The Brookline TAB's Jessica Scarpati recently undertook a heroic quest to find Brookline's best burrito. Scarpati reckons that there are six burrito joints in Brookline (we would say seven, including The Omelettry Cafe). As we would have expected, Anna's Taqueria took top honors, but all the results are pretty fascinating. Some key points:

•With two exceptions (Anna's $4.94 burrito outranked the $4.71 competition from Taqueria Mexico and the $7.25 burrito from Baja Betty's Burritos placed one slot above the $7.06 one from Temptations Cafe), the cheapest burritos were the best.
•A pleasant surprise: Qdoba Mexican Grill uses crumbled queso blanco, rather than nondescript sliced cheese.
•The one drawback the TAB judges found to the Anna's burrito? The fillings were not well mixed. This has always bugged us too. Were we to start a burrito parlor, our gimmick would be to toss the ingredients like a salad before placing them in the tortilla. It just makes sense!

Battle of the Burritos [Brookline TAB]

[Photo: About.com]

Yesterday, we shared a few of our favorite first date restaurants with you. Today, we've been thinking a lot about second dates. The requirements for a second date restaurant are, obviously, quite different than those for a first date spot. Where a first date should take place in as casual a location as possible, a second date can happen somewhere a little more explicitly romantic. A second date can also feature a "nicer" restaurant, within limits (taking someone you've been out with once to L'Espalier might be a little much). A second date restaurant should be somewhere fairly intimate and not too loud so you and your date can have a nice long chat. Below, five of our favorite spots.

•Assuming that your date isn't taking place right before a Sox game, you can hardly do better than Eastern Standard for dinner and drinks. The service is exemplary, the food is, quite simply, awesome, and the drinks are some of the best in town.
•More of a beer person? Head over to The Publick House and take your pick from the 20+ beers on tap to accompany your great meal (we recommend moules frites and burgers). One caveat: it gets a little crowded and loud on weekends, so it's best for a weeknight rendezvous.
•Nowhere does effortless romance quite like Paris and nowhere in Boston does a Parisian impression quite like Petit Robert Bistro. Linger over a bottle from the excellent wine list and a treat from the amazing dessert menu (perhaps the tarte tatin?). Ah, l'amour!
•As much as we love it, we have to admit that the North End can be just a little bit cheesy. Wander a few steps off the beaten path and get dinner at Neptune Oyster. Eating at the marble bar is romantic in an off-beat way and, well, you know what they say about oysters.
•For a date entirely free of stuffiness, why not have a picnic? Head to Cardullo's for provisions (we recommend sandwiches and chocolate) and find a nice spot to sit near the river.

Eastern Standard [Official Site]
The Publick House [MenuPages]
Petit Robert Bistro [Official Site]
Neptune Oyster [Official Site]
Cardullo's [Official Site]

We haven't eaten at a major fast food chain that is not called Chipotle since we read Fast Food Nation and My Year of Meats within a month of each other in 2001 (it is a testament to the strength of our deep love for meat that those books didn't make us go vegetarian altogether. So troubling!). That being said, we must admit to being just a tiny bit tempted by Wendy's newest offering: The Baconator. The Baconator! The name alone conjures up delectable images of a veritable army of bacon, ready to make delicious war with oury arteries and, indeed, the product does not disappoint! Two patties, two slices of American cheese, mayo, ketchup and, oh yeah, six slices of bacon. SIX SLICES OF BACON! In the inimitable (cleaned-up) words of Gwen Stefani, this shh is bananas.

Aside from not eating fast food, we also don't eat either American cheese or mayonnaise, but we must admit: we're seriously considering making our own knockoff Baconator at home tonight using cheddar and maybe applewood-smoked bacon. Yeah, the burger contains a startling 830 calories, but everything in moderation, right?

Chipotle [Official Site]
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal [Amazon]
My Year of Meats [Amazon]
Baconator [Wendy's]
U.S. Nutrition Information [Wendy's]

We've never been extraordinarily picky about service. We can count on one hand the number of times we've truly felt like we received subpar service and only two of those times were in Boston (once at a long-defunct Asian restaurant on Boylston and once at a Harvard Square restaurant that shall not be named). Although we have only spent three days waiting tables, we have enough friends who've worked in restaurants that we generally tip at least 20% if the service isn't awful and more if it's great. We appreciate the way that truly great service can further elevate a meal (Rialto comes to mind), but we're always a little baffled by Chowhounders complaining about things like servers being too chatty or not chatty enough. To us, if the food is good and the service isn't actively bad, the meal is a success.

Given this perspective, we were a little surprised to see that Sunday's Globe Magazine, billed as "the restaurant issue," focused almost entirely on the topic of service. The magazine was definitely very interesting (we especially enjoyed Michael Blanding's dissection of the service at KO Prime and Christopher Muther's very funny piece rating the service in several Hub establishments), but overall, we wish we could have heard more about the chefs and the food. To us, at least, that's what restaurants are all about.

