Columnist Muriel Stevens: Catalog full of truffles

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000 | 10:05 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at muriel@lasvegassun.com or 259-4080.

"The truffle is not really an aphrodisiac, but it may make the man more amiable and the woman more amorous." You don't have to take seriously the truffle wisdom of famed Epicurean Brillat Savarin, but there's no question that the seductive aroma of fresh truffles is a turn-on for appreciators. But where to buy them?

Through food catalogs, of course. The holiday issue of the Dean & Deluca catalog offers very expensive fresh truffles (market price), much less expensive truffle powder, truffle infused oils, cream sauce rich with white truffle and a truffle shaver from Italy.

The selection of fresh cheeses, teas, honeys, spices and herbs and many other edibles is choice. Prices are in step with the quality and the service for which Dean & Deluca is recognized. I've been shopping at Dean & Deluca since the first store opened in New York and always go there when I'm in NYC. In between I shop the catalogs. I have not yet visited the store on the St. Helena Highway in St. Helena (Napa Valley, Calif.). To request a catalog, call (800) 221-7714 or use the Internet at deandeluca.com.

Wine and bounty hunting: Surely one of the most amusing (but serious) purveyors of wine and gifts is Bounty Hunter Rare Wines and Provisions in Napa. The Holiday 2000 catalog offers "the continuing adventures of Napa Valley's Bounty Hunter and his relentless quest for the finest."

Mark Pope, aka The Bounty Hunter, is witty, irreverent and just plain fun. Gazettes (catalogs) are published in spring and fall. There's an e-mail club that gives fellow bounty hunters monthly updates.

This is a great place for holiday gifts, collectibles (wine) and premium wines by the case. Says the Bounty Hunter, "I've made it my business to track down California's hottest and most elusive ultra-premium wines and other life-style indulgences." Check out the French Laguiole (pronounced lie-jull) cutlery. Terrific knives. For a gazette or information about the Bounty Hunter Wine Club and how you can become a bounty hunter call 800-943-9463 or e-mail: info@bountyhunterwine.com.

Nieman Marcus ohcool 2000: The famous Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is now a trio. Three separate 100-page catalogs offer more than 500 gifts for every family member. Most of the Epicurean gifts may be ordered by mail until May 31, 2001. Food items are found in the silver Christmas book along with styles for guys, kids stuff and gifts "Fit For a King."

The white book features "Fashions, Frills and Thrills." The red book is filled with "Gifts, Sweet Nothings, and Everythings," including last minute "panic" gifts priced from $15-$125. More "panic" gifts can be found at the back of the silver book -- from $24-$85.

A $20,000 luxury submarine is among the more expensive items. I'd settle for the creme brulee cheesecake or Mrs. Prindable's wicked chocolate-covered pretzel sticks. My favorite choice? The "His and Hers" kites ($2,000) designed by award-winning kitemaker Kevin Shannon. The price includes a one-hour flying lesson with U.S. flying champ David Gomberg.

Thanks -- much appreciated: the dozens of calls and e-mails from readers telling me where to find Blue Bunny fat- and sugar-free ice creams.