And the Winners Are...

The lucky winners of the Trout Caviar book give-away are:

Sylvie, down in old Virginie, Rappahannock, to be exact, who wrote of blackberry wine, epic canning, drying peaches, pawpaw harvest, and more.

Jeff, who celebrated a surprise morel harvest and butchering the doe he shot on opening weekend of the deer season.

And Gloria, the biggest fan of the pungent ramp, who also enjoyed locally produced preserves, wild mushrooms, and the Saint Paul Farmers Market, particularly the produce from Sor Vang's family.

I really enjoyed reading everyone's favorite food memories of 2011.  This was a blind drawing of all who wrote in with their 2011 highlights, one entry per customer.  I put each person's name on a slip of paper, dropped them in a bag, and my wife Mary (Pastry Goddess, Plate Licker, Soup Smiler, etc.) drew the names.  I was there to see that she had her eyes closed the whole time.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and thanks for reading Trout Caviar.  We're going into the fifth year of the blog, hard to believe.  I'm feeling as jazzed about this celebration of local, seasonal eating as I ever have--maybe more than when I first started the blog, since I had no idea then what I was doing, or where it would lead.  I look forward to sharing my foraging, cooking, eating adventures in 2012, and to hearing about yours.  Your participation, your feedback and insights and occasional quibbles (but quibble all you want, really), that is what keeps this interesting. 

To the winners of the drawing:  Please email me at brettlaidlaw@eckmeier.com to give me a mailing address; I'll sign the books, of course, but also tell me if you'd like yours inscribed with a pithy little message, and if so, to whom.  Thanks.

Be back soon with new stuff.  Oh, and by the way, I'll be doing a cooking demo tomorrow morning, Saturday, January 7, on KARE 11 television here in the Twin Cities, 9:43 a.m.  I haven't been on TV before, and I am, uh, terrified!