What about you? Did the Globe leave you hungry for more or were you sated by the focus on service?

Rialto [Official Site]
The Restaurant Issue [Boston Globe Magazine]
Anatomy of An Order [Boston Globe Magazine]
KO Prime [Official Site]
Warm Plates, Cold Shoulders [Boston Globe Magazine]

[Graphic: ESL Kids Stuff]

Outside of his crazy prolific film career, our favorite Christopher Walken roles have always been as the dancing man in the video for Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" and Bruce Dickinson in the famous "more cowbell" sketch on Saturday Night Live. Those immortal appearances, however, just might be trumped by the video Walken recently posted on amateur cooking site Im Cooked. In the video, Walken makes an incredibly simple dish of roast chicken with pears. We get a giant kick out of watching badass Christopher Walken dork out about his upright roaster and comment that the crispy bottoms of his roasted pears "taste just like cookies."

Christopher Walken in the Kitchen [Slashfood]
Man Makes Chicken With Pears [Im Cooked: CW428]

Blogston Proper is your thrice-weekly roundup of Hub-related food writing from all over the Internet. We read the blogs so you don't have to. But you should anyway, just to be nice.

•A hit-or-miss humid brunch at Daedalus. [Life Is Sweet In The Fenway]
•Dali: always a treat. [A Passionate Foodie]
•We hope you like Fresh City, because there are a lot more to come. [Nation's Restaurant News]

[Photo: Flickr: blue socks]

A friend recently asked us for advice about where to dine on a first date. We've always been of the opinion that first dates should be fairly casual in order to minimize awkwardness and full of good food so that if things go poorly, at least you got a decent meal out of it. With all that in mind, we came up with five great spots for a first date. Because we're feeling service-oriented today (and because we're not-so-secretly ardent matchmakers at heart), we thought we'd share them with you.

•In addition to a casual atmosphere and great food, we believe in activities on first dates, which is why we're a big proponent of Milky Way Lounge & Lanes. Rented shoes facilitate bonding, as do yummy cocktails (another essential component of a successful first date) and pizza delivered from Bella Luna upstairs.
•For a slightly less casual atmosphere, impress your date at Beehive. The food is great, the drinks are better, and if conversation isn't flowing, you can just watch the live entertainment (both in the form of musical acts and in the guise of the other well-heeled patrons).
•Stepping out with a big beer fan? Head to Deep Ellum and bond over the great draft selection and the preternaturally delicious burgers.
•The atmosphere is lacking, but we think Yankee Lobster would be a great and unusual first date. Get a clam strip plate to go and eat on a bench overlooking the Harbor. Romantic views at rock-bottom prices!
•Dinner and a movie is so cliche, but if you must, take in an indie film at Kendall Square Cinema and indulge in a pie at Emma's Pizza. Creating a pizza together is a great icebreaker, as is the better-than-you'd-expect wine list.

Milky Way Lounge & Lanes [Official Site]
Beehive [Official Site]
Deep Ellum [Official Site]
Yankee Lobster [Official Site]
Emma's Pizza [Official Site]

Diner's Agenda's favorite iron chef is Mario Batali.

Monday, July 30
•When chefs battle it out in the kitchen, eaters reap the spoils. Get in on the action tonight at UpStairs on the Square's tapas battle, featuring the likes of Tremont 647's Andy Husbands. Diners can choose their plates and vote for the best. Call (617) 864-1933 to save your spot. [UpStairs on the Square]

Tuesday, July 31
•We're still not quite sure how we feel about chowing down on seafood at the Aquarium (is this the omnivore's dilemma?), but Tuesday's Sustainable Seafood event does sound like a pretty good time: three excellent courses with wine parings and a gorgeous view of the Harbor for $70-75. Dinner reservations are being accepted for any time between 7pm-10pm and you can reserve by calling (617) 973-5206. [New England Aquarium]
•Every year we look forward to Boston Magazine's Best of Boston issue, as much for the heated arguments their picks inevitably promote as for tips about great places we haven't tried yet. If you feel the same way, why not party down at the issue's launch fiesta at 8:00 at Carson Beach? $100 gets you cocktails aplenty and treats from Legal Sea Foods as well as dancing and a gift bag. Tickets can be reserved online. [Boston Magazine]

On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 2007 Farm Bill by a margin of 231 to 191. The version of the bill that was passed included plenty of great things such as support for growers of fruits and vegetables, increased money for environmental causes like conservation and alternative fuel research, and an increase in food stamps. The last prong caused no small amount of dissent in the House, as it requires a tax increase. Several House Republicans accused Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of spoiling the bipartisan consensus on the bill with the tax increases and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns expressed displeasure with the House's version of the bill, saying that "there's no need to raise taxes to deliver a good Farm Bill" and urging the Senate to remove the tax raise in their version of the Bill.

