The energy crisis is no joke. Even for those of you who never drive.

Which has me thinking about alternative fuels. Even though I don’t really mean gas.

I mean Sorelle Paradiso, a California company that has struck oil — the extra virgin, dipping, and cooking kind. Made solely from Sevillano olives grown on their ranch in California's Central Valley, this particular oil won "Best of Show" at the International Las Vegas Restaurant Show 2008 (and deservedly so). NO IMPORTS HERE — just primo California olive oil.

Also taking credit -- for such honors -- is Frantoio Ristorante & Olive Oil Company in Mill Valley where the oil was pressed. Frantoio Ristorante is the only restaurant in the U.S. with an in-house state of the art Certified Organic olive oil production facility, which is visible from the restaurant's dining room.

It seems that the Sorelle Paradiso and Frantoio Ristorante partnership (so-to-speak) is a good one. It enables them to practice sound farming, support local agriculture, compensate workers fairly, provide the best quality around, and keep oil prices reasonable.

Making it the latest news in sustainable resources.

From the East Coast to the West Coast, Sunday brunch has become a tradition for friends and family. While you can find brunch offerings at pretty much every casino in Vegas, while you're there (like I am now) take one Sunday to step off the Strip and toast some Bellinis over bagels at Vox Wine Lounge (2630 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, at Eastern Avenue). The venue's Sunday brunch comes with all the traditional fixins plus some incredible, inventive dishes. Dine on feta and basil frittata, chorizo and eggs or feed your sweet Sunday-morning tooth with fresh scones, crepes, cinnamon buns and eclairs.

Got a hangover? Then indulge in a little hair of the dog and grab yourself a mimosa or Bellini from the Vox champagne cart or grab a delicious tomato infusion for the legendary Bloody Mary cart. And let's not forget the tunes ... as you're spreading some jam, take in the live jazz.

Ahhh, is it Sunday yet?

To be honest, the standard deli-issued potato salad isn't really my thing. But that said, I still love potato salad, I just can't stand the mush. To keep my potato salad more solid, you'll notice I use a lot less mayonnaise and I cut the potatoes into wedges (rather than slices) and I keep the skins on.

The result: A perfect salad for the 4th of July!

2 Pounds of red, white, and blue gourmet potatoes
1 Medium green pepper, chopped
2 Tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)
1/3 Cup chopped red onion
1/2 Cup of mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon vinegar
2 Teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
1 Teaspoon salt
Fresh Ground pepper - to taste
6 Hard boiled eggs, chopped into big chunks

In a covered saucepan cook potatoes in boiling water for 20 to 25 minutes or till just tender, drain well. Cool (in the fridge) and then cut the potatoes into wedges ... keeping skins on. Don't forget the eggs!

In a very large bowl combine celery, green pepper, parsley, onion, mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Add potatoes and eggs. Toss lightly to mix. Cover and chill for at least 6 to 24 hours (preferably 24). Makes 12 side-dish servings.

Think of the red, white and blue potatoes as inspiration for the salad artist within.

We all know you have to drink oodles of water daily to maintain a healthy body. But did you know that Balance Water's flower essence-enhanced water can calm and relieve stress, help you comfort and focus attention, and allow you to deal with pressure? Listen up. Balance Water is enhanced with flowers from all over Australia, including some of the most remote parts of the outback and comes in four different formulas: Water for the mind, Water for women, Water for traveling and Water for children. Flavorless (yes, I was surprised too), this wonder drink is aspartame-free, sodium-free, and has zero calories and zero grams of carbohydrates and more importantly ... the water tastes surprisingly, well, like water. Honestly. There is absolutely no taste or after-taste of any of the included flower essence. So why drink plain old water all day when you can drink water designed to relieve the pressures of your jet-set life?


Lucky for me: Balance Water is currently available at Whole Foods in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. For everyone else: The full range of Balance Water products will soon be available throughout the United States along with a home delivery service.

The whiskey world is chock full of rules.

Scotch is only produced in Scotland. Bourbon is a dirty word. Four glasses of whiskey equals one mighty hangover. Good whiskey isn’t always expensive.

And, conversely, expensive whiskey isn’t always good. But then again, sometimes it's not only good, it's amazing. Which is why, if you've got an extra $12,000 lying around, you might want to try the Macallan 55 Year Old Single Malt Scotch. The second in a six-edition partnership between the distiller and French crystal masters arrives in a leather and silk presentation box complete with amber-colored stopper and limited edition Lalique decanter. Only 420 of the bottles will be produced -- of which just 100 are available in the U.S.

I guess that proves you do sometimes get what you pay for.

Maybe the world of whiskey doesn’t have to be so complicated after all.

Whether you’re a retro buff or not, these babies have a handle on the past, but are completely futuristic. They are all that is cool about cooking with a great streamlined design.

No more burnt string, no more tussles with trussing. A silicone strapette, thefoodloop, is designed to be adjusted easily around any stuffed, rolled, bunched or wrapped veg, meat or fish dish. Can be reused and will endure extreme temperatures in the oven, pan, microwave or freezer (but not direct flames). And, if that's not cool enough they have a new line of products making other cooking tasks easier, faster and more pleasurable. Check out the poachpod!