Remember that trend, over the last year or so, of restaurants moving away from bottled water because it's bad for the environment with all its packaging, not any better than the tap and sometimes even harmful because it often is subject to more lax regulations? Did you think that was going to stick? Come on, how much money is there in not selling something?

This is more like it, from today's Washington Post:

Desalinated seawater from Hawaii, meanwhile, is being sold as "concentrated water" -- at $33.50 for a two-ounce bottle. Like any concentrated beverage, it is supposed to be diluted before drinking, except that in this case, that means adding water to . . . water.

And from Tennessee, a company named BlingH2O -- whose marketing imagery features a mostly nude model improbably balancing a bottle of water between her heel and her hip -- is retailing its water at $40 for 750 milliliters, with special-edition bottles going for $480 -- more than a million times the price of the liquid that comes from your tap.

What's Colorless and Tasteless and Smells Like... Money? [Washington Post]
The snob appeal of tap water [Slate]
Water Sommeliers [Fine Waters]

[Photo: Tap via id/flickr]

It's sad to think that fires and sky-rocketing rents are claiming multiple restaurants in the city. But cheer up...There's a new Hooters coming to Saugus!

Openings:

Beacon Hill: Anna's Taqueria has finally opened on Cambridge Street across from MGH. You can now enjoy one of their delectable breakfast burritos on your walk to work, because they'll be open at 7am on the weekdays. [Burrito Blog]

East Boston: Come July, the former site of Sablone's Veal n' Vintage will become a restaurant named Ecco. [The Hubster]

Lower Mills: Dorchester continues to be a popular spot booming with diversity. Meanwhile, The Ledge Restaurant and Bar is hoping to capitalize on the revamping of the neighborhood. [Lower Dot]

Saugus: Last but certainly not least, Hooters is opening up in Saugus. So grab your grandma and your best set of pearls, because you want to look spiffy for this crowd. [Chowhound]

Closings:

Allston: Yet again, another gem in Allston has been claimed by fire. Good Korean food is hard to find, so Hanmaru will be missed. [Chowhound]

Allston: Rumor has it the same fire that wrecked Hanmaru also claimed Color. Let's hope they will rebuild. [Chowhound]

Huron Village: Jamaican food will become even more rare now that Ortanique is closed. With rents so ridiculously high, it must have been hard to stay afloat. [Chowhound]

[Photo: Free Foto]

We've all heard Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is a beer drinker. He sure likes his Pabst Blue Ribbon, at least on the campaign trail. But now word comes that he's actually going to have his own brew. From Chow's Grinder:

In Kenya, Barack Obama’s father’s homeland, they’ve been drinking Obama beer for months, and now one American brewery is offering its own Obama-inspired suds. Brooklyn’s Sixpoint Craft Ales is now brewing small batches of Hop Obama ale, to be available in bars and restaurants in New York and Massachusetts.

Wouldn't it be hilarious (and harmonious!) if Hensley picked up Six Point's Obama brew as a product? Somehow, though, it doesn't appear McCain would approve. Aside from his obvious political differences with the brew's namesake, he's apparently not so hot, in general, on the nation's favorite sudsy treat:

It's going to be a long, weird election season. Better lay in a stock of cold ones early, whatever your brand or distributer.

Punchy, Straightforward, Totally Obama [Grinder]
The Audacity of Pabst: Barack Obama, PBR Lover?
Is Barack Obama the Messiah [Official Site]
McCain beer ties might brew conflicts

First off, we must explain why we love Ethiopian cuisine and its many dishes, all heaped together as one. Injera, the huge, spongey bread on which all the food is presented, is often considered the most notable of the Ethiopian dining experience. Salads, pastes, tender meats, crushed lentils, and stews fill the bread, and everything can be consumed at once, tearing apart the bread to use in place of Western flatware.

Asmara, the smaller and sometimes lesser known Cambridge/Central Square restaurant, is unparalleled because of their unbeatable homemade mead, or honey wine. In business since 1986, diners at Asama are seated around the traditional Mesob, a woven basket-like table that comfortably holds the entire shared meal. You'd better like your dinner companions if you suggest this place.

Addis Red Sea, a staple of the South End culinary scene, expanded last year to a Porter Square Cambridge location as well. A bit more Westernized than Asmara, table or Mesob seating options are available, and the standard range of mild to spicy foods are also up for communal dining debate. Are they giving their competition a run for their birr? This remains to be seen.

Asmara [Official Site]
Addis Red Sea [Official Site]

[Photo: LollyKint/Flickr]

• As N. Korea normalizes, food aid flows freely [Reuters]
• Global food export curbs hurt poorest people [UPI]
• Energy efficient milk jugs confound consumers [NYT]
• Artisanal bottled water won't survive peak oil [WaPo]
• What if salmonella wasn't caused by tomatoes? [Bloomberg]

• These tacos will change your life. [MP: Boston]

• Congratulations are in order for our own Adam Peltz, Chicago Reader's food writer of the year! [MP: Chicago]

• French fries are the best sandwich ingredient ever. [MP: Philadelphia]

• Is there any better use of white beans than cassoulet? No. [MP: San Francisco]

• Steak salad with more of the former than the latter? Sign us up! [MP: South Florida]

Everyone we know seems love to Helmand, a few blocks from Kendall and right next to the Cambridgeside Galleria. Serving up some of the best food and wine in town, it's no wonder tables are tough to reserve on the weekends. Their giant oven warms the spacious dining room, and guests would perform an amazing feat if they left hungry. Specializing in the traditional pallow rice (challow for vegetarians), they feature a wide variety of lamb, beef, and chicken dishes, while their vegetarian options are equally appealing.

