Learn to garden and cook in Eastside class

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

The herb and vegetable garden at Eastside Cafe frequently lures diners for a stroll through the edible spread before a meal. Now the garden is moving indoors — as a topic in a series of classes that cafe owners Dorsey Barger and Elaine Martin have launched. In fact, the classes, which combine food, wine tasting and gardening information, sold out so quickly that Martin and Barger have added a second night each month. Held in the cafe's garden room at 2113 Manor Road, the next classes will be Jan. 10 and 11 and will cover "The Damp Earth: Composting and Northern Rhone's Earthy Reds." In keeping with the "damp earth" theme, the featured food will be mushrooms, including the grilled portobello cap topped with crab, above. Call Pitchforks and Tablespoons, the cafe's retail store, at 494-1464 to reserve a spot. Classes are $39 per person.

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Go nuts for the Longhorns with bowl snacks

Austinuts, that local supplier of nibbles galore, has the perfect treat for the stay-at-home Rose Bowl fan. This large longhorn basket ($46.99) is filled with a deluxe nut mix, Jelly Belly beans, milk and dark chocolate raisins and peanuts, pistachio kernels, praline pecans, a south of the border mix and chocolate gold coins. Or the basket can be custom filled from a wide assortment of nuts including mesquite pecans or chipotle cashews. That ought to hold the Texas fan until halftime. Austinuts is at 2900 W. Anderson Lane.

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Onions, cheddar . . . nothing is better

One of the best sellers in cheese this holiday season is the caramelized onion white cheddar by Wensleydale Creameries of North Yorkshire, England. It's really nice on a cheese plate, and any leftovers are good on a baked potato, in a gratin or grated on eggs. The cheese sells for $17.99 a pound at Central Market.

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Memoirs of fine cup of afternoon tea

Movie tie-ins with food are not limited to youngsters. Republic of Tea has introduced "Memoirs of a Geisha" tea in conjunction with the new movie of a young girl growing up in a geisha house. The attractive tin ($10) holds 50 tea bags of green tea flavored with cherries.

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Get your candy freak on with nostalgic book

Memories of Goo Goo Clusters, Mallow Cups and Idaho Spuds watered the mouths of older readers when "Candy Freak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America," by the felicitously named Steve Almond, was published last year. Almond joyously (sorry) toured the regional candy capitals of America to produce his nutritionally racy book.

But where to stock up on Twin Bings — scary cherries — far from the factory in Sioux City, Iowa? A friend of ours hit the mother lode at www.sweetnostalgia.com, where one can purchase individual samples of the sugar bombshells. She made care packages, boxed with Almond's book, for near-gag holiday gifts.

Places where one can taste nostalgic nuggets (nougats?) in Central Texas include: Remember This (231 S. Main St., Boerne. (830) 249-4125); the Old Mill Store (Wimberley. (512) 847-3068); and Tom's Tabooley (2928 Guadalupe St. 479-7337). Terra Toys, Toy Joy and Central Market also carry selections of these powder kegs of pop culture.