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Monday, January 26, 2009

Grab Your Fork reaches 1,000 posts - with a week of competitions to celebrate!



Congratulations dear reader. You are officially reading the 1,000th post by Grab Your Fork.

It's been almost five years of feasting and what a delicious ride it's been. Having a blog has prompted me to explore all of Sydney, to embrace its multicultural flavours, to support local producers and to share it all with you.

Not only have I relished the perfect justification to eat 'just a little bit more' for research purposes, it's given me amazing opportunities to find like-minded souls: through comments and letters from readers; attending industry events and meeting chefs; and being part of a growing network of amazing Australian food bloggers, many of whom are now wonderful friends.

And of course many of these posts wouldn't have been possible without the enduring patience of family and friends--the poor souls who have to wait for the mandatory photoshoot to be over before they can start eating. The G-man calls it 'being blessed'. Thank you to each and everyone of you, with a special shout out to my eating partner-in-crime Veruca Salt.

It's a triple day of celebrations. Today is also Australia Day and the first day of the Chinese Year of the Ox. Good things do come in threes.

The best way to celebrate this monumental post? Prizes. Ahh...... now I have your attention. Over the past couple of days, I've been in contact with several of Grab Your Fork's supporters, and they've all come to the party with generous prizes to give.

First up is KitchenwareDirect who are offering not one, not two, but three amazing prizes. Read below for all the details and don't forget to check back tomorrow for more. There are four days of prizes lined up this week. It's happy days for all!

Happy Australia Day,
Happy Chinese New Year,
and Happy 1,000 Posts for all Grab Your Fork readers!


Image courtesy of KitchenwareDirect

PRIZE #1: Global 20cm Cook's Knife (RRP $135)
I heart Global. My brother very kindly bought me a set of Global knives for Christmas a few years ago and I use them every day. The cook's knife is the most versatile, perfect for chopping, slicing and precision dicing. This knife has a recommended retail price of $135 and remember if you do miss out, you can always get one from Kitchenwarehouse Direct for only $84.95.

To win a Global 20cm Cook's Knife, simply check out the KitchenwareDirect website, then

1. Send an email to
2. Mark it with the subject heading "Global"
3. Provide your full name and contact phone number, and
4. Provide the correct answers to the following questions:

Q1. In what year were Global knives first introduced by Yoshikin Manufacturing?
Q2. What is the weight of a Global 20cm Cook's Knife?


Entries close 5pm Sydney-time, Friday 20 February 2009.
Only one entry per person. This competition is restricted to Australian postal addresses only.

Image courtesy of KitchenwareDirect

PRIZE #2: Culinare Electronic Scales 3.25kg (RRP $59.95)
Who hasn't cursed the inaccuracies of traditional scales, or tried in vain to use the lines marked on butter wrapping to estimate 30g? Cooking became so much easier when I received this exact product for a birthday present recently (are you noticing a cooking domesticity pattern with all my presents?). This scale weighs amounts from 1g to 3.25kg and can also provide measurements in pounds.

To win a set of Culinare Electronic Scales, simply check out the KitchenwareDirect website, then

1. Send an email to
2. Mark it with the subject heading "Scales"
3. Provide your full name and contact phone number, and
4. Provide the correct answers to the following questions:

Q1. The Culinare Electronic Scales are included the product category "Measuring & Timing". Under which drop-down menu at the top of the page would you find this category?
Q2. What is the flat rate for shipping charged by KitchenwareDirect, regardless of the number of items ordered?

Entries close 5pm Sydney-time, Friday 20 February 2009.
Only one entry per person. This competition is restricted to Australian postal addresses only.

Image courtesy of KitchenwareDirect

PRIZE #3: Snapware Cookie & Cupcake Carrier (RRP $49.95)
A cupcake carrier is more de rigeur than any designer handbag. This double-decker version (12 cupcakes per layer) will have countless heads swivelling in your direction as you instantly and effortlessly stop traffic. Priced at only $39, this product has been so popular it's been flying off the shelves at KitchenwareDirect, however the next delivery should arrive by late February.

