GOOD TASTES.

BOXED RECIPE COLLECTIONS: Cookbooks come in all shapes and sizes and are sometimes ungainly to work with in the kitchen. Not to mention that you don't want tomato sauce to spill all over the pages of a $40 book. Chronicle books has recently released ``The Il Fornaio Pasta Deck'' and the ``The Cocktail Food Deck,'' boxed collections of laminated recipe cards based on their book counterparts.

The ``Il Fornaio'' deck is written by Maurizio Mazzon, once a chef at the popular chain of Italian eateries who is now vice president and executive chef of the chain. The easily accessible deck contains 45 recipe cards that are color-coded to designate vegetarian, seafood and meat dishes. Each card also states the region where the dish is from and the name in Italian. Index cards also include tips and techniques for making and cooking the perfect pasta.

The ``Cocktail'' deck is written by twins Sara Corpening Whiteford and Mary Corpening Barber, owners of Thymes Two Catering in San Francisco. The deck includes 35 cards with color photo of each appetizer on one side and the recipe on the other. Tips also include planning and preparation tips, as well as pairs for cocktails and wines. Having the photos of each appetizer on the cards is especially handy and makes picking out a recipe a visual treat.

The decks are $15 each and available in most bookstores.

- Martin S. Gonzalez

YUMMY CHOCOLATES: Leonidas, the century-old Belgian chocolate founded by a Greek man who won a a Belgian chocolate contest and settled in Belgium, is now available in Los Angeles at a specialty shop devoted to the rich and creamy chocolates of excellent quality. They're so delicious and luxurious tasting, we found them almost addictive.

The Leonidas store, at 201 N. Larchmont Blvd., offers an array of fresh chocolate varieties - hazelnut pralines, fresh creams, caramels, liquor- infused pearls - flown in weekly. A selection of the chocolates is also available in selected Whole Foods Markets in Southern California or online at www.leonidashollywood.com.

If you make a trip to the shop, owner Michele Vanlochem offers the candies in containers and custom gift baskets ($60 to $250) or at $27 per pound. For the holidays, jewel-toned Leonidas luxury boxes filled with chocolate will be available ($20 to $75). Call [phone] to order, or better yet, stop by the store and treat yourself to the flavors you prefer.

- Natalie Haughton

GREAT CHEFS OF LOS ANGELES: The Great Chefs of Los Angeles Celebration of Food and Wine, an event benefiting the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California, will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey. The event will feature tastings of signature dishes by more than 25 Southern California chefs (among them Lucques, Max, Melisse, JiRaffe and Water Grill) along with numerous samplings of beverages including wines from various vintners. Tickets are $175 each. For more information, call [phone] or visit www.kidneysocal.org.

- N.H.

NEW: Trader Joe's latest offering is Balsamic Glaze. Made in Modena, Italy, it has the taste and aroma of balsamic vinegar but is thicker (it contains food starch and sulfites). Ready to use, the glaze saves the reduction step necessary when making a thick homemade balsamic sauce from scratch.

Definitely a time-saver, use the glaze to baste vegetables, fish, meats or poultry on the grill or to drizzle atop already cooked meat, poultry or fish or gussy up plates. Also try it on strawberries or ice cream topped with fruit. Some tasters thought it was a little sweet - and some would still prefer to make their own balsamic reductions. Give it a whirl and see what you think. We do like the convenient plastic squeeze bottles it's packaged in - 8.5 ounces for $2.99.

- N.H.

FREEBIE LEAFLET

The Florida Tomato Committee is offering a nifty brochure, ``Fresh Florida Tomatoes,'' that includes info on the health benefits of tomatoes along with recipes for marinating, roasting and stuffing tomatoes with names like Roasted Tomato and Cheese Pizza, Tomatoes With Savory Beef Stuffing and more. For a free copy, send a self-addressed, stamped business-sized envelope to Florida Tomato Committee, P.O. Box 140635, Orlando, FL 32814-0635.

- N.H.

DINING OUT

Veteran restaurateurs Marilyn and Harry Lewis, founders of the Hamburger Hamlet chain (sold some years ago) and currently owners of Gardens on Glendon in Westwood and Kate Mantilini in Beverly Hills, are back in the San Fernando Valley with a second Kate Mantilini in Woodland Hills.

Kate No. 2, with its American comfort fare, replaces Houston's and is, ostensibly, a Lewis restaurant for son Adam, although both Marilyn and Harry are currently there constantly to make sure everything's in order.

The Lewises, who also had Le Hot Club (now Rio) and Downtown Grill (now Capriccio) on Ventura Boulevard in times past, bring their signature dishes, including Kate's meatloaf ($17), white chili ($17), roasted half chicken with grilled chicken sausage ($18) and house-produced chicken pot pie ($18) to the new Kate's.

The Mantilini kitchen cooks four soups ($6 each) every day, makes a shareable macaroni and cheese ($7) and offers plenty of beef options (New York strip steak, filet mignon, T-bone, prime rib, filet medallions) priced from $20 to $30.

There are five burger variations ($9 to $12) in the sandwich category and three pies ($5 to $7.50) heading the dessert list.

The new Kate Mantilini at 5921 Owensmouth Ave., Woodland Hills, has a full bar and is open for lunch, dinner, snacks and cocktails from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Reservations are not taken. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Information: [phone].

- Larry Lipson

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (``The II Fornaio Pasta Deck'')

(2) no caption (Leonidas chocolate)

(3) no caption (Balsamic Glaze)

(4) no caption (brochure: ``Fresh Florida Tomatoes'')