Combo Plate: Sex versus food, grasshopper cupcakes and more

 
-- She's a soothsayer: If you are going to read one 2011 food-trend story, make it this one at 5 Second Rule.

-- How many of these things get stolen? Switchedhas a story about the rise of iPads at your favorite restaurant: A Chicago steakhouse -- Chicago Cut -- has purchased about40 iPads to allow customers to browse through its 750 wines -- all searchable by price, variety and region. "I've already seen an increase of wine per customer of 20%," says the restaurant's managing partner.

--Blogspotting: the grasshopper cupcakes over at Chez Us. The cupcakes' name stopped me for a nanosecond, but they are so gorgeous I'd probably eat them even if they weremade out of grasshoppers. Luckily for me, the name is a nod to the peppermint kick in the batter. (Twip of the day: Follow them @chezus.)

-- Yeah, I know this is a beer commercial. Yeah, I know they're trying to sell me some beer. But if you're trying to put your hand in my pocket, I appreciate it that you're clever, creative and visually arresting while doing it.

-- Stop the presses!! The O.C. Weekly reports that real bagels have been sighted in south O.C.

-- Survey says: Women think about food more than sex, according to this Time report. What do you think? Vote below:

 

Got any links for Combo Plate? Always on the lookout for something newsy, yummy, funny or weird. E-mail me at rene.lynch@latimes.com

-- Rene Lynch
twitter / renelynch

Photo: Chez Us

Reese is Ree, craft night, root beers, doing something sweet and more

--The Pioneer Woman's story is headed to the big screen, with Reese Witherspoon in the starring role. Yeah, we can see that. When she arrived at USC, Ree Drummond thought she'd left small-town living, planning on a big-city career in Chicago. But then a cowboy happened. Which was good for us, because then the Pioneer Woman blog happened. And the bestselling cookbook. And crash hot potatoes.

--AOL is partnering with celebuchefs to launch a recipe and foodie site, KitchenDaily. Might as well just bookmark it now.

--Check out this root beer recipe that packs a potent punch: Definitely for the 21-and-older set. 

--Jealous. I want this life: How about a regular craft night with friends, lemon curd optional? 

--While everyone else was going on and on about green beer and Irish soda bread on St. Patrick's Day, Steph was writing about clever ways to fend off sugar cravings at her Noshtopia blog, which manages to write about dieting without ever making you feel guilty. (Twip of the day -- follow her always fun feed @noshtopia.)

Photo: Ree Drummond, a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman, poses for a portrait in the kitchen of her newly remodeled lodge near her home on the Drummond Ranch outside of Pawhuska, Okla. Credit: Shane Bevel / For The Times

Fried = healthy, CCH Pounder goes fishing, lunching without lunching, root beer roses and more

--Oscar nominees get together for the annual luncheon. But from the looks of this photo gallery, no one is actually doing any lunching. 

--Chile's wine exporters are feeling the economic squeeze.

--The Twitterverse is all about Mardis Gras this morning. Here, @chefrb shows us her....first stab at a King Cake. Nicely done. (Update: An earlier version of this post attributed the photo to @bonbonvivant.)

--If "Avatar" actress CCH Pounder invites you over for a fish banquet, don't fall for the "I've been cooking all day" line.

--Replacing paper coffee filters with reusable ones. A good way to keep trash out of the landfill?

--Would you pay more to have your strawberries smell more like strawberries? Or your roses smelling like root beer? Scientists find genes that could restore fragrances to flowers. The genetic research may also be applied to restore flavors to fruits and vegetables.

--A recipe for fried Greek Zucchini Fritters that still claims to be healthy? We're sold.

--Rene Lynch
On Twitter @renelynch

Photo credit: Victor Baeza, general manager of Calina winery in Talca, Chile, says the 170-acre operation's sales last year didn't budge from 2008's. Chris Kraul / Los Angeles Times

Twip of the Day: Chocolate peanut butter cake

We're still popping our eyeballs back into our heads after coming across this luscious-looking chocolate peanut butter cake from Smitten Kitchen. Technically,  it's a sour cream-chocolate cake with cream cheese peanut butter frosting and chocolate peanut butter glaze. Not that it matters. Try this recipe, and your mouth will be too filled with delicious chocolate and peanut butter to care. (Tons of gorgeous pics and the recipe on Smitten Kitchen.)

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: Smitten Kitchen

Evie's top 10 party tips

For a bit o something sweet today, read this post by San Diego food writer and radio host Caron Golden. It's an homage to her mom, Evie:

For as long as I can remember, she's pretty much been the queen of dinner parties. My dad was in the museum "business" so curators, donors, artists and other colleagues were always coming over. Plus, my parents have always loved to have friends and family at the house for meals. My mom is an astoundingly good cook, someone whose gift I continue to aspire to. I regularly served as her sous chef, server and dish washer (actually, I still do). I was told, "watch and learn" -- and that continues today.... So, what's her secret? I sat down with her for lunch at a little Vietnamese restaurant recently and asked her straight out what she thinks are the keys to a successful dinner party. Watch and learn:

Here's an early Happy Mother's Day to Evie and all the moms out there. And here's your Twip of the Day: Follow @carondg

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Join us on Twitter @LATimesFood

Photo: Mort Golden

Nothing says 'call me' like a beef jerky business card

 

File this under "Now we've seen everything":

Beef jerky business cards.

I tripped over this at TechCrunch. If you're not familiar with TechCrunch, consider checking it out. Its Twitter feed @techcrunch is highly addictive even if you think you don't care about all thing techie.

Consider it your Twip of the day. Follow 'em -- and then tell me if I am wrong.

-- Rene Lynch

Join us on Twitter @LATimesFood

Photo credit: Jason Kincaid