Faithful Food Network watchers easily recognize the name Giada De Laurentiis as a master celebrity chef who will gladly tell anyone to "mangia" when it comes to trying her Italian cuisine on the show, "Everyday Italian."

The star chef is looking to Wyoming, and specifically Jackson, as she scouts locations for a show, "Giada's Weekend Getaways," a show that introduces viewers to some of the most chi-chi and tasty places to eat.

The Jackson Hole News and Guide reports in its October 11 edition that De Laurentiis scoured the Snake River Grill, Old Yellowstone Garage, even some of the libations at the Mangy Moose.

De Laurentiis knows Jackson Hole, it appears. She visited the place as a child, spending summers with her family in Teton Village.

"It's completely different. We used to come to the Mangy Moose and order burgers, fries and steaks because that's all you'd find in Jackson. Now, there are all these gourmet restaurants and five-star hotels. Jackson really has such a gourmet-chic sort of feel to it," she told the newspaper.

Gee, Ms. Laurentiis. Us Cowboy Staters had no idea.

Man scores a ten with his…hay?

The world is full of the best this and the best that. Well, a Huntley man can lay claim to having just about the best hay in America.

That's right. His grass is boss, at least according to the folks who judge the World Dairy Expo. They gave Erv Gara III top recognition for his hay, according to the Torrington Telegram, which caught up with the rancher for its Oct. 11 editions.

Gara competed in the World Forage Analysis Superbowl, becoming the overall grand champion in just his first year of competition.

The win is serious business, Gara told the newspaper.

"It won't help me in my business but will help all Wyoming hay producers market their hay," Gara said.

During haying season, Gara and his crew work seven days a week in the pursuit of perfection, he said.

"It has all been very overwhelming," Gara said. "I still don't think it has sunk in."

While we're on the subject…

It isn't hay, but it comes close. Pinedale brewmaster Richard Strom can also thump his chest for the Cowboy State. The Pinedale Roundup reports that Strom recently scored a silver medal with their Kolsch beer, a blonde ale which earned second place at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

"The recognition is pretty cool, because it's the 25th anniversary of t he beer festival. It's the biggest one they've ever had," he told the paper for its October 5 edition.

That's one blonde Pinedale residents won't mind spending some time with.

MREs Wyoming soldiers will love

At least two soldiers from Wyoming will be able to enjoy a taste of home soon. The Lander Journal reports in its Oct. 8 edition that antelope bagged from the One-Shot Antelope Hunt last month will be made into jerky and shipped to Iraq, the paper reported. The jerky suggestion came from Lynnden Dempster, whose husband Jake is serving with the 300th field artillery in Iraq.

The meat will yield 180 pounds of jerky to be shipped to soldiers Jake Dempster and Jason Weikum, the paper reported. The enlisted men then hope to offer other Wyoming soldiers a taste of home.

Mountain lion nearly causes accident

"I just about filled my pants!" That's what Lincoln County resident Mike Snively said after coming about six feet away from a crouching mountain lion near Fontenelle, the Little Chicago Review reported Oct. 11.

Readers can rest assured that after a terse five-minute standoff, where Snively pointed his rifle at the cat and made himself loom large, and backed away. The textbook safety move likely saved his life.

Night editor David Mirhadi can be reached at (307) 266-0616 or david.mirhadi@casperstartribune.net