Chronicle Books has a fantastic contest going right now! One blogger and one of their readers will each win $500 worth of books. Take a look at my list of what I would get if I were to win. Don't forget to leave a comment as one of my readers will win along with me.

Writer's Workshop in a Book
The Squaw Valley Community of Writers on the Art of Fiction

Introduction by Richard Ford
Edited by Alan Cheuse
and Lisa Alvarez

5-1/2 x 8-1/2 in; 224 pp ;
Paperback
Published in May, 2007
ISBN 0811858219
ISBN13 9780811858212
$14.95

Since 1969, the prestigious Squaw Valley Community of Writers has helped develop the art and craft of many who are now household names. Instructors such as Michael Chabon, Mark Childress, Diane Johnson, Anne Lamott, Robert Stone, and Amy Tan have distilled their advice and wisdom from seminars and lectures, and the result is a book that captures the workshop experience of complete submersion in the writing process. With an introduction by novelist and short story master Richard Ford, himself a conference attendee in the 1970s, this volume gives the writer and dedicated reader a jolt of inspiration, sharp insight into matters of technique, and a feeling of camaraderie with a writing community.



IDEO Eyes Open: London
A Field Guide for the Curious

By Fred Dust
and IDEO

6 x 6 in; 160 pp ; 300 color photographs, concealed Wire-O binding
Paperback
Published in February, 2008
ISBN 0811861732
ISBN13 9780811861731
$22.95

Trust one of the most inventive companies in the world to come up with an entirely fresh take on travel books. IDEO, the world-renowned design and innovation firm, shifts the attention of the traveler and everyday observer from mere sightseeing toward looking—really looking—at their surroundings. City by city, each book reveals authentic discoveries at every turn. Culled from the experiences and observations of IDEO's designers, cultural anthropologists, and architects, this volume delves into the social, architectural, and epicurean scenes of London. Insightful, easy-to-use, packed with photographs, and presented in a convenient on-the-go format, IDEO Eyes Open rekindles curiosity and invites visitors—and residents—to see these cities with fresh eyes.


IDEO uses first-hand observations to inform and inspire the design of delightful and useful products, services, and environments.

Fred Dust is the global design lead for IDEO's Smart Space practice. He lives in San Francisco.


City Walks: London
50 Adventures on Foot

By Christina Henry de Tessan

4-1/16 x 5-5/8 x 1-1/4 in; box with lid, 50 cards, tri-fold intro card, 50 color maps
ISBN 9780811874106
ISBN10 0811874109
This product has not yet been released. It will be available after Wednesday January 12, 2011. Contact customer service for more information.
$14.95

Completely revised and updated!

Walks include:
• Soho
• Notting Hill
• Bethnal Green
• Hampstead Heath
• And more!


Crêpes
Sweet & Savory Recipes for the Home Cook

By Lou Seibert Pappas
Photographs by Jean-Blaise Hall

8-3/4 x 8 in; 108 pp ; 22 color photographs
Paperback
Published in July, 2006
ISBN 081185681X
ISBN13 9780811856812
$14.95

Ever-popular in France, delicate and delicious crêpes are once again basking in the international culinary spotlight. This gorgeously illustrated cookbook features more than 40 recipes for sweet and savory crêpes, all sure to delight friends and family alike.


The Irish Pub Cookbook


By Margaret M. Johnson
Photographs by Leigh Beisch
and Margaret M. Johnson

8-1/ 4x 9 in; 224 pp ; 100 color photographs
Paperback
Published in December, 2005
ISBN 0811844854
ISBN13 9780811844857
$24.95

Talk about the luck of the Irish! One of the most beloved of Irish institutions (there are more than one thousand in Dublin alone), the traditional pub has served generations as the venue for local gossip, sporting news, a ceilidh or two, literary soirees, real estate deals, political debates, revolutionary plots, and, lest we forget, for knocking back a pint of Guinness or a "ball of malt." The food's not bad either—as The Irish Pub Cookbook so deliciously demonstrates. It's a celebration of over 70 pub classics: thick soups and stews; savory tarts and meaty pies; big bowls of salad (times change!); and desserts of the seconds-are-always-appropriate variety. There's shepherd's pie, fish and chips, seafood chowder, and whiskey bread pudding for those with a taste for the quintessential. Contemporary specialties such as Bacon, Blue Cheese, and Courgette Soup; Salmon Cakes with Dill and Wine Sauce; Braised Lambshanks with Red Currants; and White Chocolate Terrine spotlight modern Irish cooking's richly deserved acclaim. Complete with pub photos, history, and lore, nobody leaves hungry when The Irish Pub Cookbook is in the kitchen.


