Bring the Pain

One of my dear friends noted that it's been forever since I updated the site Swag Shop. And she's right, of course.

So today, we play with bread punnery. Because honestly, there's nothing funnier than an angry baguette. Well, almost nothing. An angry dinner roll is pretty funny, too.


Le pain? Oh it's already been brung.

And because an angry baguette and company just weren't enough... I whipped up a pack of mean little dinner rolls for you.


Watch out! Those buns are tough!

Find angry baguettes and dinner rolls, not to mention culinary-minded bunnies, coffee-thoughtful fishes and little ninja MissGinsu wielding her scary ninja powers on buttons, totes, tees and all that kind of stuff in the Swag Shop.

And tomorrow, we'll put down the puns and get back to the regularly scheduled food blog.

Cheers,

I Drink Your Milkshake

Have you watched Daniel Day-Lewis gnawing the scenery in There Will Be Blood yet?

Incredible stuff. Amazing sound design. Amazing cinematography... and Daniel Plainview becomes a terrifying, indelible character for the ages.

And though the film is absolutely not for children (or even many adults, I'd wager)... the obligatory "I Drink Your Milkshake" bib really is:


Pick up a bib for your hippest baby friend and a T-shirt for your deranged foster father. Let 'em know you drink it up.

Find the bib, the t-shirt (and so much more...) in Miss Ginsu's T-Shirt Shop

A Whole Lotta Clams...

Four years ago, Pim Techamuanvivit (of the food blog, Chez Pim) had a simple idea: organize food bloggers help raise money for those going hungry.

This year, her annual Menu for Hope campaign continued extending that idea. Menu for Hope 4 involved dozens of food bloggers who sponsored some truly impressive prizes, including luxe meals at hungrily-sought hot-spots, weekend stays in lovely locales and unique opportunities to meet with heavies in the food industry.

The Menu for Hope 4 total donation for the UN World Food Programme: $91,188.00

That's double last year's amount... and imagine what next year will bring! I can't help but see Pim's MFH as a truly inspirational demonstration of the power of initiative and determined passion.



Though it's quite humble by comparison to some of the offerings, I truly hope Ms. Jennifer Fishman will enjoy her winnings from here at Chez Ginsu: a natural cotton chef-bunny tote bag with an array of aromatic spice blends.

Thanks so much to everyone who donated to the cause and to the ever-classy Adam Kuban (of A Hamburger Today, Serious Eats and Slice) for rounding up the wily Northeast-region food bloggers.

I'm already looking forward to seeing how MFH grows. Meanwhile, go check Pim's site to see if you've won anything.

There's still time to win!

The Menu for Hope campaign/raffle has already raised more than $83,000 for the U.N. World Food Programme, and hundreds of donors are eyeing the really wonderful prizes on offer from bloggers around the world.

Pim has extended this event through the weekend, and some of the prizes have precious few bids so far... so your chances of winning are greatly increased.



One such prize is my own offering, the very cute (and very useful) Chef Bunny Natural Canvas Eco-Tote, complete with a special Five-Pack Spice Blend set.

Each chance to win is just $10. Simply use code UE28 in the "notes" section when you make your donation. But be quick about it... this thing wraps up soon!

Menu for Hope 2007

As many who read food blogs know, Pim Techamuanvivit of Chez Pim has once again organized the annual Menu for Hope campaign for December 10-21, 2007.

In case you're not familiar with the concept, Menu for Hope an online raffle in which food bloggers from around the globe stop writing about food for a few minutes and focus, instead, on those who are going without.



To participate, simply buy one or (hopefully) more virtual raffle tickets for a chance at the great prizes available (see instructions, below). Tickets are priced at $10 each, and bidders may buy multiple tickets for each prize to increase the chances of winning. (Not that I'd be suggesting generous donations or anything.)

Proceeds go to the U.N. World Food Programme, which seeks to fight hunger worldwide, and the donations format is extremely effective: last year's Menu for Hope raised an eye-popping $62,925.


Use Prize Code UE28 for your chance to win!

For my part, I'm offering a Chef Bunny Natural Cotton Eco-Tote from my design shop.

Chef Bunny arrives ready to leap into culinary action with a savory starter: Five aromatic spice blends custom-made by your own sassy spice girl (that'd be me). We're looking to beat last year's total this year ($100,000 anyone?), so spread the word!

TO ENTER
If you're interested in buying into the raffle, here's what you need to do:

1. Choose a prize or prizes of your choice from the Menu for Hope

2. Go to the donation site at http://www.firstgiving.com/menuforhope4 and make your donation(s).

3. Please specify which prize you'd like in the Personal Message section in the donation form when confirming your donation. You must write-in how many tickets per prize. Use prize code: UE28 for a chance at the Chef Bunny Tote & Spices.

Many, many thanks in advance for donating, and good luck!