To win a Snapware Cookie & Cupcake Carrier, simply check out the KitchenwareDirect website, then

1. Send an email to
2. Mark it with the subject heading "Cupcake"
3. Provide your full name and contact phone number, and
4. Provide the correct answers to the following questions:

Q1. The Snapware Cookie & Cupcake Carrier is listed under the product category "Baker's Tools". What other product does Snapware make?
Q2. How many cupcakes does the Snapware Cookie & Cupcake Carrier hold?

Entries close 5pm Sydney-time, Friday 20 February 2009.
Only one entry per person. This competition is restricted to Australian postal addresses only.


Good luck everyone.
Winners will be announced on Monday 23 February 2009.
Remember to check back here tomorrow for another prize competition.



Don't forget to enter all the competitions on offer!
Prizes #1 - #3: KitchenwareDirect
Prize #4: Kei's Kitchen
Prize #5: Sweetness the Patisserie
Prizes #6 and #7: Menulog
Prize #8: Ocean Room
24 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (Grab Your Fork) on 1/26/2009 07:00:00 pm


24 Comments:

  • At 1/26/2009 8:07 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    competition? i love competitions! yey!

     
  • At 1/26/2009 8:16 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Congratulations Helen!!!! What a great day for your 1000th post to fall on...very auspicious indeed! I look forward to more foodie reading and entering the competitions! Cheers and good luck in the Blog awards. Bring on the next 1000 posts!

    Noodlehead.

     
  • At 1/26/2009 8:27 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Congratulations on your 1000th post Helen! What a great feeling and achievement. What I love most about your blog is that you eat away around Sydney including those places in the West!! Thank you for all your lovely insight and reviews. I look forward to reading 1000+ more posts from you! :) P/s Happy New Year!

     
  • At 1/26/2009 8:40 pm, Blogger Kris said…

    Congratulations! OOh, and I love prizes! But I'm torn between the desire to link... and the fear that if more people enter, my chances of winning will diminish! :)

     
  • At 1/26/2009 9:07 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Congratulations Helen.....you deserve every success for all your hard work and efforts. We are all very proud of you.

     
  • At 1/26/2009 9:13 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Yayyyyy Happy 1000th post/Chinese New Year/Australia Day ^^! It has been an inspiring and tantalizing 1000 past reads and I look forward to 1000 more!

     
  • At 1/26/2009 9:58 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Congrats Helen!! 1000 is fabulous and have successfully helped me procrastinate through uni and now through work! Thank you!
    Does the cupcake carrier come with cupcakes?!
    Lol - keep the posts coming!
    Best Wishes.

     
  • At 1/26/2009 10:21 pm, Blogger Karen | Citrus and Candy said…

    Wow...1000 posts! Be sure to mark the milestone with more food! Congratulations Helen!

     
  • At 1/26/2009 10:37 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    congratulations Helen, an absolute labor of love, I salut you.

     
  • At 1/26/2009 11:49 pm, Blogger mimbles said…

    Congratulations on the 1000 posts Helen, that's a lot of blogging and a lot of eating and a lot of wonderful reading for us!

     
  • At 1/27/2009 12:03 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Congrats! Your blog is one of my favourites. Good luck for the next 1000.

     
  • At 1/27/2009 9:34 am, Blogger K said…

    Wow indeed! Congratulations and here's to another several more thousand posts. :D

     
  • At 1/27/2009 10:31 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    congratulations helen. we are new readers to your blog. love it! keep up the good and tasty work.

    j & m.

     
  • At 1/27/2009 12:59 pm, Blogger OohLookBel said…

    Hey Helen, way to go for your 1000th post! I first got into blogs after your mention in Gourmet Traveller a few years ago. Here's to another 1000 (and more).

     
  • At 1/27/2009 1:21 pm, Blogger R said…

    1000 posts? How can it be?

    You're blog only looks 500 at the most!

    Congratulations Helen.
    May the next 1000 posts be even more delicious, scrumptious and delightful.

     
  • At 1/27/2009 1:35 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Congrats and a big hug.

    Wow, 1000 posts. You are now officially a geezer in blog years.

    Thank you so much for letting us share your dining experiences. You work so hard and your posts give us so much joy.

