Food-O-File

"Cupboard love is love pretended to the cook in the hopes that a meal or snack will result. This practice of feigning affection was also known in the 18th century by a less endearing name, lump-love, the idea again being that the true object of the pretender's desire is a lump of food." Herein lies the explanation for the name of a delightful new book entitled Cupboard Love -- A Dictionary of Culinary Curiosities by Mark Morton (Bain & Cox, $29.95, hard). The book is a thoroughly researched and deliciously readable etymological dictionary of food words and culinary terms, the product of the author's fascination with the origin of words and his "abiding preoccupation" with food. This charming little volume is the perfect addition to any culinary library. It is among the nominees for the 1996 Julia Child Cookbook Awards being awarded at the International Assoc. of Culinary Professionals Convention this weekend in Chicago... Beginning Monday, April 21, Central Market's Cafe on the Run will be offering fresh, fully prepared Passover Dinners serving four for $30. Complete Passover menus are available by fax and choices will include all items for the Seder plate. Kosher wines from St. Suprey's Vineyard in the Napa Valley are also available. Call 206-1020 to request a menu or place dinner orders... This weekend brings the opportunity to motor on up to aptly named Grapevine for the Fifth Annual Texas New Vintage Wine & Food Festival. The fest will be held in that historic Metroplex-area hamlet April 17-19, and is hosted by three north Texas wineries -- La Buena Vida Vineyards, La Bodega Winery, and Delaney Vineyards. The event celebrates the release of Texas new vintages and boasts wines from 21 of the state's 28 wineries. There will be food and wine tastings, reserve wine tastings and auctions, tours of historic downtown Grapevine and the New Vintage Chefs' Brunch ($45) featuring the culinary expertise of four of the top female chefs in the Metroplex. For more information, contact the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at 817/481-0454 or 800/457-6338... Trudy's has been an Austin tradition for nearly 20 years and devoted fans of their particular brand of Tex-Mex will be thrilled to learn that there is once again a Trudy's outlet in South Austin. The new Trudy's South (326-9899) is at 4141 Capital of Texas Highway in the Brodie Oaks Shopping Center in the former Taj Palace location. They're serving lunch, brunch, dinner, and late-nights. Celebrate the opening at the "World's Longest Happy Hour" for the entire month of April... The hot new product flying out of the deli cases at Bon Fresh Food Market and Fresh Plus Cook's Night Out is Hot Damn, Tamales! Current flavors are Ancho Pork, Black Bean & Oaxacan Cheese, and Spring, a vegan option. The tamales are made with vegetable shortening, are additive- and preservative-free, reheat easily, and can be frozen. They're a little more expensive than other local brands of gourmet tamales but they are scrumptious, especially with some good local hot sauce... The
Friday Premier Wine Tasting series continues at the Cellar this Friday, April 18, with a comparative tasting of Premium California Chardonnay and white Burgundy from France. The informal tasting is 5:30-7pm and costs $8... Just in time for warmer weather, Jim-Jim's Water Ice Company (708-8285) at 615-A E. Sixth invites folks to drop by their entertainment district outpost for a free small water ice to commemorate the beginning of their third season of business. Frosty, refreshing water ices are made with real fruit, pure cane sugar and water -- a great, low-fat way to cool off.