But, despite Helmand's notoriety, our personal favorite is the lesser known, equally delicious Ali Baba Tandoor, tucked on Mass Ave. between Porter and Davis Squares. Because prices and quality are comparable, we like this little known gem for its family appeal. Recently opening for lunch, Ali Baba Tandoor serves amazingly fresh bread, tasty chutneys, and makes the best salad with pomegranate dressing you've ever had. Their lamb is on a visible skewer in the corner just outside the kitchen, and their vegetarian sampler is the best mix of baby pumpkin, okra, and spinach in town. Need further incentive? Try the hot homemade pickles or Sheerberaing (rice pudding) for dessert. We promise you won't be disappointed.

Helmand [Official Site]
Ali Baba Tandoor [Official Site]

[Photo: Jeff Kubina/Flickr]

Leave it to the Ethicurean to turn one of the world's great comedy props into a serious political issue. Dear me, they increase our carbon footprint! Oh, noes, a banana crisis looms! Okay, they had a little help from the stuffy old New York Times, but still, how can anybody stand reading this about Bananas:

The history of the banana is fascinating, involving technological innovation (it’s not easy to bring bananas from the tropics), oppression (terrible labor conditions), geopolitics (the U.S. sponsored overthrow of the Arbenz government in 1954 at the behest of United Fruit), marketing (bananas were too phallic for polite society in the late 19th century, so attitudes needed to be modified), and more.

Snorezville, right? Yes, yes, there are real issues about bananas and their associated republics and also their environmental impact, but what do we cares? It's all about the comedy, right? So just because it's Friday and we like you, reader, here are some videos that remind us where bananas really fit into the national psyche:

The banana telephone bit ranks right up there with pretending to walk down the stairs behind a counter. It's even got its own song:

More after the jump

Here's a gigantic banana scaring mall customers. Would this be as funny if it were a cucumber? No:

You're writing a comedy bit and you don't have a punchline? Just stick a banana in there. Instant funny:

And, of course, slipping on a banana peel!

Finally, the world gets turned upside down:

The banana situation in Montreal [Ethicurean]
The slippery slope of banana disasters [Ethicurean]
Yes, We Will Have No Bananas [New York Times]

Chef Bruce is known for his passion and commitment to the best pairings, and his twenty-plus years of experience are obvious to anyone able to attend this summer's best kept secret. Seasonal Sips, happening every Thursday (except July 3rd, in observance of Independence Day) from 5:30-7pm, features a weekly array of the best pinots, Rieslings, and burgundys from around the globe.

We had the unparalleled opportunity to stop in for this early evening rendezvous this week, and we couldn't have been more pleased with the courteous service and knowledgeable team. More informal than suspected, guests ventured in well past 6pm, enjoying the warm atmosphere and discussions about the delicacy of pinot grapes. In between pours, trays of tuna tartar and duck with cranberries circled with bar. Lounging at the bar turned into dinner for some, and even those who excused themselves early had certainly consumed their fill.

Overlooking the beautiful harbor and in an area packed with all sort of summer festivities, every night of the week, Seasonal Sips is one of the better - if not the best - weekly wine tastings this summer.

Call Meritage for information or to reserve, 617.439.3995. $25/person

Meritage [Official Site]

[Photo: theonetruedevo/Flickr]

• Hezbollah-dominated Beirut eats at 'Buns and Guns' restaurant [AP]
• New Yorkers discover edible comestibles at Disney World [NYT]
• Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis not going quietly in the night [Trib]
• Legendarily cheap Vegas casino food succumbs to reality [LAT]
• Ice cream among many food products threatened by bee die-off [NBC/DC]

Former pro wrestler Abdullah the Butcher may just run the coolest restaurant of all time.

It's called Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs & Chinese Food. Located in a converted 7-11 on the outskirts of Atlanta, the menu includes everything from rib tip and chicken combo dinners to almond chicken to some killer fish sandwiches. The sides include some great southern greens and, of course, the sweet tea is free-flowing.

The food isn't bad. However, the highlight is the floor show. Unlike some other celebrity restaurant owners, Abdullah (nee Lawrence Shreve) frequently hangs out at his own restaurant. While he's there, the former wrestler lets guests put quarters into his head. You see, Abdullah has deep grooves in his forehead from self-inflicted wounds he gave himself to bleed more in the ring.

Here's what Atlanta alt-weekly Creative Loafing had to say:

The best attraction is Shreve, who is usually present -- and pleasant. He kindly thanks people for coming and eating, hanging out in the dining area smiling and answering questions in his sweet voice.

