December ideas- California wine book and fusion holiday foods   by Darryl Beeson California is known for wine. The new edition of Compass American Guide: California Wine Country is the perfect guide to fine-tune the experience of visiting California wineries, with insightful tips generally unknown to the average tourist. Consider it a perfect Christmas gift for the wine fan in your life. California Wine Country, 5th edition (www.fodors.com $21.95 soft cover) has dramatic photography plus useful, understandable maps. There are concise, but in-depth winery reviews. Things are brought up to date by reviews of the latest and most essential tasting rooms, hotels, and restaurants. There is expanded coverage of the lately more important Central Coast. This guide focuses on up-and-coming destination and benefits from a new, locally based contributor, adding dozens of winery, hotel, and restaurant reviews. A star rating system makes it easy to find the best experiences. There are well-designed, day-long “Great Drive” itineraries for each wine region. These easy-to-follow routes guide readers to both high-profile wineries and undiscovered gems. There are numerous tips on wine tasting and touring, plus a look at the art and science of winemaking. There are activities beyond the tasting rooms, like 'roll your sleeves up and start working in the vineyard crush camps,' luxurious spas, and even craft beer tastings. This California wine country guide is an even better guide for first-time visitors, repeat travelers, even locals and maybe even honeymooners. The information is fascinating even if you never make a trip to the California wine country. And to all, an Omakase good night Omakase is the Japanese word meaning “entrust” or “protect,” and in a restaurant, that term means that the customer is provided the chef’s choice. It is a culinary gift. For Christmas Eve, the chefs of SushiSamba have created a six-course Omakase Dinner, highlighting the exotic flavor profiles of Japan, Brazil and Peru. To include roasted kabocha squash soup, a great sushi array, sizzling lamb chops and a more traditional plum bread pudding, all this begins with the Brazilian flair of a potent, bartender prepared Holiday Sambatini drink (recipe below), the menu available only Christmas Eve, December 24 from 5pm to 10pm for $60 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). SushiSamba, a blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine, is located at at The Dallas Galleria. Visit www.sushisamba.com or call 214-866-0214. Holiday Sambatini recipe 2 oz Marani vodka (distilled through milk and honey) 1 oz Cardenal Mendoza brandy 1oz Licor 43 1 ½ oz whole milk 1 egg white 1 bar spoon sugar 2 pinches of cinnamon Shake vigorously. Strain over fresh ice in a cinnamon-sugar dusted wine glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Drink profusely, and do not drive. 'tartufi bianchi'- white supremacy A special evening with white truffles and Barolo wine at the renowned Frasca Restaurant, 1738 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado featuring Silvia Altare of Azienda Agricola Altare, Piedmont, Italy, will be on Monday, December 10, 2007. A five course menu to be paired with wines crafted by Elio Altare. The price is merely $500 per person (not including tax, tip or hotel and airfare). Call 303-442-6966. You decide.   For more great wine suggestions, click here Do you have any questions, comments or suggestions? Email: jwdineline@aol.com Copyright © 1998 Inter Active Media Solutions. All Rights Reserved. The interactive components of this site require that you use a current browser version of Explorer; be sure to maximize your window out so you can see the entire page. This page was created by Inter Active Media Solutions.