Table Talk

The Rocky

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Associated Press / Lloyd's Of London

Dutch owner of Chateau de la Garde in Bordeaux and producer of Tulipe Wines Ilja Gort, left, has his nose tested by specalist doctor J.A. Veldhuizen in Haarlem in The Netherlands, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008 . Lloyd's of London are insuring Gort's nose for euro5 million (US$8 million, 4 million pounds).

The nose knows

Priding himself on his quality wines and clarets, a European winemaker has insured his nose for $7.9 million with Lloyd's of London. Ilja Gort insists that his nose is his best asset in winemaking at his Chateau de la Garde vineyard in the famous Bordeaux region of France. Although a number of people have insured their taste buds, insuring a sense of smell is rare.

guardian.co.uk

Where is he now?

Hung Huynh, last season's popular winner of Bravo's Top Chef, is cooking kosher food this month at Solo, a fusion restaurant in New York City. In a video clip on People.com, the chef says he hopes that Madonna, who is known to eat there often, will come in during his guest stint. He'd like to prepare a beef dish for her because he thinks she would be "into beef," and maybe creme brulee for dessert. On second thought, he can't mix milk and meat at the kosher restaurant, so he adds, "without the cream, of course."

eat pray love

* What: Sunday brunch at Maggiano's Little Italy in the Denver Pavilions and a ticket to see Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love, at the Paramount Theatre. After a three-course family-style meal with a variety of chef-prepared dishes, walk across the 16th Street Mall to the theater.

* When: 11:30 a.m. brunch, 1:30 p.m. Gilbert appearance, April 6

* Cost: $67, includes brunch, tax, tip and gratuity plus one orchestra/ mezzanine seat at the Paramount.

* Tickets: tickethorse. com or 1-866-461-6556

Trends du jour

More than 52,000 retailers, manufacturers and industry professionals this month attended the country's largest natural, organic and healthy products trade show, Natural Products Expo West/Supply Expo 2008, in California.

The $57 billion natural and organic products industry expects these categories to be hot this year:

* Gluten-free: breads, brownies, cereals, pastas, snack foods

* Certified Fair Trade: Rice, teas, chocolate, snacks, coffee

* Whole and sprouted grains: pizza, kid snacks, nutrition bars, dinner rolls, desserts

* Exotic superfruit ingredients and flavors: mangosteen, goji berry, yum berry, acai, yerba mate

Now you've heard everything

To make sure your dog doesn't overindulge when he opens a package of doggie biscuits, Blue Dog Bakery has stepped in with 100 Calorie Packs of Doggie Paw treats. Well, somebody had to take charge, didn't they?

The new 100 Calorie Packs will make their debut at most Wal-Mart stores this month, and will be available at pet stores and some groceries.