Also, a glass of wine doesn’t hurt.
Wow! That does look like a nearly perfect knife for my needs.
Speaking of need, that is probably the chief motivator here. Nobody in this household particularly enjoys food prep, but all do like to eat well. So, compromises are made simply because we NEED to eat, prefer to eat well, and NEED to fuel ourselves with healthy stuff.
My family is what motivates me to get moving in the kitchen. There is nothing better than when my kids actually enjoy dinner and it isn’t because it is unhealthy take out food.
Freshness motivates me. I am constantly trying new recipes to take advantageous of seasonal ingredients and to broaden my families palate accordingly.
Hunger. No, really, if I’m canning it’s motivation to share what I’ve made. Some to trade for variety and some just to show what I’ve done. If it’s dinner it’s whatever is going bad in the fridge. I hate waste.
What motivates me is always making food I know is good for myself and my kids. sounds cheesy, but that’s totally it.
(What motivates me is trying to get this comment posted. Grrrrr, 3 tries.
What motivates me in the kitchen is my love of delicious food which always seems to taste better while sitting with my family in the yard under our crabapple tree.
I love listening to music while I’m cooking . . . it helps me get in the zone.
This knife looks cool 🙂
The motivation for me is all about the little steps it takes to reach that first bite of mmmm mmmm good. 🙂
i’m inspired by the challenge of making meals in my rural home from my garden and the land. living so far from a store you have to make do with what’s on hand!
Experimenting in the kitchen & creating something delicious that just causes you to make “tummy” noises when you eat it :).
This knife would enhance that experience.
Motivated by good light and a cross-breeze on a nice day, and an exiting project to tackle! (This morning: cheddar-chive scones)
Sleeping kids really motivate me to make a run for the kitchen, add a glass of wine and some music or NPR and I am ready to conquer any recipe.
Cooking something that smells amazing and knowing I’m tormenting the neighbor with the smells pretty much sums up my motivation right now! It’s always amusing to answer the door covered in food prep smears and address some hungry bemused denizen because they had to know what was on the stove or in the oven!
I love the entire process, selection of food, fresh smells at each slice, the rhythm of preparation, feeding my family…the kitchen is where I find my zen, and knives are my yoga.
Getting to eat whatever I make motivates me!
I’m motivated by lovely fresh ingredients, recipes and people who appreciate good food. Thanks for this opportunity.
Being able to create all sorts of items motivates me in the kitchen. And knowing I can share and give homemade canned and preserved food items away for others to enjoy motivates me even more!
My motivation in the kitchen is hunger: hunger for great tasting healthy and nutritious food. My inspiration comes from the fresh produce from both my garden and my weekly local CSA organic food basket. Your new book popped up on my recommended list on Amazon and while reading the reviews, I stumbled across the name of your website. I am so excited by your blog and will be a frequent visitor. Can’t wait for the book to arrive on Wednesday. Being single, I love the concept of canning in small batches.
Im motivated by wanting to eat everything i can. I want to taste everything.
I am inspired by my sweet children! They love cooking and food and it is so fun seeing them taste things for the first time.
I have to say good music or podcasts really motivate me to get cooking!
Good recipes! Finding more recipes than i have time for keeps me cooking all the time.
I am motivated by the compteting of the task. I am extremely goal-oriented (to a fault) and I love to see the finished product!
I’m motivated by farmers markets and the stuff that comes home with me from them!
Friends with appetites!
As a culinary professional, sometimes our inspiration can get a little lost. It’s easier when the seasons change and new produce becomes available, you start playing with new techniques, or equipment, or maybe a new member in the kitchen to play off of. But during the day-to-day responsibilities, you can sometimes lose what inspires you. There are many ways to get it moving again, but sometimes all it takes for me is a quick walk through the dining room on a busy Saturday night. Watching people enjoying my food, tasting the love that goes into each bite, not only is incredibly inspiring, but a good reminder as to why I get up and do this everyday. <3
Hunger? Kidding; my favorite motivation is a good playlist. I even have a post-cooking clean-up playlist!
Motivations are many – fresh foods, new flavor combinations, trying things just to see if I can pull it off ..and make it taste amazing and maybe look good too, the reaction from whomever is eating with me. Looks like a great knife!
Chocolate!
Cheese and crusty bread.
What motivates me? I want to give my daughter healthy, home-cooked food that is still ‘adult’ enough that I want to eat it too.
good, healthy food for my family!
For years I had no one to cook for so I made friends with Lean Cuisine. Then I was a single mother and I suddenly had reason to be in the kitchen. I want him exposed to foods I never had a chance to try as a kid.
The kitchen is sometimes my only creative outlet and it is usually a tasty one.
I’m motivated to cook by what I see in the garden and right now there are a lot of garlic scapes! Thinking about trying some garlic scape pickles….
Making a special meal for my husband really motivates me. Especially when I know it is one of his favorites. Perfecting a dish he loves in a restaurant to be able to make at home for much less is definitely a passion of mine!
I cook based on what’s in season. I love asparagus in the spring, berries in the summer, and apples in the fall.
Recently it has been food blogs and finding new recipes! Stopping by the farmer’s market is always good too. 🙂
The satisfaction of chopping up food… cooking is my therapy! Loved your appearance on AM NW!
My garden motivates me…whatever’s growing is what i’m cooking and nothing goes to waste!
All those empty jars!
Trying something different and creative. Also I like working with my hands and cooking is something if it fails no harm done.