As we see it, however, all this fuss over raising taxes pulls focus away from the real issue (and to our mind, scandal) of the House's version of the Farm Bill: Congress' failure to curtail the insanely large subsidies received by growers of the "big five" crops: soy, corn, cotton, wheat, and rice. Despite widespread opposition to the subsidies among groups as diverse as the Bush administration and Environmental Defense, the House's bill maintained the status quo with regard to subsidies, rejecting (309 to 117) an amendment proposed by Representative Ron Kind, Democrat of Wisconsin, that would have ended government payments to farmers making over $250,000 per year. Other than the sheer outrageousness of folks with six figure incomes receiving government assistance, the subsidies are bad news for reasons we've discussed before: namely, that subsidizing crops that can be easily manipulated into processed foods creates a glut of cheap, wildly unhealthy foods while making unprocessed "whole" foods overly expensive. Additionally, we're not economists or anything, but it kind of seems to us like if subsidies were curbed, money could be freed up for food stamps and other programs without raising taxes, no?

So, if opposition to the subsidies was so strong, why are they still in the bill? Politics, as usual. Turns out there are a lot of freshman Representatives from rural districts and House leadership was worried about re-election prospects for those voting against subsidies. No matter what your personal views about Democrats retaining control over the House may be, it seems a shame that an opportunity for reform was passed over because of purely political concerns.

The Farm Bill will now go on ice while Congress recesses before being considered by the Senate in the fall. The Bush administration has said it would veto the bill in its current form, so expect a showdown when the bill hits the Senate. We, for one, are looking forward to it.

House Passes Farm Bill, Expanding Food Stamps [New York Times]
Final Vote Results for Roll Call 756 [U.S. House of Representatives]
Farm Subsidies Seem Immune to an Overhaul [New York Times]
Final Vote Results for Roll Call 747 [US House of Representatives]

[Photo: St. Louis County]

So, in case you didn't notice? It was pretty hot this weekend. We spent pretty much the entire weekend taking advantage of our air conditioned room and eating ice cream. Ah, ice cream. Truly, the summer food of the gods. As Bostonians, we are incredibly lucky to have a variety of excellent ice cream shops at our disposal. From Toscanini's and JP Licks to Herrell's and Lizzy's, ice cream in the Hub is truly an embarrassment of riches. It's not this way in other parts of the country! New York's ice cream to-go options are mostly limited to big chains, gelato, and frozen yogurt. Don't get us wrong. We adore gelato and fro-yo when the time is right. On hot summer days, however, when we're out and about, nothing hits the spot like plain old fashioned ice cream. Why? Because everyone loves ice cream.

Classic Sesame Street: Everyone Likes Ice Cream [YouTube: ISNorden]
Toscanini's [Official Site]
JP Licks [Official Site]
Herrell's [Official Site]
Lizzy's Ice Cream [Official Site]

Blogston Proper is your thrice-weekly roundup of Hub-related food writing from all over the Internet. We read the blogs so you don't have to. But you should anyway, just to be nice.

•A bold claim about Ginza and from a Yankees fan, no less! [Gridskipper]
•Esteemed food writer Ed Levine also likes Bertucci's. [Slice]
•In the local-news-by-local-people department, get excited for Restaurant Week! [Brookline Tab]

[Photo: Flickr: BehindDarkEyes]

•MP: Chicago gave a swift takedown to a poorly-themed Italian restaurant and gave a lecture on the intricacies of a changing menu.
•MP: Philadelphia taught us about a brewery's demise and filled us in on the continuing saga of Philly's best-loved market.
•MP: San Francisco wanted us to know that rose wine doesn't have to be insipid and Nigerian food should probably be better-known.

That's good enough for Diner's Agenda!

Saturday, July 28
•Beer snobbery is the new wine snobbery. Haven't you heard? Get with the times at the Cambridge Brewing Co's Bass and Beer Festival on Saturday night. A variety of yummy bass-based dishes will be available and each will be paired with a complementary beer. Some of the beers will even be in special fancy glasses. Oh, you heard right. Special fancy glasses! How can you not call (617) 494-1994 to save your place? [Cambridge Brewing Company]

Sunday, July 29
•Always wanted to venture to Brewster's uber-expensive French restaurant Chillingsworth but unwilling to take out a second mortgage to do so? Then do we have a deal for you! Call (508) 896-3640 and make a reservation for Sunday's all-chocolate pastry class with Lisa Rafael, pastry-maker extraordinaire. Class runs for two hours starting at 1:00 and includes demos, sampling, and a glass of wine. Magnifique! [Boston Chefs]

dbar: B-:
enthusiasm: charming,
but food is just fine.

Rendezvous' prix fixe:
What a great deal! Three courses
for thirty five bucks.

