Update: This giveaway is now closed. I will be announcing who the winners are no later than Sunday. Also, stayed tuned for the contest – posted during the next week. For the new December contest click here
The best thing about November, in my opinion, is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the time we all get together with our loved ones and put aside our differences, and just enjoy a good meal together. In literature, the act of sharing a meal together is important to a story. If you are breaking bread, you have put aside some type of fighting. Meal scenes are one of two things: boring or intimate in nature. However, even the boring ones can give you great insight into the dynamics of the different relationships of those ‘at the table.’
That said, this month’s book giveaway (Thank you, once again, Hatchette Book Group) is a random drawing for a set of five books which embody holiday recipes, stories of cooking and hosting parties.
To enter, you simply have to comment on this post with your favorite meal scene from any book or movie, OR your favorite thanksgiving meal memory. The contest will end at midnight on November 21st 2008. Four (4) winners will be picked randomly to win all 5 books and each winner will be notified by e-mail on Sunday, November 23rd 2008.
- The Flavor Bible By Karen Page , Andrew Dornenburg ISBN: 0316118400 $35.00 – The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America’s Most Imaginative Chefs
- Katie Brown Celebrates By Katie Brown ISBN: 9780316118187 $30.00 – Katie Brown Celebrates Simple and Spectacular Parties All Year Round
- I Like You by Amy Sedaris ISBN 9780446696777 $15.99 – Hospitality Under the Influence
- Festivus By Allen Salkin ISBN: 0446540668 $9.99 – A brand-new and revised edition of the hilarious guide to the national anti-holiday made famous by Seinfeld, complete with never-before-seen material, photos, and illustrations on how to prepare and enjoy your very own Festivus.
- Holidays on Ice By David Sedaris ISBN: 0316035904 $16.99 – Holiday Stories
So, Good Luck and have fun reminiscing about your favorite literary meals!
- The giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only.
- You must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
- The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O. Boxes.
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What a great giveaway!
My favorite meal scene from a movie would have to be Christmas Vacation.
MY favorite Thanksgiving meal memory would be the year at my Grandparents house when we discovered my Grandma’s SECRET STASH of Cadbury and Caramello bars that she had hidden in the shelf under the table where the table leafs were stored. Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate ~ what a yummy memory. lol
hawkes(at)citlink(dot)net
mmmm…. pumpkin pie and chocolate does sound good! Thinking about this, I think I may have to incorporate white chocolate with pumpkin pie somehow during the holidays – can you say, Party on the Palate?!
Hi
My favorite food scene from a book is where a vampire sits sipping a glass of wine while watching his mortal date enjoy her well done steak 
I’m a sucker for vamp books. LOL but I’m also pretty handy in the kitchen being a SAHM is nice and I can whip up some goodies 
I love the Thanksgiving scene from Barry Levinson’s movie “Avalon.” Thanksgiving the way it should be. Aaaahhhh….
My favorite meal scene from a movie – is from The Christmas Story, when they are all at the table and the little brother is eating mashed potatoes and the mom is asking him “who’s my little piggy?” It is hilarious. A classic holiday movie too – it’s one of my favorite holiday indulgences.
My favorite Thanksgiving memory was when most of my family in the US came over to my house to celebrate. They came from Houston, New York, New Jersey etc. I ate and laughed so much that year =)
The best meal scene is from “Like Water for Chocolate” (the book or movie), when Tita makes a meal of quail and rose petals while thinking of her love, Pedro, and since she feels love and passion for him, the food is affected by her feelings and the lusty scenes after the meal for all who have eaten her food, are priceless.
I love the whole Christmas dinner scene in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It is hysterical when Clark’s sister-in-law overcooks the turkey, and when they cut it open, nothing but steam escapes. Also, the lime jello with the cat hair all over it was priceless too.
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
One of my favorite movies is Moonstruck with Cher and Nicholas Cage. There are about 3 good dining scenes and the one where Cher makes a well done steak for Cage is great.
I loved the scene in The Big Night when they were making the Timpanum, a huge layered entree. It almost inspired me to make one….almost!
My favorite movie scene involving a meal is in pretty women, there they are sitting down to breakfast and she is eating a croissant one minute and a pancake the next, then back to the croissant. Someone missed this when editing the film and i just find it amusing
mjf926 at gmail dot com
My favorite holiday meal takes place in the film A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim, when the Cratchett faimily is enjoying their beautiful frugal feast.I think I need to watch this movie right now!
WOW! these are some great scenes. And just to add one, my favorite scene is in Little Women (more the movie, Winona Ryder as Jo, than the book) when the girls come down to Christmas breakfast. They are desperate for the wonderful food they can’t really afford, but when they find out Marmee is out helping a family with sick children and less than they have, they decide to take their food to the family instead of eating it themselves. I know its not really an actual meal scene – because they never actually taste any of it – but its my favorite.
Good luck everyone!
my all time favorite meal scene comes from the harry potter book/movies and is when they are all feasting in the great hall together. the food looks so delicious !
it reminds me of our thanksgiving dinners. we invite alot of friends.family over and my mum always cooks a HUGE dinner. we sit around her big table and all feast
My favorite meal scene from a movie would be the Christmas Eve meal scene from “Christmas Vacation.” I really love Christmas time and all the holidays. Thank you.
the end of a christmas carol, with the xmas feast
The Chinese Duck scene at the end of a Christmas Story is my favorite.
It has to be the Chinese restaurant scene at the end of A Christmas Story.
My favorite dinner scene is the one from “When Harry Met Sally.” My favorite Thanksgiving memory is from when I was finally deemed old enough to help prepare dinner. Boy, was I a dummy! lol
I like the dinner scene in “The Nutty Professor” with Eddie Murphy.