Abdullah's culinary split personality represented by two registers for orders -- an African-American woman at one, and an Asian woman at the other. If it's busy, line integrity disintegrates and either cashier will take your order. But the duality is strangely disturbing.

Barbecue selections are kept simple: Ribs, rib tips and chicken. The ribs are smoked in a small building next to the main structure. Thankfully, the rib meat is soft, pink and tender. [...] I wasn't at all tempted by the thought of Chinese food at a rib shack. Finally, though, I bit the bullet and ordered a serving of "Abdullah's Favorite" (6.99) from a list that includes standards like kung pao chicken and lo mein. The mix of miniature shrimp, beef strips, green peppers, baby corn, carrots and mushrooms was sauteed in a sweet sauce and served with a side of fried rice. [...] But honestly, it's generic Chinese for the masses -- and like Abdullah himself, it's not half as scary as you might suspect.

Pro wrestling, barbecue and Chinese food? Sign us up.

Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs & Chinese Food [WFMU]
Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs & Chinese Food [Creative Loafing]

(Photo: Abdullah's House of Ribs via WFMU)

Bar Lola to be exact. Hidden away at the corner of Dartmouth and Commonwealth in Back Bay, BarLola is one of those tiny venues you don't hear about all that often, but immediately fall in love with. A small underground lair that makes guests feel as if they've crossed the ocean and landed in Andalusia, it's the perfect place to host a party without the ridiculous cost of rental space or table service. With some Boston nightclubs charging hundreds of dollars per table just for one night's reservation, BarLola has a seperate room that can be reserved for parties without the crazy fees.

Spend your evening dancing to Flamenco while drinking Barlola's exquisite red and white sangrias, available in pitchers for you and your friends to share. In addition to their variety of Spanish wines, the tapas are delicious and reasonably priced compared to some of the pricier Spanish restaurants in the Boston area. We recommend the gambas al ajillo, which is garlicky shrimp perfect for multiple fingers to dip into while swinging around to the sound of a Flamenco guitar.

With the warmer weather comes the chance to sit outside on the patio at BarLola. So run over to grab a chair and a glass of sangria as fast as you can. Or as they would say in Spain, muy rapido!

BarLola Tapas Lounge [Official Site]

[Photo: BarLola]

We've got a new record, folks. Chances are, you won't have a hard time reserving a table at the Damascus Gate restaurant in Syria, the newly certified largest restaurant in the world. But God help you if they mix up your order. According to the blog World Amazing Records,

During the busy summer months up to 1,800 staff are employed in the 54,000 sq-m dining area and 2,500 sq-m kitchen. The open air area complete with waterfalls, fountains and replicas of archaeological ruins for the summer, and there are separate themed sections for Chinese and Indian cuisine.

The Damascus Gate, which serves 6,014, replaces Bangkok's Mang Gorn Luang, which only holds 5,000 diners. Talk about your hole in the wall! Check out this BBC video of the new champ.

So yes, it's very big. But is it any good? Well, that was harder to pin down. Two commenters on a Topix post said it was great, and the BBC quoted the manager as saying, "In this part of the world, all people care about is their stomachs, so the food has to be the best." Not exactly a Michelin star, but definitely worth a visit if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

The (Current) Largest Restaurant In The World [Google Sightseeing]
Damascus Gate — The Largest Restaurant In The World [World Amazing Records]
Size is all for Syrian Restaurant [BBC]
Damascus Gate Restaurant [Topix]

[Photo: via World Amazing Records]

Unfortunately, some Boston brunches can really break the bank. With some restaurants charging $10 just for your mimosa, it’s hard to stay financially afloat. But if you’re looking for brunch that will cost you that much in total, head to The Etc Cafe in the West End. Housed underneath the Charles River Park Complex, Etc. Café is a casual spot with no frills attached. You’re given your order on a cafeteria tray, and seating is of your own choice. However, the food is fresh, delicious, and inexpensive. Less than $10 buys an omelet, side of home fries, two pancakes, and a drink. There's also a smoothie counter available for some great concoctions that will really kick a nasty hangover to the curb.

Besides the plethora of food offerings, the Etc. Cafe staff are genuinely sweet and helpful people. If you just happen to spend three hours loitering in your pajamas with friends over stories of the previous night's escapades, they could care less. And for that, we can definitely all let out an Amen.

The Etc Cafe [Official Site]

[Photo: How Stuff Works]

• S. Korea to accept U.S. beef again; future of gov't unsure [NYT]
• Japanese/Chinese food row reenacted by Olympics team [Reuters]
• Texas Gov. comes out hard against food-crop ethanol [SETR]
• Mars/DoA/IBM to sequence, manipulate cacao genome [WaPo]
• Frozen chickens stolen from NJ food bank found! [NJ]

• The first Hardee's opened in Greenville, NC near the East Carolina University campus.

• Burgers cost 15 cents at that first Hardee's.

• Hardee lost controlling interest of his company after just one drunken night of cards in the early 1960s. He was playing with his two business partners, and he bet his stock. Hardee obviously wasn't a good card player, because by the end of the night, the other two partners owned 51 percent of the company.

