In one of Washington D.C.'s largest and most affluent school districts, sandwich-snagging students have been interpreting "free lunch" a bit too literally. The Fairfax County school board claims that hungry students pilfered 1.2 million dollars in lunch last year, and plans to use video cameras to monitor cafeterias this fall. McDonald's also attempted to curb economic loss this week as they discussed scaling back on the iconic double cheeseburger, a staple on the chain's dollar menu. While the double cheeseburger may have to lose that extra slice of cheese, another company is encouraging consumers to start the day with indulgence. Wake n' Bacon, a new alarm clock, calls for a frozen strip of bacon instead of batteries. Minutes before the alarm sounds, the bacon begins to sizzle, rousing heavy sleepers with its irresistible smell. In the face of fatty foods, mothers everywhere found yet another reason to champion vegetables after reports revealed that broccoli is not only good for you, it can also mitigate the damage caused by diabetes.
A graduate student in South Wales choked to death while attempting to ingest five cakes at once during an impromptu eating contest. On a more positive note, a police officer in Minnesota gracefully dealt with hecklers after winning a local doughnut-eating contest.
In a victory for employees of a Tyson Foods poultry plant in Tennessee, recent union negotiations ended when Eid al-Fitr—the Muslim holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan—was successfully swapped for Labor Day as a paid holiday on the company?s calendar.
The Humane Society urged cross-cultural sensitivity of a different kind with a list of animal-friendly eating and shopping guidelines for Americans traveling to China. Though dog meat has been banned from menus during the Olympics, dishes featuring snakes and turtles, the Humane Society says, endanger animal populations and should also be avoided. Food tourism in Europe has taken on an air of mystery after a Swiss man disappeared from the renowned El Bulli restaurant near Barcelona almost seven weeks ago. The man, a 46-year-old courier, had saved up to visit the world's three-star Michelin-rated restaurants on a tour of several European countries including France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and Spain.
And in New York, it's the Ciprianis who are in danger of disappearing. The legendary family famous for its Manhattan restaurants and the creation of the Bellini cocktail is fighting to retain its liquor license; if lost, it could mean the end of storied establishments such as Harry Cipriani and the Rainbow Room. If you can't imagine dinner without a cocktail, consider eating in. Nintendo announced that Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat?, the company's virtual cookbook will hit stores this fall. Already a success in Japan and Europe, the game provides an interactive guide on food preparation and parings. Coupled with recent news from Italy's Agriculture Ministry that fine Italian wines with government quality guarantees will now be sold in boxes, Americans really do have something to look forward to beyond the dollar menu.
-Caitlin Drexler |
