Well, let’s get right to it: the winner of the final giveaway prize, a $75 food credit for Luke Palladino at Harrah’s and an overnight stay at Harrah’s in AC: Kristin @ Dizzy Busy and Hungry! Congrats to you, and look for our email.

And thank you thank you thank you to all who commented this week. We so enjoyed all the good words you guys sent our way. I guess we’re doing something right.

Saturday will be quite the busy foodie day around South Jersey. The Big Teplitzky Challenge is back for another year at Teplitzky’s at The Chelsea in Atlantic City. It’s the firefighters vs the police to see who can take on the Big Teplitzky breakfast. The Indian King Tavern Museum in Haddonfield is having its 2013 Beer Tasting – 3 Cheers for 300 on Saturday as well, but you need to call to see if there are any tickets left!

The temeratures are starting to warm, but it will be chilly, erm, chili in Toms River on Saturday. It’s the New Jersey State Chili & Salsa Cookoff on Washington Street from 11AM to 5PM. Tasting kits are $7 a person, and don’t get there too late, because some of the competitors will start ot run out of chili. You have been warned.

You like outdoor bars? Roasted pig? Bowling? Well then – how about the Spring Fling at Pinsetter Bar & Bowl in Merchantville. The fun begins at 2PM. At 7PM Saturday night, enjoy the Handcrafted at Perkins Center fund raiser in Collingswood. Regional beers, sodas and spirits will available to sample. Tickets are $45 per person.

Hankering for a little local wine? You got not one, not two, but three weekend wine festivals this weekend.

Festival #1: The Glassboro Vintage South Jersey Wine Festival at Glassboro Marketplace on Rowan Boulevard is back for a second year. All of your favorite South Jersey wineries will be there. The cost to taste is $25 per person.

Festival #2: LBI has its Pour Into Summer Wine Festival going on at the Taylor Avenue Ballfield in Beach Haven for $15 a person. The festival is part of the Soar into Summer LBI Beach Opening festivities.

Festival #3: It’s the Laurita Spring Festival at Laurita Winery in New Egypt. The party goes until 9PM on Saturday and 7PM on Sunday. Admission is free.

Also happening on Saturday and Sunday is the Bordentown Street Fair along Farnsworth Avenue. The fair runs from 9AM to 4PM both days.

For Sunday, you have the kind of variety that I love about South Jersey. You got the Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival at Tuckerton Seaport, the Porch Brunch & House Tour in Collingswood (call for tickets), a Taste of Evesham along Main Street in  Marlton, and an Oyster Sail with Raw Bar on the AJ Meerwald down in Bivalve.

If you care to venture out of South Jersey this weekend…

Philly has two really big festivals going on this weekend where I think you will be able to find good eats being served: the Italian Market Festival and the Asian-American Heritage Festival.

Get a taste of the Himalayas a little closer to home: a Momo Crawl is taking place on Sunday in Queens.

Here is the cooking class schedule for the weekend:

Saturday: Petite Sweet Treats, Knife Skills with Wusthof and Date Night: Spring in Tuscany at Sur la Table in Marlton, and Spring Fling Cocktail Party and Steak, Roast and Chop Workshop at Viking Cooking School at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City. These will also be a special Lil Chefs cooking event at the Ocean County Mall in Toms River at 1PM.

Sunday: Croissant Workshop and Seafood Grilling Workshop at Sur la Table and Easy Summer Dinner Party at Viking Cooking School.

How do you enter?

Please refer here to the rules laid out for our giveaways. In addition, here are the rules specific to this giveaway:

1) The giveaway for the Harrah’s Atlantic City / Luke Palladino package will run today (5/17/13) from 7AM to 11PM Eastern. Only comments left on this post during this period of time will be considered.

2) The winner will be announced tomorrow (5/18/13) at 7AM Eastern via post as well as by email to the winner.

3) The winner must respond by 5/24/13 at 11:59PM to claim prize. If the winner does not claim the prize, as second winner will be selected and notified.

4) If you have won a prize already, let others have a chance!

Good luck to all who enter!

And here is our winner for the Bombay Local Pizza and Capasso Restaurants gift cards: Vickie Crews! Congrats and look for our email!

There is only one place to get Indian pizza fusion: Bombay Local Pizza in Voorhees.

One taste and we were sold on what they’re offering. We would like others to give Bombay Local a try as well.

Maybe a little incentive might help.

There is also only one Chef Alex Capasso, and his Blackbird and West Side Gravy restaurants are well-loved and highly-regarded.

If you have not been to either of these places, we urge you to go.

Maybe a little incentive might help.

So…here’s the incentive: how about a $25 gift card each to Bombay Local Pizza and Capasso Restaurants.

How do you enter?

Please refer here to the rules laid out for our giveaways. In addition, here are the rules specific to this giveaway:

1) The giveaway for the Bombay Local Pizza and Capasso Restaurants gift cards will run today (5/16/13) from 7AM to 11PM Eastern. Only comments left on this post during this period of time will be considered.

2) The winner will be announced tomorrow (5/17/13) at 7AM Eastern via post as well as by email to the winner.

