Eh, Let’s Have an Oil Tasting!

Bound to Happen No. 48965: The Benetton family, the clothing makers, also co-own a company that puts out united colors of varietal olive oils: one made exclusively from Taggiasche olives (“sweet, round, with a delicate nutty flavor”), one from a mixture of Moraiolo, Leccino and Frantoio (“fruity, tasty, clean, very round, with a pleasantly sharp finish”), the third adding Pendolino to that blend (“very fruity, nutty, long finish”). Available “in only the finest restaurants and gourmet food stores.” (But let’s see how many people ask for this stuff by name--the brand name is just e, lower-case and with an accent.)

This Yak’s on You

No kidding (we’ve seen photos), there really is a restaurant in Lhasa named the Hard Yak Cafe. Our informant says the Hard Yak Burger comes by its name honestly, and not just because it’s made from yak meat.

Healthy as Horse

Speaking of exotic meats, you may find the idea of eating horse meat repulsive, but it’s pretty safe to eat. Horses are so removed from our food cycle that we have very few parasites in common with them.

Send, Don’t Call

In last week’s item about “Mountain Man Cookbook” we suggested calling author Thomas Canino’s (800) number. Wrong plan, it turns out. If you want his game cookbook, don’t call--send $10 to P.O. Box 3372, Englewood, Colo. 80155.

A Famous Noname

Wally Amos, the chef’s apprentice who became a talent agent and then started the Famous Amos cookie company with backing from his show-biz friends, eventually had business troubles and sold his company six years ago. Now what to do? A non-competition clause kept him from starting another cookie business until 1992, and even then he couldn’t use his famous old name. His new cookie company, which so far does business mostly in Washington and Oregon, is called Uncle Noname.