A MOUTHFUL OF STARS COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY


A few years ago, I reached out to one of my favorite authors and culinary heroes -- Kim Sunee. Her first book, The Trail of Crumbs, hit my heart like a ton of bricks. I devoured it on a rainy weekend in Portland, lost in Sunee's web of effortless international travel, full on love story, and descriptions of sensual foods so vivid I had to pick my jaw up off my chest and remember to breathe. It's a beautiful memoir. Fast forward to that initial tentative fan email a while back and then a nice cocktail shared in person and the next thing I knew, Sunee asked me to shoot her next book . . . This one would be more a cookbook than a memoir and continue the story line of an international person discovering home through food: A MOUTHFUL OF STARS was to be the title.









Well I was completely floored and overjoyed at this request -- this whole reaching out to a hero thing was really paying off! A Mouthful of Stars it was-- a few days later I found myself devouring this tale late into the night, reading the recipes, poems and essays Sunee so seamlessly weaves together into a story that swept me away yet again. I immediately set about dreaming up the colorful world her foods would inhabit and grabbed up my friend Adrian Hale to style these delicious meals into their fullest glory!

It was a dream team, to be sure -- an honor to take a small part in -- I have eaten almost all of this book and can personally vouch for each and every recipe! Sunee is an artist with food -- a poet even -- everything dish is somehow simple, homey and utterly elegant. And her stories of adventure, travel and place are stunning. Her poems delight and inspire. I do believe my photographs compliment this genius prose-- she gave me full creative reign, which is the sure fire way to get someone to do their best, of this I'm sure. With my wings set free and my friend Adrian at my side, and Sunee's voice at the end of the line we spun her words into pretty plates of food and then feasted on our handy work as we closed each shoot day. What an experience!

And now the book has just come out -- go and buy it! If you leave a comment here describing what recipe you'd like to make from this book, I'll randomly select someone to send a free copy to by Friday, May 16. Include your email in the comment if it's not automatically linked via your profile.

28 comments:

  1. I love this story. I love how you emailed someone you admire and got something so big back in return. Kindness met with an abundance of kindness. I bet she is just as glad you emailed her as you are... you are so special Leela! xo

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  2. Ummm wow looks amazing, id make anything and almost everything!! Delish

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  3. Wow, wow, wow!! Obviously you two were destined to unite forces. What a stunning project. I sincerely hope I get to add a copy to my kitchen. The bottoms-up rice looks so intriguing!

    jademelissasheldon@gmail.com

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  4. A Mouthfull of Stars is such a lovely name for a cookbook. I would love to get the recipe for the tacos pictured above. They look delicious!

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  5. what a gorgeous name for a book! There is a sake on a menu of a restaurant her win Minneapolis called Festival of the Stars, I have yet to try it but seems like ti would be the perfect pairing to sip and travel through this beauty. Really gorgeous pictures, I think he grilled peaches an prosciutto and the roasted cherries with burratta need to happen in my kitchen this summer, among many others! Hoping to impress the Italian family in law! I'd love to cook my way through this book! www.kellyelizabethmoe@gmail.com

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  6. Beautiful! I could stare at these photos forever! I would love to learn how to make Korean style BBQ. I love Korean food! :)
    Juliesarthur@gmail.com

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  7. Loved Trail of Crumbs. Definitely one of the strongest pieces of food writing-cum-memoir out there. I'm looking forward to checking this new one out. I'd probably make the bottoms-up rice or the gingery soup first.

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  8. Those Baked apples with Vanilla Custard look delicious. Congratulations on being part of such a beautiful creation!

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  9. Oh my goodness...you may have just given me my new hero! Travel and food and story all in one book? Sounds like something I'd devour! Oh dear, bad pun. Either way, any of her Super Tuscan recipes will be at the top of my list! cwardart@gmail.com

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  10. Sticky Rice with Persimmon! I'm Korean so I think I know what she's talking about, but I'd like to know her take on it!

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  11. Congrats! It looks gorgeous. I loved Trail of Crumbs, so I know I'll love this book as well. I'm interested to check out the Korean recipes, and I'd like to try quick pickled fennel.

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  12. What beautiful photos! And a beautiful book, too. I'd love to try the baked apples with custard or the avocado-almond ice cream.

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  13. What a appropriate name for a cookbook, loved it! All the photos are absolutely stunning. I would love to try all the recipes. But if I have to pick one, I would choose Roasted Squash with Mint and Hazelnuts.

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  14. you story was touching and beautiful. yes wonderful things happens when we open our hearts and minds to one another. also i believe human connections are magnified when it come to an creative process! thank you for the post and your beautiful blog. Eli

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  15. Off to buy the book on your recommendation!
    BK

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  16. Gorgeous Book! I Really want to make the goat cheese/cherry combo!!

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  17. My heart is seriously beating faster.....the name of the book, the recipes, the photography ~ this looks flat out AMAZING. Food memoir plus travel plus recipes, I can't wait to see this one!

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  18. The book is full of such beauty...from the name, to the recipes and stories. I hope I win so I can make the bottoms up rice at home. Even the avocado almond ice cream sounds delicious. Or the coconut cake! Darn it can't.stop.
    -Wini N.

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  19. Im not surprised she asked you to shoot the book. The pictures are breathtaking. The bottoms up rice a looks amazing (and has such a cool name), there are so many fantastic sounding dishes.....some I've never heard of Kachoombar Salad for example. Reading this book would be like an adventure!

    diana@alba-estates.com

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  20. I'd make anything! Maybe something with the cherries first?? Just gorgeous! (Melissa (@) treatswithatwist (.) com )

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  21. What a dream come true! This books looks gorgeous-- both your photographs and her words. Persimmons always remind me of my grandmother, so I'm curious about the Sticky Rice with Persimmon and Sesame :)

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  22. I'd love to learn how to make the Basic Fresh Kimchi. We love Korean food and especially Kimchi. Congrats on the book. Love the photos.

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  24. Such a cool story! I love that you got to work with someone you reached out to- hooray for the powers of the internet! This cookbook is incredible: I love traveling and food so i cannot wait to get my hands on this book. I'd love to try making the Peach Tarte Tartin with Basil Creme Fraiche.

    creativelykt@gmail.com

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  25. These photos are stunning, and so dreamy! I just love the title of her book, and the stories and essays sound so intriguing. So many of the recipes sound great, but I'm really wanting to try the sticky rice with persimmon and sesame. YUM! Congrats on the shoot and that's so cool reaching out to your hero worked out so well for you!

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  26. CONGRATULATIONS TO MELISSA OF JULIA'S BOOK BAG - SHE'S THE RANDOM WINNER OF THE COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!

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  27. Color me STOKED. Thank you so much!!! Cannot wait. This looks like such a stunner!

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