Freshest Newshttp://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/en-US2010-09-03T12:59:05ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.5 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Free Wine Tastings This Weekendhttp://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/9/2/free-wine-tastings-this-weekend.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-09-03T00:07:11ZFree Weekend Wine Tastings WineImage via Flickr user CoreForceI am going to attempt to switch this posting to Thursdays in order to highlight the several free tastings that happen this evening. I can't guarantee this will happen each week but I will make my best effort to get you the maximum of freeno info!

The usual reminder: I put this together before all the shops and cellars might have posted their tastings (ergo, they might not make it on the calendar), there is a listing of all the places that I've found free tastings at in the past is on the main Wine page. If you don't see one on the calendar that strikes your fancy, check out the list and the shops' sites and you might something more to your taste.

]]>And the winners are...http://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/9/1/and-the-winners-are.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-09-01T19:01:59ZCONTEST!Image via Flickr user Clearly Ambiguous

(Cross-posting to Fresh-Picked Seattle and Seattle Natural Selection.)

Thanks so much to everyone who entered the Cantabulous Fresh-Picked Giveaway and the Seattle Natural Selection Giveaway! Today I took all the entries, assigned a number to each (folks who entered saying they are Facebook likers got two) and used Random.org to pick a number.

And the winners are...

  • Felice L wins the Cantabulous Giveaway!
  • Donata T wins The Street-Smart Naturalist in the Seattle Natural Selection Giveaway!

If you didn't win this time, don't worry! I will be running more giveaways on the site, with themes like beer, pie-making, and entertaining. (And for future giveaways, I really will take and post pictures of the prize package, this one just got away from me.) The next giveaway will be announced next Tuesday, Sept 7.  And don't forget to become a Facebook liker of Seattle Natural Selection and Fresh-Picked Seattle so that you, too, can get two chances to win!

Thanks again to everyone who entered and for reading Fresh-Picked Seattle!

]]>Upcoming Gluten-Free Eventshttp://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/9/1/upcoming-gluten-free-events.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-09-01T18:37:26ZComing Attractions Gluten-Free/Healthy/AllergiesImage via Lise the LoserNeed to go gluten-free? There are several events coming up in the next few months that offer some guidance and support for making the transition to a gluten-free lifestyle. They also might be great opportunities to diversify your gluten-free diet if you've been eating that way for a while but have fallen into a rut.

Here's a quick round-up of resources & events, and remember you can always check out the Special Diets page for a continuously-updated calendar of gluten-free events and a listing of local resources. 

]]>Last Day to Enter the Giveaways!http://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/8/31/last-day-to-enter-the-giveaways.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-08-31T20:06:37ZCONTEST!Image via Flickr user Boo_Licious(Cross-posting to Freeattle, Fresh-Picked Seattle, and Seattle Natural Selection.)

Hey everyone! 

Sorry for the lack of Monday post, I am a little under the weather with a cold-y type thing and lost all my hyperlinking energy. I am pretty sure I'll be back up to speed quickly and posting will resume its relative regularity.

In the meantime, a reminder that today is the last day to enter the giveaways on Fresh-Picked Seattle and Seattle Natural Selection. On Fresh-Picked, you can enter to win a copy of Urban Pantry, preserves and pickling spices. On Seattle Natural Selection, you can win a copy of The Street-Smart Naturalist. You can enter both! All you need to do is fill out the entry form:

Cantabulous Fresh-Picked Giveaway

Seattle Natural Selection Giveaway

]]>On the Menu This Weekend, August 27 & 29http://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/8/27/on-the-menu-this-weekend-august-27-29.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-08-27T19:28:57ZBeer Bread Cheese Family Food Gluten-Free/Healthy/Allergies Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Kids Other European Summer Weekend Roundup WineImage via Flickr user Wild TofuLots of tasty stuff on deck this weekend. Beer, fruit, festivals, wine, cheese, wild food, juicing, and more!

Also don't forget to enter the Cantabulous Fresh-Picked Giveaway to win a copy of Urban Pantry and some delicious preserves! And there's a giveaway over on Seattle Natural Selection as well, check it out!

