We gobble the various food sections up each Wednesday. These are our favorite tidbits from today's offerings:
SF Chronicle: Tasty homemade food gifts that are ea$y on the budget (dark, milk & white chocolate brownies, here we come!); "Gadget-holic" Stacy Finz really, really likes kitchen and cooking gadgets; and Bette's Ocean View Diner scone mix rocks da house.
SF Examiner: Gifts for your fave foodie. We think the BBQ and milk chocolate ornaments look fun, but may pass on any sips of p.i.n.k. vodka because we don't feel caffeine and vodka should ever mix. We have relatives (& their friends) who likely disagree with us on this one, but they are younger and of the male gender, and totally entitled to their (wrong) opinions. Super Chef Mario Batali is in an Amex ad, which we would have otherwise skipped had we not seen his well fed and easily recognizable mug. We want Patty Unterman's column back (!), and hope to see it next week.
Contra Costa (CoCo) Times: Weeds (not that kind of weed, silly) may be superfoods, according to a couple in Bolinas who offer classes on "wildcrafting" to "connect with nature." No, we really haven't ever dreamed of gathering acorns the way the Miwoks did, but think foragers are cool. The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis gets reviewed. Lewis, who was an African American cook that passed away this year, is thought to be important for her years of restaurant work, cookbook writing, and sway over Alice Waters and James Beard.
Oakland Tribune: The how tos of dessert wine giving and pairing are explained. Tip: pairing that dessert wine is all about considering textures, flavors and acidity. Hanukkah latkes: it's all about the oil, baby. Holiday shoppers have appetites, too.
SFist Mary Ladd contributing