Margaret M. Johnson writes frequently about food and travel in her ancestral home. The author of the New Irish Table (0-8118-3387-9); Irish Puddings, Tarts, Crumbles, and Fools (0-8118-4163-4); and the Irish Heritage Cookbook (0-8118-1992-2), she is an Irish-American who lives in New York.

Leigh Beisch is a San Francisco–based photographer. Her work has appeared in many fashion, lifestyle, and health magazines, as well as in Viva Margarita (0-8118-4022-0) and Olives, Anchovies, and Capers (0-8118-2494-2).


The Real Housewives Get Personal


By the creators of The Real Housewives
Foreword by Andy Cohen

7-1/2 x 11 in; 192 pp ; more than 200 color photographs
Paperback
Published in June, 2010
ISBN 9780811874168
ISBN10 0811874168
$24.95

The 10 million-plus fans of Bravo's top show The Real Housewives want to know what happens when the cameras aren't rolling. In this behind-the-scenes companion, the women from Orange County, New York, Atlanta, and New Jersey dish on everything from plastic surgery to personal growth and share their top-secret tips on shopping, styling, travel, fitness, and real estate. Candid personal profiles reveal what the ladies really think about the other cast members and provide a backstage view of the show's most priceless moments: Tamra getting Gretchen drunk at her dinner party, the "retouching incident" between the Countess and Bethenny, Teresa's infamous table-flipping, and many, many more. Brimming with color photos, entertaining tidbits, straight-talking advice, and unforgettable quotes, this book is an absolute must-have, dahling!


The Real Housewives is a top-ranked reality show on Bravo TV cable network that reveals the daily lives of privileged housewives around the country. The show has become a phenomenon—it draws over 2 million female viewers per episode and continues to break network records with each new season.

Andy Cohen is the senior vice president of Programming and Development at Bravo TV.


Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook


By the creators of Top Chef
Foreword by Padma Lakshmi
Photographs by Antonis Achilleos

8-1/2 x 10 in; 224 pp ; images throughout
Hardcover
Published in September, 2009
ISBN 9780811870825
ISBN10 0811870820
$29.95

The much-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times best-selling Top Chef: The Cookbook is here! Drawing from all 5 seasons of the show, Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook features 75 of the best recipes—from Spike's Pizza alla Greek to Stephanie's Bittersweet Chocolate Cake—culled from the Top Chef Quickfire Challenges. Everything the home chef needs to assemble an impressive meal and channel the energy of the Quickfire kitchen is collected here, including advice on hosting a Quickfire Cocktail Party and staging Quickfire Challenges at home. Best of all, this book is spilling over with sidebar material, including tips for home chefs, interviews with contestants, fabulous photos, and fun trivia related to the chefs, dishes, and ingredients that make Top Chef a favorite.


Padma Lakshmi is host of Top Chef. A former model and actress, she is the author of two cookbooks.

Antonis Achilleos is a New York-based photographer.


Top Chef: The Cookbook


By the creators of Top Chef
Foreword by Tom Colicchio

8-1/2 x 10 in; 256 pp ;
Hardcover
Published in March, 2008
ISBN 0811864308
ISBN13 9780811864305
$29.95

Top Chef presents the official companion cookbook to the No. 1 rated food show on cable television! Featuring 100 fabulous recipes from the first three seasons of the show, including dishes from the Elimination Rounds and the Quick-Fire Challenges, Top Chef: The Cookbook invites fans into the hottest kitchen on prime time. In-depth discussions with contestants, judges, and crew reveal the inner workings of the show, and lavish photographs take readers behind-the-scenes into the Top Chef pantry and the competition sites. Handsomely packaged with a canvas cover inspired by the chef's jacket worn by each of the Top Chef contestants, this cookbook will have aspiring culinary contenders reliving classic show moments and relishing new recipes just in time to obsess over Padma's outfits in Season 4.


