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Penguin to publish Lynn Crawford's Pitchin' In cookbook by celebrity chef Lynn Crawford

Toronto — June 9, 2011 — Penguin Canada has acquired world publishing rights to Lynn Crawford's Pitchin' In, a cookbook by Canadian celebrity chef Lynn Crawford based on the highly successful television series Pitchin' In on Food Network Canada. The book will be published in January 2012 to coincide with the launch of Season 3 of Pitchin' In.

Chef Lynn Crawford has never been shy of a challenge. Over her 25 year career, she worked her way up the ladder in a ruthless, male dominated industry. She rose inside the competitive corporate world of Four Seasons Hotel chain to the highest level at their flagship hotel in New York City.

In April 2009, the exuberant Crawford handed in her resignation and left the big city to rekindle her passion. After years squirreled behind the kitchen door, she craved adventure and a more intimate relationship with the ingredients she uses and the people who harvest them. She headed out on the road to meet the people who produce the finest ingredients at the source and it is all captured on the hit TV show Pitchin' In—a celebration of food's power to connect us all.

Crawford currently stars in Pitchin' In, which was nominated for a 2010 Gemini Award. She travels to far-flung locations, doing whatever it takes to get at the best, freshest ingredients in the world, even if it means putting herself at risk. She is loved by her audience for taking on any challenge, relying on locals to show her how it's done.

Lynn Crawford is Canada's top female chef and has a 26-year history of extensive culinary experience. She trained at George Brown College in Toronto and has traveled throughout Canada and the United States, surrounding herself with world-renowned chefs working at top destination restaurants and hotels.

As Executive Chef of the Four Seasons Hotels in Toronto and New York City, Crawford was both tenacious and inventive in her pursuit of culinary excellence; she is the first female executive chef to have helmed both establishments.

Crawford's popularity became widespread when she appeared on the hit Food Network Canada show Restaurant Makeover from 2005-2008. The show was so popular that it is still seen in over 16 countries worldwide.

In 2007, she appeared on Food Network's Iron Chef America, challenging Iron Chef Bobby Flay in a peanut battle.

In 2010, Crawford opened her restaurant first restaurant Ruby Watchco in Toronto, which exemplifies her philosophy of celebrating and sharing quality food with friends and family. She makes it her priority to have positive relationships with local farmers and growers, and has incorporated these values into the Ruby Watchco kitchen.

About the Book

Lynn Crawford's Pitchin' In is nothing less than Chef Lynn Crawford's road trip across North America, capturing the people, the land, and of course, the food. From The Bay of Fundy, where some of the finest lobster in the world is caught, Vancouver Island to haul in trap after trap of the best Dungeness crab available, Kansas where a small group of farmers are reviving heritage turkey to Perth County in Southwestern Ontario, famous for some of the best pork in Canada and home to one of only a handful of farmer's who are raising wild boar.

In Pitchin' In Lynn shares some of the amazing recipes from her adventures and the stories of local food heroes she meets along the way. This is Lynn giving you her best food and cooking tips and many of her own favourite dishes to enjoy with family and friends.

Pitchin' In includes 100 recipes—from Cider-Glazed Pork Chops with Apple Thyme Chutney and Collard Greens or Hot and Sweet Chicken Paprika with Czech Potato Dumplings to Honey Butter Basted Scallops with Ginger, Orange and Carrot Purée . And wonderful desserts to top off any meal like Peach Upside Down Corn Cake or Blueberry Cobbler with Pecan Biscuits and Lemon Sabayon.

The book was acquired by Penguin Publishing Director Andrea Magyar, who also publishes celebrity chefs Michael Smith, Mark McEwan and Marc Thuet. Penguin Canada, founded in 1974, is one of Canada's leading trade publishers.