Newsy Fare
Twenty gang members in LA have been accused of extorting money from food truck operators—not the ubiquitous taco/pizza/cupcake ones, but the hot dog and coffee food trucks at construction sites. [LA Times] —Sophie Gilbert
How much would you pay for Twinkies? [King 5] —Jessica Voelker
Food-Related Famous People Stuff
The Hairpin ponders what food your ’90s dude crush would be were he actually edible and not just tasty to look at. Clearly Jared Leto is a doughnut with rainbow sprinkles: so pretty but you inevitably regret it afterward. [The Hairpin] —Tanya Pai
This sounds like that episode of Will and Grace that guest starred Ellen DeGeneres, but is actually a fantastic story about nuns in New Skete, New York, who make cheesecakes to help fund their order. “Most strikingly, except for the clatter of aluminum springform pans being oiled by hand, the bakery was mostly quiet. When the nuns of New Skete bake, they pray.” [NYT] —SG
A Kate Moss-designed sushi box costs $58. Also there was a party in its honor. [WWD] —JV
The one time I’ll suggest everyone lay off Anne Hathaway—but only ’cause it’s artichoke season. [The Cut] —Ann Limpert
Apples to Apples
Move over, Honeycrisp. Later, Fuji. Behold the Opal. [Seattle Times] —Marisa Kashino
I get it, I get it, kids are becoming slaves to the touchscreen. But come on, what’s an hour of iPad time if it guarantees a peaceful dinner out? [Daily Telegraph] —MK
Chef-lebrities
Thomas Keller doesn’t want your softball interview questions. [Huffington Post] —AL
Guy Fieri is opening a string of burger places (featuring a patty made entirely of bacon) on a handful of Carnival cruise ships—sounds like the makings of a Pete Wells/David Foster Wallace mashup to me. [Eater] —AL
Booze News You Can Use to Chase Away Pricey Wine Blues
Lifehacker debunks the claim that people can tell an expensive bottle of wine from a cheap one—or even red from white. My personal vino philosophy: If it comes in a box, it probably rocks. [Lifehacker] —TP
Civilization owes a lot to beer, according to this Times article. As if we need convincing. [NYT] —JV
Everyone’s a Critic
“This is good. Like [. . .] ‘morning after a night in a Tijuana brothel and I still have both my kidneys’ good.” A review of brogurt. [The Salt] —TP
The Salt also raises an interesting question after the Post’s Joe Yonan “comes out” as a vegetarian: Does abstaining from meat make you a less credible food critic? [The Salt]
—TP
Especially Orange Juice . . .
So THAT’S why things taste terrible right after you brush your teeth. [Mental Floss]
—TP
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 and was a senior editor until 2022.
