Clash of the Titans:

As the holiday season approaches, foodie thoughts naturally turn to the two titans of the season's sweet-treat groaning board: fruitcake and mincemeat pie. This reviled pair is perhaps the most denigrated of all desserts and the subject of great derision by detractors. I am proud to admit that I like fruitcake, and fellow Chronicle Food writer Kate Thornberry is equally fond of mincemeat pie. In the following article, Kate and I sing the praises of this most maligned dynamic duo while informing readers of the respective noble heritages. Come dear readers, and read with an open mind, suspend your prejudice, and find out what all the fuss is about.