The Man Who Ate the World Giveaway!

I'm excited to write this post, because I have two really fun things to announce. The first is, I read a good book. The second is, you win a copy of it! I have three hardcover copies of The Man Who Ate The World, by Jay Rayner, for you guys to win!

A month or two ago, I was contacted to review a new book that was coming out in July, about a British restaurant critic's global search for the perfect meal, across the top restaurants on nearly every continent (Australia got a bit shifted, and sadly, Antarctica was never even considered). Supposedly, it was in the style of Ruth Reichl, whose books I adore. So I happily agreed.

In the first chapter, Rayner begs his readers not to read his book while hungry. I was reading the first chapter on the elliptical trainer, before dinner, but I was enjoying it too much to actually take his advice and put it away until sometime when I was full enough to pick it back up.

It's a really fun book. My favorite chapter, not surprisingly, is the one on New York, as he explores some restaurants I've been to, and some I've only dreamed about going to (and inspired me to knock one more off my list this weekend, in fact)! And aside from a few moments of being horrified by the prices of many of these meals, it was completely enjoyable to read.

This isn't a cookbook, it doesn't have recipes, but you wouldn't be a foodie if you didn't come away from reading it craving langoustines, truffles and foie gras, which, apparently, are on the menu at every Michelin-starred restaurant on earth. And Rayner gives some very nice mentions to food bloggers (unlike, apparently, Mario Batali, who hates us*). When he's planning his trip to Japan, he consults Pim Techamuanvivit of Chez Pim to find out where to eat. When he's finished with what has to be one of the more impressive restaurant-crawls ever heard of (Per Se, Jean Georges, Bouley, Eleven Madison Park, and WD-50 in one night), he posts pictures of all the dishes to a food discussion website the next morning (you can read his dining companion's account of the night here). And more importantly, he's willing to give copies of his book to one very lucky food blogger and three of her readers (that's you!).

So, to win, here's what I want you to do. Leave a comment on this post and tell me what your most perfect meal has ever been -- whether in a top-rated restaurant, home-cooked, or just good food with good company (my personal favorite). You can enter anytime between now and Sunday, July 13th at 8 pm Eastern time, and I'll announce three randomly-selected winners the following morning!

And, for those of you who are excited about the book and don't win it here, you can purchase your very own copy by clicking here!

Good luck, everyone (any happy belated Fourth of July)!

* I have been meaning to write something about this for a while, and Rayner opened the door for me because he talks about it in his book. But really, I think Mario Batali has nothing against actual food/recipe bloggers. He just doesn't like bloggers who say mean things about his restaurants. I love Babbo, even if the only reservations I ever get are at 5:30 or 10:30 pm. Don't hate me, Mario!