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Food

dish: Cooking Trips

Briefs and news of note.

By Janet K. Keeler
Published March 15, 2006

Vagabond Gourmet of Tampa, run by Laura and Steve Schmalhorst, former owners of A la Carte catering, is offering a number of culinary tours in Italy and France this year. From Venice to Tuscany, Provence to Paris, clients will get a taste of food, wine and beautiful scenery during the mostly weeklong programs. Joining them on a tour of Provence from June 24 to July 1 is chef Gui Alinat, a Provence native who writes a monthly column for Taste. Chef Rand Packer of Roy's in Tampa and Kevin Kruszewski of Pane Rustica will also join tours this year. Prices of the tours, which include food, transportation and lodging, are about $2,400 to $3,300 per person, not including air fare. For more information, go to www.vagabondgourmet.com or call (813) 835-8348.

- Janet K. Keeler

SUPER SUPPERS

Super Suppers, a cook-and-carry business in the Countryside area of Clearwater, produces a free monthly e-mail newsletter that announces the month's menus and other programs. While nearly all make-and-take businesses require that clients make reservations, Super Suppers (26242 U.S. 19 N) has "walk-in" hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Super Suppers also has sessions for children and a mom's club. For more information or to sign up for the newsletter, call (727) 725-2789 or go to www. supersuppersclearwaterne.com.

- Janet K. Keeler

NEW IRISH CREAMS

Baileys has introduced two new flavors to its Irish Cream line: Baileys Caramel and Baileys Mint Chocolate. Both are blended with Baileys Original Irish Cream for consumers who want a hint of something extra or a new twist.

Enjoy them with ice, either on the rocks or blended, or shaken with ice and served in a martini glass. You might also add a splash to hot coffee after dinner. The flavors, in 750-milliliter bottles at about $18.99 each, will be available for a limited time at grocery, liquor, club and drugstores. Go to www.baileys.com for more information.

- Los Angeles Daily News

Essential Italian

At a recent pasta-cooking demonstration, the Food Network's Giada de Laurentiis ran through her shortlist of staples to keep in your pantry, items to help give your cooking real Italian flair. Included are:

n Anchovies, olives and capers. "They are great for doctoring things up, adding to a jarred sauce, for example."

Balsamic vinegar ("try it on ice cream").

Red-wine vinegar.

Regular olive oil for cooking; extra-virgin olive oil for flavor, for when it's not going to be cooked.

Dried pasta.

Rice.

Different kinds of salt.

Dried herbs, especially the herbes de Provence blend. "You get it all in one container. It's originally French - but these are all herbs Italians use, too."

Sun-dried tomatoes.

Canned Italian tuna (add tomato sauce and capers, heat, for a great dish).

Canned beans, especially chickpeas and cannellini.

- Associated Press

MAC-N-CHEESE-N-NUTRITION

Kraft has come out with a macaroni and cheese that touts its nutrition. Supermac & Cheese contains some whole-wheat flour, although it's predominantly made with refined flour, and provides up to 25 percent of a day's calcium requirement.

One cup of the macaroni provides a half-serving of whole grains, which means you'll still need to fill in with five more of those half-servings - or instead do as a nutrition tip on the box suggests and serve oatmeal for breakfast and a grilled cheese sandwich on whole-wheat bread for lunch, a much simpler and healthier way to get those 3 ounces of whole grains. When made with skim milk and a spread without trans fats, as the package directs, Supermac is a cut above regular boxed macaroni. But it's still boxed macaroni, high in sodium and no nutrition powerhouse.

- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

BLESS THIS GRATER

Zyliss' new All Cheese Grater solves many of the problems that plague lesser specimens. The clever construction allows your grip to exert enough pressure to steady the hardest pecorino, and the wide drum accommodates plenty of cheese. The removable drum offers a fine grating, and a funnel attachment directs the grated cheese to where you want it. The handle folds into the drum for compact storage. Available online at www.target.com.

- Newsday

[Last modified March 15, 2006, 13:36:56]