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Craving: Things We've Gotta Have

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By JEFF HOUCK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

FLAVORS OF THE MONTH

There was a day, not long ago, when popcorn was one flavor - popcorn. Wait. Does buttered count? OK, forget that. There were two flavors. We had it rough, man. These days, kids are spoiled. People like Dale and Thomas Popcorn keep making new flavors of kettle corn products for their Popcorn, Indiana kettle corn line. We did an informal tasting of the sea salt, aged white cheddar, chili con queso and caramel kettle corn and found all to our liking. We just liked the cheddar a little bit more, that's all. Cost: 20 1-ounce bags available for $19.99 at www.daleandthomas popcorn.com.

SKEW TO THE GRILL

Robin Williams used to joke in the 1970s that using cocaine was God's way of telling you that you make too much money. In the new millennium, we might suggest that owning a set of designer skewers for your shish kebab is that sign. Still, these skewers by celebrity chef Bobby Flay only cost about $8. And it's kind of fun to match the chicken, shrimp or beef heads to the appropriate food. Available at Kohl's.

I'M LOVIN' IT

Remember when you were a kid, and you'd see a sneaker phone or a cheeseburger phone or a Minnie Mouse phone, and you'd think, "When I get older, I'm so going to buy that!"? Well, you're older now. Time to make that purchase. This cheeseburger flip-phone is so old-school, it actually has a cord. Plus, it's cool, now that it's been in the movie "Juno." Cost: $25 at FredFlare.com.

PIZZA QUE GRILL

If you've never tried pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven, you can get a sense of that flavor by using a backyard grill. Positioned over the high heat of a gas grill, this porous clay pizza stone can also be used in combination with smoking chips to give pies the light smoky flavor achieved in a wood-fired oven. Even more helpful is the stainless-steel stand with a thermometer embedded to monitor the heat. Available at Williams-Sonoma for $99.95. Hey, the column is called Cravings, not Affordings.

Jeff Houck

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