• Hardee's is fourth among the fast-food chains in the US, behind McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's.

• That Thickburger pictured above packs a whopping 1,420 calories and 107 grams of fat. Eat enough of those and you likely won't live to see 89.

Founder of Hardee's Dies at 89 [ABC News]
Hardee's [Official Site]

Photo: OPBuzz/flickr

With summertime upon us, our thoughts have naturally turned to summertime drinks. And one of our favorite ingredients for these drinks is cachaca, the Brazilian spirit made from cane sugar. Like anyone else, we love a good caipirinha; there are many good caipirinhas to be had around town, and we particularly like the ones at Zuzu. Caipirinhas are labor-intensive, and ZuZu! has never served us one that skimped on the crushed lime or the sugar. (Caipirinhas might be light, but they are not a drink for dieters.)

While we will happily drink caipirinhas all summer, we wonder if there's any locale serving other cachaca-based drinks. Given the sizable Brazilian population, we'd be inclined to think so. (Or maybe all the clever concocting happens behind closed doors?) Having spent a bit of time in Brazil, we know that not all cachaca ends up in caipirinhas, and that not all caipirinhas are made with lime (although kiwi and passionfruit, a couple of the variations we've tried, are not often stocked in bars). If anyone knows where to go for good non-caipirinha cachaca drinks, or where we might find variations on the standard, lime caipirinha, please let us know.

Zuzu [MenuPages]
ZuZu! [Official Site]

[Photo: caipirinha via Dieleute's cocktail page]

The British airwaves are no stranger to men kissing one another. Anybody ever heard of a little show called Torchwood? It's strange, then, that the Heinz mayo ad in which a British businessman kisses a New York deli clerk raised such a ruckus that Heinz actually pulled it.

The ad features a stereotypical New York tough guy in the role of "mum," making sandwiches as a family leaves the house in the morning. As the husband rushes out, he plants a kiss on the white-hatted face. Pretty tame stuff, compared to Skins' Maxxie or the "switch-flicking" kiss from Mighty Boosh. It created a huge backlash from hysterical homophobes (including Bill O'Reilly) furious that two men would kiss on the public airwaves. Heinz bowed to the pressure and yanked it.

Then, this morning, the European gay newspaper Pink News reported that 1,300 (more by now) people had signed a petition calling for the ad to be reinstated. Meanwhile, other bloggers are taking (somewhat obviously tongue-in-cheek) pot-shots at the portrayal of the New Yorker in the piece. Phew, this is getting exhausting. Does nobody have a life anywhere?

So what's causing all this commotion? See for yourself:

Lame, eh? Still, if you just can't stand to get back to work yet, and you feel strongly about it, you could sign this pro-"advert" petition.

Heinz pulls mayo ad after complaints [AP]
1,300 sign online petition calling for Heinz gay ad to be reinstated [Pink News]
Heinz Cans Gay Mayonaise Commercial [Epi-Log]

Winthrop, which neighbors East Boston, has as much of an old-port feel as one will find in the city. Walking over the Winthrop Bridge (which straddles East Boston and Winthrop) a few weeks ago, we came upon Belle Isle. We had heard the place is first-rate, but what impressed us most was its appearance. It's a shack of the sort you'd find in an Atlantic beach town, with a disproportionately large specials board outside. (The day we stopped in it was swordfish prepared any way.) We got the Cajun tuna (a decision we wondered if we should feel bad about), served with cole slaw, tartar sauce, dinner roll, and rice pilaf that transcended the typical (a light cheese seemed to be the secret ingredient; it's not pictured here because we'd already devoured it). The place also has raw seafood for the cooking, and we're hankering to get some on our grills. Or, we might be just as happy to let the cooks at Belle Isle do the work.

Belle Isle [MenuPages]
Belle Isle Seafood [Official Site]

• Food stamps go out to Midwestern flooding victims [Reuters]
• Cashew juice, now for sale, confounds the imagination [NYT]
• Surge of deep-dish pizza to arrive in Iraq for July 4th [AP]
• Monsanto profits soar on yield-bumping weed-killer sales [Bloomberg]
• Florida buys U.S. Sugar to restore 187k acres of Everglades [AFP]

The big news out of the Everglades today is that the State of Florida has purchased U.S. Sugar and its 187,000 acres of prime wetlands for $1.7 billion (are the workers seeing any of it? Of course not). This is a good thing for the environment, since the sugar cane fields block waterflow, release pollutants and generally take up space.

U.S. Sugar is the largest sugar producer in the United States, responsible for 9% of the nation's sweet white powder supply. That's a pretty big proportion, and includes beet sugar production as well. Beet sugar makes up 55% of the crop, leaving cane sugar with 45%. So 20% of our cane sugar's about to go away! Isn't this going to foul up prices?

Short answer: no.

The government has been subsidizing domestic sugar production and putting quotas on sugar imports for many decades now. If we had no tariffs on sugar, we'd be flooded with South and Central American product, prices would plummet and sugar growers around the country would go bankrupt. A very strong lobby has prevented this from happening, but at the beginning of this year, NAFTA kicked in and ended tariffs against Mexican sugar. So why hasn't the U.S. sugar industry collapsed in a sticky white heap?

