WIN a copy of ZENBU ZEN - Finding Food, Culture and Balance in Kyoto by Jane Lawson

Zenbu Zen takes you on a very personal 'armchair' escape to Kyoto, Japan with food and travel writer Jane Lawson. This book includes an informative, easy to read narrative with details about Japanese ingredients and plenty of authentic recipes.  

Plus the book is so beautifully designed and illustrated you won't be able to stop running your hands all over it! 

If you are interested in learning to cook and eat like the Japanese do at home and have an appreciation for the Japanese aesthetic you will love this book.

Lucky you! There is a copy up for grabs - all you have to do is this:

1. Go to the @zenbu_tours instagram page and follow if if you don't already

2. Find the image of the book cover above on the instagram thread and like it

3. Leave a word (plus #) under the photo on the instragram thread to describe what interests you most about Japan eg #Japanesetravel #japanesecuisine #food #zen #culture etc

That's it! 

You must enter by midnight AEST Friday 15 May 2015. 

All entries go in the hat and will be drawn on 16 May. 

Good Luck !

Win a copy of Snowflakes and Schnapps

Hello people of excellent taste who like to cook great food!

I'm giving you the chance to win a copy of my cookbook Snowflakes and Schnapps - the only book you need to get you through winter in style!

Just ask foodie Ann Brady who is currently cooking her way through the entire book, a HUGE effort and slightly crazy if I do say so myself - even I wouldn't attempt such a thing!  But I am so loving watching her recreate all my recipes and posting them to Facebook. (locate my facebook page if you want to take a peek) 

What fun - it's even made ME go back and cook a few things from it and her antics have inspired this giveaway - yep, it's Annie you need to thank if you win. 

OK, the rules are:

1. Go to my instragram page @janelawsonfood and follow it if you don't already (your still counted if you already like it!)

2. Find and 'Like' the image of the photo above 

3. Leave a one word comment (prefaced by a hashtag) describing something beautiful about winter eg #fireplace #snow #schnapps #soup #hot-toddies -you get the drift

That's it!

The competition closes midnight 01 May 2015 (AEST). 

All entries go into the hat. 

Good luck!

Zenbu Zen Competition no.2

OK, I'm going to take it easy on you all this time... Entry will be quicker than making yourself a cuppa!

Simply go to my Facebook book page HERE and "like" it.  That's it! Too easy. 

IF you have been so kind (and supremely clever enough) to have already "liked" my book page then please find a friend to do the "liking" - but make sure they quote your name in the comment box (or privately via FB messaging if they prefer) so that I know exactly who has recommended them to the page. 

There will be two winners.
One new "likee" will be pulled out of the "likee" hat and one person who refers a "likee" will be pulled out of the referral hat! The more friends you refer - the more chances you have to win  - just make sure they remember to include your name!!

So what are you waiting for - like away!

Competition closes midnight (Australian time) 30th October 2012 - winners will be announced on 01 November and a personalised copy of the book sent shortly afterwards. 

Cheers and Good Luck!
Jane 

*photo copyright of Cath Muscat Photography and must not be replicated in any form without permission

And the winner is....

It is 01 October and as promised I am about to reveal the winners of Zenbu Zen competition no. 1. 

But before I do so... may I please take a moment to thank everyone who entered the competition. It is not the easiest thing to look at where you would be if you truly followed your heart.  Actually it can be downright scary - I know this both first hand and now via those who entered the competition and felt compelled to also express how daunting it was to look at where they were "at" in life  -but, thankfully, they also shared with me what a lovely challenge it had been and how it had helped them to focus on the direction in which they wished to 'travel'.... 

I am blown away by the generosity of spirit. It is so joyous to hear other people's stories and connect with like minded souls - either people who have indeed already followed their heart in some way or are about to do so - or, at the very least, thinking about it for the future.....  if you have never ventured forth you really can't imagine what might be out the other side.  When you take this kind of leap of faith and are open to "whatever" happens you are well reminded that life is full of surprises... 

OK - now back to the task at hand.
It really was so bloody difficult to choose just two but without further delay here are the winners and their responses to the question

"In 50 words or less please tell me  - if you truly followed your heart – where would it lead you?"

Heather Loudon 

"I would create a space to nurture and extend people's creativity and the spiritual pursuit of feeling alive and doing things they love. I would sit in the eye of this wonderful situation and enjoy the benefits of being around people living passionately and be enriched and inspired by it."