In addition to his job as lead judge on Top Chef, Tom Colicchio is one of America's most influential chefs. He won the James Beard Award as the best chef in New York when he was at Gramercy Tavern. He is currently the chef/owner of Craft in New York and Craftsteak in Las Vegas. His seminal cookbook Think Like a Chef won the James Beard Cookbook Award.

Quotes

"Top Chef: The Cookbook (Bravo Media) offers plenty for rabid fans of the show: Behind-the-scenes photos, casting notes, episode stats, a fancy food dictionary and interviews with everyone from Anthony Bourdain to Katie Lee Joel. But there are also great recipes you'll recognize from the competitions, of course, ranging from the maybe-I'll-try-that-when-I-have-a-week-off kind of productions to these refined yet simple dishes you can really make at home." —New York Daily News, March 2008.


Tea & Crumpets
Recipes and Rituals from Tearooms & Cafés

By Margaret M. Johnson
Photographs by Leigh Beisch
and Margaret M. Johnson

7 x 8 in; 168 pp ; 50 color photographs
Hardcover
Published in April, 2009
ISBN 9780811862141
ISBN10 0811862143
$19.95

Curious armchair travelers, nostalgic food excursionists, and inventive home entertainers will adore this tour of Europe's legendary tearooms and salons. A delicious culinary and cultural experience as well as a treasure trove of recipes from top-notch destinations, this little gem lets readers in on the rituals of taking tea. Recipes like the Ritz's cucumber sandwiches, Claridge's famous raisin and apple scones, or chocolate scones from Edinburgh's Balmoral Hotel, as well as color photographs of tasty tea fare and European teahouses, bring the charm of afternoon tea to anyone's home.


Margaret M. Johnson is a noted cookbook author and journalist. Although her ancestral home is Ireland, she lives in New York.

Leigh Beisch is a San Francisco-based photographer.


Baking for All Occasions
A Treasury of Recipes for Every Celebration

By Flo Braker
Photographs by Scott Peterson
Foreword by Chuck Williams

7-1/2 x 9 in; 424 pp ; 24 color photographs
Hardcover
Published in October, 2008
ISBN 9780811845472
ISBN10 0811845478
$35.00

Baking expert Flo Braker rises to the occasion with more than 200 celebration-worthy recipes for baked goods. Whether it's an impressive Dark Chocolate Custard Tart to wish someone a happy birthday, a blue ribbon-worthy batch of Fresh Mint Brownies for the annual family reunion, or an Old World Braided Coffee Cake to impress the bridge club, each recipe is custom-crafted to commemorate life's special events. Lots of introductory information on techniques and ingredients ensure that each treat will be baked to ­perfection, making this a fabulous reference for any cookbook library. Baking for All Occasions makes each day something to celebrate.


Flo Braker is the author of Sweet Miniatures and The Simple Art of Perfect Baking. She lives in Palo Alto, California.

Scott Peterson is a San Francisco-based photographer.

Chuck Williams is the founder of Williams-Sonoma.

Quotes
"Every baker will be richly rewarded by this wonderful book." —Chuck Williams, founder of Williams-Sonoma.

Killer Pies
Delicious Recipes from North America's Favorite Restaurants

By Stephanie Anderson

7-1/4 x 9 in; 113 pp ; 55 color photographs
Paperback
Published in March, 2007
ISBN 1932855572
ISBN13 9781932855579
$16.95

Key Lime . . . Peach blackberry . . . Sour cream raisin . . . Maple walnut . . . Chocolate pecan . . . Killer Pies presents 50 fresh-baked recipes from award-winning bakers across North America. These passionate pie masters share their fail-proof methods for producing flaky perfection in delicious, unforgettable variations on this classic dessert. Luscious color photographs accompany each tried-and-true recipe—along with a regional guide to the diners, cafes, bakeries, and farms that serve up the originals. Stuffed with the tastiest ingredients from Santa Fe to Winnipeg, Killer Pies serves up a sweet filling of mouthwatering satisfaction!


