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Holiday shopping. Most people pretty much either love it or hate it. In lieu of my usual column, I've decided to offer suggestions of a few things I've run across over the past year.

This list is in no way intended to be a guide, nor is it by any means comprehensive. These are merely some things that came to mind when I reflected back on the people and places I've encountered for "Short Orders." Happy shopping!

Chocolate

If a chocoholic is high on your list this year, look no further than Loco for Coco Gourmet Chocolates (1420-D Westover Terrace, Greensboro; 333-0029; http://www.locoforcocochocolate.com), the recently opened shop across the street from Lucky 32.

Betsy Gauthier and her daughter, Amie Moffitt, are experts at guiding you through the 26 varieties of Belgian truffles they carry, in addition to the assorted chocolate turtles and chocolate barks.

Gift boxes, exotic chocolate bars and an eclectic selection of edible and nonedible items for the chocolate obsessed also are available. Be sure to treat yourself to a decadent European-style sipper of hot chocolate before moving on to your next shopping destination.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. But Gauthier says appointments are welcome. Just call ahead.

More Chocolate

If chocolate really is your thing this year, be sure to check out the creations of chocolatier Shirell Soudani of Cleo's Gourmet Praline Goodies at http://cleosgourmet.com/index.html.

Soudani has been preparing desserts for more than 20 years and for a short time operated a retail location on West Market Street. Soudani continues to offer Panforte Italian fruit cake, gourmet apples and pretzel rods, Christmas Tree cookies, chocolate holiday cards, four-piece truffle gift box and truffle pops. Soudani also offers gluten-free items.

For information, visit her Web site or contact her at 549-8479 or by e-mail at info@cleosgourmet.com.

Most Saturday mornings you can also find Soudani at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market at Yanceyville and Lindsay streets.

Popcorn

Popcorn is always fun, right? Then check out A Pot of Gold (111 W. McGee St., Greensboro; 335-3004), one of the latest boutiques to open on the fringes of Old Greensborough.

Denise Striblin and Sonya Wylie are popping up gourmet-flavored popcorn in caramel and nuts, cheddar cheese and even barbecue. There's also glazed popcorn in blue raspberry, strawberry and green apple. This stuff is way too good to use for decorating the tree.

Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday and noon until late on Friday.

Apples

Still can't satisfy the sweet tooth? Then venture south of Greensboro along U.S. Business 421 to Appalachian Apples (4706 Liberty Road, Greensboro; 392-3525) where you'll find Frannie Varker brewing a fresh pot of coffee and putting out a new selection of her beautifully coated Granny Smith apples.

These apples are huge. And they are covered with all sorts of candies, nuts and chocolate. In addition, Varker offers Dream Bars, apple pies, Sociable Cake (an old family recipe), apple-cinnamon biscuits, cranberry-walnut bread, apple pumpkin bread and other seasonal baked goods. Apple gift baskets are available and "make excellent gifts for teachers," Varker says.

Varker will offer samples of her holiday goodies during an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 1. The event is also a chance to learn how to make one of those cool tree-light baubles that seem to be popping up more and more in yards each year.

The shop is adjacent to Green View Garden Center near the entrance to Lynwood Lakes. Holiday hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 :30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Apple Butter

It couldn't be a more appropriate time of year to grab a few jars of apple butter from Moose Cafe (2914 Sandy Ridge Road, Greensboro; 668-1125) at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market.

In addition to its signature apple butter, the country-style restaurant's gift shop offers chow chow, barbecue sauce, T-shirts and other items all sporting the restaurant's moose mascot. Just look for the big ol' moose statue at the restaurant's entrance.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Cookbook

The Greensboro Symphony Guild is offering an eclectic collection of culinary delights in "Recipes of Note," the guild's cookbook.

The book includes recipes that have been tested and tasted by guild members for the past two years.

Proceeds from the book support the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and its education programs.

The books are $23.95 and are available at The Extra Ingredient, Fleet Plummer Hardware and The Saltbox, to name a few locations. For other outlets and information, visit http://www.gsoguild.org.

Wine

For the wine lover on your list, Chinqua Penn Plantation (2138 Wentworth St., Reidsville; 342-2198; http://www.chinquapenn.com/wine) now offers its own wine and opened a tasting room last spring.

A winery is planned for the plantation, but for now the wine is bottled by Grove Winery in Gibsonville from muscadines grown on the grounds of the plantation, in addition to grapes grown at the nearby N.C. State research station on land once owned by the Penns, and from vineyards from around Rockingham County.

Chinqua Penn offers a Chardonnay, a white blend, three reds, a Niagra and a muscadine with labels depicting landmarks of the estate.

Gift baskets that include wine, a souvenir glass, candles and a holiday ornament are available.

Tasting-room hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday starting Friday through Dec. 30.

Beer

If your recipient's taste leans more toward Sunday afternoon football and good beer, Natty Greene's Pub and Brewing Company (345 S. Elm St., Greensboro; 274-1373) has started bottling some of its brews.

IH Caffey is distributing six-packs of Natty's Buckshot Amber Ale, Guilford Golden Ale, Old Town Brown Ale and Southern Pale Ale at Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods and Fresh Markets locations.

Have restaurant news for Short Orders? Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or cwilson@news-record.com.