"twilight" news and stories

Don't ever doubt the rabid nature of Twilight fans. The last film of the franchise, Breaking Dawn, is currently filming in Florida, and it's somehow become big news that Taylor Lautner, who plays werewolf Jacob, has been eating chicken fingers.

That's right – teen hearts are all aflutter, report the editors at TheStir, because they can now definitively say what Lautner and costar Dakota Fanning had for lunch. At least they won't have to speculate about what the duo ordered -- Raising Cane's, the joint they were spotted in, only does one thing: chicken fingers.

Yes, it's a chicken-finger chain. And evidently breaded chicken tenders are big business: The company has more than 75 locations in 13 states. Lautner and Fanning must have had some combination of chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, and coleslaw because, well, that's all the place serves. A creamy red sauce (probably ketchup-and-mayo based) comes alongside, but it's doubtful that Lautner indulged in too much of it – he's notoriously protective of his hard-won six-pack.

Other local Raising Cane's owners tried to get in on the action by posting signs begging Lautner to stop by their stores. Give them credit – they know a little werewolf publicity goes a long way.

If you're still swooning over "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," the latest movie adaptation from the Twilight book series by Stephenie Meyer, which arrived in theaters last week, we've got a wine for you.

Washington state's Olympic Cellars Winery released a Twilight-themed wine ("Sparkling Twilight Syrah") about a year ago, and there are still bottles available for purchase. It's no coincidence this is the brainchild of a Washington winery -- after all, the books are set on the west end of the North Olympic Peninsula. According to the winery, the idea was planted when a mother-daughter team from Scotland dropped by during a whirlwind tour of the region's landmarks that appeared in Meyer's books. (Now those are some dedicated readers.)

Produced in limited quantities, each bottle of this sparkling Syrah is $35. We haven't gotten our hands on it yet, so you'll have to hang tight for our review, but we can tell you that the winery describes it as having berry-fruit character with fresh flavors of raspberries, cherries and other red fruits.

So whether you're on Team Jacob or Team Edward, this is what you should be drinking...we're sure both families would approve.

Each Thursday, we round up a selection of scrumptious links from our friends over at YumSugar. Here's what they've got cooking this week:

• This chicken-and-chile burger will heat up a cold day.
• Woo your paramour with one of these Valentine's Day dishes.
• The Bay Area gets no love from Top Chef Masters.
• Are you smitten with pricey glassware?
• Release your inner tiger with this menu -- Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day share a date this year.
• Twilight takes a bite out of Sweethearts.

So much for a menu of blood oranges and garlic: The owners of a planned "Twilight"-themed eatery in Forks, Wash., say they're studiously avoiding vampire cuisine.

The logging town of Forks, as depicted in Stephenie Meyer's hugely popular series of teenage romances, is overrun with vampires. But, according to Annette Root, the real Forks has a bigger problem.

"It's very difficult to find something to eat in Forks after 8 o'clock," sighs Root, a "Twilight" gift shop owner who's opening the Lodge in Forks.

OMG!!! The latest installment of the "Twilight" saga, "New Moon," is nigh upon us! Will you be celebrating with fast food?

The folks at Burger King think so. They're marketing a special BK Burger Shots six-pack for all you werewolves and, ahem, blood-sucking vampires out there. The mini burgers come with a special "Gift of Holiday Value" -- coupons for "Twilight" merch masquerading as collector's cards. Think of them as a vampire Valpak of savings.

Is any of this worth it? Find out after the jump.