Yesterday, A Passionate Foodie alerted us to one of the single best things we've ever seen. Now, because we're about nothing so much as sharing (we're always trying to shake off our only child shame), we are passing it along to you.

We bet you didn't know that with a little vodka and a lot of patience you could transform a banana into a potent alcoholic snack, but you do now! Hooray for fruit!

Banana Gel-O Shot [A Passionate Foodie]
Gel-O-Shot INSIDE A Banana! [Instructables]

Let's take stock of what we've learned about bees over the past month, shall we?

•Bees are dying at an alarming rate due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which functions like Alzheimer's Diseases and causes the little buzzing guys to lose their memories and senses of direction.
•No, wait, honeybees virtually disappeared over a decade ago and the real problem is forced reproduction of the country's remaining bee supply.
•Either way, our crops are totally effed if someone doesn't figure out a solution soon.

Fortunately for fruit lovers, it looks like the government is taking action. A Hunger Artist reports that the USDA has finalized an action plan for dealing with CCD. We will admit that we have only read the plan's Executive Summary, but it seems that the strategy is comprised of four parts: 1) Study bees and get samples, 2) Analyze the samples, 3) Figure out what is causing CCD, and 4) Fix it. So suddenly, saying "we're going to apply the scientific method" requires a 28 page proposal?

All teasing aside, we're very glad the government is taking the time to deal with this. We're not going to pretend we don't squeal and run away whenever we see a bee, but we rather like honey and fruits and veggies and things of that nature, so we have a mighty vested interest in bees staying alive.

Bee Aggressive [MP: Boston]
Bee Scared [MP: Boston]
USDA Busy as Bees Saving Bees [A Hunger Artist]
Colony Collapse Disorder Action Plan [United States Department of Agriculture]

Another roundup:
this time about hot dishes
and summery drinks.

Quincy's Five Spices:
the food is inconsistent
but the drinks are great.

In case the thousand dollar martini isn't luxe enough for you, The Grinder brings us news of a £100,000 ($205,110) saucepan currently being sold at England's department store of repute, Harrods. While you might expect such an exorbitantly-priced piece of cookware to perform above and beyond any saucepan you've ever used (we, for one, would like something that expensive to write our blog posts as it works on a balsamic reduction), it turns out that the pan is not actually meant for cooking. You see, when the Guardian invited famed British chef Fergus Henderson to test it out, the saucepan came accompanied by two Harrods representatives. Hilarity ensued.

So shall we get it out of the box? Shall we get cooking?

Well, says Herr Hub, we need to be careful. It's probably best not to use a gas flame. And we mustn't be too rough with it. He lifts it out with reverence, and sure enough it doesn't look like something you might obviously just pop into a hot oven, with its solid gold handles and clusters of diamonds on the lid and the panels adorned with the manufacturer's name - Fissler - makers of world-class cookware, Herr Hub says, for 160 years.

'You can cook with it, though?' I ask, wondering how it would look after a few rounds with a Brillo Pad...

Well you could, says Herr Hub. After all, the body is crafted of the finest stainless steel ('hygienical and long lasting!') and the best aluminium base. 'But,' he says, 'if you bought a pot for £100,000, would you like somebody scratching around inside your pan?'

I have to admit, I wouldn't.

Fergus looks disappointed. 'I suppose I thought the gold and diamonds might be of some beneficial, er... cooking purpose.'

For a long moment Herr Hub is genuinely lost for words. 'But what advantage could there be?' Which I suppose is what we were wondering to start with.

No, no, he goes on, 'the main purpose is pure luxury. It's more to be used for serving your guests. The people who buy things like this will probably not spend too much time in the kitchen.'

'But you could still put it in the oven...' Fergus is saying.

'Well, you could...' Herr Hub says, meaning that you probably wouldn't.

It is probably worth noting that the saucepan in question looks like a refugee from Liberace's kitchen. Furthermore, for the price of the one non-functional saucepan, you could buy 113 gorgeous, functional, and very expensive copper cookware sets from Williams-Sonoma. We're going to have to go ahead and say that this saucepan might not be worth it.

A Golden Opportunity [The Grinder]
Harrods [Official Site]
Bling to the Boil [Guardian]
£100,000 Saucepan Brings Bling to Your Cooker [Daily Mail]
Mauviel Copper 12-Piece Cookware Set [Williams-Sonoma]

Such wonderful food
at Garden at the Cellar!
Quite sensational!

La Brace's lobster:
a great crustacean app
grilled to perfection.

We know, we know. We're totally obsessed with the Naomi Campbell starring, Zach Braff directed Dunkin' Donuts commercials. But come on! They're such an odd evolution from the ubiquitous Fred-based ads of our childhood that we are simply incapable of looking away. The entire commercial is finally available on YouTube and we're really sort of fascinated. The oddest part? The complete lack of any directorial flourish from Mssr. Braff. Be honest: weren't you sort of expecting long looks into the camera accompanied by Pitchfork-approved music? Truthfully, we're a little disappointed.

