When selecting wine from a menu, sometimes I like to choose a varietal I've never heard of. Take Nero d'Avola for example. Up until recently, I didn't know this red grape (that's been grown in Sicily for hundreds of years) even existed. The bottle I tasted was 2007 Feudo Principi di Butera.

This lush and impressive red has a cherry aroma with a hint of spice and a smooth, velvety mouthfeel. The liquid is a deep garnet. It's unusual and exotic, but highly drinkable. With its appealing complexity and rich fruity flavor, the Fuedo tastes like an expensive bottle of wine.

Surprisingly, it's only $14, making it the ideal wine for a dinner party or hostess gift. Have you ever sipped Nero d'Avola?

Is KFC trying to make amends for the Double Down, its infamous sandwich made with chicken patties instead of bread? The chicken chain is taking a break from inventing indulgent new foods to fight hunger, starting next Tuesday. Over the next few weeks, KFC will temporarily close more than 15,000 locations during the lunch rush and convert them into "World Hunger Relief Kitchens."

The kitchens will serve free grilled chicken meals to needy families while also raising awareness with charitable food drives and car washes at the shuttered stores. Fighting hunger is a pet cause of parent company Yum Brands, which launched a World Hunger Relief fund in 2007. Though there is some irony to KFC giving away free grilled chicken while it's being sued for grilled chicken, I can definitely get behind this good cause.

What do you think about the store closings: publicity stunt or sincere do-gooding?

In Autumn I welcome the arrival of all things pumpkin, whether it's pumpkin lattes at Starbucks, pumpkin chocolate cookies, or pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. So why not pumpkin sandwiches? Inspired by carrot cake with cranberries folded in, this sweet sandwich would make a great dessert or an afternoon snack with cider. Just in time for Halloween, you can make your own pumpkin bread or use a mix from a store like Trader Joe's, which is where I found the apple-cranberry chutney. Get this comfy Fall recipe now.

• Beer tries to earn a spot next to cheese plates. — Wall Street Journal
• Reforming school lunches isn't easy — or cheap. — Washington Post
• New green cookware lets you sauté without worry. — San Francisco Chronicle
• In West Virginia, pepperoni rolls are an old-time favorite fast food. — New York Times
• Should restaurants be allowed to ban diners from using laptops? — Boston Globe
• How dinner parties are changing among cost-conscious foodies. — Chicago Tribune
• One LA bakery's strawberry cake is a local legend. — Los Angeles Times

Source: Flickr User Samat Jain

No Cal-USC tailgate is complete without a sweet treat and I like to serve cookies. Specifically, classic oatmeal raisin cookies — they're chewy, not too sweet, and scream Fall.

Cookies are also perfectly portable and can be made in advance, meaning they're ideal for a tailgate. Because the finished dough needs time to chill in the fridge before being baked, this recipe must be prepared several days before the game.

To make these cookies for your friends and family, get the recipe and keep reading.

At a tasting recently, I had the opportunity to get acquainted with California pioneer vintner, Joel Peterson. In 1976, he founded Ravenswood Winery, one of the country's preeminent Zinfandel producers. More than 30 years later, he remains Ravenswood's head winemaker.

Joel's love for life and sense of humor were so infectious that I couldn't resist getting his insight into the world of wine. Learn more about his inspiration, as well as his tips for enjoying wine on a budget, when you read more

When making quick and simple dinners, it's important to look to the grocery store for help. While everyone is familiar with using rotisserie chicken, cooked, peeled, and deveined shrimp should also become a staple of your weeknight pantry. If you think about it, shrimp is practically as versatile as chicken!

Serve it with pasta or sandwich with cheese in between two tortillas for quesadillas. Or as is the case with this recipe, toss with a lemony marinade and plate with veggies to make a Mediterranean-style salad. Sound delish? Try it tonight and get the recipe now.