Anthony Bourdain gives a fascinating, freewheeling interview about eating his way through Benghazi, Gaza, and other parts of the world. “I used to think that basically, the whole world, that all humanity were basically bastards. I’ve since found that most people seem to be pretty nice—basically good people doing the best they can. There is rarely, however, a neat takeaway.” [Blogs of War] —Ann Limpert
A nice remembrance of the late, great Nadine Gordimer. Who apparently liked to relax and chat over whiskey and potato chips. [Salon] —Todd Kliman
The French ask, “What is house-made?” Good question, I’ve been wondering myself. [New York Times] —Anna Spiegel
What’s the secret weapon of America’s best ramen shops? One hint: It’s not house-made. [Eater National] —AS
Just in time for the mid-90s days: how to make summer rolls. (It’s easier than you think.) [Wall Street Journal] —AS
“An epic marathon of eating” is usually how I like to describe my Saturdays. In this case, it’s referring to the Tour de France. [The Salt] —Tanya Pai
In the battle of bored-by-the-menu chef versus fanatical diner, the key weapon is a simple mind trick. [New York Times] —TP
This Week in Millennial Food Trends: Forbes says millennials are buying more store-brand products because retail chains are tapping into a generational interest in snappy design and good marketing. I counter by saying many millennials are underemployed or suffer from chronically depressed wages, so private-label items are often the better economic choice. [Forbes] —Benjamin Freed
Three naked people broke into a restaurant to steal hamburgers, bacon, pepper, and a paddle board. The state where this brazen crime took place will not surprise you. [USA Today] —BF
Department of Overreactions to Less-Than-Enthusiastic Reviews (France Edition): A Bordeaux judge fined a food blogger about $3,400 and ordered her to change a headline after the owner of a restaurant she reviewed complained her post was the top result for the restaurant on Google. Quelle horreur! [Le blog Erik Wemple a.k.a Washington Post] —BF
