Nero Is Suing Too

For 800 years the symbol of the Chianti region has been a black rooster ( gallo nero ) . However, a San Francisco court recently ruled that winemakers belonging to the Consorzio Chianti Classico may no longer refer to their wines as Gallo Nero Chiantis because this infringes on the name of E & J Gallo Wineries of Modesto, and the Consorzio declined to appeal because of mounting court costs. The black rooster will still appear (unnamed) on Consorzio labels, however.

Cheat Sticks

To some, eating with chopsticks is elegantly aesthetic; to others, it’s like trying to pick up food with the world’s most inefficient pliers. So a Los Angeles designer who lived in Japan for five years has developed Forkchops, which let you cut and skewer food when required. They’re $3.95 at Fred Segal in Santa Monica and Z Gallerie shops all over, or by mail from Forkchops Enterprises, 2406 Crestview Drive, L.A. 90046 (add $1 for handling).

Yogurt With Handles

Haagen-Dazs’s spring line includes frozen yogurt bars: vanilla (in either raspberry sorbet or crunchy chocolate coating), peach (peach sorbet coating) or coffee-chocolate (in crunch-choc, of course). Suggested price is 99 cents for one, $2.59 for a three-pack.

Ngok’! Ngok’! Ngok’!

From Brazzaville, Republique du Congo, comes a beer named Ngok’ (“crocodile”). (Ignore the Three Stooges overtones of the name--it’s made with the technical assistance of the famous French brand Kronenbourg.) Available at Vons Pavilion and Bristol Farms stores, among others, at around $3.99 per 22-ounce bottle.

Just a Dog Named Fiber

Researchers at Purdue University claim to have developed a hot dog that is 10% fat instead of 30%. The magic ingredient is micro-crystalline cellulose, a plant fiber that coats itself with some of the fat in the hot dog, fooling the tongue into thinking it’s getting more fat than it is. The FDA already approves the fiber for ice cream use, so manufacturers should be allowed to use the technology soon.

I’ll Take 10 Grand Worth

The Wall Street Journal reports that prisoners in several state penitentiaries, inspired by a TV ad recruiting Girl Scout Cookie salespersons, are selling the cookies to fellow inmates. The (tough) customers are described as elated to have Girl Scout Cookies delivered to them in prison.

Warm Bries

Bongrain Cheese USA markets a brand of Brie--Gerard--which is shelf-stable, meaning it doesn’t need refrigeration.