I know that wedding week was last week, but I have a feeling that some of you would be interested in this. Instead of having a traditional cake, why not opt for a cheese cake. When you hear someone say this, you immediately think, okay a cheesecake, I like cheesecake, maybe we can even have a nice berry topping. Oh but wait, I am not talking about cheesecake, I am talking about cheese cake. As in cheese, stacked in tiers. The Fine Cheese Co in England (don't worry they ship, although you could always try to replicate it yourself) offers a range of "cakes" suitable for 30 to 300 people - prices vary.

To me this one is a no brainer. My favorite cocktail is a vodka martini, so chic little martini glasses are never far from my reach. I like the classic, sleek look of the triangular yet functional glass. A complete bar will have martini glasses because you can serve tons of different drinks in them, not just the gin or vodka martini. They also make great presentation for layered desserts and puddings. I personally prefer the good old fashioned glass like the one from Crate & Barrel ($8.95) pictured at left. However if you are looking for an exotic martini glass, read more

Michelob has announced a new line of fruit infused beers. In theory I should love this, after all I love lambic and I love hard cider, but something about it bothers me. Like it seems like it's meant for kids, right? I guess I should wait and give it a try before deciding. After all, a lime cactus beer sounds like it could be pretty refreshing. - Slashfood

Holy Cannoli Batman! Get us to Costco stat!

Just in time for Cinco De Mayo, cases of authentic Mexican Coca Cola have been spotted at Costco. They're able to sell it since they've conformed to the US and California's regulations, such as labeling the CRV (the recycling deposit) and nutrition facts.

So why is this news? Well it tastes different, it's made from sugar instead of corn syrup, and people even say that the fizz lasts longer due to the glass bottle. The Atlanta based Coca-Cola Co. considers Mexican Coke in America to be a form of "bootlegging."

"We believe that the appeal of Mexican Coke is as much about nostalgia as it is about anything," says Martin. "It's like getting a piece of home in a bottle. You can't deny the fact that it's in a tall glass bottle, something you just can't find in most parts of the United States."

But it's the "same exact product," and Mexican bottlers are buying the ingredients straight from the company, says Martin.

If it's the same product, then tell me why they sell a kosher Coke during Passover that uses sugar, and tastes more like Mexican Coke?

Also, I wonder where the folks at Costco are getting their Mexican Coke from.

"[The non-Coca-Cola distributors are] trespassing on the territory rights of many U.S. bottlers," said Coke spokesman Martin. "Bringing it into the country is not illegal. But what it does do from the Coca-Cola standpoint is it violates contractual rights that we have with our bottlers. And it has potential trademark right infringements as well."

Hrmm... I better get myself to Costco while it's still available!

Source: SFist and Santa Cruz Sentinel
Image Source: slworking2 on Flickr - Thanks for documenting this for us!

The other night geeksugar, PartySugar and I went to grab a much-needed drink after work. I was leaning towards a champagne cocktail, but wasn't 100% sold, so I asked Scott - our bartender at Perbacco - what his favorite drink was. He started talking about how fantastic a Mashed Old Fashioned was and then proceeded to say you can tell a lot about a person by what they drink.

So what does it say about me that I almost ordered a froo-froo strawberry puree champagne drink, but switched to Scott's favorite Mashed Old Fashioned instead? Does it say that I'm almost prissy and girly, but really I'm tough and jaded instead? Oh my! I suppose if that's what it takes to get a darn great drink, then so be it, because my drink was fantastic (thanks Scott!) and would definitely kick that champagne cocktail's behind. For the recipe, read more

Speaking of empanadas, be sure to check out these chicken empanadas with chorizo and olives. They've had us drooling all morning long. - Smitten Kitchen

A stir-fry is a marvelous choice for a busy Thursday night - it cooks quickly, is super filling, and reasonably healthy (depending on what ingredients you throw in your wok). Asian flavors and lots of vegetables pack this vegan dish with complex freshness. To ensure success when stir-frying, maintain a fairly high flame and keep the elements of the dish moving constantly around the pan (hence the name stir-fry). I like this served over steamed white rice, but you could easily substitute slippery noodles. To make a grocery list for tonight's dinner, read more

Yesterday Molly asked me what I was planning on baking this week. I told her that I wasn't sure yet, but that I would bake it on Wednesday night. That's when she pointed out, duh it is Wednesday.

Great. Here it was, already Wednesday and I totally didn't know what I was baking. I wanted something fun, but nothing that would take too much time or use any special ingredients. I toyed around with pretzels, and then thought about crackers. The thought of an afternoon cheese and crackers break sounded like a good idea, so I said I would bake crackers if someone else brought the cheese. Molly agreed to bring cheese and she even picked out the recipe. To see how they turned out (they're rosemary flavored, but you could easily add more of a different herb instead), read more