"holiday" news and stories

Absinthe drip and sugar cube. Photo: Alex Van Buren.

So we've been all about Bastille Day for the last 24 hours, from petanque to moules frites, brioche burger buns to a gorgeous vegetable tian and even a Francophile-friendly absinthe-spiked cocktail.

We're not the only ones itching to get out the door and toast our friends in the Old Country (or the wonderful eats and drinks they've sent our way). For those who will celebrating the occasion at home, Chow has recipes for three lovely terrines; Serious Eats discovers the tapenades of Provence; and one of Slashfood's own beer columnists breaks down Saison style beer at Gourmet while his colleague tackles eight great aperitifs, several of which are French.

Perhaps the triumph of the online articles, however, is France Magazine's enormous feature on aperitifs. From Lillet to Suze to Noilly Prat, it's all there, and we'll be printing it out and tucking it into our bag. (They've just unlocked the online files especially for Slashfood.) Happy celebrating!

According to a recent Decanter story, worldwide Champagne shipments have plummeted more than 20 percent worldwide. Apparently people are realizing that $180 for a bottle of wine just might be a bit...much...in these economic times.

Still, we have to buy our bubbly for the holidays. I'll probably drink some over Christmas, too, but New Year's is kind of a no-brainer for sparkling wine. Here's my advice: skip the Champagne, but skip the Cook's on the bottom shelf, too. Here are eight of my favorite holiday sparklers that taste delicious but won't break the bank. Best of all? Most of these bottles are easily attainable at any store, so you could walk in with this list and score most of them.

See the complete list after the jump.

It's that time of year again when you're making your lists and checking them twice. I'm not talking about the list you're making for Santa (we're all grownups now, right?) but the list you're making for all those other people in your life. Your friends, family, boss, coworkers, book club, husband's office assistant...all those people whom you're not sure what to get for or whether they'll even like it.

Here are a couple of ground rules I use to make the gift-buying process very easy when the person hasn't actually handed me a list.

1. If the person is an adult, and is not a teetotaler, I buy wine (duh!).
2. If the person is an adult, but doesn't drink, I buy or make food.
3. If the person is an adult, but doesn't drink and is on a diet, I buy a book.
4. If the person is a kid, I buy toys (younger) or clothes (older).

Our other Slashfood bloggers will help with #2, and you're on your own for #3 and #4. But if you're stumped for #1, here are some tips on wine for everyone on your list right after the jump.

"Pick Your Nose" is probably not a headline you expected to see on Slashfood. Well. There's a first time for everything.

These are 12 ounce paper cups with various noses on them. Finally, you can pick your friends' noses. I know you've wanted to. A pack of 24 is $9.95, aka way cheaper than plastic surgery.*

As for clipping your friends' nose-hairs, we're still working on that.

*also somewhat less effective.

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Tate's Bake Shop is a Hamptons-based company who makes cookies, brownies, cakes, and squares.

That's right. Squares. That's how quaint they are.

Inside Kathleen King's adorable yellow and turquoise Victorian-style shop in Southampton, sweet smells, smiling faces, and flowers abound. King grew up on a farm near Southampton and sold cookies from the age of 11 at her family's farm stand.

Tate's Bake Shop has a loyal following across the country. Their secret is in their simplicity. Quality products, nicely packaged, and as my friend Lora says: "By rich people, for rich people."

You can order the delicious cookies and other baked goods online here, for a wonderfully classy host gift or party favor for the holiday season.

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