The answer lies in the 2008 Farm Bill. The provision concerning sugar sends any excesses (which is to say, any amount of sugar that would cause a price decrease through oversupply) to ethanol plants, just like in Brazil.

Problem solved! What NAFTA giveth (to consumers), the Farm Bill taketh away. When 9% of our sugar production goes offline in six years, the difference will simply be made up by Mexican sugar producers, and the price won't budge a cent. The cost of gasoline may go up a little, but what else is new. Did you really think Charlie Crist would have bought the farm if it meant a nationwide rise in sugar prices? That's so sweet.

Florida to Buy Sugar Maker in Bid to Restore Everglades [NYTimes]
U.S. Sugar [Official Site]
Sugar and Sweeteners: Policy [NYTimes]
Cane and beet share the same chemistry but act differently in the kitchen [TIME]
Cane and beet share the same chemistry but act differently in the kitchen [SFChron]
Sugar and Sweeteners: Policy [USDA]
Farm bill improves sugar program [AG Weekly]
Human cost of Brazil's biofuels boom [LATimes]

[Photo: a sugar pyramid scheme, via VsTrash/flickr]

Boston’s love of Mexican food is no secret at all, as walking in almost any neighborhood you will find a place with a decent burrito. But what about the burrito’s underappreciated younger sibling, the taco? Well Olecito is there to help all your taco craving needs. Located across the street from its big sister restaurant Ole Mexican Grill, Olecito’s storefront feels comfortable and familiar from the first visit.

The staff at Olecito is always friendly and there to help. The Baja taco (battered shrimp, pickled cabbage, chipotle mayonnaise, cilantro pesto) can sometimes have an overwhelming portion of the chipotle mayo, but just asking for the staff to go light on it will create an original and downright tasty taco. Other offerings include filling tortas, cheesy quesadillas, and filling burritos. When it comes to tacos however, Olecito provides us with something special.

The Rajas taco at Olecito might just change your life. Comprised of homemade guacamole, lettuce, black beans, poblano peppers and shredded jack cheese...well, you get the idea. The peppers melt in your mouth and offer a very slight hint of spice, the cheese has just the perfect amount of melt and for the low price of $2.75, it’s pretty darn filling for a taco. Stop on into Olecito sometime before going to the Abbey Lounge or one of the other great bars in the neighborhood, and you will surely be a returning customer like we are.

Olecito [MenuPages]
Ole Mexican Grill [Official Site]

[Photo: Jared Razzano/Flickr]

The latest all-time favorite sci-fi based cake showed up on Boing Boing today, linked from Craftster:

Are you seeing that? It's a Doctor Who TARDIS cake! That's right, a British Craftster member named Umbrolly made this for her little sister because her little sister, a big Doctor Who fan, is the luckiest girl in the world. If you follow the link, you'll get step-by-step photos. It appears this cake suffers from some structural problems incurred by being too moist. According to its maker, "I have learned form making this that randomly shaped things are much easier than square things, and even though moist cake tastes better it does tend to collapse."

Well, this is still a brilliant job, and it's a lot more ambitious than the Torchwood cake we couldn't help searching for after seeing it. It does, however, face some competition from this professionally made Dalek cake.

Just for fun, check out the Timelords/KLF Doctorin' the Tardis music video after the jump.

Dr Who TARDIS Cake [Craftster]
Torchwood cake [Rachaely/Flickr]
Dalek cake [Gallifreyan Embassy]

Oh boy, a $6.99 lunch in Boston that won’t leave you wanting more and is better quality than a fake Italian chain with pasta and sauces full of fillers and junk? Oh we found it baby, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Sure, everyone we know has been going to the Sunset Grill & Tap in Allston for as long as we’ve known them. But not as many people frequent the Sunset Cantina. The main difference is the Cantina specializes in tequila, while the Grill offers more of a beer selection. So with well over 100 types of tequila with special margarita’s every week, it’s a great summertime hangout. Especially because they have an outdoor patio at the Cantina!

The best part for us though, is the $6.99 discounted lunch menu. With options like an all you can eat taco bar, delicious yet somewhat mild jambalaya, and the pretty fantastic Blackened Chicken Caesar Club (pictured above) with bacon, Caeser salad (WITH CROUTONS!), a blackened chicken breast, tomato, and all served on 3 slices (that’s right, 3!) of garlic Texas toast. Served with one of many sides (we chose the curly fries with a side of queso cheese), you kinda can’t go wrong with these delicious, cheap, and very filling lunch options!

Sunset Grill & Tap [Official Site]
Sunset Cantina [Official Site]

• Food voucher giveaway sparks mini-riot in Milwaukee [AP]
• 17 states require insurance to cover eating disorders [Trib]
• Youth exposure to alcohol advertising on TV increases [NYT]
• Brazil's biofuel farmhands treated predictably poorly [LAT]
• Chinese fast food market splintered but surging [Reuters]

"I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House — with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." -John F. Kennedy, addressing Nobel Prize winners at the White House in 1962

Have you ever had that thing happen where you're listening to your headphones or something and you hear a word and right as you hear the word in the song your eyes happen to fall on that word in print, passing by on a bus ad or something, and you muse to yourself, "it's a living world. What a miracle," and then turn your eyes back ahead and resume standing in line at the bank?