Stephanie Anderson is a food and lifestyle writer and editor from Carlisle, Pennsylvania.


The Bread Bible
300 Favorite Recipes

By Beth Hensperger

8 x 9 in; 496 pp ; 30 illustrations
Paperback
Published in September, 2004
ISBN 0811845265
ISBN13 9780811845267
$19.95

The Bread Bible is the one book on the subject no kitchen should be without -- and now it's available in paperback. A trusted authority on baking, Beth Hensperger has brought together hundreds of time-tested recipes, both classic and intriguingly original, from Gruyere Pullman Loaf and Farm-Style White Bread with Cardamom to fragrant Tuscan Peasant Bread and Classic Buttermilk Biscuits. And don't just think loaves. Steamed Pecan Corn Bread, pancakes, golden brioches, flatbreads, focaccia, pizza dough, dinner rolls, dessert breads, strudels, breakfast buns -- the choices are endless. The recipes are foolproof, step-by-step, and easy-to-follow. Busy bakers will also appreciate the excellent selection of recipes for bread machines and food processors. With a glossary and easy-to follow tips such as how to store and reheat bread, The Bread Bible is "a keeper for anyone who likes to bake or plans to get started." -Chicago Tribune


Beth Hensperger is an acclaimed San Francisco Bay Area-based food writer, cooking instructor, and bread maven who has written articles for Cooking Light, Shape, Bon Appetit, and Family Circle magazines among others and pens a weekly baking column in the San Jose Mercury News.


Michael Chiarello's Bottega


By Michael Chiarello
Photographs by Frankie Frankeny

9 x 12 in; 224 pp ; 120 color and b/w photographs
Hardcover
Published in September, 2010
ISBN 9780811875394
ISBN10 0811875393
$40.00

Michael Chiarello's fans have watched him on Top Chef Masters, the Food Network, and PBS. He's an Emmy Award winner and award-winning author, with combined cookbook sales of over 400,000 copies. Chiarello returns to the kitchen with a cookbook inspired by the soulful Southern Italian-style menu at his new Napa Valley restaurant, Bottega. It's rich with more than 120 photographs that convey the Bottega experience and 100 amazing recipes for Southern Italian specialties, which, with signature Chiarello style, are designed for the home cook to have as much easy joy cooking as eating. Bottega is Michael Chiarello at his best.


Michael Chiarello is the chef-owner of Bottega restaurant, and author of six other best-selling cookbooks. He lives in St. Helena, California.

Frankie Frankeny is an acclaimed San Francisco-based food and lifestyle photographer.


Fearlessness
The Story of Lisa Andersen

By Nick Carroll
Foreword by Lisa Andersen

7-1/2 x 9-1/2 in; 176 pp ; 100 color photographs
Hardcover
Published in October, 2007
ISBN 0811854817
ISBN13 9780811854818
$24.95


A beautiful tomboy nicknamed "Trouble," Lisa Andersen ran away from home at age sixteen, determined to become the best surfer in the world. In this wholly original biography, esteemed surf writer Nick Carroll captures her unconventional path to fame. Lisa Andersen did indeed become surfing world champion—not once, but four times. Along the way she raised a baby daughter on tour, launched the Roxy brand surf wear for girls, broke a thousand hearts, and inspired an entire generation of girls to surf. Packed with color photographs and never-before-revealed details of her fascinating life, Fearlessness lays bare the story of a young woman who conquered the surf world and changed it forever.


Nick Carroll is a former editor of Surfing magazine and the author of The Next Wave. He lives in Australia.


City Walks Architecture: Paris


By Michael Herrman
Maps by John Spelman

4-1/8 x 6-3/4 x 1-1/4 in; box with lid, 25 2-panel cards, tri-fold intro card, 25 color maps, 25 color photos
Published in August, 2009
ISBN 9780811868624
ISBN10 0811868621
$18.95

Discover Paris's architectural wonders like a native—on foot! This deck contains 25 walking adventures that introduce users to the city's one-of-a-kind buildings, parks, and monuments. Featuring insider information on historic structures like the Eiffel Tower as well as superb examples of work by famous designers such as Le Corbusier, each card also includes a handy map and vibrant photos of select locations.