    How many calories in each blog?

     
  • At 1/27/2009 6:25 pm, Blogger Annie said…

    Congratulations! Happy Australia Day and Kung Hei Fat Choy! (argh, not sure of the spelling!!!) Here's to the next 1000 posts!

     
  • At 1/27/2009 9:26 pm, Blogger Suzie said…

    Congratulations Helen - what an amazing achievement. Thanks for all the inspiration you give to newbie bloggers like me.

     
  • At 1/28/2009 1:06 am, Blogger Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

    Hi Kay - Free stuff is always good :)

    Hi Noodlehead - Thanks. I miscalculated at first, then realised that Blogger was counting some long-forgotten draft posts so it was a lucky coincidence indeed!

    Hi Min Ai - Ahh there are few things I will a) get up early for and b) travel far. Food is one of them! Glad you've been enjoying the posts and yep, there are definitely some great feeds in Sydney West.

    Hi Kris - lol. Maybe good karma will follow? It's funny that often the blog seems quiet with activity, but as soon as you put a competition up, the entries come flooding in! :)

    Hi Divemummy - Aww thank you :) Wouldn't be possible without such great fooding partners-in-crime.

    Hi FFichiban - Ahh I look forward to reading your 1000th post first!

    Hi Alexandra - lol. I hope it's been productive procrastination. I hear you're a great cake - you could beat those sample ones hands down anyway, I'm sure!

    Hi Karen - Oh of course. Any excuse to celebrate!

    Hi Billy - Thank you. Now if only I had half your creativity to overhaul my blog template and take such stunning photos! Looking forward to more fooding adventures!

    Hi Mim - So glad you've enjoyed the ride. It is a lot of eating, but I don't think I regret any of it at all!

    Hi Andrea - Thanks, and yes, I hope to stick around for another 1,000 posts too.

    Hi K - Several more thousand? Ack! Talk about pressure! But thank you!

    Hi j&m - Welcome to Grab Your Fork and thanks for commenting! Hope it continues to keep you hungry for more.

    Hi Belle - Wow, is that really how you found this blog? How funny. It does seem ages ago. Looking forward to seeing your 1,000 post too :)

    Hi R - Thank you, and yes, I do try to make myself look young around here. haha. Thanks for your lovely words, and I look forward to eating more with you over the next 1,000 posts too!

    Hi Veruca Salt - Geezer? Yeah, you could be right! Thanks again for always being there in the name of fooding adventure, not to mention your amazing cooking. I don't know how you do it.

    And calories? What are they?

    Hi Annie - Thank you and kung hei fat choy to you too (I prefer the Cantonese spelling too!). Hope to see you hit 1,000 posts too!

    Hi Suzie - Ahh as the tortoise said to the hare... slowly but surely. Great to see more food bloggers joining the ranks. We can always do with more!

     
  • At 1/28/2009 9:52 am, Blogger Y said…

    Oh my goodness, Helen! WHat a milestone! A thousand congrats to you! :)

    (and a belated Happy CNY and Australia Day!)

     
  • At 1/28/2009 5:12 pm, Blogger Kelly said…

    Congrats Helen! It's always a pleasure to read about your eating adventures :-)

    I know how much effort goes into keeping your blog going - truly a mammoth achievement!

     
  • At 1/28/2009 10:14 pm, Blogger Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

    Hi Y - A thousand thanks to you :) Happy CNY and Australia Day to you too!

    Hi Kelly - Aww thank you. I can think of much bigger challenges that require much more effort - the kind that require nappy changes :) Hope you're all well!

     
  • At 1/31/2009 12:30 am, Blogger Jen said…

    Congratulations Helen!! How exciting, a thousand posts, now that's remarkable!! Here's to another 1000 yummy posts. Keep eating and posting prodigiously!!
    I don't feel so far away from home whenever I see and almost even taste everything you've had.

     
  • At 2/02/2009 9:49 pm, Blogger Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

    Hi Jen - Always glad to offer a vicarious taste of Sydney :) Hope things are going well for you. At least you know that the weather can only get warmer for the next 9 months!

     

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