cake gourmet recipe

There is only one day left to send your palate off to paradise, and Saturday is the ticket as the Taste of Vail continues with cooking, wine seminars and the Grand Tasting and Dance.

The desserts topped the treat totem for us. Vail Gourmet Cookie CO. had plenty of people loitering around its baskets of mint chocolate shortbreads and caramel-injected brownies while Chap’s dished out mini limoncello custard cakes with blueberry compote. You’re drooling, aren’t you?The savory offerings ranged from fish tacos to Colby meatballs to brie soup with truffles.If any of this sounds appealing, here’s what’s left to taste on Saturday, April 14.9:30 to 11 a.m.: The Food Network’s Michael Chiarello demonstrates the art of Southern Italian Cuisine at the Lionshead Marriott12 to 1:30 p.m.: Spanish Wine Seminar discussion and tasting of Spain’s comeback into the world of indulgent grape beverages at the Lionshead Marriott.2:30 to 4 p.m.: Grape nuts will have a ball with this rare chance to taste eight vintages from Domaine Louis Latour at the Vertical Tasting; Lionshead Marriott.7 p.m.

Mushroom pickers cheat poisoning, the law to satisfy obsession

LOS GATOS, Calif. (AP) -- Thomas Keller trudged up a muddy hillside, eyes fixed on the ground. He lifted his nose slightly."I can pick up that yeasty smell," he said as wind swooshed through the upper reaches of nearby redwoods. He stooped and picked through the ferns. Eureka.A clump of black trumpet chanterelles was rooted there, barely visible in the dark soil. So named because of their funnel shape which resembles a trumpet's bell, these smoky-flavored, 3-inch mushrooms are prized by chefs the world over and sell for $50 a pound at gourmet markets.Northern California's cool coastal forests, like this one in the Santa Cruz Mountains, harbor a variety of gourmet mushrooms including chanterelles, morels, porcini, hedgehogs and candy caps. And it's not just a California phenomenon, mycological societies nationwide lead forays into terrain as diverse as the Olympic Mountains near Seattle and Manhattan's Central Park after a summer rain.

Delightful Springtime Soirees

It was a hopping good time as The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centers Associates Committee celebrated their 16th Annual Bunny Hop Chaired by Lisa Errico, Christina Addison, and Elizabeth Fuller on Tuesday, March 13th. Honorary Chair, Melania Trump was also on hand, escorted by Donald Trump and their son Barron, who was outfitted head to toe by the title sponsor of the evening Susie Hilfiger and Best and Co. Also clad in Best and Co. were the Kids Kick In Committee, made up of The Associates Committees children, who were circulating throughout the store with their Every Penny Counts pails, to collect additional funds for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centers Department of Pediatrics. With their help, the 500 children and 700 adults in attendance contributed in the raising of over $380,000.

Club updates

PORTSMOUTH GOLDEN AGE CLUB will meet Thursday, April 12. It regularly meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Moose Club, 1163 Sagamore Ave. There will be bingo. For information, call Betty Pennington at 436-0653.

Things to do: April's best bets

Indian Wells Arts Festival, featuring outdoor artisan village with 200 participating artists offering one-of-a kind pieces of fine art and quality craft. Also, sidewalk chalk drawing, exhibits, special events, children's activities, gourmet market place, live entertainment, food and drink, and more. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Indian Wells Tennis Garden, 78200 Miles Ave., Indian Wells. 346-0042

Virginia Waring International Piano Competition Concerto finals, featuring finalist performing with the California State University, Northridge orchestra, 3 p.m. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. $20 adults, $10 children. 773-2575

Dinah Shore Weekend 2007:
Lesbian-oriented event features poolside parties, DJ dance parties, comedy shows and more hosted by different promoters at various hotels in downtown Palm Springs.

North Palm Beach County events calendar: April 4

The Easter Bunny is again expected to visit the Town of Jupiter Easter Egg Hunt, set for 9:30 a.m., Saturday, April 7 at the Jupiter Community Center, 210 Military Trail. Admission is free and children are encouraged to bring their own baskets or bags for the eggs. Call (561) 741-2400. .

Rough Diamond With A Heart Of Gold

Piet acknowledges that it's been a steep learning curve getting to grips with the complex world of wine. 'In my younger days I could not afford good wine, but it seems as if the fun we had was better then, even if the wine was bad! Can you imagine fixing a windmill in the Karoo in the middle of summer with only Hanepoot as consolation? That was memorable!' he says merrily.

'I may not be the winemaker, but I know planning is very important and one must always be prepared for the unexpected,' advises Piet. 'My taste in wine has developed considerably. It's a far cry from the attitude of 'anything goes' from my younger years. Now, I just can't bear to drink bad wine. So I'm forced to make good wine, and I think Raka qualifies!' he says proudly.

The Raka wines speak for themselves he maintains, and it appears the critics are sitting up to listen.

Chocolatiers On Gourmet Bandwagon

This Easter, don't be surprised if even the kids aren't satisfied by those waxy milk chocolate eggs that have long been the mainstay of Easter egg hunts.