When my parents visited Boston over Mother‘s Day weekend, my mom and I got up early on Saturday morning so we could head over to Williams Sonoma. We weren‘t just going to check out all their gorgeous cookware though – we were on a mission to meet Thomas Keller at his Ad Hoc cookbook signing! I‘d heard many bloggers rave about the book and I’d been wanting to pick up a copy for awhile, so I figured this was the perfect opportunity.
We arrived in plenty of time and spent about an hour and a half in line before being escorted over to have our books signed. Chef Keller was very warm and down to Earth. My mom asked about his Bouchon Bakery Nutter Butter recipe and he metioned that a cookbook featuring items from the bakery would be out in the fall!
The book itself is gorgeous and full of pictures and recipes that make my mouth water. I‘m having a hard time deciding what to make first, so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! And of course I wanted to share a bit of this experience with you, so I’m giving away a signed Ad Hoc cookbook!
There are two ways to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what your experience was like at one of Thomas Keller’s restaurants or let me know which of his restaurants you’d most like to try.
2. Tweet about this giveaway (using @cakebatterbowl) or post about it on your blog or Facebook page. Please leave a separate comment for this entry.
Entries must be in by Tuesday, June 1 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!
Oh, and the fine print: I’m sponsoring this giveaway myself and the winner will be picked with random.org on Wednesday, June 2 and announced shortly thereafter.
Cake, Batter, and Bowl features my original recipes for quick, healthy, and inexpensive weeknight meals and indulgent weekend treats. Enjoy!
i have always dreamed of Per Se. I remember riding the escalator up to see what was on the next floor when bored at columbus circle and falling in love with the blue door. we were young, my cousins had no clue what i was talking about, why anyone would want to go to the restaurant. everyone around me still gives me weird looks when i say i would die to go to per se.
I’ve never eaten at a Thomas Keller restaurant, but it would be a toss up between Bouchon and Ad Hoc, and I think I would pick Bouchon first. Of course, all of his restaurants sound amazing!
I posted about your blog and giveaway at my blog http://tripleadoption.blogspot.com/. And I originally started reading your blog after seeing you as a contest on URS this year. Your reciped looked great!
So exciting that you got to meet him! I’ve never been to a Thomas Keller restaurant, but I’d most definitely want to go to The French Laundry in Napa Valley. Between the classic appearance of the restaurant and delicious menu choices, I think it would be the best culinary experience I’ve ever had!
I pass by Bouchon Bakery every time I go to Whole Foods and really it takes all my willpower not to go in and spend my life’s savings on some pastry! One of these days.
It’s so cool that you got to meet Keller! Awesome giveaway.
Bouchon is on my list of to-do’s for sure!
I’ve never been to one of Thomas Keller’s restaurants but I would love to try The French Laundry. Everything on the menu looks delicious!
I would love to try The French Laundry!
I would be thrilled to dine at any of Thomas Keller’s restaurants!
What a great giveaway! I would definitely like to try out Per Se – I’ve heard so many wonderful things about it!
so fun
wish I could’ve made it! i looked at the book in WS yesterday… i’ll keep my fingers crossed!
Defintitely French Laundry!!! I’ve heard wayyy too much about it and how hard it is to even get reservations months ahead of time. Crazy!!
Wow! What an experience to get to meet him in person! And hoe generous are you to think of your readers while you were there! I think I’d go with the old classic, The French Laundry, if I got to choose. Thanks.
Do I have to pick just one restaurant? I’d be happy to pay a visit to ANY of them!
I’ve always wanted to try The French Laundry and also Per Se!
I’ve never been to any of Keller’s restaurants but I really want to try The French Laundry. Though I wouldn’t turn down a meal at any of his restaurants.
tweeted at about your giveaway!
I’ve been at Bouchon in NYC and had the Nutter Butter cookie and a chocolate chip cookie. That NB cookie was awesome! Wish we would have been there at a time to eat lunch or dinner!
I just tweeted about the giveaway @koismith
Thanks, Kerstin.
Id love to go to French Laundry although Ive never been to any of his restaurants!
Also tweeted about the giveaway! Thanks for the chance!
the bouchon bakery is more my style–i’d love to go there and just pig out.
That’s awesome. I ate at Ad Hoc a little over a year ago and loved it. It was a great mix of a casual environment and great attention to detail in food. I’d definiely love to go to French Laundry though, but need to save my pennies first.
So cool of you to give a copy away!!! Okay, I’m gonna have to say The French Laundry…just cuz I’ve wanted to go there ever since I can remember having a restaurant as a “destination”…years.
