tequila book give-away and happy national tequila day

I'll drink to that!

Just minutes ago, I got off a radio interview with Martha Stewart Everyday Food where we were talking tequila and celebrating National Tequila Day, TODAY! I like to blog on Friday and I was thinking, what should I write about today? Of course, TEQUILA!

This is Carlos Carmarena of El Tesoro slamming back a caballito of his blanco tequila straight out of the still. Carlos told me a great story. Do you know where shooting shots of tequila comes from? No, not college days!

Early distilleries were located way out in the countryside in the agave fields, and since drinking glasses weren't available where mezcal was being made, it was initially served in the hollowed out tip of a bull's horn, called a cuernito or caballito. Due to the limited supply of horns, the vessel was passed from one drinker to another. Because it was impossible to set the horn down without it falling over, shots were thrown back before the horn was passed along to the next drinker. Thus began the tradition of drinking shots of mezcal and, later, tequila.

Oh, one more thing... I'm giving away a copy of my new tequila book "Tequila, A Guide to Types, Flights, Cocktails and Bites" to one lucky winner. To be eligible, make sure, if you haven't already, put your name in the subscriber box (top left). Then leave me a comment and let me know your favorite way to celebrate National Tequila Day. I'll pick a winner at random next week and send you the book.

How am I celebrating? I'm teaching a tequila weekend cooking and cocktail-making class beginning with a tequila reception tonight in my kitchen.

How are you celebrating National Tequila Day?

chuck williams

Chuck Williams has been an incredible supporter and friend of mine over the years. After writing 13 cookbooks together for Williams-Sonoma, I have gotten to know him pretty well. We did a variety of cookbooks together and just to give you an idea of how versatile we were in those days, we wrote "Pork and Lamb" and our very next book was "Vegetarian!" I think "Complete Seasons," is still my personal favorite though.

In 1994, I got my first contract for a cookbook to do on my own. At that point, I got really busy and didn't have time to do cookbooks for Williams-Sonoma anymore. I remember when my first cookbook came out, "From Tapas to Meze" who came to my book launch at the Ritz Carlton? Chuck Williams!!

My most recent book "Tequila" was just launched and Williams-Sonoma bought the whole first print run. This doesn't happen often with a cookbook but it's an author's dream! They asked me to do a big event at the flagship store on Union Square in San Francisco to celebrate the book. Who do you think came and sat front row, center? YUP! CHUCK WILLIAMS! In his nineties now, , ninety-three to be exact, he's a legend in our time. He sat with his little pot of tea as I talked reposado tequila, Coco Loco Tequila Cupcakes and made Chorizo Hand Pies. He smiled the whole time.

At the end he pulled me aside before he drove himself home(!!!!) and said in his quiet, gentle and self-effacing voice, "You've got a great idea here, Joanne. I love your book!"

hot off the press-- TEQUILA

Let's dispel those thoughts that a night of tequila drinking results in a "morning-after" popping aspirin to rid of the horrible headache. Not if you drink 100% agave tequila! FINALLY after much (very fun) research my new tequila book is making its splashy debut! Research consisted of trips to the highlands and lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico to visit the best distilleries, rounding up the most passionate tequila bartenders in the country to give their favorite tequila cocktail recipes and adding another 25 food recipes including tequila! You have to try the Prado,-- an icy cold cocktail, airy and light, with a heavenly foam that crowns the glass. Or the crispy Chorizo Handpies with saffron, tomatoes, olives, cumin and a good dose of blanco tequila!. And for dessert, the Coco Loco Tequila Cupcakes, rich and moist with lots of coconut and ginger! This is an adult-only cupcake providing enough kick to make you feel like you're on vacation south of the border.

100% blue agave

I know, I know, I just came out with "Wine Country Cooking!" I love the stuff and think that wine IS food and shouldn't be separated from the whole dining experience. If I hadn't studied cooking, I definitely would have gone to Davis to study oenology! But then again, I also like tequila and my next book is all about the stuff! Yeah, yeah, yeah, you had a bad experience in college and you're never going to touch it again!? Know what? You just drank the wrong tequila! You should have picked up a bottle of 100% blue agave tequila like Partida, 7 Leguas, El Tesoro instead of that caramel colored junk disquised as tequila. Because 100% agave tequila undergoes two distillations, it's one of the purest spirits made. And guess what!? No popping aspirin the next day and no regrets either! You'll remember who drove you home! Pub-date is Cinco de Mayo, also known as the fifth of May, and rumor has it, you can pre-order on Amazon and you'll get it much before Joey, your tequila-lovin' neighbor down the street. Thirty-five cocktails from the very best tequila bartenders in the country and twenty-five recipes for food, all containing tequila. Check out the photo of my research! (I love my job!) Williams-Sonoma bought 10,000 advance copies. This is going to be a big one! So, what are you waiting for?