Walks include:
Louvre Museum
Art Nouveau Residences
Palaces and Gardens of Versailles
Revolutionary Churches
And more!


Michael Herrman is an award-winning American architect and author based in Paris.


Sandra Gustafson's Great Eats Paris
11th Edition

By Sandra Gustafson

5 x 8-1/2 in; 320 pp ; 10 maps
Paperback
Published in April, 2007
ISBN 0811853942
ISBN13 9780811853941
$15.95

For more than 20 years, savvy travelers have trusted Sandra Gustafson for insider tips and great value abroad. Completely revised, updated—and in a new portable size—this beloved guide offer in-the-know advice on the best deals and most unique places to eat and stay in the City of Light. For this edition, Sandra revisited each of the recommended restaurants, and scoured the city for great new discoveries. With its lively, detailed, and personal reviews, Great Eats Paris is the antidote to the lowest-common-denominator travel advice, and the perfect companion for anyone in search of the authentic Paris.


Sandra Gustafson is a tireless world traveler and the author of 11 guidebooks. When home, she eats and sleeps in Southern California.


Flour
Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe

By Joanne Chang
with Christie Matheson
Photographs by Keller + Keller

7-1/2 x 10 in; 320 pp ; 36 color photographs, hand-drawn script and illustrations throughout
Hardcover
Published in October, 2010
ISBN 9780811869447
ISBN10 081186944X
$35.00

Every day 1,500 Bostonians can't resist buying sweet, simple treats such as Homemade Pop-Tarts, from an alumna of Harvard with a degree in economics. From Brioche au Chocolat and Lemon Raspberry Cake to perfect croissants, Flour Bakery-owner Joanne Chang's repertoire of baked goods is deep and satisfying. While at Harvard she discovered that nothing made her happier than baking cookies – leading her on a path that eventually resulted in a sticky bun triumph over Bobby Flay on the Food Network's Throwdown. Almost 150 Flour recipes such as Milky Way Tart and Dried Fruit Focaccia are included, plus Joanne's essential baking tips, making this mouthwatering collection an accessible, instant classic cookbook for the home baker.


Joanne Chang is the chef-owner of Flour Bakery in Boston. She has a degree in applied mathematics and economics from Harvard University and was a pastry chef at Payard Patisserie and Mistral. She lives in Boston.

Christie Matheson is the author or co-author of several books, including Salty Sweets. She lives in Boston and San Francisco.


Southern Pies
A Gracious Plenty of Pie Recipes, from Lemon Chess to Chocolate Pecan

By Nancie McDermott
Photographs by Leigh Beisch

8-3/4 x 8 in; 168 pp ; 24 color photographs
Paperback
Published in September, 2010
ISBN 9780811869928
ISBN10 081186992X
$22.95

Ask any pie lover—the words "southern" and "pie" go together like ripe fruit and flaky pastry. And behind all the mouthwatering, light-as-a-cloud meringue peaks and the sticky dark butterscotch fillings lies a rich and delicious history. In Southern Pies, some of the South's most famous bakers share recipes for 70 pies. Perfect for bakers of all skill levels, these pies are made with simple, easy-to-find, and gloriously few ingredients. Featuring such classics as Sweet Tea Pie and New Orleans Creole Coconut Pie, this tasty homage will fill everyone at the table with Southern hospitality.


Nancie McDermott is the author of six cookbooks, including Southern Cakes. A food writer and cooking teacher born and raised in North Carolina, she now lives with her family in Chapel Hill.


D.I.Y. Delicious
Recipes and Ideas for Simple Food from Scratch

By Vanessa Barrington
Photographs by Sara Remington

6-1/2 x 8-1/2 in; 240 pp ; 50 color photographs
Hardcover
Published in August, 2010
ISBN 9780811873468
ISBN10 0811873463
$24.95

For crafty green types who want to master the fundamentals of a scratch pantry and have graduated from simple weekend jam and baking activities, this book offers a wide variety of recipes and blueprints for artisanal food projects. Forty projects with accompanying recipes appeal to a range of skill levels and palates. D.I.Y. Delicious goes beyond pickling and preserving into fermenting, culturing cheese, and brewing sodas and tonics. A total of 75 recipes and more than 50 step-by-step, color photographs lead the way to outfitting a scratch pantry that uses fewer ingredients to make delicious staples at a much lower cost.