For even more to do, you can also see the free event round-up on Freeattle and the outdoor/nature event round-up on Seattle Natural Selection.

]]>Spreading Cheer with Volunteering & Beerhttp://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/8/24/spreading-cheer-with-volunteering-beer.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-08-24T07:25:46ZComing Attractions VolunteeringImage via Apol3Want to check out the Fremont Oktoberfest this year, but not sure if the $20 entry fee will be in your budget? Consider volunteering to help out and receive free admission, a souvenir mug and six tasting tokens, plus the satisfaction of know you helped support the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, which provides funding for the BF Elementary Day School, local arts organizations, and neighborhood nonprofits.

You can sign up to volunteer directly with the Fremont Oktoberfest, or through volunteer organizations One Brick Seattle or The World is Fun.

 Beer not your thing? Well there are still plenty of delicious ways to have a good time while helping others. Check out the Volunteering and Charitable Events A La Carte page for other local organizations that often food-related opportunities to volunteer and an calendar of volunteer and charitable events.

]]>The Cantabulous Fresh-Picked Seattle Giveaway!http://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/8/23/the-cantabulous-fresh-picked-seattle-giveaway.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-08-23T09:39:51ZCONTEST! Canning & Preserving ContestImage via Flickr user MagpieBride

Update 9/1: The Giveaway has ended! Click here to see the winner.

I've been wanting to do a giveaway for a while, and now that the site has a new advertiser (thank you, Croquet Creative & Hypfoods!), we can start doing a few new fun things. First up: a giveaway!

The town is canning crazy right now, so I thought that would be a good theme for this first one.

Here's what the prize will have:

]]>Cheese-A-Topia! Seattle Celebrates Cheesehttp://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/8/23/cheese-a-topia-seattle-celebrates-cheese.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-08-23T09:17:46ZCheese Featured A La CarteImage via Flickr user Patrick HoeslyThis week, the American Cheese Society meets in Seattle for its 2010 national conference, called Cheese-A-Topia.

But you don't have to be a member or attend the conference to enjoy lots of cheese this week. Take a look at some of the events happening this week and don't forget you can always check the Cheese A La Carte page for an entire calendar of cheese events including cheese-making classes.

]]>Weeknight Highlights, Week of August 23http://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/8/23/weeknight-highlights-week-of-august-23.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-08-23T08:25:22ZBig Names Budget Gluten-Free/Healthy/Allergies Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Weeknight RoundupHappy Monday! The week's food events include sushi, sake, satay, vitamin D and "Food Heroes."

Also please check out the free event round-up on Freeattle, and the outdoor and nature event round-up on Seattle Natural Selection.

Monday, August 23: Looking for a restaurant that's open on Mondays? Chiso Sushi is and Seattle Weekly has a coupon for $4 sake and $4.50 sushi rolls from 4-6pm.

]]>On the Menu This Weekend, August 21 & 22http://www.freshpickedseattle.com/freshest/2010/8/20/on-the-menu-this-weekend-august-21-22.htmlLeslie Seaton2010-08-20T07:57:33ZCanning & Preserving Charitable Farms Gardening Gluten-Free/Healthy/Allergies Herbs Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Latin Flavors Raw Seafood Spanish Weekend Roundup WineImage via Flickr user cstreet.usI don't rely on this easy opener very often on this site, but here it is: I HOPE YOU ARE HUNGRY. (And thirsty.)

This weekend, we have FREE!  fries, all-you-can-eat crayfish, Cuban food, lots of tomatoes, BBQ sauce, raw food, healthy food, pie-throwing, a pottery open house at Saké Nomi, TWO free tastings of Spanish wines, and an Incredible Feast! Chow down, everyone!

And please also check out the round-up of free events on Freeattle and outdoor & nature events on Seattle Natural Selection.  And hey, consider liking Fresh-Picked on Facebook; I will be announcing a giveaway next week and Facebook fans will hear it first!

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