Housebites is a service that allows people to enjoy a brand new dining experience and meet new people in a home-cooked dinner-party environment. Customers can search housebites for locations, food types, budgets and even the kind of people they would like to dine with. It’s perfect for anyone that enjoys eating out and socialising.

How often do you go to a restaurant and chat to the people on the other tables?

At Housebites that’s exactly what happens! Whatsmore there’s no waiter rushing you to finish and there’s no extortionate bill at the end.

Anyone can attend a Housebite and any keen cook can host one.

Housebites was created by a team of food enthusiasts, who all cook regularly. Encouraged by the current underground dining scene they wanted to create a service that took the best bits from dining-in and eating-out and turn them into a unique unprecedented dining experience. It’s also the same team that brought you Bebo, SpeedDater and Birthday Alarm

The lucky winner and a friend will be flown to Dublin and put up at a luxurious hotel for two nights. They will be wined and dined each night and treated to an exclusive private tour of the legendary Cooley distillery. At the end of the tour they will even receive a personalised bottle of Tyrconnell malt whiskey as well as a bottle of the newly released Kilbeggan Distillery Reserve to take home.

There is no limit to the number of entries per person, with one free entry being given out with every single full-sized (70cl) bottle of Cooley Whiskey bought from www.masterofmalt.com. Don’t hang around though, because there are only 250 chances to enter.

The limited number of entries (just 250) means that anyone who enters will have an unusually high chance of winning and, unlike most competitions, even if more people enter, that chance doesn’t reduce. Because of this, the draw is likely to be fully subscribed long before the closing date.

Master of Malt are an award-winning Online Retailer and Independent Bottler of Whisky and other fine spirits. The Cooley whiskey competition forms part of Master of Malt’s 25th birthday celebrations and it will feature an exclusive private tour of Ireland’s only independent, Irish-owned whiskey distillery. The tour will culminate in a whiskey tasting and the winner will even receive a very special personalised bottle of Tyrconnell whiskey and a bottle of the newly released Kilbeggan whiskey – two malts which are held in high esteem amongst Irish whiskey connoisseurs.

The Cooley whiskey distillery has become well-known for its production of a number of Ireland’s most critically-acclaimed whiskeys; malts from the Tyrconnell range regularly score upwards of 94 points in the Jim Murray Whisky Bible (Jim describes whiskeys in this bracket as being “Superstar whiskies that give us all reason to live”!) In 2010, the Cooley distillery was even declared “Distillery of the Year” by Malt Advocate’s John Hansell who commented on the quality and variety of whiskeys made at the distillery, “In an era where hundreds of small distilleries are starting up across the globe, Cooley can be an inspiration to them all”.

To enter the Cooley competition, all participants must do is buy any full-sized (70cl) bottle of Cooley whiskey from Master of Malt before 6pm the 1st of August 2010 arrives or the 250 chances to win run out. The lucky winner will be named on of before the 7th August 2010.

For a number of years now Château Lavergne in the Bordeaux region of South-West France has been building up a first class reputation hosting its popular cookery classes and wine-tastings. Now, owners Suzanne and Michel Bourdais have expanded this years programme to include tailor-made culinary holidays and tours, as well as introducing ‘food and wine coaching’ – a unique new concept for food lovers and the first of its kind in the area.

Situated in the delightful village of Bouliac and close to Bordeaux, the splendid 19th Century Château Lavergne is set in a 7 acre park and attracts visitors from all over the world to its relaxed and beautiful environment where they can discover, appreciate and learn about great French food and wine from the Bordeaux region.

Having already managed a vineyard over the years Suzanne along with her husband purchased the castle and from the outset decided to make Château Lavergne a real reference of food and wine in the region. Suzanne’s latest concept aims to bring food and wine coaching to visitors and holidaymakers who appreciate good food and wine but may not have the time or resources to find the best restaurants, hotels, vineyards or culinary gems in the area. Whether they are travelling alone or with a partner, or with a larger group of family and friends, Suzanne’s inside knowledge of the region will prove invaluable.