Naomi Campbell in new Dunkin Donuts ad [YouTube: bishop0060]
Pitchfork [Official Site]

Blogston Proper is your thrice-weekly roundup of Hub-related food writing from all over the Internet. We read the blogs so you don't have to. But you should anyway, just to be nice.

•The Chowhounders are dead wrong about Anna's Taqueria. [Cave Cibium Cibum]
•Suddenly, our diet is a whole lot healthier! [Endangered Coffee]
•There's another Rozzy Square breakfast option besides the Blue Star. [Universal Hub]

[Photo: Flickr: wendygee]

Here's what we like: meat, local foods, and being informed about products we might purchase. Here's what we don't like: feeling ill-informed. Thus, we were excited to learn via Slashfood that the House recently passed a law requiring meat along with vegetables, nuts, fruits, and seafood to be labeled with their country of origin.

This is great news for United States consumers, especially those interested in eating sustainably. While labeling foods won't be too helpful for those attempting to eat locally (meat labels won't be required to let you know whether the steak you're thinking about comes from a cow in Colorado or Connecticut), consumers will, at least, be able to find out whether their USDA Prime beef comes from the US. Furthermore, the new requirement will enable consumers to vote with their wallets by purchasing products from countries with fair labor and farming practices. We're quite pleased with the House and hope our approval will continue as the Farm Bill gets set.

US Meat Labels to Show Origin [Slashfood]
US Meat Labels to Note Country of Origin [Yahoo!]

Diner's Agenda says tomahto.

Wednesday, July 25
•Tomatoes are justthissecond starting to come into their true season and, to celebrate, 75 Chestnut is having a Tomato Fest all week, featuring tomato-based additions to the menu such as rack of lamb on char-grilled tomato-arugula salad and tomato-thyme sorbet. Should you wish to make a reservation to sample these lycopene-filled goodies, you may call (617) 227-2175. [75 Chestnut]
•There is plenty of fun to be had at tonight's Summer Celebration at Hampshire House. For a mere Hamilton, you have access to a $1 hot dog stand, a complimentary beverage and cash bar, a special frozen drink bar, and a clothing contest. All proceeds go to the MASS Soldiers Legacy Fund. The party starts at 6:30 and tickets may be purchased by calling (617) 854-7463. [Hampshire House]
•Yo ho ho! UpStairs on the Square hosts a rum tasting tonight at 6:30. $38 gets you tastings of several rums paired with "tropical treats." If all the spirits have got you feeling spirited, at 8:30 there will be a bossa nova band and dancing ($15 for non-diners, free for those eating). Call (617) 864-1933 to save your spot at either or both. [UpStairs on the Square]

Thursday, July 26
•Heeyy. Remember last week, when we told you about the Taste of Cambridge? Turns out it got rained out and rescheduled for Thursday. Same bat time (5:30), same bat place (Technology Square). [Taste of Cambridge]

Today's Globe features a great article about the "sibling rivalry" between NECN's TV Diner and Channel 38's Phantom Gourmet. There are many juicy tidbits sprinkled throughout the piece, most notably that the brothers Andelman (Dave, Dan, and Michael) who run Phantom Gourmet require an exclusivity agreement from their guests, barring them from going on TV Diner within a set number of months after their Phantom Gourmet appearance. What does Billy Costa, the original host of Phantom Gourmet and the current face of TV Diner, have to say about that? "We, as a show, owe [guests] a giant thank-you for being on our show...For me to ask them to choose sides, it’s totally unfair." The TV Diner folks also get in a sly jab at Phantom Gourmet's audience. As NECN executive Charles Kravetz remarks "We wanted to take ‘TV Diner’ and focus more on excellence in cooking and recipes and slightly higher-quality restaurants. We are aimed at a slightly different audience and one that is perhaps a little more interested in fine dining than ‘Phantom.'" Burn!

We're not regular viewers of either show, but we catch episodes every now and again, and it does seem to us that the two programs have different niches. TV Diner is a little more upscale and less review-focused, while Phantom Gourmet focuses more on casual dining and criticism. Phantom Gourmet also hosts events that seem to be well-liked even by those who aren't necessarily fans of the show. We must also point out that only one show has a Wikipedia entry.

What about you? Do you prefer Phantom Gourmet to TV Diner or vice versa? Let us know in the comments!

Food Fight! [Boston Globe]
TV Diner [NECN]
Phantom Gourmet [Official Site]
Phantom Gourmet [Wikipedia]

[Photo: Epicurian]

Food porn is a funny thing. Most of the time, we like our food porn to be gorgeous, a dish we could never make for ourself at home. Sometimes, however, we find a food picture appealing simply because it is of something ordinary, a food that we love.