3) Because it is a real cookbook, the email sent to the winner will request their mailing address. Mail delivery is the only option available to send the prize.

4) The winner must respond by 5/23/13 at 11:59PM to claim prize. If the winner does not claim the prize, as second winner will be selected and notified.

5) If you have won a prize already, let others have a chance!

Good luck to all who enter!

And here is our winner for ‘The Latin Road Home’ cookbook: Kerry Brown! Congrats and look for our email!

For our next giveaway, we have to offer a copy of ‘The Latin Road Home’ signed by Chef Garces.

How do you enter?

Please refer here to the rules laid out for our giveaways. In addition, here are the rules specific to this giveaway:

1) The giveaway for The Latin Road Home cookbook will run today (5/15/13) from 7AM to 11PM Eastern. Only comments left on this post during this period of time will be considered.

2) The winner will be announced tomorrow (5/16/13) at 7AM Eastern via post as well as by email to the winner.

3) Because it is a real cookbook, the email sent to the winner will request their mailing address. Mail delivery is the only option available to send the prize.

4) The winner must respond by 5/22/13 at 11:59PM to claim prize. If the winner does not claim the prize, as second winner will be selected and notified.

5) If you have won a prize already, let others have a chance!

Good luck to all who enter!

And here is our winner for the Chef’s Table brunch at Tortilla Press in Collingswood: Mary Jane! Congrats and look for our email!

By now, everyone knows that Collingswood is one of the biggest restaurant hotspots in New Jersey. But when we think of this charming little town, we think Chef Mark and The Tortilla Press. There from almost the beginning of its renaissance, Chef Mark has taken the concept of the Mexican-American restaurant and brought it respect-yet still keeps it accessible. Fresh local ingredients and interesting twists on traditional fare (we still hanker for the sweet potato empanadas we had  a while ago) keep the restaurant busy; yet it’s not so out of reach that you’d leave your kids at home. Chances are, you’ve eaten here.

But whether you have or haven’t, Chef Mark has given us a little something special to give away: A Chef’s Table Brunch for four people! Brunch at the Press is no ordinary affair, and the Chef’s Table make it even a little more special.

How do you enter?

Please refer here to the rules laid out for our giveaways. In addition, here are the rules specific to this giveaway:

1) The giveaway for The Madison gift card will run today (5/14/13) from 7AM to 11PM Eastern. Only comments left on this post during this period of time will be considered.

2) The winner will be announced tomorrow (5/15/13) at 7AM Eastern via post as well as by email to the winner.

3) Because it is a gift card, the email sent to the winner will request their mailing address. Mail delivery is the only option available to send the prize.

4) The winner must respond by 5/21/13 at 11:59PM to claim prize. If the winner does not claim the prize, as second winner will be selected and notified.

5) If you have won a prize already, let others have a chance!

Good luck to all who enter!

And here is our winner for the $100 gift card from The Madison in Riverside: Kevin Sine! Congrats and look for our email!

The first in our week of giveways to celebrate five years as South Jersey online food enthusiasts is a $100 gift card for The Madison!

How do you enter?

Please refer here to the rules laid out for our giveaways. In addition, here are the rules specific to this giveaway:

1) The giveaway for The Madison gift card will run today (5/13/13) from 7AM to 11PM Eastern. Only comments left on this post during this period of time will be considered.

2) The winner will be announced tomorrow (5/14/13) at 7AM Eastern via post as well as by email to the winner.

3) Because it is a gift card, the email sent to the winner will request their mailing address. Mail delivery is the only option available to send the prize.

4) The winner must respond by 5/20/13 at 11:59PM to claim prize. If the winner does not claim the prize, as second winner will be selected and notified.

Good luck to all who enter, and we look forward to reading your comments!

We’re taking a short break from our usual stuff this week to hold a special giveaway celebrating our 5-year anniversary of this site. Actually, I should say multiple giveaways, because it’s not just one prize we’re giving away. Over the next five days, we will be giving away a prize every day! We have been very fortunate over these past five years to have met many wonderful chefs and other in the industry, and they were excited to be a part of our giveaways.

BUT – we can’t tell you just yet what prizes are being given away. We’re going to string you out just a bit more.

The first giveaway will be announced Monday at 7AM.

Now…here are some of the rules:

1) Each giveaway will have a specific time period when participants can enter, as well as when each winner is announced.

2) Participants can only enter each giveaway by leaving a comment on the post that announces the specific giveaway. The comnment should mention something about our site and what they have enjoyed about it over the past years. We appreciate all the comments we get.

3) Comments left on any other page of ours (Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, RebelMouse) will not be accepted as an entry into any of this week’s giveaways. The purpose for this is to avoid any additional restrictions that may be necessary.

4) One entry per person per giveaway will be eligible.

5) Giveaway winners will be selected using the Random Interger Generator at random.org. Entries will be assigned a number based on when they are received (1st entry will be assigned ’1′, 2nd entry ’2′, etc…).

