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Has this geeky Food Network star's television show really been on for an entire decade? Dang.

It's hard for me to believe (then again, I'm not his biggest fan), but it must be true, because they just put out this fat, hardback book commemorating the 10-year anniversary. It's a highly amusing book, jam-packed with recipes, pictures and stories about the first years of the show. In fact, each early episode has its own chapter in this book, "Good Eats: The Early Years" by Alton Brown. The book jacket even turns into a fold-out poster.

Want it? Leave a comment on this blog entry and I'll do a random selection at the end of the day tomorrow.

When I posted an entry about a cookbook giveaway for "Rose's Heavenly Cakes" by Rose Levy Beranbaum earlier this week, a blog reader named Tamara commented, "Marvelous cover. Are the recipes as good as the photo?"

Well, Tamara, you are about to find out, because you are the lucky winner of this beautiful cookbook! Your name was drawn at random from some 45 entries. According to my records, you left comment #2. Clearly, this is a book that is coveted by many, so hopefully you're excited to learn that you won!

Tamara, to claim your book, please e-mail me with your full name and mailing address. This is only for shipping purposes; your information will not be shared with anyone else. My e-mail address is lindsey.nair@roanoke.com.

Thanks for playing, everyone! I'll be doing another giveaway very, very soon.

All the bakers in the house, say "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!"

That's what I said when I opened the box this morning and pulled out "Rose's Heavenly Cakes" by Rose Levy Beranbaum, author of "The Cake Bible." The image on the front is enough to drive a sweet tooth wild, but just wait until you crack it open and see the glorious, glossy photos and recipes contained within. Chocolate Feather Bed Cake with four layers of chocolate ganache, anyone? How about Individual Pineapple Upside Down cakes? Lemon Meringue Cake? Chocolate Genoise with Peanut Butter Whipped Ganache? Are you saying, "Mmmmmmmmmmmm" yet?

This is a cookbook for the serious dessert bakers among us -- most of the recipes are pages long. But every element that goes into each recipe, from the Chocolate Snowball Hot Fudge Sauce to the Coconut Cookie Crust to the Vanilla Cognac Syrup, are done from scratch and explained in great detail. I'll share a recipe from the book if I can find one that won't take me all day to type up.

Interested in winning this $40 hardcover book for your collection? Leave a comment on this post before 5 p.m. Wednesday and I'll choose a name at random. Good luck!

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Every time I decide to do a Cookbook Giveaway and pick the winner myself based on comments, I wonder what in the hell is wrong with me. It's so much easier to just draw a name than choose someone based on comments. You guys always offer such compelling arguments!

I'm proud that everyone has an adventurous spirit, though. I was curious as to whether anyone would really want to cook over an open fire. It turns out that many of you think that sounds like a perfect afternoon!

Congratulations to LeeAnna Tylor, who wins this time based on her promise to teach Boy Scouts how to prepare gourmet dishes over the campfire. Here's what LeeAnna had to say:

Five years ago when my son became a Boy Scout, I swore I would never camp. Then I decided if I had to camp we would definitely eat good. Over 100 camping nights later, I have a trailer load of dutch ovens that I carry with the scouts on every campout. Open fire cooking would open a whole different avenue of adventure for myself and my scouts. One of my newest scouts as decided to become my dutch oven cooking apprentice. Just imagine the possibilities with a new cookbook. Cooking merit badge here we come.

I'm impressed that LeeAnna has already taken it upon herself to perform above and beyond the typical hot dogs and hamburgers and beenie weenie schtick. Because she's already been experimenting quite a bit on the scouting trips, I feel confident that she won't let this book go to waste. LeeAnna, please e-mail me your mailing address at lindsey.nair@roanoke.com and I'll send the book right away.

Everyone else, don't fret! The book is still available for purchase if you've decided you can't live without it. And I'm sure to do another Cookbook Giveaway before long!

Okay, I am extending the deadline for entries for the Cookbook Giveaway until 5 p.m. tomorrow, Friday. I will announce a winner on Monday! Good luck, everybody.

It's time for another Cookbook Giveaway.

Today, I'd like to offer up a beautiful hardback cookbook called "Seven Fires: Grilling the Argentine Way" by Francis Mallmann, which normally sells for $35. Mallmann, a native of Patagonia and a celebrated chef in South America, has reportedly given up the fine dining scene to return to his roots. He writes about growing up in a rustic home in the heart of the snow-capped Andes Mountains, where a fire was always burning for warmth, heating water and cooking.