We made lobster just a few weeks ago and our own handiwork was quite nice if we do say so ourself, but there's something about the above crustacean from Summer Shack that is a joy to look at. We suspect it's the way the lobster's arm is protectively curled around the cup of butter.

DSC04801 [Flickr: acme]
Summer Shack [MenuPages]
Summer Shack [Official Site]

Apparently, today is Openings & Closings day here at MP: Boston. Shortly after our earlier announcements about the closing of Temper Chocolates and some new restaurants to come, we learned from Chowhound that both the Copley Square Kaya and Charlestown's Copia have shut down.

We're not too terribly surprised about Kaya: we've never eaten there, we don't personally know anyone who has, it always seems a little empty, and there are two other branches in what we're willing to bet are less expensive locations. Copia, however, is a little bit of a shock. We've never made our way out there, but we've heard nothing but good things and even picked chef Anthony Caturano as a possible Boston mega-chef. We're very curious to see what he'll do next as well as to find out what will go in both spaces. As always, if you know something we don't know, remember: tipping is customary.

Kaya Copley Sq. closed [Chowhound]
Copia is Closed [Chowhound]
Kaya [MenuPages]
Copia [Official Site]

Ah, the Boston foodie circle of life. It's a beautiful thing, no? Although we sadly reported on the closing of Temper Chocolates this morning, we now bring you good news of restaurants still to come. Aside from those we've been anticipating for a while (Vlora, Gaslight & Green Light, and Prime 128, to name a few), here are two of the most exciting new openings.

•Despite our earlier dire report on the mass closings in the Filene's building, there is at least one exciting new development in the Downtown Crossing dining scene. Kingston, a "modern American restaurant, bar and cafe with a French twist" will open at 25 Kingston Street next month. Lunch, dinner and late night fare six nights a week sounds like a boon for those working in Downtown Crossing or staying at one of the area's hotels.
•Perhaps most intriguingly, Joanne Chang (of flour bakery + cafe) and her fiance Christopher Meyers (of Great Bay, Radius, and Via Matta) are getting ready to open an as-yet-untitled Asian cafe at the corner of East Berkeley and Washington in the South End with Alison Hearn (B&G Oysters, Ten Tables) as the chef. No name has been settled on yet, but the Globe reports that contenders include Bang Bang, Rice, Formosa, and the eminently understandable Myers & Chang.

Kingston - Come Join Our Team! - Servers and Backwaiters/Bussers [Craigslist]
A Joanne Chang and Christopher Meyers Venture! [Craigslist]
Bradley Makes His Book Pitch [Boston Globe]

[Photo: Flickr: bostonknows]

Hey there! You! Yeah, you! You there, with the talent in the kitchen! You, with the desire to be profanely dressed down by one of the world's top chefs! You, with the photogenic face! We've got something to tell you: Hell's Kitchen is casting for their next season. Yes! Finally, a Bostonian can join the ranks of those abused repeatedly by Gordon Ramsay on what Anthony Bourdain has called "an exercise in pointless cruelty so ugly, cruel and squalid in its half-hearted, ritualized beat-downs as to shame all who take part--and all who watch." Yes!

If you, for some reason, want to be a part of this sub-Sandra Lee business, it seems you can audition merely by sending an email. Fancy! The casting folks are careful to stress that you don't need to be a chef, per se, just someone with a "fascination for food." For our part, we promise to watch if someone from Boston makes it on.

*: For what it's worth, Ramsay is actually a terrific chef and his other shows for the BBC, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and The F-Word, are pretty great. It's really just Hell's Kitchen that's awful.

ASTING-HELL'S KITCHEN -LOOKING 4 CHEFS/COOKS/FOODIES [Craigslist]
Hell's Kitchen [Fox]
HELL'S KITCHEN: aka "DUNK BOZO" [Ruhlman.com]

We just received word that much-beloved Kenmore Square chocolate purveyorTemper Chocolates is closing for good on Sunday. Owner Caroline Yeh is moving out West from whence she came to work in the "booming chocolate industry" in the Bay Area. The good news is that from now through the shop's closing, Temper Chocolates will be having a mega-sale. They'll be taking 30% off everything: in-store purchases, online orders, even coffee and hot chocolate drinks.

As much as we are generally annoyed by the "new Kenmore Square" (we're Deli Haus/IHOP/general sketchiness loyalists through and through), we must admit to a fondness for many of its tenants (see also: Eastern Standard). Shockingly, even the prospect of a massive sale isn't doing too much to assuage our sadness at Temper Chocolates' passing, and here's why: Vosges chocolate bars. We're completely obsessed with these fancy, fancy chocolate bars (most especially the "Naga Bar": milk chocolate with sweet curry powder and coconut flakes) and Temper has long been the only Boston supplier we know of. Despondent, we called the Vosges hotline. It turns out that the bars are available at Whole Foods, Gourmet Boutique, and, randomly, Winston Flowers. We're still sad to see Temper Chocolates go, but at least our world is no longer falling apart.