&

Jacq Ellem

"It would lead me home, to people and places that I adore. It would leave me to write more than commercials, to love unequivocally and smile at the world... At least I can smile at the world now, one down just a few more to go :)"

***

Congratulations to both Heather and Jacq who have already been informed of their win. Both kindly gave me permission to share their entries.  

Stay tuned - details for competition no.2  - up next!

Cheers, Jane x

ZENBU ZEN COMPETITION DETAILS

If you have just arrived and are looking for details to the Zenbu Zen competition - here's the LINK

Good luck! Gambatte!
Jane x

STOP PRESS!! Zenbu Zen Competition update

Dear Friends, 

Due to way too many requests to ignore them...  I am officially extending the deadline of the Zenbu Zen competition to MIDNIGHT 22 SEPTEMBER 2012!

Apologies to those of you who got in so quickly with your entries.. but it seems a lot of folks have only just found out about this competition now  - thanks to retweets etc from online communities. 

Those who have entered already are welcome to enter again!

Here's the link to the COMPETITION DETAILS!

Cheers and good luck!! Gambatte ne! - Jane x

Kakiage - Vegetable tempura/ fritters Recipe かきあげ

Hello, we are in the process of transferring all Japan-related content to Jane's ZENBU TOURS site. 

This page has already been moved - you will find it HERE.

Thank you.

ZENBU ZEN COMPETITION

Dear Friends, fellow Cooks and Japanophiles,

My new book "Zenbu Zen – finding food, culture and balance in Kyoto" will officially launch on 01 October 2012. 

To celebrate I have 6 books to give away – compliments of my publisher Murdoch Books. 

Now… to give you a little background - this book is a somewhat unusual in that it has 3 main components which are harmoniously linked. Zenbu Zen includes a personal narrative about following one's heart, loads of Japanese culinary information and recipes, and somewhat of an informal “travel” guide to Kyoto - my favourite place in the world.

All of this resides within a beautifully designed package by rockstar designer Reuben Crossman and includes my own photography of gorgeous Kyoto town – and stunning recipe and additional atmospheric images by brilliant (and delightful) food photographer Cath Muscat!

Inspired by the elements of the book, I have decided to hold not one but THREE themed competitions. 

Two people, each month from now until December, will have the chance to win a signed copy of the book. 

The first competition will commence immediately and the winners will be announced on 01 October. 

The second competition will be launched on that day and the winners announced on 01 November when the third and final competition will be announced  - those winners announced 01 December.

OK here we go, sharpen your pencils ...

Competition no. 1.

In 50 words or less please tell me  - if you truly followed your heart – where would it lead you?

Feel free to use your imagination but I ask that you dig deep inside and consider where you might be or what you might do, experience, or create if there was nothing to hold you back!

Please email your answers to janelawsonfood@bigpond.com.au.

The competition closes at midnight on Friday 24^th of August. (STOP PRESS - due to too many requests to ignore I have extended the deadline until midnight 22 SEPTEMBER!) The winners of the competition will be named, here on my blog, on 01 September OCTOBER!!

To inspire you to start writing (and cooking!) here is an exclusive sneak peek into Zenbu Zen with a few samples of the book internals (including a simple but stunning recipe for Shungiku no Ohitashi - or drenched greens, suitable for many kinds of leafy vegetables.) 

**IMPORTANT: Please note that all images are the copyright of either myself, Jane Lawson or Photographer Cath Muscat and may not be reproduced without permission. All text is copyright of Jane Lawson and, as above, may not be reproduced without permission. 

Further - I’d love to share the winning answers by publishing them on my blog however, because I would like people to express themselves freely, I am happy to refrain from doing so if privacy is preferred. Please advise if you do not wish for your answer to be displayed for public viewing.

The competition is open to everyone - so get writing! And tell your friends. 

Cheers and good luck!
Jane x

Zenbu Zen BOOK GIVEAWAY

Dear friends and fellow Japanophiles, 

My new book, Zenbu Zen - finding food, culture and balance in Kyoto,  is being launched by Murdoch Books on 01 October 2012. 

Do you fancy winning a copy??  

If so, I'd love for you to please do me a small favour... I just need a few more wafer-thin "likes" on my facebook page before I can reveal details about a competition to win a signed copy of "Zenbu". 

Why don't you head over to my facebook page now and give it a good ol' LIKE!  Here's the link http://www.facebook.com/zenbuzen

I promise to share more details on how to enter as soon as I reach the magic 300 "likees".

Go on  - RUN! you know you want to!! 

Thanks for your help with this.

Jane xx

***UPDATE 17/8/2012- the competition details are HERE -