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TABLE TALK, December 31

The Rocky

Published December 30, 2008 at 3 p.m.

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Spinach Feta dip atop baby red potatoes

Photo by Piccolo Foods

Spinach Feta dip atop baby red potatoes

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Dip into the new year

With the last-minute New Year's Eve frenzy upon us, here's one place to get a handle on tonight's festivities: Start the party by dipping into Piccolo Foods, a new brand of artisanal, preservative-free dips, pestos, spreads and tapenades. We tried several of the 16 varieties - including Spinach Feta Dip, Artichoke Pesto, Green Olive and Almond Pesto, and Green Chili Smoked Gouda Spread - and every one was a winner. The products are made by a company just outside Boulder. Not only are they delicious, but they're packaged in recyclable containers, so we can even feel good about buying them. Available at King Soopers, $4.99 to $5.99

The price is right

Shockingly, lobsters have come down in price - something about supply and demand. Sure, it may be only a couple of bucks a pound, but it may be enough to make you feel like you've scored a bargain. To celebrate, Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja, 1431 Larimer St., is bringing back two of her most popular lobster dishes during January: at lunch, the Maine Lobster Club Sandwich with house-made crispy vegetable chips, $14.50, and at dinner, Carnaroli Risotto with Maine lobster, mascarpone, asparagus and lobster bisque, $24.

Denver's four-star sweets

Regrettably, loads of sweet treats have crossed our lips in the past 30 days and migrated directly to our hips. However, we make no apologies for loving Rachel Ann's Toffee, made by Denver's award-winning Wen Chocolates. Perfect English-style toffee is robed in excellent dark, dark chocolate and crowned with a coating of salted roasted mixed nuts. It's $4.99 at the chocolatier's shop, 1541 Platte St., and online at wenchocolates.com.

Stay awake in '09

This year is already shaping up to be an exhausting year, so it may be a good thing that manufacturers are adding caffeine to everything from beer to sunflower seeds. The best selection of overenergized items we've found is thinkgeek.com/caffeine/candy. The site offers Black Black gum (with vitamin B-3, ginseng and oolong tea), Foosh mints (100 milligrams of caffeine each), Javapops lollipops, melt-in-your-mouth Diablo Energy Strips, Primer Caffeinated Breath Spray and Headshot Gamer Bar.

Season of seasonings

You have to give McCormick credit: When it forecasts trends, it doesn't just come up with brown rice and Indian food. The seasoning brand's 10 emerging flavor combinations are "influenced by an appetite for internationally infused tastes, a desire for all-natural foods and a craving for favorite ingredients reimagined with contemporary whimsy."

Without further ado: toasted sesame and root beer; cayenne and tart cherry; tarragon and beet root; peppercorn melange and sake; Chinese five-spice and artisan-cured pork; dill and avocado oil; rosemary and fruit preserves; garam masala and pepitas; mint and quinoa; smoked paprika and agave nectar. Recipes: flavorforecast.com