Temper Chocolates [Official Site]
Eastern Standard [Official Site]
Vosges Haut Chocolat [Official Site]
Gourmet Boutique [Official Site]
Winston Flowers [Official Site]

Sadly, we missed the Italia Unita festival in East Boston this past weekend, but we hear it was incredibly fun and filled with good food. You know what makes us the most sad that we missed it? That's right. The sausage eating competition. (That's what she said!) Behold, Bostonian brilliance at work:

Italia Unita [Official Site]
Sausage eating [YouTube: agaffin]
That's A Lot Of Meat [Universal Hub]

Blogston Proper is your thrice-weekly roundup of Hub-related food writing from all over the Internet. We read the blogs so you don't have to. But you should anyway, just to be nice.

•A new barbecue oasis in the Chinese takeout desert! [Brighton Centered]
•A new favorite spot for brunch! [Everyone Loves A Boston Girl]
•Some gorgeous salsa in an Anna's Taqueria breakfast. [Burrito Blog]

[Photo: Flickr: wallyg]

Hot on the heels of our recent post about Colony Collapse Disorder and the frightening future for bees comes new bee news from The Grinder* and Slate. It turns out, at least according to Slate's Heather Smith, that what we commonly think of as the honeybee virtually disappeared over a decade ago. In 1987, a Wisconsin colony was infected by a truly disgusting parasite, triggering an outbreak of disease that spread like wildfire among bees nationwide. By 1994, Smith reports, 98% of the United States' wild honeybee population became extinct and commercial colonies were also fairly well decimated.

What does this mean? Well, according to Smith, rather than receiving visits from honeybees, United States crops have spent the past ten plus years being pollinated by "a rogue's gallery of look-alikes." Commercial beekeepers have responded to the crisis with fairly unsavory methods such as forced reproduction and pumping the bees with high fructose corn syrup. Despite all that, the honeybees are still suffering from issues like Colony Collapse Disorder.

So what now? Smith reports that scientists have been cultivating a new kind of bee for pollination: the blue-orchard bee. This season, California almond growers used the new bee for some crops and reported a record harvest. Hooray, science!

*: Fun fact: Christy Harrison, the author of the Grinder piece, and ourself have lived in the same room at different times. It's a small world, even/especially for food writers.

The Real Problem With Bees [The Grinder]
Why The Disappearance of the Honeybees Isn't The End of the World [Slate]

Diner's Agenda is a dance machine.

Monday, July 23
•Chardonnay gets a bad rap, often considered milquetoast and ubiquitous. Although it might not be the most cutting edge wine out there, it does have plenty to offer the discerning drinker. Learn more at tonight's Chardonnay tasting event at Morton's, The Steakhouse at 6:00. Tickets, which cost $30, may be purchased by calling (617) 266-5858. [Morton's, The Steakhouse]
•Get an extra dose of culture with your tapas at Tasca Spanish Tapas tonight, where the Fernando de Malaga flamenco troupe will be performing during 6:45 and 8:45 dinner seatings. A $5 cover charge will be added to the check, but hey, for a dance performance, that's a bargain! Call (617) 730-8002 to save your spot. [Tasca Spanish Tapas]
•We love the super-relaxed atmosphere at L'Espalier's Wine Mondays. Unfortunately, so does everyone else in the city, which means that making a reservation can be pretty tricky. Miraculously, there is still space available for tonight, so we suggest you call (617) 262-3023 ASAP and make a reservation to learn about "Picnic Basket Goodies." Things get underway at 7:00 sharp and tickets are $55, which is cheap by L'Espalier standards, so what are you waiting for? [L'Espalier]

Have we ever mentioned how much we enjoy the Globe's Sunday Ideas section? This week's edition contained an intriguing article about the burgeoning local foods movement. Drake Bennett, the article's author, suggests that eating locally does not necessarily do much to conserve energy or reduce fuel emissions. While we think Bennett's findings are certainly interesting, reducing pollution has never really been a major reason we support the local foods movement. Don't get us wrong, we like environmentalism and all, but to us, eating locally is about maintaining local foodways, and supporting the local economy and local farmers. Protecting the environment is merely a fringe benefit.

While we, in theory, strongly support the local foods movement, in practice, we regularly have strong cravings for foods that just don't grow around here, most frequently bananas and avocados. In many ways, eating locally feels like a continuing battle. As we struggle forward, however, we have to wonder about the health implications of eating locally. Fruits and veggies are plentiful nationwide during spring and summer, but as New Englanders know, eating locally in the fall and winter means a steady stream of root vegetables, apples, and preserves. Obviously, the healthfulness of any food depends on its preparation, but all else being equal, would a localvore in Boston have a less healthy diet than one in California? Your input is, as always, welcome in the comments.

