Famous People Food
Sign of the apocalypse: collectible wedding cakes. [New York Times] —Todd Kliman
Dining World Dramas
“I’ve been in a bad marriage, survived a doctoral program, suffered obsessive episodes requiring medication, lived with a girlfriend who worked as an escort, struggled to keep a business afloat, been in tax trouble, and written nine books—and I have never felt the kind of pressure I did when I was helming Grub Street.” Josh Ozersky lifts the lid on food blogs and what they’re doing to the dining scene. [The Observer] —Jessica Voelker
Every so often, a food writer tackles the lightning-rod topic that is America’s gratuity system. Yes it’s insane, but those who earn tips tend to like them. [Eater] —JV
Global Bites
How do you pronounce “mayonnaise”? What do you call that bubbly drink you can get at the movies? A look at differing terms and pronunciations across America. [Business Insider] —Tanya Pai
The Guardian looks at the dying breed of Parsi cafes in Mumbai. [Guardian] —TK
The Bitten Word boys go to Puerto Rico. And eat lots and lots of plantains. Side note: I used to work at Zach’s magazine. I never got a business trip to Puerto Rico. What the hell?! [The Bitten Word] —Shane Harris
Try This at Home
Sushi and cream ale? An interesting list of beer and food pairings. [WIVB4] —JV
Culinary Culture
Is food art? In Christopher Boffoli’s case, it is. Grub Street has an interview with the James Beard-nominated artist. [Grub Street] —Anna Spiegel
A fascinating, BBC-provided glimpse of Corporal George Orwell, delivering a lecture on tea in a trench during the Spanish War. “All true tea lovers like their tea strong. . . . No strainers or bags to imprison the tea.” Jump to 2:30 if you just want to listen to talk of tea. [YouTube] —TK
The Scary Stuff
Pro tip: how to keep hepatitis A out of those frozen berries you buy at the supermarket. [NPR] —SH
If you don’t subscribe to that old “laws and sausages” maxim, allow the Wall Street Journal to take you inside pork mega-company Smithfield. [WSJ] —AS
’Tis the Season?
It’s Christmas in June. Santa Claus melons are in the stores. I didn’t know what they were, either. [Produce Oasis] —SH