December 1999

Features

• Genie in a Bottle

  Grappas are worth appreciating, not just for their taste but for their looks.

• Glass Houses

  One oenophile throws stones at wine snobs who drink only from the "right" glassware

• Hara Viner | Gift-basket guru

• Hawaiian Surf and Turf

  Pro-surfer-turned-chef Raphael Lunetta is making waves at his L.A. restaurant, Jiraffe. On vacation in Hawaii, he heads for the beach with his board--and eight great recipes.

• Hostess Gifts

  Our columnist shares her tips for memorable presents. Walkie-talkies, anyone?

• John Down | Chocolate Craftsman

• Kidding Around

  New epicurean choices for the fish-sticks set

• Dan Philips | Mail-order whiz

• 20 Wines for 2000

  If millennium fever leaves you cold, these unheralded New Year's Eve wines will fire you up

• A Gadget Wish List

  FOOD & WINE experts name their indispensable kitchen tools

• A Quick Italian Feast

  A complete menu from crostini to panettone in about three hours

• A Victorian Christmas

  A Minnesota chef who left the city for small-town life invites family and friends to a christmas feast in his 1884 home

• An Haute Spa

  Merlot body wraps and healthy spa cuisine might not transform a reporter into a sylph, but a visit to Bordeaux's Caudalíe has its own rewards

• Argentine Dream

  With Caruso on the stereo and beef on the grill, the winemaking Catena family toasts Argentina and the surprise success of the Malbec grape

• Baked Pasta Tips

  Tips for turning tossed pasta into baked:

• Bay Watch

  After a short lull, the San Francisco restaurant scene is grabbing attention again.

• Book Smart

  A bibliophile reviews the season's best selections

• Vintage Editions

  The best wine books of the year, for experts and dummies, for giving and keeping

• The London Scene

  After hearing endless hype about London, one exasperated insider separates the truly spectacular from the overrated

• The Pasta Plan

  A master chef shares his easy strategy for feeding unexpected guests.

• The Winter Garden | Winter Salads

  No lettuce? No problem. With ingredients like celery, beans and beets, winter salads are the answer

• New Cowboy Cuisine

  In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, elk osso buco and coq au vin are winning over the Mangy Moose crowd