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CRAVINGS Stuff We Gotta Have

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By JEFF HOUCK jhouck@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2008

IN CHOCOLATE WE TRUST

If there is one culinary truism that is irrefutable it may be this: Everything tastes better with bacon or chocolate. And sometimes both. The folks at Samuel Adams appear to be heeding this wisdom with Chocolate Bock, a seasonal lager featuring Cru Sauvage chocolate from Swiss chocolatier Felchlin. Embossed with a pewter label, the 750-ml bottle is aimed at consumers pouring at holiday parties. Cost: $14.99. Available at most liquor stores.

CUP THAT CAKE

If you're like us - and if you are, we're sorry - decorating cupcakes is like doing needlepoint compared to the wide canvas you have for decorating a full-size cake. It doesn't help that most of the tools for cupcake decorating are full-size. This cupcake decorating set by Kuhn Rikon makes it easier to do professional-style designs, lettering or drizzles. It's also good for cookies as well. The set includes five squeeze bottles, five stainless-steel decorating tips and a frosting spatula. Cost: $20. Available at specialty and online retailers, including www.factorydirect2you.com.

AW, SUGAR SUGAR

A few years ago, gourmet salts collected from various exotic locales around the world were all the rage. Now the trend is extending to sugars. William Bounds and Big Tree Farms are producing palm sugars hand-harvested from the Indonesian island of Bali. The sugars are produced from the nectar of the coconut palms on the island during a process that kettle-boils the fluid on an open-hearth fire until it thickens into a golden sugar and then is flavored with cinnamon, tumeric root or vanilla. Cost for the 2.2-ounce tubes: $4.99, or $14.99 for 8.5-ounce containers. Available at www.wmboundsltd.com.

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