I just tweeted about the giveaway (girlichef) =)
I think it would be impossible not to say The French Laundry. I’m dying to own this cookbook. Fingers crossed
Also tweeted your contest: http://twitter.com/girlieerin/status/14709054025
I’m still disappointed I missed out on hearing about Thomas Keller at William Sonoma. SO cool you got to meet him!! I already have a copy of Ad Hoc but know about a million people who would love to receive it. I’m so excited for the baking book too!
I have been wanting to try Bouchon Bakery for a very long time!
tweeted it. I am linzkitchen!
I would love to try Ad Hoc!
French Laundry is my culinary dream. I’ve been to Napa/Sonoma twice but never to the restaurant. I have to go there before I die….
I’d looove to try ad-hoc at home.
I tweeted about the giveaway @cicii3
No doubt, I’d eat at Per Se. With wonderful veggies dominating the menu, it tops my list.
I would love to go to Napa Valley and visit the French Laundry. Thank you for the opportunity to win a signed cookbook!!
I would love to visit Napa Valley and eat at the French Laundry!! Thank you for the opportunity to win the cookbook!!
French Laundry….someday!
I love Vegas! And the Bouchon Bistro’s dessert list sounds like a must-try!!
I would love to try Per Se (which sounds and looks amazing) for that awesome dining experience, but honestly, all of his restaurants look amazing.
I would love to try Ad Hoc. Second would be Per Se. Thanks for the great giveaway!
It all sounds wonderful! I have a trip to NYC planned this summer for work, so maybe I will try Bouchon. Great giveaway!!!
I’d love to visit Per Se. So nice that you got to meet him!
The French Laundry, hands down!
i am soooo much more of a baker than a cook so i’d LOVE to visit the Bouchon Bakery
Hi Kersten,
You have a great blog page and again I loved you on the Food Network
I would love to visit Keller’s Bouchon Bistro in Yountville, CA. His Plat de Côtes de Boeuf à la Printanière,braised beef short ribs with spring vegetables,lardons, spring leeks & red wine jus, sounds wonderfully mouth watering. I have actually posted your giveaway on my blog page and will be tweeting your give away @onesassyma4God. Have a great day!
Definitely Ad Hoc, I drool everytime I pass by that place whenever I’m in Napa. I plan on dining there the next time I visit. French Laundry seems like the impossible dream, and the Bouchon Bakery is a must visit everytime I’m there! Ahhhh…Thomas Keller is a killer chef!
Wow, lucky you that you had the chance to meet Thomas Keller! Thanks for the opportunity to win this great book. All of the restaurants look amazing, so if I have to choose only one to try it will be The French Laundry. Take care, Michele
How cool!
I would love to try Ad Hoc. I will tweet about this right now. I hope I win:)
We haven’t been to French Laundry yet, hope to go soon!
The French Laundry! Thanks for the exciting giveaway opportunity!
Per Se would be my choice!
Tweeted about your giveaway: http://twitter.com/OneSassyMa4God
I would definitely go to Per Se…thats because I live about 2 minutes away from the French Laundry, and it IS everything that you heard of and more, but Bouchon Bakery is pretty great too!
I have to say Ad Hoc would be my first pick. Home-Style Food at its best.
I would love to go to The French Laundry!
I just visited Bouchon in New York last week and tried one of their chocolate chip cookies. Very tasty! I wish I would have tried their macarons, though.
Great giveaway!
I’ve never been to his restaurants but I’ve always wanted to go to Bouchon Bakery. I’ve also never made any of his recipes but I’ve heard nothing but great things about this cookbook.
Fantastic giveaway and so generous of yoU!
I would love to visit any of his restaurants…they all seem amazing,but I would particulrly want to visit Buchon Bakery. I’ve heard nothing but great things from this amazing chef.
So cool of you to give a copy away!! I’ve never eaten at a Thomas Keller restaurant, but I’d love to go to French Laundry!
I blogged about you great giveaway: http://candyricettebarbare.blogspot.com/2010/05/cookbook-giveaway-di-cake-batter-and.html
Barbara
ricettebarbare at gmail dot com
PS Sorry for double post: maybe you can delete it?
Per Se would be my choice
Jen
tesnjen at aol dot com
That’s so neat that you met him! And even cooler that your sharing with us. I’d love to eat at his bakery!
I think I’m a minute too late for the giveaway, but I wanted to say how awesome it is that you got to meet Thomas Keller! I’d love to go to his bakery
And the winner according to random.org is…number 27 – congrats Erin!!
Oh no! Are you telling me I need to buy another Thomas Keller cookbook in the fall? I definitely can’t pass up a baking one.