"America's Top Away From Home Cook" Announced By Extended Stay America Hotels And Food Network Host Sunny Anderson

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Extended Stay America, the largest owned and operated hotel chain with kitchens in every room, names Lauren Wyler "America's Top Away From Home Cook," winner of the brand's national recipe contest with judging hosted by Food Network Personality Sunny Anderson. To see highlights from the contest view the video below or watch the complete version on Extended Stay America's YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/BcHkk636-2I.

America's Top Away From Home Cook receives $5,000, inclusion in Extended Stay America's "Away From Home Cooking" cookbook and the opportunity to share her winning recipe alongside Sunny Anderson at the Extended Stay America traveling hotel room featured at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE, Oct. 16-19. To be a part of the festival action, foodies, travelers and fans of Sunny Anderson can follow Lauren's complete journey and receive expert tips and recipes by connecting with Extended Stay America on Facebook and Twitter using #cookwithESA.

"I'm beyond excited to be chosen as the winner of Extended Stay America's Away From Home Cooking Recipe Contest," says Lauren. "As a stay-at-home mom, winning the contest validates that what I do is important -- cooking delicious meals for my kids that introduce them to different flavors and cultures from around the country. I'm excited to stay with Extended Stay America on family trips and use the kitchens to cook for my kids."

Designed as an outlet for everyday cooks to showcase travel-friendly recipes that can be whipped-up in an Extended Stay America kitchen, the Away From Home Cooking Recipe Contest received entries from across the nation. The four finalists competed in a high-energy hotel room cook-off at Extended Stay America in the New York City area; critiqued by an expert panel of judges including Lodging Magazine Editor Megan Sullivan, the voice behind popular NYC based food blog Big Girls Small Kitchen, Cara Eisenpress and Extended Stay America's own Chef Kay Carreon and Chief Marketing Officer Tom Seddon.

"Creating recipes for Extended Stay America's cookbook is one of my favorite projects because it allows me to do what I love – share simple, affordable meals that can be made by everyday cooks," says Food Network Host Sunny Anderson. "I loved all the entries submitted by the four finalists and hanging out with them as they prepared their dishes for the cook-off. This contest proves simple delicious dishes can be made while away from home."

From business travelers to families on the go, Extended Stay America encourages cooks of all kinds to visit AwayFromHomeCooking.com for recipe inspiration and tips.

About Extended Stay America
Extended Stay America, Inc., the largest owner/operator of company-branded hotels in North America, owns and operates 682 hotels in the U.S. and Canada comprising approximately 76,000 rooms and employs approximately 10,000 employees in its hotel properties and headquarters. The Company owns and operates hotels under the core brand Extended Stay America®,  which serves the mid-priced extended stay segment, and other brands. Visit www.extendedstay.com for more information about the Company and its services.

About Sunny Anderson
Sunny Anderson hosts Food Network's newest show The Kitchen as well as Cooking For Real. After years of cooking for her music industry friends, she started catering while a DJ at New York City's HOT  97,  and  became  the  food  and  lifestyle  editor  at  Hip  Hop  Weekly. Sunny appears regularly on the Rachael Ray Show and the Today Show, is a contributor to O, The Oprah Magazine's food section, and is often in Food Network Magazine, Essence, and People. Sunny's first cookbook Sunny's Kitchen: Easy Food for Real Life hit stores Sept. 17, 2013 and reached the New York Time's bestseller list just 10 days later. Sunny lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

About the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE
The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is hosted by and benefits the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign, 100% of the Festival's net proceeds go toward helping these community based organizations fight hunger. Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival. More information about the Festival can be found at www.nycwff.org 

Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/147623-ESA-_Shortened_draft.mp4
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140516/88586
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140516/88587

SOURCE Extended Stay America