Me too – Chinese Duck Christmas in Christmas Story.
even though it is a cartoon, the scene in lady and the tramp where tramp pushes the meatball over lady with his nose.
My favorite scene is from The Family Stone. I love that movie, so sad and funny at the same time. Brilliant!
Deidre
The final scene at Christmas dinner in a Christmas Carol
My favorite is When Harry Met Sally also.
Any Thanksgiving with my family around is very special.
My favorite Thanksgiving memory was the year I made dinner using a complete menu from Taste of Home Cooking. It turned out great!
Pans Layrinth – amazing spread!!!
My favorite feasting scene is Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone, with the tables positively groaning from roasts and goblets, and candles floating in the air.
My favorite meal scene in a movie is the dinner scene in Moonstruck, love that so much! These books look great especially the Amy Sedaris. Thank you!
Although the actual Thanksgiving meal is only a short scene at the end of the movie, my favorite Thanksgiving scene/film is Pieces of April. Patricia Clarkson delivers an amazing performance in this independent film as a mother dying of cancer trying to reunite her family with their estranged daughter, played by Katie Holmes, for quite possibly their last Thanksgiving together. Thank you for the give-away.
my favorite scene is from NL Christmas Vacation where they are about to eat Christmas Dinner and the turkey explodes.
I actually love a whole series of meals – anything by Goldie the caterer in Diane Mott Dadidson’s books. I always have to have a snack at hand when reading – her books make me so hungry.
The best meal scene bar none is when Charleton Heston brings back the spoils of his day in Soilent Green. Edward G. Robison savors every tiny molecule of food set before him and reiminences about the way it was when food was plentiful and available.
My favorite thanksgiving is from how I met your mother (not a movie, but I’m hoping a tv show is close enough). Marshall had renamed it “Slapsgiving” as he had one slap remaining for Barney. There was a countdown and ominous music playing on his laptop. Lilly ended up calling off the slap, until a surprise ending. It was hilarious, but also heartwarming as even more than 20 years later all the characters since have celebrated their Thanksgiving together.
One of my favorite movie dining scenes is when Arthur takes the hooker to a nice restaurant and in the middle of dinner he yells, “You’re a HOOKER?”
My fave meal scene is from Tortilla Soup. It’s the one where the spinster sister comes home and shocks everyone by introducing her husband, the go getter sister realizes she is not happy unless she is cooking – something her chef father had tried to steer her away from.
Another fan of the Harry Potter holiday feast scenes. They are so magical & happy, that it makes me feel slightly giddy!
I’m a sucker for romance. So an old fave of mine was Lady and the Tramp with the spagetti. My son used to make me watch that movie over and over and over …
My current favorite meal scene is from No Reservations. The love-interest of Catherine Zeta-Jones character is attempting to win her back while at the same time, doins something special with her neice. A chef by trade, he transforms their living room into a tented tropical paradise where they eat a variety of fresh pizzas that he and the little girl prepared. What a guy!
My favorite thanksgiving memory was years ago when my great grandmother was alive. Her, my grandmother and my mom made the biggest dinner. We not only had extended family there, but my husband was in the military so some of those who didn’t have a place when to grandma’s house for dinner as well. The house was packed, there was lots of terrific food and everyone had the most wonderful time. Thinking back on it, it still brings a smile to my face.
in the movie A Christmas Story at the restaurant
Okay,
I like the Deli scene in “When Harry met Sally”.
Definately the meal scene from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. That was priceless!
The Thanksgiving dinner scene in the movie “Home for the Holidays” is hilarious, and one of my all-time favorites.
My favorite memory is after I got married and both familes got together for our thanksgiving tofurkey
My favorite memory is having Thanksgiving at my favorite aunt’s house. They had a remodeled basement and it had many rooms. There was a talent show after a great dinner. She also had many tables with a combination of kids and older adults so we never got to sit at the unlucky kids table!!
My favorite move meal scene has to be the diner scene in “When Harry Met Sally”.
In the book, The Floating Dragon, there’s a scene where a man is having a holiday dinner with his wife, children, and grandchildren and it’s evocative and beautiful. The scene sticks with me because he is only imagining it, since his pregnant wife was recently murdered. It gave me a new appreciation for that noisy, unruly crowd at my holiday table.
My favorite meal scene is from Pretty Woman.
The dinner table scene from “Home for the Holidays” with Holly Hunter, where her father is saying Grace and begins rambling on and on about other things like he has the beginnings of senility.
My favorite movie scene is from N.L. christmas vacation. that was funny.
I absolutely love the dinner scene in The Break-Up when Jen’s family starts breaking into song/instruments. That’s a complete crack-up!
The final feast in “Big Night” is deliciously memorable.
the food scenes in Big Night
The tavern scene from TOM JONES is the best!
My favorite memory about Thanksgiving meal is all of us together eating a wonderful meal when we were growing up.
The dinner table scene from “Home for the Holidays”:) ty 4 the entry!:)
My favorite meal scene from a movie is from “My Best Friends Wedding.” The rehearsal dinner scene where the whole restaurant breaks into the song “I say a little prayer for you.” Hilarious!
Pieces of April is my favorite movie which centers around a family’s Thanksgiving celebration. The young adult daughter is trying to cook Thanksgiving dinner with very limited cooking experience.
This is a great series of books–I’d love to win!
I love both holiday meal scenes from A Christmas Story – I love it when the dogs get the food at the house and I love it when they are at the Chinese restaurant.
Thank you to all who participated. This has been fun! I will be announcing the winners no later than Sunday.
The next giveaway will be posted in during the next week.