Are your ears burning? We talk about food all day here at the P-I, whether through conversations or e-mails or "did you read about this?" or "can I try a bite of that?" Seems like if we're going to take the time to absorb all this food news, debate, and taste, it's time we included all of you in the conversation. I'll be blogging at this spot regularly, sharing a little more of that daily discussion.

Because, hey, besides giving us a chance to have more of a roundtable conversation than a back-and-forth, blogging also means we get a chance to spread the word about Menu For Hope IV, an inspiring and swag-filled fund-raiser sponsored annually by Chez Pim to raise money for programs through the U.N. World Food Programme. It's an online raffle, with nifty prizes ranging from personalized Napa wine tours to lunch with food scientist supreme Harold McGee. You get to choose which prizes you want to try for with your raffle ticket. I went semi-local with my bid, trying to win a chance at (1) lunch with McGee, (2) a chocolate-and-art package from Seattle's cookandeat.com, (3) a mixology session with the savvy former Seattleites who write marriedwithdinner.com, (4) lunch, wine, and spirits from Seattle writer Maggie Dutton of wineoffensive.com, and (5) a shelf of cookbooks from Serious Eats.

Taking a leaf from the Serious Eats playbook, in fact, we're going to give away free cookbooks to the first five people whose e-mails arrive in my inbox (rebekahdenn@seattlepi.com), alerting me that you've also bid for Menu for Hope items.

Here's how it works: Just forward me the acknowledgement e-mail that Firstgiving sends you immediately after making your donation. (Don't worry, there's no credit card information on that e-mail). You don't get to choose the cookbook, but it will be from 2007, and you're welcome to tell us your tastes so we can attempt to match. I'll make a note in the comments when our own little contest is done, and, remember, the deadline for Menu for Hope donations is Friday, Dec. 21.