6) Giveaway winners will be notified by post as well as by email. Please make sure that the email address you provide when making a comment is legitimate.

7) Additional rules for each giveaway will be announced when they are posted.

Rules, rules, rules…I know, but they are necessary. Anyways, we look forward to getting things started tomorrow!

Have you put away your sombreros yet? No? OK – I’ll wait…

Now? Good. After all, Mom’s big day is coming up and all. Unless, of course, Mom digs the sombrero.

Anyways, every restaurant is having some kind of Mom’s Day celebration this weekend, so here are a few interesting options to consider:

It’s my annual ‘Take Mom to the Winery’ pitch! The Garden State Wine Growers have their Mother’s Day Wine Trail Weekend going on and pretty much every winery in the state will have something going on this weekend. Taking a quick spin ’round South Jersey…

Auburn Road in Pilesgrove will be serving brunch from 10AM to 2PM on Saturday and Sunday for $18.50 a person.

Coda Rossa in Franklinville will have tastings of wine as well as paella!

Heritage Vineyards in Mullica Hill is having  special food event to go along with wine tastings. You need to buy tickets for this thing; seating is limited.

Brrunch will also be on the menu as part of the festivities for Laurita Winery in New Egypt.

Sangria will be part of the libations available at Natali Vineyards in Cape May Court House and Plagido’s Winery in Hammonton.

At Sharrott Winery in Blue Anchor, it’s Rosé and Roses for Mom.

And if the weather cooperates, Valenzano Winery in Shamong will have an outdoor brunch for $15 a person.

How about an Indian brunch for Mom’s Day? IndeBlue in Collingswood is doing just that. Three courses for $25 on Sunday from 11:30AM to 3PM.

If the Mom in your life happens to be into craft beer, head out for an early celebration tonight at   Brews at the Ballpark at Campbell’s Field  in Camden, 6:30PM to 8:30PM, for a mere $35 per person. Or take her “Down the Shore” to the Wine & Spirits Festival at Avalon Community Hall in Avalon (starts 6:30 p.m).

On Saturday, do a little something for others, like Mom taught you: don’t forget the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive at your mailbox (via the National Association of Letter Carriers). Or take her along as the two of you help Sandy victims at the Love LBI M2 festival to help raise funds  from 5PM to 11PM at the Long Beach Island Foundation in Loveladies. Or, if your momma the brews and Scotch, you can check out Hops ‘n Scotch at Red, White and Brew tomorrow in Mount Holly, starting at 3PM.

On Sunday, your seafood loving mom can do an  Oyster Sail with Raw Bar aboard the AJ Meerwald  in Bivalve (1:30PM. $40 per person, $20 for kids ages 3-12).

And what am I doing? Well, before I honor my own mommy on Sunday, I’m taking the mother of my kiddies for a bit o’ fun at Revel tonight and tomorrow, since it’s the big
Taste of Revel (runs tonight through Sunday).

And don’t forget that this upcoming week is ” Lunch on Landis (from the 13-18) in Vineland, grab a great lunch special for only  $8.

If you care to venture out of South Jersey this weekend…

The Washington Crossing Brewfest takes place on Saturday from 12:30PM to 4:30PM. Tickets are $40 as person, and they do not include pictures with the Father of Our Country.

Here’s your cooking class schedule for the weekend:

Friday: Latin Sizzle at Viking Cooking School at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City and Date Night: Great Food of the Greek Isles at Sur la Table in Marlton.

Saturday: Mother’s Day Macarons, Great Italian Cooking and Date Night: French Favorites at Home at Sur la Table, and Best of Class: Casual Dinner Party and Italian Seafood Dinner at Viking Cooking School.

Sunday: Mommy and Me Bake: Cupcakes! and Easy Dinners from the Grill at Sur la Table.

This just in: Revel in Atlantic City is still very much open.

This also just in: there are still great places to eat there.

And the follow-up to that: this weekend is Taste of Revel, a showcase of the good eating you can get there . From Friday to Sunday, indulge in events and special prix fixe meals from Chefs Jose Garces, Marc Forgione, Alain Allegretti, Luke Palladino and Robert Weidmaier.

Some of the weekend’s highlighs include:

* Sips of Summer with Chef Jose Garces Friday night at 9PM, where you can watch signature cocktails from the Garces stable of restaurants being made (and sample them as well!)

* Conquer the Steak with Chef Marc Forgione Saturday at 12:30PM, and see how Chef Marc prepares different cuts of meat (and sample them as well!!)

* Belgian Beer and Cheese Pairing with Chef Robert Weidmaier Saturday at 2PM, and experience the glory that is the beer-and-cheese flavor combination.

* For the Love of Chocolate with Chef Luke Palladino Saturday at multiple times, and he will be pairing up artisan chocolates with Italian wines. Oh my.

* Mother’s Day Brunch at Azure Sunday from 11AM to 1PM, and treat Mom to the good taste (and good looks) of Chef Alain Allegretti. The ladies do like Chef Alain.

For the full schedule, just go to the Taste of Revel webpage for times and ticket prices.

We will be down there for the weekend, so say hello.