"contests" news and stories

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Her name is Butterworth. Mrs. Butterworth. And after 40 years of mystery, she's ready to reveal her first name to the world.

Slashfood reported in June that Mrs. Butterworth's had launched a contest asking participants what they think the company's iconic spoke-bottle's first name might be, accompanied by a short statement as to why. The co-winners, 15-year-old Shayla Doty, of Logansport, Ind., and Cynthia Harmon, 44, of Champaign, Ill., each independently found their way to "Joy" -- as well as $500 and a year's supply of syrup.

Said Miss Doty, "The father-to-be, Mr. Butterworth, was in favor of the name Yvonne, while the mother-to-be felt she was more deserving of a name that would remind them of what a precious jewel she would be -- Opal. Having not settled on a decision the day their giggling baby girl arrived, the doctor suggested "Jocelyn," meaning "the merry one." A light bulb lit above Daddy Butterworth's head, and he suggested combining the first letter from all three names, J-O-Y."

Ms. Harmon contended that, "Growing up, Mrs. Butterworth was teased by classmates who called her 'Joy Buzzerworth' in reference to a popular practical joke item called a joy buzzer that shocked people when they shook hands. When Mrs. Butterworth's introduced her syrup to the world, she didn't want anybody to think about Joy Buzzers, and just wanted them to love her thick and rich and buttery syrup, and so she decided to leave out her first name."

Still, Slashfood wonders -- did she meet a Mr. Butterworth and tie the knot, or is Missus just a nickname? Share your best guesses in the comments below.

Contest results will be posted at mrsbutterworthssyrup.

I'm not the biggest fan of using food in art (unless you or someone else is going to eat it all), but oh, how I love Easter Time. Why? That big ol' bunny we know brings not only the insidiously delicious Mini Eggs, but also The Washington Post's Peeps contest. Did you catch it last year? It asked for shoebox dioramas showing Peeps in different worldly scenarios -- historic, current, or future events. Some were real life (like the peep-o-suction image Marisa shared), some were historical (like Marpeep Antoinette), and some went Hollywood, like the wonderful Reservoir Peeps, or the above Psycho Peeps.

Simply come up with a scene (they say there's possible extra points for punny goodness), create your diorama, get some good photos, and send 'em in by 11:59 PM on March 15. But be sure to keep it in tact. If you're a finalist, the paper will get the diorama picked up for a professional photo shoot before semifinalists and winners are revealed on Easter Sunday.

Create away!

Fancy a free trip to the Big Easy? Enter now to win a "Top Chef Culinary Dream Vacation" for two to the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience at www.NewOrleansOnline.com/topchef.

Winners will receive round-trip airfare to New Orleans, home of the Top Chef Season 5 Finale, three nights in the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in the French Quarter, tickets to the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience events, a special Vintner Dinner at the Commander's Palace restaurant, and a cooking class at the New Orleans Cooking Experience. Five runners-up will receive an autographed copy of Ralph Brennan's Ralph Brennan's New Orleans Seafood Cookbook.

Contest deadline is April 16. For more information on the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, see http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/festivals/culinaryfestivals/nowfe.html.

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I wrote yesterday about the high hopes for the American team at the Bocuse d'Or cooking competition in Lyon. Well, unfortunately the team, led by 28-year-old French Laundry sous-chef Timothy Hollingsworth, did not perform as well as expected, taking 6th place in the two-day competition. The Norwegian team took gold, the Swedes silver, and the French bronze.

The winning chef, 28-year-old Geir Skeie, will take home a golden statuete of Paul Bocuse in his chef's outfit along with 20,000 euros, or about $26,000.

For what it's worth, Hollingsworth menus look pretty darn good. Take a look:

Cod Menu:

Olive oil-poached loin of Norwegian cod enveloped in scallop mousse, preserved Meyer lemon and Sicilian pistachios with citrus mousseline and shrimp nage

Wild prawn and haas avocado tart

Fennel compote, chili peppers and yuzu gelee

Agrumato custard with shellfish bouillon

Toasted brioche, scallop tartare, Ruby Red grapefruit and candied orange zest

Yukon gold potato and bacon mille-feuille

Creme fraiche-enriched King Richard leeks, Hobbs bacon chip and Sacramento Delta Osetra caviar

Beef Menu:

Roasted Aberdeen Angus Beef Rib-Eye wrapped in Applewood smoked bacon with prune-enriched oxtail jus

Rosette of Scottish beef fillet

Perigord truffles, celeriac and oxtail-endive marmalade

Glazed beef cheeks a l'etouffee

French Laundry garden turnips and sweet carrots

Calotte bresaola fume a la minute

Granny Smith apples, Savoy cabbage and horseradish mousse

Truffled pommes dauphinoise

California chestnuts, pickled red onion and celery branch salad

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Got a Prosecco cocktail that's the life of every party? Folks begging you for your Kosher kugel secrets? Sneak a few minutes while everyone around you is slogging through their post-holiday-feast comas and submit your best recipes. At stake -- trips, cash, kitchen gear, and culinary bragging rights for the rest of 2009. Break a ladle!

Are we missing any? Post 'em in the comments below.


Pillsbury's Make America Sweeter Contest

Boboli's Great American City Tour Pizza Recipe Contest

Tutti Foodie's Chocolate Adventure Contest

Pepperidge Farms's Puff Pastry to Paris Recipe Contest

Simply Manischewitz Cook-Off Contest

Mama Mary's Official Pizza Creations Recipe Contest

Mionetto Mixology Cocktails Contest

Jose Ole Coolest Mom Recipe Contest

4th Annual Hood Holiday Recipe Contest

Taste of Home America's Best-Loved Recipes Contest

Crisco Grilling Hall of Fame (Get the skinny from Marisa's earlier post.)

Paula Deen's Treasure Hunt

The Next Hungry Man Dinner