CONNOISSEUR

FAVORITE FIXINS'
Got a hankerin’ for Armadillo Eggs? Or maybe some Paella Salad? Whatever your family’s tastes, find fun and fabulous cooking ideas in Beyond Bar-B-Que, a collection of the favorite recipes of the members and employee partners of Barton Creek in Austin. For example, Mack Brown, head football coach at the University of Texas at Austin, contributed “Folly Island Shrimp and Grits,” while former UT coach Darrell Royal shared his “Tortilla Soup.” There’s also Larry Gatlin’s “Green Bean Salad,” Lady Longhorns coach Jody Conradt’s “Orange Slice Cookies,” and “White Lightning Texas Chili” from Nancy and Robert H. Dedman, ClubCorp founder and chairman. Not only will the purchase of the cookbook satisfy your hunger, it also will help support Barton Creek’s innovative Partner’s Assistance Fund, which helps employee partners in the areas of health and welfare during a family or medical crisis, education and career development, and child care. To order, send a check (payable to Barton Creek) to the membership department at Barton Creek, 8212 Barton Club Dr., Austin, TX 78735. Or e-mail alika.singhapong@ourclub.com and charge the $25 to your Associate member account.

A NEW AGE
OK, we all know winter’s great in Breckenridge. But what about spring and summer? Soon, the hint of greenery will be showing in this Colorado showcase and there’s no limit to the activities. Here’s a sampling: Hiking, biking, rafting, fishing, horseback riding, four-wheeling, sailing, music festivals, historical mine and museum tours, gallery visits, incredible edibles, dancing, shopping, indoor workouts at the rec center, or just soaking up the sights and sounds of this historic mining and resort community. All at 9,600 feet. For more information, call 800-800-BREC or 800-221-1091.

THE ADAMS FAMILY
Adams Golf has added two new fairway woods to its Tight Lies family. The Strong 2 Tour Brassie has 12 degrees of loft and the Strong 11-wood has 32 degrees of loft. The 2-wood features a slightly deeper face than the original Tight Lies and can be played off the tee. The 11-wood is designed to give players with slower swing speeds the ability to gain loft and to replace their low- to mid-irons. For more information, visit www.adamsgolf.com or inquire at your Associate Club pro shop.

CRUISE 2000
Attend the 2000 British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland, in style. PerryGolf is offering a seven-night cruise July 17-24 aboard the M/S Clipper Adventurer and a six-night cruise July 19-25 aboard the QE2, perhaps the world’s most famous luxury liner. Both excursions include ports of call to allow passengers to play some of the world’s finest championship links courses. Both also include tickets to attend the final two rounds of the Open Championship. The Clipper trip is priced from $4,195 per golfer; the QE2 package, from $5,299 per golfer. Each package includes accommodations, three meals daily, various green fees and starting times for golf, transpor-tation to and from golf courses, Open Championship tickets, sightseeing excursions, and more. Make your plans now: The 1999 British Open Clipper cruise sold out 11 months prior to the event. For more information, call 800-344-5257.

QUICK TRAVEL TIP
Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) is a powerful one-stop travel site. Operated by Sabre Interactive, the site, among other features, searches for the three lowest priced itinerary options based on a traveler’s criteria.

EXTRA DRY
Schieffelin & Somerset confirmed rumors that millennium mania will make the premium champagnes scarce and more expensive for the 1999 holiday season. A survey by the maker of Dom Pérignon indicated that more than 1.5 million Americans already have placed their orders. Associate Club members, however, need not worry about shortages bursting the bubbly at New Year’s Eve parties. Inside sources assure Private Clubs that orders have already been placed!

ALL ABOUT WINE
Experts who train today’s leading chefs and sommeliers take you on a grand tour of the wines of the world in Exploring Wine (John Wily & Sons Inc., $54.95). But don’t be intimidated. This stunning coffee-table book and guide is written for both experienced and beginning wine enthusiasts. From the basics of wine production to the nuances of wine service, you’ll explore the history, culture, romance, science, and business of wine. Especially interesting is the chapter on matching food and wine — at once, an extremely simple and incredibly difficult task. But the volume outlines a few basic guidelines and provides easy-to-use charts to further aid the process. Also sure to be of interest to health-conscious Associate members is the information about the antioxidant properties of wine, wine and heart disease, and wine and pregnancy.