Sitting down to enjoy the food afterward! The more efficiently I cook and clean, the more enjoyable the meal afterward is!
Serving the people I love delicious, local, and healthy food motivates me in the kitchen! That and dancing while I cook!
The look on someones face when after the first bit of really good food. When it is something that I made, I just want to make so much more. Oh and MUSIC!!!
My motivation in the kitchen is the same as in the sewing room: the act of creation! Making something tasty out of what is on hand or planning a special meal or challenging myself to try something new. Using a new knife or freshly sharpened old ones are also motivating!
My motivation is to FILL THE JARS! I usually make a goal that is larger than my original idea (a case of peaches instead of a dozen peaches) so at the onset of a canning task it typically looks a bit overwhelming. 🙂 However, the satisfaction of the job well done and future enjoyment is worth every minute of work!
my motivation is to provide my family with healthy alternatives. If I didn’t, they eat something else that wouldn’t be nearly as nutritious or tasty.
I love to read recipes on line. I am not a great cook but do like to try new things now and then.
Good food I made myself (and didn’t have to pay restaurant prices for!). And chopping veggies is a good way to vent frustrations. 🙂
my motivation…the warm smells of food cooking, the single-focused attention of chopping food, the creative and tasty satisfaction (the ping of jars cooling, if I’m canning). And if canning, being able to gift my friends and family with the results.
I am most motivated to cook when I start with a clean kitchen! Especially if someone else cleans it 🙂
Having my husband and children in the kitchen with me is very inspiring. And bringing home fresh produce from our csa and farmers market helps a little. 🙂
What motivates me in the kitchen is having a homecooked meal with fresh ingredients. After too many years of eating out way too much, I am thankful for my ability to cook and to have an interest in it as well. So many people just don’t care and eat whatever is cheap and convenient. Sad.
The biggest motivating factor in the kitchen for me is having a *clean* kitchen. Which occurs less often than I’d like!
Bringing people together really motivates me. In college, a bunch of us were from different countries, and food allowed us to share each other’s home. I love using food to connect with and celebrate people — put food out, and everyone relaxes and chats. Plus cooking is one of the few necessities (for health and budget) that’s creative, which makes it fun 🙂
Cooking and canning is fun and satisfying, and I have a ready supply of gifts that are truly appreciated.
I love finding a knife that just feels right (not saying that’s what motivates me, just saying).
Food = Love What more motivation do you need?
It’s also my creative outlet but really it’s all about the love of the people I share the food/time/experience with.
Eating good food motivates me to cook.
Fresh produce! Getting fresh produce from our CSA, farmer’s market or local farms has really motivated me to cook and try new dishes.
New ingredients and fresh produce motivate me to get my butt in the kitchen. I love playing with unfamiliar flavors and trying new techniques. Sometimes, though, I’m just motivated to cook because I’m hungry!
How good I feel when I eat fresh food.
Listening to music and seeing the sun stream through the kitchen windows gives me such pleasure during the process. But creating something that will please my family is my greatest motivation.
The one thing that keeps me going in the kitchen is knowing what I’m cooking/making will feed my family and makes them happy!! What else does one need?
Finding something new (or re-discovering something old) and sharing it… even as simple as introducing a friend to the beauty of a freshly baked loaf of bread.
Using what is available, trying new things, getting time to clear my head and listen to good music!
Fresh, local produce and a new intriguing recipe!
I get motivated by “shopping” the pantry and fridge/freezer, using up ingredients so there’s no waste, and creating. The 2 big dogs at the door to the kitchen waiting for some delicious scraps don’t hurt either. 🙂
The farmers market is what inspires me to cook and bake.
What motivates me the most in the kitchen is preparing new dishes with foods that that I’ve grown or picked in the wild. I just picked 30 pounds of sour cherries from a nearby neighborhood. Finding recipes to use up the cherries was a blast.
Fresh produce and frozen mango margaritas motivate me in the kitchen. Nothing sounds better than “pinging” jar lids when finished canning.
What motivates me in the kitchen is a challenge! Nothing gets me excited about cooking like making something I have never made before. Each new thing that I try (regardless of how well it turns out!) gets me thinking about more possibilities, variations, flavors. I just made ricotta for the first time the other day and now I’m obsessed with learning more about cheese making!
What motivates me? Trying something new each time I cook. I love to experiment and try new methods and ingredients! Also, a delicious meal made by my own hands – to see someone I love enjoy it. That is fulfilling.
Comfort and feeding my loved ones is what inspires me.
Learning about new foods, new techniques, and my palate!
i’m inspired by my garden and by NPR always playing in the background.
Typically it’s not what’s in the kitchen that motivates me to be in it, but rather the produce and goods that grow and find out of the kitchen! I’ve found a several farmers markets this year, and have been able to swap some of my surplus tomatoes for other produce that my neighbors grow. These new sources for fresh produce really make a difference taste-wise and make me want to cook. This is also my first spring canning goods other than pickles, and I’ve really been spending a lot of time at pick-your-own fields in the morning, and then jamming and canning all afternoon. I can’t wait to enjoy the taste of spring and summer all year long!
The minute I start to cook, I put a record on. Music is my ultimate motivator!
What motivates me is the food at the end of it all!
I’m inspired in the kitchen by healthy, tasty food (and impressing my recently-wed hubby : ). It’s great to be able to take a break from a busy day to create something delicious!
Having a peaceful kitchen that is clean and well-stocked motivates me to get in there and cook. Thanks for the chance to win!
Having a new recipe to try!