Right Wine, Wrong Price

SO I WANDER into a wine shop near my room in Venice to see about a bottle of local wine. I see some Aussie picks at double U.S. prices. I tell the pompous shop owner I am just doing a little research-- although I might have been a customer... Until I spotted a bottle of Marchesi di Frescobaldi for $75 euro.
OK, it is a gorgeous wine. But $75euro?? And that's in Italy, within a few hundred miles of where the wine is made.
I thanked the shop owner and wandered don the street, where I scored this $6-euro wine. Nice wine, good price.

WONKA WINS

I NEVER THOUGHT I'd say this, but I think Ben & Jerry's just got bumped out of first place in the ice cream world. The new winner in my opinion is Wonka Ice Cream, which just launched here in the Bay Area. I tried seven flavors and loved every one.
Some of the flavors are basic -- chocolate with truffles called Kerfuffle Truffle, and Chocolate Mintropolis. Others are super-creative and so good it's hard to keep from eating the whole container -- ooops!
My favorites: Caramel corn ice cream pocked with crispy kernels, pecan pralines and salted caramel called Kernelpuff Caramelstuff; and caramel ice cream mixed with nut brittle and walnut called Caramel Nut Kadoozle. Yes, I'm a sucker for caramel. One carton of either of these and you'll be hooked. Wonka Premium Ice Cream comes in pints (aka. single-serve cartons.) www.wonkaicecream.com

GRAPE MEETS ARTIST

Photo by Jolene Thym

WHAT I LOVE about wine is the artistry that goes into the bottle. Think about it. Every bottle of wine begins with grapes on a vine, grapes that have been carefully cultivated, picked at exactly the right moment and crushed. That the simple juice of grapes can take on so many different flavor personalities just amazes me -- every time.
Here are a few of the many marvels of winemaking you may want to serve at upcoming parties:
Marchesi de Frescobaldi 2009 Tenuta Frescobaldi Di Castiglioni, $25
This gorgeous, meaty red wine, a blend Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese from the Toscana region of Italy is stunningly rich, with incredible blackberry-tobacco notes. www.frescobaldi.it
Cousino-Macul Finis Terrae 2008, $19
This Chilean red is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah is deep purple and ripped with the oak-licorice-herb notes that help to define wines from the Maipo Valley. www.cousinomacul.com
Hacienda Merlot 2010 Clair de Lune, $9
This slightly sweet, smooth Sonoma County gem is the kind of red to serve on warm days, when you're in the mood for a light, quenching wine that's not too complicated. www.broncowine.com
Lapostolle Casa Grand Selection 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, $12
Exactly how the winemakers coax peach-citrus-mango flavors out of grapes is a mystery. But they do. This tropical Chilean white is ultra dry, perfect to serve with spicy hot foods. www.lapostolle.com
McManis Family Vineyards 2011 Pinot Grigio, $15
Those who love their whites ultra dry, with a super-kick of grapefruit and green apple will adore this crisp, acidic Pinot Grigio from McManis Family Vineyards, located in California's Central Valley. www.mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com

  

PICTURE IT

Here's mine: A third-grader throws a bucket of
water on me as a reward... bet you can top this!

IF YOU'RE GOING to stop in at Peet's and have a cup, you may as well make it a cup of Peet's Anniversary Blend and participate in their current promo. All you have to do is upload a photo of you doing something good to the company's Facebook page -- or vote for someone else's picture. What do you win? $1,000 for your favorite non-profit. One winner will be selected by Peet's, the other by the public -- whichever one gets the most votes.
Upload your pictures to www.facebook.com/peets

BOLD PIZZA

Gluten-free, dairy-free-- and it still tastes like pizza!

WHEN SOMEONE ASKS if I'd like to try a pizza topped with shiitake, roasted peppers, roasted onions and pepperoni, the answer isn't just yes -- it's a big yes, please. That request came from Bold Organics, a comppany that specializes in making the most incredibly delicious pizzas -- that are designed especially for people on special diets.
The pizza I tried was gluten-free, milk- and lactose-free; made with vegan mozzarella, soy protein, brown rice flour and corn meal. If I didn't know the pizza was vegan or gluten-free, I would never have guessed. It had all the flavor of a great pizza. Yes, it had noticeably less cheese, but it was just as delicious. The inulin ingredient doesn't really work for me, but everything else about this pizza is standout. In the Bay Area, the pizza can be found at Draeger's, Rainbow Grocery stores, El Cerrito Natural, Alameda Marketplace. www.bold.organics.com

FRESH FROM THE OVEN

Sweet Sally's Salted Caramel Macaroons

I LIKE TO THINK of myself as being a pretty good baker. I love to make cookies, cakes, cobblers; turnovers, muffins and more. But last week I had to admit that Sweet Sally's Bakeshop has me beat. The New Jersey company makes some of the most delicious pastries ever. I base this assessment on the three items I tried: Salted Caramel Macaroons, Big Apple Crackle (a toffee-like chocolate-almond brittle made with matzoh) and gluten- and dairy-free Almond Meringues.
Every item was incredibly fresh and stellar; made with the best ingredients. The macaroons were so toasty and chewy that my daughter tried to duplicate the recipe -- with little success. Hers were good, but not nearly as chewy and delicious. They are $14 for 8 jumbo-sized macaroons, $40 for 30. Shipping starts at $8.95. www.sweetsallys.com