Well, a similar thing just happened with this article in Epicurious. I was just explaining to a friend how pleasant it is to go to the movies alone, and comparing it with the equally unpleasant act of dining out alone, when Heather Tyree's essay on dining alone came across the RSS and chopped my words up, sauteed them lightly in a nice cream sauce, and fed them to me with a side of crow.

Because Tyree is right. Dining out alone can be one of life's true pleasures. It allows you to focus on, well, whatever you want, be it the food, a book, a tough problem you've been trying to crack, or even your server. You certainly don't have to watch where you take the conversation, or hold back from pouring that next glass of wine, or refrain from eating the last bite of something.

And it turns out that many higher-end restaurants (including Daniel, according to Tyree) give solo diners VIP status. It's unclear why, exactly, but my guess is that it has less to do with pity than it does an appreciation of the fact that the customer decided to undertake this socially uncomfortable excursion because he or she wanted the restaurant's food just that badly.

Whatever the reason for the solo meal, or the treatment it incurs, Tyree's article left me with the strong desire to dine alone at an establishment somewhat fancier than the corner deli. It's a challenge, yes, because the practice is stigmatized as pathetic, lonesome and weird. But it's good for you, and not in a broccoli way, either (something you glumly consume because you think you have to). Dining alone should be savored.

I've never done it by choice, but on trips or in other necessary situations, I've always enjoyed the practice. Tyree's article was enough encouragement for me to resolve to take myself out on a proper date. It's an exercise from which we could all stand to benefit, as it encourages being comfortable with one's self, one's surroundings and one's place in the big, living world.

Table for One [Epicurious]

[Photo: The Jefferson Memorial — Thomas Jefferson silhouetted via David Paul Ohmer/flickr]

This week kicked off the official start of summer, so deal with the fact that you have no air conditioning by spending time in the restaurants with your friends and family.

Openings

Allston: A Taiwanese restaurant named Jo Jo TaiPei has taken the spot of the New Trend Eatery. The buzz is very positive, so go get yourself some of the duck tongue that's on the menu. [Chowhound]

Brookline: A new barbecue restaurant and bar named Roadhouse Craft Beer & BBQ is coming to town. Hey, we just like anything that has the same name as a Patrick Swayze movie. [Craigslist]

Cambridge: The KFC/Taco Bell on Mass Ave in Porter Square has a menu posted that says "Banjo- BBQ & Deli Combo." Not sure if this means the KFC is leaving, but life would definitely still go on if Colonel Sanders was forced into a retirement community. [Chowhound]

Roslindale: Roslindale Square now has a new sandwich shop called the Square Corner Cafe. Rumor has it the menu has everything from paninis and calzones to pasta dishes, as well as a great kids menu. So break out those retractable toddler leashes and head to Rozzie. [Universal Hub]

Closings
Jamaica Plain: Planet Pizza has been mysteriously closed for two weeks. The curious readers at Chowhound have ruled out health code violations or a death in the owner's family, so it will be interesting to see if anything new is coming in. [Chowhound]

[Photo: WBUR]

We're currently in the middle of another one of those five-minute long vegetable seasons that gets foodies' motors running at high RPMs. This time it's scapes you'll find making a cameo at the green market.

According to the Accidental Hedonist, "scapes are those long, smooth, curly green things. They are the tops of garlic and farmers cut them off so that the plant grows the garlic bulb instead of a garlic flower." This is the kind of thing that would, up until people like you started developing a taste for interesting vegetables and plants, have gotten thrown out with the wheat chaff and the corn stalks. New York Times writer Melissa Clark related the following tidbits from her search for scapes:

My urgency amused Bill Maxwell, of Maxwell Farms in Changewater, N.J., who, after telling me to cool my heels until mid-June, offered a pearl of scapes insight.

Although they’ve been gaining a following over the last few years, he said, scapes came to market “when someone figured out they could make money from something they were cutting off the garlic plant and getting rid of.”

Peter Hoffman, the chef at Savoy, added, “At some point someone realized the scapes were tender and delicious.” He suggested that I sauté them with other vegetables or soft-shell crabs, or even grill them whole to show off their curves.

Clark offers a few scape and green-garlic recipes in the Times piece, but almost more informative were her descriptions of how she came to use the short-lived greens. The kind of food writing that includes not just the recipe/prep process, but the thought process that led to the recipe, always makes a project more attractive, and Clark offers plenty such insight.

Of course, not everybody has the time to experiment with weird, hyper-seasonal veggies. It's better to let professionals handle that kind of thing anyway. You could use the MenuPages find-a-food search to see if any restaurants in the area have added scapes to their menus.

However you get ahold of them, you'd better act quickly, because these fleeting greens will be off the shelves in a matter of weeks, not to return till next year.