The recipes in his book are meant to be prepared over an open fire, whether it is in a campfire ring, a fireplace or an outdoor oven. And they are all accompanied by lengthy instructions and exquisitely beautiful photographs.

Does Burnt Tomato, Goat Cheese and Anchovy Bruschetta sound good to you? How about Beef Tournedos Wrapped in Bacon and Sage? Brook Trout in Crunchy Potato Crust? King Crab, Potato, Corn and Leek Cakes? If so, post a comment telling me why you would like to learn more about cooking creative, flavor-packed dishes over an open fire. I'll pick the person with the best argument for winning the book. Contest deadline is 3 p.m. tomorrow!

It must be a bad week for Roanoke restaurateurs.

If you read the Business section today, you probably saw Jenny Kincaid Boone's story about the closure of the Roanoke Weiner Stand on Brandon Avenue. Nobody connected with the restaurant would comment on the closure, but Jenny found a lien against the establishment for unpaid taxes, suggesting that they may have been having financial problems. The downtown Roanoke location remains open.

But that's not all: Just before we were about to run a fairly nice review of Izumi, the Japanese steakhouse out near Bonsack, I hear it is closed. Dark inside, locked up tight. I don't know at this time why they shut down.

Finally, say goodbye to the barbecue place in the City Market building. They've got a sign hanging up that says June 5 (Next Friday) is their last day. That place used to be owned by the couple who own Burger in the Square. They sold it to new owners, who have since put it up for sale again. I guess this means there were no takers. Hmmm... with the threat of a building-wide shut down in the future, I'm not sure I can blame folks for keeping an eye out for their financial health.

Anyone got any thoughts on these closures?

Update: The New River Notebook blog has details about the Gobbler restaurant being up for sale.

Also today, I walked past Thai Orchid on 1st Street in downtown Roanoke. There's a closed sign on the door even though they are supposed to be open on Fridays and the special board was still set up on the sidewalk. Maybe they are on vacation?

Word has it, too, that the Midtown Picnic Club (formerly Orange Dog, Star City Coffee and a number of other things across the street from Zak's Cafe on Campbell) is closed. I looked in on it one day this week and it was indeed shut up tight during normal business hours.

Perhaps we should stop writing restaurant reviews at The Roanoke Times and start writing restaurant obituaries!?

Some ribs on my dad's smoker.

I am excited to announce the winner of "Grill It! Recipes. Techniques. Tools" by Chris Schlesinger & John Willoughby is Julie! Julie was the winner by random drawing, and only one of her comments counted toward the drawing. So, way to go Julie!

Reading about all of your delicious grill creations was a superb way to spend a few cold, rainy days. I know the serious grillmasters never let the weather stop them, but some of us find it hard to get motivated to cook outside with an umbrella and a winter coat. Spring is about to be sprung, though! So here's a recipe from "Grill It!" that we can all enjoy! It's for grilled "super-fiery West Indian" chicken breasts with a sour orange mojo sauce.

It calls for Scotch bonnet peppers, the small, bright orange ones. And WHOLE ones, at that, seeds and all! If you aren't big on super hot food, I suggest maybe de-seeding those bad boys before you put them in the blender. Or use less than four. And don't touch your eyes while working with them, whatever you do. If you're not careful, you might light your arse on fire!

Julie, e-mail me at lindsey.nair@roanoke.com with your mailing address and I'll put this book in the mail for you. Thanks for playing, everyone!

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I'm going to the beach for a long weekend soon and can hardly wait to see the ocean. I know it probably won't be warm yet, but summer is close enough to put on jeans and a t-shirt and make the most of some time away.

This particular group of friends is a special one. We try to meet up annually on the shores of North Carolina, and my husband always makes his specialty, filet oscar. Howard is just about the finest griller of steaks I've ever known. On top of the filet, he piles lump crab meat, freshly steamed asparagus and hollandaise sauce.

I've made dessert in the past, but usually the gut just can't take anymore.

Filet oscar season is almost upon us. I must give away a cookbook honoring the beauty of a rich chunk of meat on the grate of a roaring grill. How about "Grill It! Recipes. Techniques. Tools" by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby?

If you're interested in winning this cookbook, send in a comment describing your favorite meal off the grill. Deadline is Tuesday at 9 a.m. The winner will be randomly drawn.

Have a VERY LUCKY St. Patrick's Day weekend!