Near East Launches New Online Community to Help At-Home Chefs Get Creative in the Kitchen

CHICAGO, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Near East, the leading brand of couscous and other specialty side dishes, is helping busy, at-home chefs spice up everyday meals through a new interactive online community located at www.AroundtheWorldin5.com.  

This online community serves up cooking short-cuts, creative kitchen tips, and delicious quick-prep recipes featuring Near East couscous, helping food-lovers bring worldly flair to everyday meals in minutes. Visitors to www.AroundtheWorldin5.com will also find:

• blog posts and video tutorials featuring YouTube sensation, Chef Peter Bowen, creating couscous dishes inspired by different regions of the world – prepared in just five minutes.
• a prize-packed sweepstakes that runs through August 31, 2010.  The grand prize is a 7-day Mediterranean Culinary Adventure Cruise for the winner and one guest.  

"For at-home-chefs looking for ways to add worldly flair to their meals in a matter of minutes, the search is over," said E.G. Fishburne, brand manager for Near East.  "AroundtheWorldin5.com is a one-stop shop for bringing the far away to every day meals with fun food facts, helpful hints, and easy recipes featuring the flavors and convenience of Near East couscous, which cooks up in just 5 minutes."

Cooking Up Quick and Easy Meals

From cooking novices to professional chefs, saving time in the kitchen is a top priority.  Couscous, rice, falafel and other Near East dishes are easy-to-prepare at any skill level, and each variety contains all-natural ingredients.

"Preparing meals shouldn't be boring or a burden," Fishburne said.  "At www.AroundtheWorldin5.com, every busy at-home chef can learn how to make mealtime special, simply by adding couscous to the menu any day of the week."

Short on time to go online?  Have the Near East community come to you.  Get the latest updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NearEastDish and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NearEastDish. You can also find Near East at www.youtube.com/NearEastDish and www.flickr.com/NearEastDish.

Enter the "Around the World in 5 Minutes" Sweepstakes

Now through August 31, 2010, visitors to www.AroundtheWorldin5.com can enter the Near East "Around the World in 5 Minutes" Sweepstakes.

• To enter, visit www.AroundtheWorldin5.com, then complete and submit the registration form.  You can also earn bonus entries by signing up for the monthly Near East newsletter or returning to the site each week to answer a new trivia question.  
• The grand prize is a 7-day Mediterranean cruise aboard one of the luxury cruise vessels of The Yachts of Seabourn for the winner and one guest.  
• Also, each month one winner will receive a Near East Taste of the World Prize Pack, which includes a Near East product gift basket, one-year subscriptions to several gourmet food magazines, a gourmet spice rack with essential spices, and an international cookbook.  

The sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older.  No purchase necessary to enter or win.  For more information, see Official Rules at www.AroundtheWorldin5.com.

About Near East

Founded in 1962, Near East is the leading brand of couscous and other specialty side dishes. With more than 30 different flavors and varieties of couscous, rice pilafs and other grain dishes, Near East products offer authentic tastes from around the world. Near East products are 100% natural, and contain no artificial ingredients, preservatives or flavors. Most are certified Kosher. Near East products are available nationally in supermarkets and specialty food stores.

SOURCE Quaker