Shop Talk: ShopTalk

PERFECT TIMING . . . Jesse Ziff Cool is the owner and overseeing chef of Flea Street Cafe and author of "Tomatoes: A Country Garden Cookbook" and "Onions: A Country Garden Cookbook." She will appear at Printer's Inc. Bookstore to discuss her newest book, "Breakfast In Bed: 90 Recipes for Creative Indulgences," today, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m. Food tasting included! The recipes in the book range from Fresh Berries with Creme Fraiche to Crab Cakes in Chive Custard. Valentine's Day just happens to fall on Saturday this year (this Saturday, the 14th), so what better way to start Valentine's Day than with breakfast in bed. Printer's Inc. Bookstore is at 310 California Ave., Palo Alto.

CUTE TO CRYSTAL TO CASHMERE . . . You can surprise a Valentine with this red Baccarat lead crystal heart from Bloomingdale's. It's $140 and found in The Dining Circle on the second floor at the Stanford Shopping Center store. Or, just across the sidewalk from Bloomies, you can find plastic Pez candy dispensers at Amy's Hallmark. Each dispenser comes with two packs of Pez candy for $1.25. Crystal or candy? Or chocolate? Andronico's at Stanford has a Joseph Schmidt chocolate panda bear with a heart for $3.99, or two chocolate truffle hearts for $6.99. A custom-made heart-shaped cake filled with Haagen-Daz ice cream is $10 at the Haagen Daz Ice Cream Shoppe. Or cashmere? A man's red cashmere robe by Loro Piana is $1,495 at Neiman Marcus. Books Inc. has "50 Most Romantic Things Ever Done" and "How to Write Love Letters" from $14.95 to $16. Heart-shaped sourdough bread is $3.95 for a 1-pound loaf and $1 for individual heart-shaped sourdough rolls at Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe. So here's inspiration at every price range. Happy Heart Day.

BIG SALE . . . Folk Art International is having a big sale, up to 80 percent off original prices on African and Mexican masks, textiles, jewelry, amber and baskets. The store is at 871 Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park.

--Dona van Bronkhorst

Send tips about store openings and closings, great deals and places to buy interesting things to Dona van Bronkhorst, ShopTalk, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302. You can also leave a message for ShopTalk 24 hours a day at 326-8291, ext. 357, or send e-mail to shopping@paweekly.com

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