A popular Valentine's Day Mystery Lovers Bookshop treat returns at 2 p.m. Sunday when the Oakmont book store hosts storyteller Alison Babusci spinning love tales from around the world. Cost is $10 and includes an elegant assortment of teas and tasty treats. Reservations: 412-828-4877.

Decadent, scrumptious brownies are made by Micki Takac in her Squirrel Hill kitchen, and sold on the Internet. Flavors are Double Chocolate Caramel, Butterscotch Caramel and Chocolate Raspberry Truffle.

In an unpainted papier-mache box with tissue and ribbon, the cost is $28.80 a dozen; nestled in a distinctive art box, $49.50. Check them out at www.browniesonthebrain.com.

If your sweetie is an ice cream lover, Cold Stone Creamery has individual-sized, delectable devil's food cakes filled with chocolate ice cream, iced with dark chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate hearts. If that doesn't make your loved one swoon, look for someone else before it's too late.

McGinnis Sisters, Monroeville, says "Be Our Valentine" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and sample cheese, chocolate and bread. Included are recipes to indulge in for the romantic day. Sunday at 1 p.m. is a five-course high tea and tea tasting with local tea dealer Patricia Reiter, who blends her own teas. Bring a cup. Cost is $20.99; call 412-858-7000, ext. 7.

Love champagne but can't afford the good stuff? Transform a bottle of cheap champagne into a festive, delicious pink Raspberry Valentine Delight. Simply add a tablespoon of melted raspberry sorbet to a glass before pouring in the champagne and voila! You have the perfect toast for a romantic dinner.

The sorbet, which becomes more of a syrup, not only adds a sweet flavor but hides the vinegary taste that's so often found in less expensive bubblies.

We tested it with friends, using Natural Choice organic raspberry sorbet from Whole Foods (also at East End Co-op), but you can use any raspberry sorbet. Everyone enjoyed seconds.

Make your wild thing's heart sing with a Gigantic Fortune Cookie containing a foot-long message from you. Dipped in dark chocolate and decorated with pink and red candy confetti hearts, this Good Fortunes treat is one sweet way to deliver a romantic message. Cost is $28.50 from www.goodfortunes.com or 1-800-644-9474.

Also available are double chocolate-dipped Oreos smothered in red candy hearts, and white chocolate graham crackers that say "I Love You" and "Will You Marry Me?"

Souper winner

Our Steelers may have won the Super Bowl, but Gail Terpko of Greensburg was the big Souper Bowl winner at McGinnis Sisters on Saturday, with Gail's Chicken Fennel Soup.

Runners up were Spicy Sausage, Buffalo Chicken Chowder, African Chicken Peanut, Rose Bly's Soup (ribs, kielbasa, sauerkraut, the works) and French Bean.

Seattle sends coffee

Barbara McMahon and Nancy Finch, old friends and general managers at Renaissance Pittsburgh and Renaissance Seattle respectively, put their heads together and came up with a Super Bowl bet to benefit hotel guests.

Thanks to the Steelers' victory, guests of Renaissance Pittsburgh received one pound of gourmet Caffe Luca Coffee yesterday, compliments of Renaissance Seattle. The coffee was shipped immediately after Sunday's game.

Had Seattle won, hotel guests there would have received gift baskets decorated with a red Incline car filled with Clark Bars, Pittsburgh Snax & Nuts, Troyer Farms Pretzels and other Pittsburgh-themed goodies.

Something to smile about

Eat'n Park Restaurants sold an all-time record number of black and gold Steelers Smiley cookies Jan. 29 through Feb. 5.

More than 350,000 cookies were purchased from restaurants in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Online sales topped 1,500 dozen, with more than 124 orders going to the state of Washington.

Eat'n Park will now begin selling heart-shaped black and gold Smiley cookies in time for Valentine's week, in addition to its traditional red and white heart-shaped cookies. To order Smiley cookies online, visit www.eatnpark.com.

Goods on the go

Six Penn Kitchen, the restaurant located at 146 Sixth St., Downtown, has opened a bakery on its Penn Avenue side for people on the go.

Pick up homemade croissants, muffins, breads, bagels, cookies, pastries, cakes, pies and fresh-ground coffee.

Cooking for the soul

The 5th annual Soul Food Dinner & Gospel Concert at The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts in New Castle will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday.

A wide array of traditional soul food will fill the tables, including Southern fried chicken, shredded barbecued pork, ham, black-eyed peas, collard greens, corn pudding, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, corn bread and assorted desserts.

The event is catered by the kitchen committee of St. Paul's Baptist Church. Cost is $25. Call 724-652-2882.

The last word

"A seafood diet -- if you see food, eat it!" Miss Piggy, Muppet extraordinaire