Winner of Foodie Freebie Friday: Urban Accents!

Happy (or superstitious?) Friday! It's Friday the 13th but we're not letting that stop us from enjoying the love filled weekend. Besides, today is going to be a lucky day for one reader!

It was really nice to read about everyone's favorite ethnic cuisine. With so many to choose from, I can see how difficult it is to choose a favorite. There are so many cultures out there that have some amazing flavors to discover so I encourage you to try a different cuisine soon! you never know... you just might like it!

For me, my favorite cuisine would be Filipino simply because it's one that I grew up on. My parents very rarely fed us processed or packaged foods growing up and it wasn't until I was in high school when I tried a lot of foods outside of Filipino eats. Filipino cuisine definitely tugs at my heartstrings and tastebuds for a unique flavor unlike other Asian cuisine. With the Spanish and Malaysian influences both in its culture, it's no wonder that these same influences would trickle down to the homestyle and comforting food Philippines is known for. The only downfall is that I don't cook Filipino food as often as I'd like. It isn't always the healthiest cuisine of choice, as it can be very heavy in salt, pork and rice. But I do try to put a healthier spin on classic recipes I've grown to love.

Speaking of salt, we've got a great sea salt collection and/or spice collection to give away! Who's the lucky reader that's going to have a culinary adventure with one of these collections?

An Urban Accents Gourmet Spice Collection
of 8 different spice blends that capture
flavors around the world including:

Bayou Barbecue - This mild & spicy barbeque blend has the soul of Bourbon Street, but has its roots from the British West Indies which add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a distinctive flavor.

Kodiak Fish & Game - This hearty blend of herbs and spices gives a burst of flavor to your roasts and dense seafood filets. Use in your roasted veggie recipes for added zip!

Mongolian Ginger BBQ - Citrus and ginger brighten this Wasabi and mustard based grilling and baking blend.

Montego Bite - A coarsely ground version of the Caribbean standard, this blend combines over a dozen zesty herbs and spices. Popular as a seasoning for marinating chicken and pork, this version also adds a spicy snap when sprinkled over turkey, steaks and ribs.

Mozambique Peri Peri -This Peri Peri is a combination of over 6 herbs and spices accented with just the right amount of citrus for a flavorful blend with a touch of fiery heat.

Roma - Italian cooking has become almost standard fare in America, but our Old World blend is anything but average. It unleashes the flavor and aroma of fragrant basil, oregano, garlic and other herbs reminiscent of the most popular neighborhood trattorias in Rome.

Tokyo Miso - Shiromiso, a white miso with sweet and spicy flavors added for true Asian flavor.

Parisian Melange - AFrench onion mix of leeks, shallots, and healthy flavors-a world apart from your traditional soup mix

An Urban Accents Gourmet Sea Salt Collection
of 6 different sea salt blends that capture
flavors around the world including:

Chateau Provence - Rustic grey sea salt mixed with Herbes de Provence makes an aromatic and subtle addition to any dish. Use this in soups, stews, roasted meats, seafood and game. The hint of lavender softens the sea salt just a bit and provides an elegant appearance and fragrance.

Ocean Smoked - Smoked sea salt mixed with French grey sea salt make this “tuxedo blend” the class of all sea salts. Use on slow roasted meats, steaks, game, seafood and roasted vegetables. The deep, rich smoked flavor stems from roasted pecan shells and oak and adds the savory smoke flavor to any recipe.

Isle of Capri - Inspired by the rugged beauty of Capri and the zesty cooking of Southern Italy, this combination is great on grilled seafood, pizza and pasta sauces.

Caribbean - A uniquely balanced blend between imported sea salt and crushed peppercorns makes this an incredibly flavorful and versatile seasoning. Ground Jamaican Pepper adds a touch of sweetness that completes this wonderful mélange. This will change the way you “salt and pepper” any dish.

Ginger Szechwan - Combining the tangy flavor of Chinese Five Spice powder with the sweetness of ground ginger and imported sea salt, this blend brings the exotic cuisine of the Far East to any dish. Use in marinades, while barbequing, or add to season any stir fry recipe.

Santiago Citrus - Imported sea salt, chili powder and red pepper flakes are balanced with a cooling note of citrus in this unique blend. Bring out the flavor in grilled or pan fried seafood, or use it to add some zest to your favorite guacamole or salsa recipe. This sea salt is also great on tomatoes and in soups.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

47

Timestamp: 2009-02-13 15:46:56 UTC

Comment #47 comes from cookingkatie who said:

My husband and I spent 6 months in Israel last year and truly enjoyed the food. They are kind of a melting pot like the ole U.S., but the food is so fresh and has great flavor. Our favorite breakfast dish was shakshooka, and we try to make it at home once a month. February 10, 2009 9:04 AM

Congratulations CookingKatie! I wonder which item you'll pick between the two! Please email me at itsjoelen@gmail.com so I can confirm which item you'd like and the mailing address in which to have your Urban Accents collection sent to.

Thanks again to all those that commented and stay tuned to the next Foodie Freebie announcement on Monday,February 16, 2009! Don't feel discouraged if you haven't won yet - I have a whole year's worth of freebies ahead and next week is one that you won't want to miss!