We want you to throw big parties, tell us about it, and win big (big!) prizes from Le Creuset. Here's how.
"Nothing is too much trouble if it turns out the way it should."
-Julia Child, My Life in France
Oh, that we could always live by Julia's standards. But day to day, we dedicated home cooks have to rely on simple, trusted staples to help us get something that resembles supper on the table.
And that's great. But Big Feast is not about that.
It is a break from routine. It is an invitation to the unique euphoria that comes with cooking up a storm and presenting a grand and stunning spread to all your nearest and dearest. Indulging yourself in days of scheming, leafing through cookbooks, sending invitations, and hunting down that last, lingering ingredient. Long days in the kitchen with pots simmering and stand mixers whirring, building up to that glorious and convivial moment of ravenous demolition -- with as many of your favorite people squeezed together around your table as you can possibly fit.
We want you to run wild and share your Big Feast (and everything leading up to it), with us and the whole FOOD52 community.
We'll publish a winning Big Feast on FOOD52 every month, and the winner will get $500 smackers worth of Le Creuset prizes like these (more details below)!
Here's how it will work:
1) Dream big. Dig a pit and roast a pig (or whatever) in it. Plot a historically-inspired banquet worthy of Downton Abbey. Plan the most extravagant, time-consuming birthday party your kid will ever have. Then, pitch us your Big Feast plan at editors@food52.com.
2) Show us that you -- or a friend -- can take GORGEOUS food photos. Big Feast will be very photo-driven. Send us links to your (or your co-conspirator's) work!
3) We'll select the most enticing pitches -- and we'll give you the green light (and a deadline).
4) Throw your party.
5) After all the dishes are done and your friends have gone, send us your story and pictures of the whole shebang (from plan to prep to fête) and we'll celebrate your feast on FOOD52 so everyone can bask in your party's glow.)
6) To top it all off, thanks to a very generous people at Le Creuset, all winning hosts will be basking too -- in $500 worth of fabulous Le Creuset booty, tailored to your Big Feast.
For example, the first to feast will win all of the above, in the color of their choice (flame, cherry, fennel, or cassis): a 4 1/2-quart round French oven, a 10 1/4-inch iron handle skillet, and a 2 3/4-quart precision pour pan. Deadline for this round of pitches: Thursday, February 16th at noon.
So, let's repeat: you throw a party, we publish your party. And then we send you $500 worth of Le Creuset cookware.
This is your time to break out the big guns and dazzle us! And most of all, have a marvelous time doing it. Bring on the Feast.
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Food52
We love cooking, and we hope you'll hang out with us at food52!
Some past articles from this author you'll love:
Winner of Your Best Mangoes
Community Picks --Mangoes
A Bowl of Mango Sunshine
39 Comments on Introducing Big Feast!:
I've been waiting to see last month's Feb Big Feast! This is a great idea.
Is the next deadline March 16?
How soon will you make the decision -- my already planned Big Feast is planned for 2/25.
How soon will you make the decision -- my already planned Big Feast is planned for 2/25.
If friends/family are included in the photos from a dinner party, do they need to sign releases agreeing to their photographs being published?
Miranda is an editor at Food52.
added 3 months agoI would certainly explain the project to them in detail and be sure that they understand that their photo would appear online, especially if that's something you think they might not be comfortable with, but no, we don't ask for any sort of legal signed releases.
I have some ideas for this, but my photographer friend hasn't gotten back to me. Just wanted to clarify: Will we be able to make a pitch again next month or is it best to do the pitch now? Thanks!
Miranda is an editor at Food52.
added 3 months agoHi there! The photographs are certainly a key element of the pitch, so it would be difficult to pitch without that element. That said, the sooner the better so if you have a great idea brewing you may want to get your pitch in sooner than later! I hope this is helpful, sorry to not give a more cut and dry answer!
too bad I'm not doing my Mardi Gras brunch this year..... Will just have to put on my thinking cap!
Can't wait to see the first Big Feast!
LOVE this idea! Looking forward to the first Big Feast!
Hope there is a March contest as I am hosting a BIG Oscar Party!
Miranda is an editor at Food52.
added 3 months agoThat's wonderful! Big Feast is actually an on-going event, so just go ahead and submit now, the sooner the better! Thanks for your interest!
I did my first cooking-for-a-crowd this past weekend and it went great! Can I submit a run-down on what happened or is this only for future parties? Sadly, I can't afford to cook 'big'.
Miranda is an editor at Food52.
added 3 months agoIf you have a lot of excellent quality pictures of the process and the event itself, please feel free to submit the event! The more the merrier!
How many people constitutes "big"?
Miranda is an editor at Food52.
added 3 months agoIt's more about feel than numbers, but I can safely say more than 2. Big Feasts = Big cooking projects that sort of by nature feed a crowd. Hope this helps!
Deadline?
Miranda is an editor at Food52.
added 3 months agoIdeally within the next 10 days/2 weeks, but of course as soon as possible is always appreciated!
We host a party every New Year's Day- 16 years now! It is a perfect formula party, we do all the cooking and some friends bring things too. This year we had 120 people. Our menu is awesome and loved by all- we do the same thing each year and when our friends arrive they always say they have waited all year for our food. I am not sure I have photos of the food, but am happy to share it all details- from prep to clean up.... The recipes are involved- but easy to do and fool proof.
I hope you do share! The idea of hosting and feeding 120 people absolutely frightens me, so I would love to hear about your game plan!
Entertaining is my specialty! and I just moved into a new bigger space what perfect timing!!!
Miranda is an editor at Food52.
added 3 months agoGlad you're excited!
Nice! I might just be tempted.... ;-D
What a great idea and fun new feature! I'm excited to see how this unfolds!
Thanks for introducing this feature! Watching the hotline threads around the holidays, it's clear that many Food52-ers throw these kinds of events regularly, just for fun. I would love to see it unfold in pictures.
Wow, this will be great! I am all in.
BTW, what an absolutely wonderful, fun idea!!!!
Does this include large family, multi-generation, parties if I'm doing all the cooking, planning etc.?
Kristen is the Senior Editor of food52.
added 3 months agoAny big party can count, and you don't even have to do all the cooking! By all means, enlist your friends and family.
I have a question. I have a proposal for something that I would love to do in May. Can I still submit it in this round of proposals, or do I have to wait?
Kristen is the Senior Editor of food52.
added 3 months agoAbsolutely! Just include all the important details in your pitch.
Great, thanks!
What fun! This theme reminds me of Big Night! Any idea how often we'll have this feature, like once a month or so?
Kristen is the Senior Editor of food52.
added 3 months agoYep, monthly (for now)!
Hooowee! What an amazing idea and challenge. My heart is fluttering and my mind is racing and I simply can't wait to see what grows out of this!
I can't wait to see what fabulous and creative parties spring up from this!
Awesome! Any excuse to throw down in the kitchen! Is there a deadline for submission of ideas?
Kristen is the Senior Editor of food52.
added 3 months agoWhat an excellent question! This will be a rolling feature, but the deadline for the first round of pitches (competing for the prize package above) is 2/16 at noon. I just updated this in the post.
Thanks, Kristen!
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