Karen Lowe's Pig Tales are scrumptious hand-decorated sugar cookies-spotted pigs and golden pigs- with notes of fragrant Meyer lemon and rich Madagascar Bourbon vanilla.

Over dinner with Karen Lowe of six persimmons, inc., a New York based cookie company dedicated to creating iced cookies with a chic artisanal edge, I discovered that for the Year of the Boar, she has created Pig Tales, a collection of cookies in the shapes of spotted pigs and golden pigs (painted with edible gold leaf.) Scrumptious, freshly baked, hand-decorated sugar cookies with notes of fragrant Meyer lemon and rich Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, Karen packages them in a boxed set of 18 for $75. (plus delivery) Each cookie measures approximately 2 3/4" w x 2 3/8" d. They are marvelous for gifts and will add a special touch to your Chinese New Year festivities.

To order, visit www.6persimmons.com or call six persimmons, inc. at 646.265.0015.

Major Disaster Declaration Allows More Assistance to California

WASHINGTON With the announcement today of a major disaster declaration for California, additional federal assistance will be available for individuals and communities in the seven declared counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will aid individual recovery. Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures.

"FEMA will continue to coordinate with federal agencies as more resources and personnel are tapped to assist in response and recovery efforts," said FEMA Administrator David Paulison. "We are calling on all the federal resources available to respond to the state's needs as they are identified and we will continue to expedite these requests."

Along with today's major disaster declaration there were other significant developments in the federal response to the California wildfires.

FEMA

Over 300 Restaurateurs Gather in NYC to Attend Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in USA Awards Ceremony.

The Chinese Restaurant New's 4th Annual Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the USA Awards ceremony was quite a party, where more than 300 Chinese restaurateurs from 50 States across the U.S. travelled to New York to celebrate and be celebrated at the Jacob Javits Convention Center during the Cultural Food New York, a two-day professional tradeshow showcasing Asian, Hispanic and Kosher food and beverages on November 11. Co-Hosted by Martin Yan and Former Contestant of Season One's Top Chef Lee Anne Wong and sponsored by Lee Kum Kee and Western Union, the Asian food industry and notable Asian Americans in New York came out to honor Chinese restaurateurs and Chinese chefs for their accomplishments.

Overall Excellence, Regional Cuisine, Take-Out, Buffets, Best Value, Signature Dish, Rising Stars, Nutrition-Friendly Menus, Asian Fusion and Metro Favorites were among the 10 categories in which the awards were presented to the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants, for some, 100 winners in each category. The 2007 Top 100 competition, open to all Chinese restaurants in the U.S., included more than 43,000 from all 50 states. Participating restaurants included newly established restaurants, seasoned restaurants, chain restaurants and past award-winners. Click on

Circle Saturday, April 26 on your calendars! The world renowned Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts celebrates the opening of its extraordinary exhibition "Wedded Bliss, The Marriage of Art and Ceremony."

This exciting exhibition includes live presentations from internationally acclaimed artists and designers and a showcase of original wedding gowns and accessories, paintings, sculpture, and multimedia from the United States and cultures around the world including China, Japan and Korea, some dating back three centuries.

Attendees will be able to participate in a hands-on wedding cake decorating demonstration with professional tools and guidance.

Speakers on opening day, April 26 include internationally acclaimed wedding cake designer Cile Bellefleur Burbidge and globe-trotting photographers Tiziana and Gianni Baldizzone authors of photographic book "Wedding Ceremonies: Ethnic Symbols, Costume and Rituals."

Photographs Courtesy Peabody Essex Museum from the exhibition "Wedded Bliss - The Marriage of Art and Ceremony" opening April 26, 2008.