A typical client using this ‘culinary concierge’ style service would be staying in the Bordeaux area for around four days or so and would wish to discover the best restaurants, vineyards and hand-picked hotels best suited to their requirements as well discover the incredible Archachon Bay. For a small fee of 150 euros for 1 or 2 days, or 300 euros for 3-5 days Suzanne will provide a bespoke itinerary, make appropriate reservations and offer her unrivalled advice to make your stay truly unforgettable. These fees are for the entire group and not per person.

Château Lavergne is also offering culinary mini breaks which include accommodation in the château for one night. After breakfast participants are escorted to one of the region’s most beautiful outdoor markets before returning to the château for a superb hands-on cookery class given personally by Suzanne Bourdais. This is followed by lunch at the château and a wine tasting. Break’s cost 399 euros per person in a double room and 429 euros for single occupancy. The break can also be extended by an extra night for just 75 euros or 105 euros respectively. Extra dinner or lunch with wine for 40 euros.

For those visiting the Bordeaux area and wishing to take part in one of Château Lavergne’s ever popular cookery classes there is a great deal on offer for 2010. Classes start with a 2hr class dedicated to making French home cooking more accessible, understandable and enjoyable. This class is followed by lunch or dinner with wine tasting and costs 150 euros. Other longer classes include a visit to a beautiful outdoor market where you will discover exceptional foods from the very best local producers. There is also an opportunity to learn about foie gras by participating in a 3hr ‘Foie Gras’ Workshop. Here you will learn to prepare “cou farci”, “confit” and goose liver. Participants take away with them jars prepared in the workshop and like all classes a superb lunch with wine tasting is included in the price of 190 euros.

To find out more about Château Lavergne’s cookery classes, culinary tours and wine tastings visit the website at www.chateau-lavergne.com

Wholegrain UK is running a recipe making competition with the winner receiving a trip for two to Lesley Waters’ cooking school in Dorset.

The deadline for submissions of Whole Grain recipes has been extended until 11 July. With everyone is busy watching Wimbledon, the World Cup and enjoying the sunshine they wanted to give more time to allow you to get in the kitchen to concoct some whole grain packed recipes.

The details of the competition are as follows:
1. Create a recipe including a whole grain cereal from Nestle. Options include Cheerios, Shredded Wheat, Shreddies and Oats & More. A full list can be found at the Team Whole Grain website at www.wholegrain.co.uk.
2. Write up the recipe and take a photograph of the finished product. Then send the recipe and photo in an email to teamwholegrain@mslworldwide.com
3. We will then spend a week turning your recipes into brilliant files for people to share. If you would like up to link to your blog, then let us know as we would love to drive traffic and new viewers to your website.
4. Encourage your fans and friends to to go to the Team Whole Grain website and vote for your recipe. The top five recipes will then be forwarded to Celebrity Chef Lesley Waters and nutritionist Juliette Kellow who will decide their favourite dish. The winner will receive a weekend trip for two to Lesley’s cooking school in Dorset.

Lesley Waters’ Master Cereal Competition Video

A little bit about the The Big Lunch Beer Challenge, an extra to the Big Lunch…

- The Big Lunch is an annual event which encourages people to sit down with their neighbours for lunch on one day of the year, Sunday July 18th, in a simple act of friendship and community.

- The Big Lunch Beer Challenge is about finding the rising stars in home brewing. They are inviting the home brewers of the UK to brew a special beer for their local ‘Big Lunch’ and then to hold back six bottles to send to the Sharp’s judging panel.

- The prize for the winner will be to work with the Head Brewer of Cornwall’s Sharp brewery, Stuart Howe, at the brewery in Rock to brew a commercial batch of the winning beer. He also has a blog: http://brewingreality.blogspot.com/

You can find out more info on the challenge (and enter) following this link: www.thebiglunchbeerchallenge.com – deadline for entries is 10th July 2010.