Cranberries

Welcome the shiny, scarlet berry that adds tang to fall and winter dishes.

* vermont: This places marinates a pork chop in balsamic vinegar and herbs, sears it and finishes it with cranberry Port sauce. (Balsamic glazed pork chop, $19.) vermont, 1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz, (323) 661-6163.

* Woodside: Here a medium-rare roasted duck breast is served on Swiss chard in a sweet orange-coriander sauce, accompanied by a polenta cake and a cranberry chutney. (Roasted duck breast, $26.) Woodside, 11604 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, (310) 571-3800.

* Michael’s: A juicy Colorado rack of lamb, in a tangy sauce of fresh cranberries, balsamic vinegar and sugar, comes on a bed of pureed Jewel yams and sauteed red chard drizzled with a light Armagnac sauce. (Colorado rack of lamb, $33.) Michael’s, 1147 3rd St., Santa Monica, (310) 451-0843.

* Golden Truffle: Chef Alan Greeley uses cranberries in a bright red lobster risotto, cranberry turkey ravioli (in pumpkin sauce), a duck confit salad with a cranberry vinaigrette and a crumbly cranberry Brown Betty. He even serves a cranberry vodka sorbet between courses. (Lobster, pomegranate, cranberry risotto, $32; cranberry turkey ravioli, lunch $14, dinner $18; duck confit salad, $9; cranberry Brown Betty, $5.) Golden Truffle, 1767 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, (949) 645-9858.

* Old Town Bakery: What a range: an orange cranberry scone, a giant white chocolate cranberry cookie, a buttery cranberry walnut bread and, for those who really want to splurge, a five-layer chocolate cake filled with fresh cranberries and white chocolate mousse. (Orange cranberry scone, $1.50; white chocolate cranberry cookie, 95 cents; cranberry walnut bread, $4; cranberry white chocolate mousse cake, whole $35, slice $5.95.) Old Town Bakery, 166 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 793-2993.

* Campanile: This menu changes daily, but at lunch you might find a roast turkey sandwich with Port-balsamic vinegar cranberry sauce and grilled onions. For dessert, cranberry Florentine wedges (short pastry, candied lemon zest, fresh and dried cranberries and pistachios, served with cranberry sherbet) or a cranberry Linzer tart with bitter orange ice cream and cranberry brittle. (Roast turkey sandwich, $15; cranberry Florentine wedges, $9; cranberry Linzer tart, $9.) Campanile, 624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 938-1447.