Thanks to actor George Timothy Clooney, Italy took a brief respite from Standard & Poor's demotion, with an all-Italo corner of primetime real estate nirvana when Elisabetta Canalis -- the young Sardinian who recently stopped running on Clooney's Omega time (her current stateside claim to fame) -- bantered with Dancing With the Stars resident Italian, judge Bruno Tonioli.
Should the taut beauty meet an early check out in the competition, there are four other noteworthy Sardinian exports that deserve a place in the American collective:
The Sardinian grape Cannonau for example has been mentioned by Dr. Mehmet Oz along with Sardinia's textured reds that apparently hold up to 10 times the procyanidins (antioxidants) than other breeds.
Among some of the winners: the 2006 Sella & Mosca La Cala Vermentino, Argiolas Perdera 2008 and Sardus Pater, Carignano del Sulcis, and Canai Riserva 2005.
The wines might be paired with Sardinia's specialty cheeses like Capra Sarda (goat milk cheese) and Casu Marzu (sheep milk cheese) both very au courant in stateside diets as they reduce fat consumption, cholesterol and lactose intolerance.
The large-island-that-could is also known for its jewelry, that ranges from ornamental to devotional to amulets. The intricate motifs that employ gold and silver filigree, copper, pearls and gemstones have influenced designers such as Theodora & Callum, whose "Sardinia Copper-Plated Necklace" is a Neiman Marcus must.
Sardinian rugs are also of the finest quality (the island is known for its weaving) and even Patricia Urquiola, the lava hot Spanish architect and designer, used the local craftspeople and wool for her "Sardinian Rugs by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso," that are sold out from Amazon to Yoox.
So next time you see Mr.Clooney's ex ragazza in action on DWTS, spare a vote, as her countrymen may lower your cholesterol and keep you joyfully hydrated.