In Good Taste

So you think you’re a true coffee connoisseur? Think you’re special because you can tell real Jamaica Blue Mountain from the fake stuff?

Well, we ran into a woman the other day who takes her coffee very seriously.

While in our usual coffee emporium stocking up on joe, a woman standing next to us said, “Wish I owned stock in this company,” as her eyes scanned what must be a virtual gold mine.

“Yeah, really,” we said--our usual brilliant small talk when shopping.

“I take it with me when I travel,” she said, pointing to two quarter-pound bags of coffee and a small plastic filter holder. “I just can’t drink any other coffee.”

We can see it now--”Oh, waiter, would you bring me a cup and some hot water? And do you have any No. 1-size filters? I’m all out.”

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Uh, Thanks, but No Thanks: We love holidays, if for no other reason than to see how the candy companies interpret them. For instance, Holiday M&M;’s this time of year are red and white. Around Christmas, they’re red and green, and by Easter they’ve changed into pastels. You can find Hershey’s kisses right now wrapped in silver and red foil.

It’s surprising no other companies have tapped into this marketing idea. How about Holiday Spam? Valentine’s Day-themed pork and beans? Fourth of July frozen spinach?

OK, it was just a thought.

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Essentials What you need to maneuver the L.A. scene:

Fact: There are too darn many award shows. The Oscars, the Grammys, the Emmys, the American Music Awards, the Golden Globes, the Directors Guild, the L.A. Film Critics . . . we could go on.

Fact: No one can possibly remember the enormous number of winners and nominees.

So what’s an industry-ite supposed to do in a social situation when faced with possible award recipients? If they’ve won something or are up for an award, you can’t not acknowledge them--that wouldn’t be in your best schmooze interest.

We suggest taking a noncommittal approach, something like, “Congratulations!” or “Hey--way to go!”

If they have been honored, they’ll be so flattered that you remembered. And if they haven’t, they’ll just figure you were congratulating them on getting that walk-on on “Babylon 5.”