A lover of things trashy left a box at my desk the other day. It had a handle. It also had five Mexican beers and a 5-ounce bottle of tequila inside. 


But these, my friends, are just a few of roughly 13 reasons why I heart my new Blanco Basura “5-and-5 pack.” Let’s run through the others now:


Its creator, Scott D. Gold, is a former cop. He lives just across the bay in Santa Cruz. “Blanco Basura” is remedial Spanish for “White Trash.” The emblem on the box and the beers – and at the bottom of the shot glass – is of a three-legged dog. Turns out it’s the silhouette of his late pal Isabel, a brindled pit bull who lost her leg chasing a van through unincorporated Live Oak after she was caught under a wheel. The box also includes a shot glass (which, like the pudgy tequila bottle, is made of glass). It costs just $10.99. Gold has a mission statement of sorts printed on the side of the box: “I used to pick up a six-pack of beer and a pint of tequila, it pissed me off that it cost 20 bucks,” he writes. “Five beers with a crisp, clean flavor. Five shots of premium gold tequila or aged Kentucky bourbon. That’s what I drink, and I’m proud to share it with you.”


I don’t know if I’d call the tequila “premium,” but it’s cleaner and lighter than Cuervo. And the beer beats Tecate. 


Gold told me that the most he’s taken down is three in a night. As in three boxes. “But that’s all night,” he says. “Going out, strip clubs, starting at 7[pm] and going to 6 in the morning. You’d drink three, too.” He calls someone who can finish five beers and five shots in five minutes a “five-star general.” (“We can’t promote that, though,” he says.) I call that someone John Belushi.


Star Market (422-3961) in Salinas carries it, and Couch distributes it. Learn more about his crucial court victory over Budweiser, Basura’s race sponsorships and the “army” Gold’s already gathering at the blog.


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Maybe you wish – just once – Santa would drop a bowl of Cal Stamenov’s white truffle risotto in your stocking. Or that Hanukkah could be eight nights of tequila tastings.


That may not happen, but some character-rich holiday time activities will. Here’s a look at some upcoming goodies:


Thursday, Dec. 2: Intercontinental-Piper Champagne Dinner Get in good with a great chef and you might be surprised how much he or she finds Champagne an under-appreciated power in food pairing. Tonight guests will get that, given the parties doing the pairing, namely C Restaurant Executive Chef Jerry Regester and Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Ambassador John King: Think Nantucket scallop ceviche with Piper Sonoma Brut and thyme-roasted duck breast with Piper-Heidsieck Rosé Sauvage. 5:30-9:30pm, $95++, 375-4800.


Friday, Dec. 3: Aquarium Members’ Holiday Dinner Those who support the MBA’s mission with membership get a kickback here with an exclusive taste of what new star “culinary partner”/food director Cindy Pawlcyn and exec chef Jeff Rogers have cooking in their sustainable kitchen. Seatings at 6 and 7pm. $36/adult; $15/under 12, (866) 963-9645.


Saturday, Dec. 4: Beatles Tribute Day Steve Jobs ain’t the only dude with the hots for the Beatles these days. Gary Ozuna’s celebrating the historic iTunes democratization of the Fab Four with a tribute day that includes a free “mop top topping” – 25 all told – on ice cream orders at his Beatles and Classic Rock Museum and Memorabilia Ice Cream and Coffee Shoppe (642-9789) in P.G. 1-10pm, free admission.


Monday, Dec. 6: Lopez Restaurante Tequila Tasting Event The family of brothers behind Lopez aren’t going to win any awards for the ambiance at their downtown Monterey spot, but their Mama Chela conjures some mean mole sauces and they know how to assemble a cavalry of tequilas – I think they have 100 at their bar already.


That makes this tasting a pretty good looking deal at $15 ($20 day of). Maestro Dobel, Donna Linda, 1800, Asombroso and Azcona Azul roll out diamond blends and añejos, while Chela sends apps from the kitchen. 6-10pm, 324-4260. (In related news, the Lopezes took over Casa Bodega across from Wharf Two, and added their tasty Mexican grub to the popular sandwich lineup.)


Friday, Dec. 10: 14th Annual Truffle Dinner at Marinus The math on this one is easy: A most precious food-stuff + Cal Stamenov = sold out every year (despite the spendy sticker), so get moving. A 6:30pm cocktail reception with Sobieski-black truffle martinis precedes a six-course truffle tasting menu paired with wines plucked by Mark Jensen. (And the following day there’s a chocolates and desserts demo and tasting 1-3pm with pastry genius Ben Spungin for $85 inclusive. Makes an epic excuse to stay over.) $500++, 658-3550.


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Theo’s Cheesesteaks in Salinas suddenly cleared out sometime over the week end. “As in,” Weekly Editor Mary Duan told me, “totally gone, equipment removed, fin.”… The nearby Lumpia Hut (771-9264), meanwhile, is being shopped on Craigslist. The owners are asking a clean $100K, obo… The Senate just passed an overhaul of food safety regulations. Barring complications that could still derail it, that’s tasty progress… “I was poor white trash, no glitter, no glamor,” Eminem once said, “but I’m not ashamed of anything.”