Scrapes on the bar-b [Accidental Hedonist]
A Garlic Festival Without a Single Clove [NY Times]

[Photo: iLoveButter/flickr]

Rumor has it that the last time Boston foodies had their necessary fill of Burmese food, it was sometime in the '90s. Thankfully, YoMa has had its Allston doors wide open for well over a year, filling a niche we had all been missing.

There are many things to love about YoMa, from the simple dining room to the unpretentious plates to the excellent service you'll receive, no matter what time of day you stop in for a bite. The prices are incredibly low, even for Allston, and a menu for omnivores or vegetarians is available on request.

If you come in extra hungry (and well, you really should...), start with a sampler appetizer platter or the BuThee Jaw (fried long squash), and for lunch or dinner, our favorites include the Chicken Curry with Potato and the ShwePaYonTheeHin, a tempting combination of sweet pumpkin, tomatoes, and tofu. Trust us on the appetizer suggestion; even if you suspect it's too much goodness, you won't be too full for your entree. There is something almost magical about the YoMa portions. No matter who you are or what your body needs, the meal sizes are filling without guilt, the perfect size. We wish we knew how they do it.

Finishing off every meal with Htanyet, or Jaggery-based palm candies, is an unprecedented treat in an era where even a cheap dinner mint is appreciated. The warm, family-run establishment has become a second home for a few of us, and we suggest the same for you.

YoMa [MenuPages]
YoMa [Official Site]

[Photo: Andreas Haugstrup Pedersen/23.com, used with permission]

• India losing ability to feed itself [NYT]
• Candy business booming in tough times [AP]
• UK: GMO not necessarily the solution [TPA]
• Corn growers on HFCS charm offensive [WSJ]
• For fast food, a globalized future [BSun]

• Can we interest you in a hot fudge sundae? [MP: Boston]

• What about a lovely cheeseburger dress? [MP: Chicago]

• Maybe some melted cheese curds? [MP: Philadelphia]

• Or some exemplary iced coffee? [MP: San Francisco]

• Eh, let's just have some organic ice cream. [MP: South Florida]

Reef Cafe has the best Lebanese falafel in town, and it is an absolute treat to visit this tiny eatery. With mom in the kitchen and friendly son Salaam up front, Reef is the best family-run establishment in Allston Rock City. Cold Vimto and other sodas in the cooler plus daily specials round out the menu, and late hours keep everyone happy. Call ahead - they'll have it ready if you're on the go, in usually ten minutes or less.

While not always everyone's first choice (most notably due to the high prices), Rami's in Brookline serves soft Israeli falafel with a variety of veggies in a pita pocket. Keeping completely kosher - no outside food or drinks of any kind allowed in - these thin pockets contain a great variety of greens, tomatoes, and a delicious tahini and hummus covering the fresh, fluffy falafels.

If Cambridge is the place you call home, you're lucky to have Moody's Falafel Palace on Mass Ave., in the heart of Central Square and open later than most of its neighboring restaurants. A drunk's destination after the bars close on the weekends (open until 3am!), it's also a lunch attraction for a reason. Their prices are low, their lentil soup is always warm, and the taste can't be beat on that side of the riverbank.

Reef Cafe [MenuPages]
Rami's [MenuPages]
Moody's Falalfel Palace [MenuPages]

[Photo: Avlxyz/Flickr]

Do you know what today is? Correct, it's Friday. It's also the first day of summer. It's also just about the summer solstice. This is a big day that calls for more than just a video blog post. It calls for several videos, all about ice cream!

First, you're going to need protection: Ali G's got you covered (this video is pretty much safe for work, but don't show it to your kids; here's some language):

Awesome. After the jump: Wu-Tang clan and

Here's what you need protection from. Creepy!

And finally, though not ice-cream-related at all, here's my favorite summer song, complete with dancers who look like they just stepped out of a Baskin Robbin's case:

Picco in the South End features what some might consider the Little League Park of foods: pizza and ice cream. But the fare at Picco is anything but child's play. Their homemade ice cream is the richest around, including a coffee that will keep your brain buzzing for hours and a hot fudge made from delectable Scharffen Berger chocolate. Their pizzas are amazing - we love the simple Neapolitan with fresh tomatoes and basil - and their four-cheese macaroni with cheddar, Gruyere, taleggio, and Romano is to die for. And while not food related, how cool is it that they have free wifi?

Starting, well, now, Picco is also featuring fresh ricotta from their own kitchen. As if their pizzas weren't delicious enough and often a rotating special pie is the dish du jour, you can now add in-house cheese to your already yummy pizza or pasta. With an ever-rotating drink menu that has recently added draft and craft beers, we couldn't be more pleased with this neighborhood hot spot. It's definitely worth a trip from another part of town.

Picco Restaurant [Official Site]

[Photo: Zesmereida/Flickr]

• Several top aides sacrificed in S. Korea beef row [Bloomberg]
• House might add $1.25B in emergency food aid [Reuters]
• Following floods, agr. stocks in the toilet [CNN]
• Hair in the steak today, gone tomorrow [Tribune]
• McDonald's dieter story finally hit the wires [AP]

Take a look at the above picture. Oklahoma East Central University cartographer Matthew T. Campbell created a huge map of the names people call soft drinks by. Here's what we learned by looking at the map:

• "Pop" is the generic name for soft drinks in most of the country in terms of sheer land mass. The majority of the Midwest, the Rocky Mountain states and the Pacific Northwest all call it by that name.

