Just as much as people have responded to our vermouth-drinking ("Vermouth? People actually drink that?"), I've gotten similar reactions to our panettone-eating ("Panettone looks like the stuff you'd expect to find in the cushions of a sofa").

I'm appalled.

Got e-mail from Joe-maha: he's in Iowa this week getting certified. C'mon, bro -- we could've gotten you certified! I have a question for him: Is Iowa decorated for Christmas? Another question: If you went to an Iowa restaurant and asked for a shot of vermouth and a slice of panettone, what would happen?