BLIND WINE: Asta Wine Cafe & Art Gallery’s Blind Wine Tasting Thursday, November 30 at 7:30 p.m. See if you can taste the difference between Long Island wines and various International wines. Ten different wines will be offered: four reds and six whites. Appetizers, specialty sandwiches and decadent desserts will accompany, and a special prize will be awarded to the one person who achieves the greatest number of correct responses! $40 per person. You must register by November 20. 631-271-2345.

FOODIE FIND: Next time you’re looking for a place in the city, try Bottega Del Vino at 7 East 59th Street – just off 5th (212-223-2724). With parking across the street, the east side eatery is easily within reach via the 59th St bridge. And when you get there, you’ll find the new blended with the old. The original and still prospering Bottega Del Vin has been one of Verona, Italy’s premier wine houses and restaurants since 1890. It has been reproduced here and the comfortable yet classic Italian décor at the spacious 59th Street location sets the mood for the one of the most impressive wine lists around (some 50 by the glass) and the mastery of Chef Max Massimiliano Convertini. The Foodies were fortunate that the busy traffic flow was right and Chef Max was willing to serve a tasting menu – a rare experience. Tell Max that Debbie sent you and maybe you’ll be lucky too. Check it out at: www.bottegadelvinonyc.com.

STARBUCKS CHRISTMAS: If you think the holiday season doesn’t begin until the day after Thanksgiving, you don’t know what’s brewing. It’s not the same old grind at the holiday Starbucks store where Chris, Brian, and a batch of other little elves spent last Wednesday night into the wee hours of Thursday morning converting your favorite neighborhood java joint into a red and green panoply for the holidays. From venti, grande and tall cups of red with sleeves of green to Christmas Blend in foiled red and green bags (red for regular, green for decaf), every shelf, every display is newly dressed as if December 25 was next week. The warm and joyous holiday spirit of the staff however, is nothing new; we find them smiling year round. Stop by Starbucks for some interesting and inexpensive gift ideas – and try a Maple Macchiato with a snowman cookie.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: A batch of options: Mac’s Steakhouse, 12 Gerard Street, Huntington (631-549-5300), $35 complete prix fixe dinner and a drawing for Jet tickets; Napper Tandy’s, 229 Laurel Avenue, Northport (631-757-4141), “Giant’s” Steak Sandwich $7.50, “Jets” Burger $6, prizes and more; Finley’s, 43 Green Street, Huntington (631-351-3440), $2 select domestic beers; $3 select imported beers; $3 cheeseburgers; $4 plates of wings; Lila’s Santa Fe Café, 345 Main St, Huntington (631-423-3003) Wheel of Madness, spin and win; Instant Replay 282 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station (631-673-6161), 50 televisions, half-price pitchers and more.

BE A RESTAURANT REVIEWER: Zagat Survey is conducting its online survey of Long Island area Restaurants for 2007/08. Avid diners are encouraged to vote at zagat.com to share their thoughts and opinions about the dining scene on the Island. Surveyors are asked to rate and review restaurants based on food, decor, service and estimated meal cost. Those who cast their votes by December 10 will receive a free copy of the Zagat Survey 2007/08 Long
Island Restaurants guide when it is published. After the Foodies’ reviews and comments, Zagat’s is the next best way to pick an area restaurant.

BE THANKFUL: Celebrate Thanksgiving at Jonathan’s Ristorante (15 Wall Street, Huntington), Thursday, November 23, 2-9 p.m. Chef Tito Onofre’s special menu featuring traditional Thanksgiving themed items includes traditional roasted turkey complete with roasted root vegetables, string beans, sweet potato puree, mushroom stuffing and cranberry sauce. The regular dinner menu is also available. For info or reservations, call 631-549-0055.

MORE THANKS: The Polo Restaurant at The Garden City Hotel (45 Seventh Street, Garden City, 516-877-9352 or www.polorestaurant.com) will host three seatings on Thanksgiving Day at noon, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for a four-course menu prepared by Executive Chef Steven De Bruyn. Reservations are required with payment in advance at $95 per person, and $47.50 per child, all inclusive.

SNACK FOOD: Dunkin Donuts, in the hopes of reaching out to its key demographic – the 93 percent of us who snack every day – recently announced that the company would start manufacturing snack foods. We’re not quite sure what the donuts were — entrees maybe, or appetizers? But here’s the skinny on the new offerings. The company’s website — dunkindonuts.com — tells a startling tale about the 4.5-oz. snacks. In order of Chocolate Chunk, Oatmeal Raisin and Peanut Butter Cup, here is the nutritional information: calories – 540, 480, 590; calories from fat – 210, 130, 260; total fat – 23g, 14g, 29g; sodium 550mg, 310mg, 530mg; and sugar carbs – 48g, 51g, 49g. For perspective, a jelly donut from these guys has 210 calories, 70 which come from fat, 8 grams of fat, 280mg of sodium and 14 grams of sugar carbs. Or, a Peanut Butter Cup cookie from Dunkin Donuts has more calories, calories from fat, fat and sugar than a McDonald’s Quarter-Pounder with cheese. According to the Dunkin Donuts press release, they give customers “snack items that taste great.” Yup, they got us there. The cookies are damn good.

QUESTION: What do you call cheese that doesn’t belong to you? ANSWER: Nacho cheese!!!

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