• "Soda" is the preferred moniker for soft drinks in terms of population. Both the Northeastern United States and the state of California call them that.

• "Coke" serves as a generic label for soft drinks throughout much of the South. Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kentucky all serve as fault lines in the Pop/Soda/Coke divide.

But what's truly interesting is the anomalies. Coke is the preferred term for soft drinks not only in the traditional south, but also in Maryland's Eastern Shore. Although most of Florida is in the "Coke Belt" as well, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and other counties with a high percentage of northeastern expats all call it by that name. Meanwhile, a belt of land along the Mississippi River stretching roughly from central Illinois to St. Louis defies the Midwest's "pop" sensibilities by opting to call it soda. Meanwhile, residents of Buffalo and Pittsburgh are more like Midwesterners than Northeasterners in their soft drink naming habits.

As for us, we'll just call it soda.

The Soft Drink Map [Pop Vs. Soda]

Outdoor drinking is definitely a favorite past time of many Bostonians, but most bar patios in the city cater to scantily clad college girls with bad blonde highlights taking tequila shots while singing along to Bon Jovi. If you're looking for a more low key evening, check out the late night patio at Eastern Standard. Instead of typical standing room only and cheap beach furniture, Eastern Standard decorates its patio with cushioned wicker chairs and couches that are actually comfortable to lounge in. And with lively Kenmore Square in the background, people watching is a prime activity.

For those of you interested in carrying on a conversation without being drowned out by the Bon Jovi previously mentioned, the patio at Eastern Standard is ideal. Since the kitchen stays open late, you can order anything off the menu without getting the typical "the kitchen is closed" from your waiter. And when it comes to beverages, it's impossible to be disapointed. Besides a wine list that no dedicated oenophile could complain is incomplete, the bar offers a variety of delectable concoctions. Our favorite is the Strawberry Cobbler, a delicious infusion of strawberry vodka, mint, and fresh fruit.

It's always a pleasure to get our required daily dose of vitamin C in combination with expensive vodka. But anything for our health, right?

Eastern Standard [Official Site]

[Photo: mod*betty/Flickr]

Something about this ice cream scoop (a Cuisipro featured on Boing Boing Gadgets) looks familiar:

What is it? Where have we seen that perfect cylinder of ice cream on a cake cone before? Think, think...

Of course! The ice cream counter at Thrifty Drugs! Anybody remember that? At the risk of showing some age here, those of us who did any growing up in Southern California ought to take a minute and celebrate that institution that made mom's stupid trip to the drug store worthwhile. And then when we got old enough to ride our bikes to the store alone, it was the one thing worthwhile we could afford. Even in the 80s, a $0.25 scoop of ice cream was a hell of a deal.

Of course, it went to $0.50, then $0.75, then we moved away, and who knows if Rite Aid, which eventually bought Thrifty, even sells it anymore (actually, according to this Chowhound thread, they do, which is heartening).

Anyway, dang, one of those weird, cheap, fantastic scoops would go down pretty nicely right now. Anybody in LA want to send one express mail? If not, we may have to make do with one of those Cuisipro things.

Cuisipro invents the better ice cream scoop [Boing Boing Gadgets]
Cuisipro Ice Cream Scoop And Stack [Wrapables]
Ice Cream At Rite Aid [Chowhound]

[Photo: via Boing Boing]

Okay, the lyrics claim this "city" was built on rock and roll, but we couldn't resist discussing a yacht named the Starship without a little mention of our favorite cheesy 80's lyrics. But in all seriousness, we hopped aboard the Starship yacht at their accessible South Boston waterfront dock, and found the experience to be delightful.

An $8 million, 600 passenger yacht fit for a party held by P. Diddy, the Starship has sailed up for the summer from its permanent home in Tampa Bay. Now open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch cruises, it's a great alternative to the traditional restaurant atmosphere. And with the beauty of the Boston harbor included with your meal, how can one resist?

If you like a strong ocean breeze with your cocktail, head to the front of the top deck (Ladies, don't wear thin dresses unless you want to give Captain Nemo and his crew quite the show. We learned from experience). Inside the ship, the extremely pleasant wait staff is eager to serve your every need. Luckily, there are bars on both floors, so our needs were pretty much met.

When it comes to food, a variety of seafood dishes from sauteed shrimp to mussels made us feel like we were truly on vacation. And if it's possible to escape reality for even just a lunch cruise, then we're definitely all aboard.

Yacht Starship [Official Site]

[Photo: Yacht Starship]

• Many more stricken by TomatoGate, which may never be solved [USAT]
• Can a countertop scanner help with your grocery shopping? [NYT]
• Widespread wheat fungus to wipe out 1-2% of Kansan crop [AP]
• Reeling from 8% food inflation, Mx. locks prices for 6 mos. [BBC]
• Will Canada ban horse slaughter for food production? [CBC]