Ideas [Boston Globe]
The Localvore's Dilemma [Boston Globe]

Let's get one things straight here: we're fairly certain penne alla vodka is not an authentically Italian dish. Although there are several different stories about the dish's origin, at least one of which has it being birthed in Bologna, we're entitled to agree with the author of this article, who notes rightly that "neither cream nor vodka is a traditional northern Italian ingredient." Since penne alla vodka consists of tomatoes, vodka, heavy cream and, usually, some sort of meat (most often pancetta), we're fairly certain it's an Italian American rather than Italian Italian invention. But hey! Just because something isn't completely authentic, it can still be tasty, right? Right (see also: Peking ravioli). And, my goodness, is penne alla vodka tasty. It's creamy and rich and the alcohol enriches the flavors rather than adding too much of a bite. We're sure it's smothering our arteries every time we eat it, but it's just the thing for an occasional treat. For some mysterious reason, penne alla vodka is actually fairly difficult to find in local restaurants that are not chains. But! It is ridiculously simple to make at home (heat up some canned tomatoes (as always, we recommend Muir Glen), add a good splash of vodka and cook it off, and then thicken with heavy cream). If you're truly bound and determined to have someone make it for you, here are a few places to check out.

•Sometimes, it's all about quantity. Sure, Vinny T's of Boston is not a destination for fine dining at its peak, but one of their plates of pasta can feed you for a damn week, which is pretty great. Their penne alla vodka comes loaded with fennel sausage and basil and topped with asagio cheese. Also, you get that yummy roasted garlic.
•We actually quite like Mangia for being a very reasonably-priced oasis in Brookline Village. The penne alla vodka is warm and filling and under $7. What more could you want?

Penne Alla Vodka [Wikipedia]
The Prince of Pasta [Seattle Times]
Vinny T's of Boston [Official Site]
Mangia [Official Site]

[Photo: Williams-Sonoma]

•Because we are, frankly, exhausted, we read about the new kosher Subway and thought it was a special kind of train. Napocalpsye now! [Kosher Blog]
•Hee hee. "Harry Potter and an Order of Pizza." [Minty Choco Chip]
•Ha ha. "Freeway Fondue." [shamrag]

[Photo: Flickr: pmpessa]

Rocca gets a C:
lots of mistakes eclipse food
that isn't that bad.

Malaysian Penang:
"authentic" and "marvelous",
full of great rewards.

Diner's Agenda is very excited and a little sad to read the last Harry Potter book. Also, a nerd.

Friday, July 20
•Medford's Bestsellers Cafe has not one but two Harry Potter events going down this evening. From 4-6, there will be a party for the little ones with magic tricks and a "Magic Binky Bear." From 7pm-1am, however, the party grows up with "storytelling for adults" and treats from the cafe. Oh yeah, and you can get your book at midnight. [Bestsellers Cafe]
•Not foodie-oriented enough of a Harry Potter event for you? Then head to UpStairs on the Square for All Things (to Eat and Drink) Harry Potter from 5pm-1am. $25 (if you're an adult) or $12.50 (if you're under 12) gets you a special Harry Potter meal, complete with butterbeer. [UpStairs On The Square]

Saturday, July 21
•Goody Glovers is already an Irish bistro in the North End, so why not add yet another nationality to the mix? From 7-9, Corona will be hosting a party there, featuring "Chile con Blarney." Ya heard us. Anyways, it's free, so why not? [Goody Glovers]

Sunday, July 22
•Does anyone besides us remember when Somerville was named the "Paris of the 90s" by some magazine and then the Somerville Theatre changed its answering machine to inform visitors that it was located in "Davis Square, the Paris of Somerville?" Good times, those. Anyways, why not make a trip down to the Paris of whatever this weekend to check out the ArtBeat festival? In addition to plentiful food, there will be crafts, dance, music...basically, the works. It's free free free and runs from 6-9:15 on Saturday night and from 11:30am-5:30pm on Sunday. [Somerville Arts Council]

•MP: Chicago discovered a surprising truth about the city's steakhouses and learned that the Kwik-E-Mart is not all it's cracked up to be.
•MP: Philadelphia found out that President Bush's favorite pizza is kind of gross and taught us about a chain we sure don't have here in New England.
•MP: San Francisco informed us that, even though he plays for Seattle, San Franciscans love Ichiro, and showed us a very pretty restaurant.

The (sort of) long-awaited Zach Braff directed, Naomi Campbell starring Dunkin Donuts ad has finally arrived. While we are still wary of the whole business, we must admit that Naomi can sell Dunkie's just as well as she can sell Chanel.

Like Naomi Campbell Would Ever Set Foot In A Dunkin' Donuts [Stereohyped]
Naomi Breaks Window [YouTube: CelebTV]

Vegetarians:
where can they eat? All over!
Tasty treats abound.