• We love everything about watermelons, except maybe chopping them. Until now! Enter the watermelon knife –- who knew sharp bladed things could be so adorable? [nytimes.com] • This Thursday, the USDA will reveal its new food icon, replacing the age-old pyramid for a plate. “We presume that it will be divided into sections thatRead more »

• Bridesmaids’ Melissa McCarthy appeared on Conan, where she revealed that, despite being unable to wear glasses on the back of her head, her character in the movie was inspired by Guy Fieri. [eater.com] • The good folks at New York Magazine have found 51 restaurants coast-to-coast worth visiting. Your summer road trip just gotRead more »

• The latest product at the chopping block of school cafeteria foods is the potato. The USDA is seeking to ban spuds entirely from federally-subsidized school breakfasts and limit them–and all starchy veggies–to one cup per week at lunch. [wsj.com] • Intrigued by foods promising to lower cholesterol, curb digestive issues or perform other miracles?Read more »

• Psychology today reports: “Barbeques, it turns out, are good for your mental health — particularly when they take place in green spaces.” Here we thought our backyard bashes were so great because of the euphoric potato salad. [psychologytoday.com via eatocracy.cnn.com] • In the latest cafeteria lunch news, public schools in Los Angeles are consideringRead more »

How More Restaurants May Begin to Compost: A small food-hauling industry equipped to deal with restaurants’ compostable fare is cropping up. Cities like San Francisco and Seattle have passed laws that mandate commercial composting and since restaurants don’t often have the space or time to do it onsite, food-waste managers, like Jeremy Brosowksy, are doingRead more »

Introducing Cupcake Vodka: It’s a thing, and it comes in four flavors: original, chiffon, devil’s food and frosting. But if pie the new cupcake, we’re thinking this liquor may have a short shelf life. [blogs.villagevoice.com] Food Bloggers Bare All for Japan: If there was ever any doubt that food bloggers are totally cute, check outRead more »

Thieves Nab 40,000 Pounds of Tomatoes: The New York Times reports on a group of produce snatchers: “Last month, a gang of thieves stole six tractor-trailer loads of tomatoes and a truck full of cucumbers from Florida growers. They also stole a truckload of frozen meat. The total value of the illegal haul: about $300,000.”Read more »

Caffeine Addiction Linked to Genetics: Craving coffee? Science says your genes may be to blame, not the two hours of sleep you got last night. [usatoday.com] Chicago Public School Bans Brown-Bag Lunches: With all the hullabaloo surrounding the poor quality of cafeteria food, it may come as a surprise that one school is actually banningRead more »

NYC’s Homesteaders Live Off the Land…The land in their own backyards and on their own rooftops. The Post takes a look at hardcore urban farmers, who raise chickens and bees, butcher their own rabbits and forage for greens in New York City parks. The trend isn’t without its backlash, but these hillbillies have one upRead more »

Mac & Cheese Pancakes? The story goes something like this: Famed NYC chef Kenny Shopsin had a patron who only ate either mac and cheese or pancakes. One day, said patron couldn’t choose between the two and asked Shopsin to decide. The result is a serendipitous combination of the disparate dishes, and now Shopsin isRead more »