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Sam Adams, usually a seasonal. Does Dogfish Head count? Microbrewery, but fairly common, at least on the East coast.

Other than that? Why bother!

For gelato, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check out Grom--it's near the duomo, kind of tucked on a back street if I remember correctly, but if you do a google search it should come up. I tried a lot of gelato in Florence, but that was my definite favorite! Also, south of the Arno is Pizzeria Dante--They had great pizza (but really, in Florence, what isn't!?) and my fiance and I got a "flatbread" appetizer, which was basically thin pizza crust, topped with a bit of olive oil and salt. So simple, so delicious.

http://www.trattoriadante.com/

Enjoy your time! I was there a couple years ago and I just can't wait to get back--mostly for the food!

To add to my oatmeal:

I cook the oatmeal separately, put in bowl. Then, I'll either spoon out some coconut butter into a small dish and warm in the microwave for a few seconds (not long at all!) and then drizzle on top of the oatmeal. Or, if the coconut butter is hard at room temp (which, until it really warms up this summer, it will be hard...) I just "grate" some hard butter from the jar using a fork and drop the bits over my oatmeal. If the oatmeal is hot enough it will melt anyway--sometimes I do this with cold cereal too, in which case the pieces stay hard (more like coconut shards).

I love using oatmeal as a base and then adding other ingredients too--so, normally I will also add a combination of raisins, cinnamon, banana slices, flax, sometimes another nut butter, granola, pumpkin--really, whatever you like!

Hope this helps!

For a meal, or just for wandering around definitely check out the Reading Terminal Market--there are a few restaurants and cafes, including an ice cream stop, bakeries, and other ethnic eats. SO neat and definitely worth a stop if you are in the city!

Definitely rolled oats

How about the famous peanut butter cookies with just peanut butter, sugar, and an egg (I usually add some vanilla and occasionally chocolate chips....). Do a google search, and a thousand and one recipes will come up!

I, too, own the Waring Pro yogurt maker and the first time I made the yogurt, I was struck by how different the taste of the "plain yogurt" was--much more tart than I was used to--not necessarily in a bad way, but it was just different. Anyway, as I used the yogurt maker more, I thought I would try out some Greek-style yogurt. I actually usually start with a yogurt base like Fage 2% or 0% (but I'm not sure this actually makes any difference) but then, after the yogurt churns away for however many hours, I place a cheesecloth over a strainer, and let all the whey drain off. Nutritionally, I'm fairly sure you just lose some carbs and calories and a bit of protein. But, the whey is also what gives the yogurt its tartness, so if you want something let tart, definitely give it a try!

I was born and raised on PSU Creamery Ice Cream (and I still enjoy it as a student at the University)!!!!! Gotta love Happy Valley and Penn State :)

I say, anything with pumpkin is good. And anything with peanut butter is good. Ergo, combine the two and I think that would make for one killer dessert! Definitely some type of fluffy peanut butter filling, made with a bit of cream cheese and whipped cream, nothing too heavy. I like the idea of the white chocolate-maple ganache, but again, I would keep it more light then heavy (I'm thinking a traditional ganache would just be too much--maybe make it more of a thin glaze?). Sounds great though! I'd love a recipe post once you figure it out :)

PUMPKIN!!!!! Anything.

Too bad I'm studying abroad in the UK right now and I have yet to find canned pumpkin ANYWHERE! I asked a worker at the local grocery store if they had any, and he looked at me like I was crazy.

I will not go the entire fall without some pumpkin bread though, so I think I will just have to break down and roast up a fresh pumpkin myself and make my own puree. More time consuming, yes...but oh, it'll be worth it!

In true game-day fashion, I made a batch of Chili for me and my boyfriend--divide in two, add beef to his, and simmer for a while until game time! 'Twas delicious (and I think the leftovers will be even better).

Okay, so this isn't the wildest food, per se, but in my opinion the fact that it can even be called food is questionable. There will be some of you who hate me for saying this, but here goes--

SPAM!! My mom used to pan-fry it when I was a child, and I dreaded it every time. Eventually I was smart enough to hide it in the bottom of our pantry where she couldn't find it, and eventually she just gave up trying to serve it to me.

If 'wild' can mean crazy,unique, and slightly unpalatable compared to any other real food I would ever allow to touch my lips, than this is definitely a wild food. Bleh!

I know you said chocolate CAKE, but perhaps some type of chocolate mousse or pudding could work, too? Or, better yet, how bout a Chocolate Ice Cream Cake? Then, you could still put candles in it and present it in the same way as a regular cake.

For a summer birthday, it might just hit the spot. I don't have any recipes to recommend, but I'm sure there are a bounty of recipes and variations out there!