calgon take me away....even if it's just to Stamford

Hmmm, so on Tuesday two weeks ago, that was my bicycle resting at the top of a hill in Sicily...

....and that afternoon I'd gone to an agriturismo olive oil tasting, before hopping back on my bike and riding to a castle. What a difference two weeks makes!! I haven't had time to write a post about the trip, or the simple meals I've been whipping up back here, because I'm still playing nurse until both of my children are healthy again.

But, I have a special treat for my readers!

Whether you have the luxury to zip off to Italy for a much anticipated vacation, or just need a few hours this coming weekend to remember what it's like to be a carefree adult, I have 8 pairs of tickets to the Buick/FOOD & WINE magazine culinary event in Stamford, CT this weekend. If you would like the chance to go to this demonstration and tasting event, please leave a comment below telling me, hmmm... how about you tell me your favorite family vacation. (Since a vacation sounds really good right about now...even if there's not a chance of it happening. Still, a girl can plan ahead, and next time we'll bring the whole family on our getaway.)

OK, so here's the fine print about the give-away:

You have until 8pm (EST) Wednesday evening, November 9th, 2011 to leave a comment here on this post, or on the meals in a snap facebook page. I will use random.org to pick the winners, sometime after 8pm, when the kids are tucked in. You may enter a comment in both places, doubling your chances or receiving tickets. Winners must be 21 years of age, and present a driver's license, since there's a wine tasting component to the event. (This just keeps getting better, doesn't it?!)

Guests will have the opportunity to attend full cooking demonstrations and sample several dishes, while also getting a first-hand look at Buick’s 2012 line-up. Guests may attend the event one of five different time slots: Saturday, November 12 from 11:00am – 2:00pm; 2:30pm – 5:30pm; or 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Or, Sunday, November 13 from 12:00pm – 3:00pm or 3:30pm – 6:30pm.

Guests will experience the following discovery sessions:

Cooking Demonstration with FOOD & WINE Best New Chef 2007 Gavin Kaysen, Executive Chef at Café Boulud in New York City and James Beard “Rising Star Chef” award winner

Pastry Demonstration with Chef Ben Roche, Executive Pastry Chef of Moto in Chicago, Ill., and Co-Host of “Future Foods” on Discovery’s Planet Green Network

Buick Test Drives, featuring the new Regal Turbo, Lacrosse and Enclave

Wine Tasting with Michael Green

Cooking Demonstration and Sampling with Celebrity Chef Michael Psilakis, owner of several New York City restaurants, including Kefi and Fish Tag; Psilakis has competed on The Food Network's "Iron Chef America" and was named FOOD & WINE Best New Chef 2008 and Bon Appétit’s Chef of the Year 2008.

For every guest, Buick will make a donation to The FEED Foundation, in support of its efforts to create good products to help feed the world’s hungry, one bag at a time. "

If this sounds like a fun way to spend 3 hours with your spouse, partner, or friend this weekend then line up a sitter and go ahead and leave a comment letting me know your favorite family vacation. Remember, you can leave a comment here, or on the blog's facebook page, or both!