Vanessa Barrington is a chef and author with co-writing credits on Heirloom Beans. She lives in Oakland, California.


Skinny Dips
60 Recipes for Dips, Spreads, Chips, and Salsas on the Lighter Side of Delicious

By Diane Morgan
Photographs by Sheri Giblin

6 x 8 in; 144 pp ; 24 color photographs
Hardcover
Published in August, 2010
ISBN 9780811871426
ISBN10 0811871428
$18.95

We all love dips—we just hate what they do to our hips. That's why snack lovers everywhere will be drooling over the scrumptious spreads in this collection of low-calorie, low-fat party dips. Featuring healthful, guilt-free twists on all the fun, flavorful classics from dips and spreads to tapenades and salsas—these festive treats are all about healthy indulgences that are heavy on rich, robust flavors. Complete with nutrition facts for each recipe, party planning advice, and do-ahead tips that make preparation a breeze, Skinny Dips makes it a snap to dip and be fit.


Diane Morgan is an award-winning cookbook author, culinary instructor, and restaurant consultant. She lives in Portland, Oregon.


Seasons in the Wine Country
Recipes from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

By Cate Conniff
Photographs by Annabelle Breakey
and Faith Echtermeyer

10 x 9-5/8 in; 208 pp ; 75 color photographs
Paperback
Published in January, 2010
ISBN 9780811865883
ISBN10 0811865886
$27.50

Seasons in the Wine Country brings the flavors of the Napa Valley and the expertise of instructors at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone into your home with over 100 seasonal recipes. Beat the winter blues with a hearty helping of Cabernet-Braised Short Ribs with Swiss Chard and Orecchiette and distill the fresh flavors of spring with Lemon-Glazed Pound Cake with Rosewater and Strawberries. With simple step-by-step instructions from the world's foremost culinary authorities—including suggestions for wine pairings as well as primers on culinary techniques and equipment—Seasons in the Wine Country is the ultimate resource for those who desire to live the good life and cook like master chefs!


Cate Conniff was part of the group the opened CIA Greystone in 1995 and has been marketing manager there for 15 years.


Slow Cooker: The Best Cookbook Ever
With More Than 400 Easy-to-Make Recipes

By Diane Phillips
Photographs by James Baigrie

7-1/2 x 9 in; 544 pp ; 16 color images/photographs
Paperback
Published in September, 2009
ISBN 9780811866576
ISBN10 0811866572
$24.95

This is the only slow cooker book for busy people. With over 400 recipes, The Best Slow Cooker Cookbook Ever saves time and money week after week with easy meals that keep one eating well at home every day. From Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie to Mexican Hot Chocolate Lava Cake, this cookbook contains recipes for everything from soups and roasts to cobblers and puddings, inspiring night after night of great meals. Prep a few ingredients, toss them in the pot, and let the cooker work its magic while you're gone for the day. Return to a slow-cooked, deeply flavored, great-smelling dinner for you and your family—every night!


Diane Phillips is a cooking teacher and author of more than 14 cookbooks. Her home is in San Diego, California.


Pestos, Tapenades & Spreads
40 Simple Recipes for Delicious Toppings, Sauces, & Dips

By Stacey Printz
Photographs by Mark Lund

6 x 8 in; 96 pp ; 24 color images/photographs
Hardcover
Published in August, 2009
ISBN 9780811865890
ISBN10 0811865894
$16.95

With little fuss and enormous flavor, transform everyday meals with simple yet creative toppings, dips, and spreads. Forty recipes are paired with multiple serving suggestions for producing yummy (and healthy!) dishes, from appetizers to dinners. With few steps to follow and minimal ingredients to purchase, these recipes—many of which are sensitive to vegans and those with nut and gluten allergies—are built for speed and ease. Fifteen minutes is the total preparation time for Classic Provençal Tapenade, Balsamic Fig and Caramelized Onion Spread, and Rich Crab Spread. Using fresh ingredients and pantry staples, you'll soon be whipping up tasty pesto faster than you can say "presto!"


Stacey Printz is an author living in the San Francisco Bay Area.