I can barely stomach plane food, especially in coach. When was the last time you ate something on a plane that actually tasted like it was supposed to? Recently, a Virgin Atlantic passenger sent a written complaint to Virgin's Chief Executive Sir Richard Branson regarding his inflight meal. Branson's repsonse? If you don't like the food, come to our HQs and help us fix it. How cool is that?

Bizarre Foods: Kansas City
Some of the best bizarre foods are inyour own backyard.  KC residents can add a little raccoon to their diet, thanks to trapper Larry Brownsberger. Get your own raccoon for anywhere between $3 to $7 each at 39th Street and Kensington Avenue.

Love Those Talking Babies
The Super Bowl is my favorite unofficial holiday. I love the football, the food and, of course, the ads. Those E*TRADE commercials are always hilarious. MacGruber (aka Pepsuber???) on the other hand... hmm, not so much. You can watch all the ads again on www.superbowlads.com. Which commercials got your attention?

It’s hard to resist buying a box or two of Girl Scout cookies from that neighborhood kid. Every year I look forward to Thin Mints and Samoas, and they disappear faster than you can say, “On my honor.” However, even the Girl Scouts are feeling the economic pinch. The evidence? Smaller cookie sizes and less in each box. My waistline says thank you, but my heart says bummer.

McWall Street
Folks feeling the economic crunch in New York have swapped swanky lunch joints for Big Macs. Apparently, Mickey D’s has seen a spike in earnings over the past year. Here in the Twin Cities, I must say I’ve been noticing more McDonald’s coffee cups and less Caribou/Starbucks/Dunn Bros. Is this going on in other cities?

In a somewhat related note, Panera is offering free coffee all day (Wed., Jan. 28th).

Ay Dios Mio
This seems so bad that it’s good.

I spend a lot of time at the airport. And I can tell you from personal experience, there is nothing that makes your body feel worse than scarfing a big, fat burger, fries and a coke before settling in for a long flight. Ugh. I loved this piece on great airport food. I kind of like Ike's at the MSP Airport (but French Meadow needs to shape up or ship out). What are your favorite airport eateries?

Big Tipper
They say tipping is down, due to the economy. This Kansas City waiter begs to differ.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Obamascream

Check out Ben and Jerry's newly named pecan flavor. I'm sold.

With the holidays in full swing, I’ve been a little out of the loop lately. However, I was saddened to hear that Nancy Silverton is the latest victim in this whole Madoff scandal. Silverton is an incredibly talented, hardworking woman, and I am sure she’ll land on her feet after this financial setback, but what a blow.

Top Ten Eats
Looking for some fun food reading- Check out Serious Eats top 10 posts of 2008

Looks like New Yorkers may have to shell out more cash for nondiet beverages as a part of a proposed "Obesity Tax". Hmm... last time I checked, it seemed both diet and nondiet drinks aren't good for you. And what about the thousands and thousands of other foods deemed unhealthy? It's a sippery slope, my friend.

Sweet Gift Idea
Check out my friend David Lebovitz's list of favorite cookbooks of the year. He's a serious authority on all things sweet, so any of these books are a perfect gift for the baker in your life.

Street Smarts
Check out World Hum's list of the 8 Best Cities for Street Food. A few of my favorites are on there-- Vietnam and Mexico City. Any spots you think they missed? What's your favorite street food?

The Naked Chef, aka Jamie Oliver, has gone the way of Ray-Ray, launching his own bi-mothly magazine later this week. Jamie will feature recipes, food writing, travel tips and more. At first glance, I liked the design and photography, and I think Jamie is a very talented and relatable chef.

But will men in general identify with Jamie's style? AskMen.com recently polled as to whether or not Oliver is a "Dude or a Douche." My vote? Duuuuude all the way!

Piggin Out
When you're purchasing groceries on a budget, it always seem the highly-processed foods are the cheapest. Ever thought about buying directly from a farmer? Michael Ruhlman recently not only purchased a Berkshire pig from a farm ($1.67/lb)-- but butchered it himself. Of course, you can arrange for it to be butchered for you (which ups the price, but saves you a lot of labor). While this requires a large amount of storage space, this is a great way to buy quality meat at a lesser price while supporting your local farmers. Anyone practice this at home?  

Red, Red Wine
Check out this study on wine, which confirms a notion I’ve had for quite some time.

I’m always looking for cool places to stay on the road. For those of you preferring bizarre digs to food, add Stockholm to your radar. The city is now home to Jumbo Hostel, the first hotel housed within a jet. This Boeing 747 includes 25 boutique hostel rooms (which include 3 single beds each), a café, much-improved bathrooms and amazing view of take-offs and landings from Arlanda Airport. Apparently, you can even take in the action from the airliner’s wing. Jumbo Hostel is set to open mid-January, and is taking reservations as of Dec. 1.

Cook Like A Man
We all know guys (and yes, ladies too), love kitchen gadgetry. I am guilty of getting sucked in by the latest advancements in kitchen technology— even if it seems completely obsolete. Popular Mechanics released this list of Top Ten kitchen gadgets earlier this year. Personally, a few of the items seem like amazing gifts for the high-tech chef on your list. Anyone tried the Jumbo Jerky Works Gun?

Extreme Carbs
Now this is the kind of kitchen gadgetry I could really get behind.

 

Hail to the Chef
The economy, the war and the puppy are all buzz-worthy topics surrounding President–elect Obama’s move to this White House in 2009. However, it seems we’re also interested in who will be manning the kitchen. Celebrity chefs (including yours truly) weighed in on what they’d like to serve the first family.

Gone Fishin
April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman's new venture, John Dory, is now open in NYC. The concept? An English seafood joint. I'm hoping to check it out next time I'm in town, but from what's posted on their site, it looks right up my alley. Check out the menu and pics on their blog.

Good news for artisan cheese fans: Murray’s Cheese, the Greenwich Village artisan cheese shop, partnered with Kroger, the country’s largest supermarket chain. The concept? To open gourmet cheese shops inside larger grocery chains. Apparently, Kroger employees went through several months of training, meaning consumers will find a knowledgeable staff along with delicious cheese.

Stick That in Your Turducken and Smoke It
Bizarre Foods fans are always asking me about the turducken. Where to get one, how to prepare one, and just what is inside this festive bird. Interested Chicagoans have the opportunity to learn the art of butchering, brining, seasoning, and roasting the turducken. Honky Tonk BBQ (1213 W. 18th St at Racine) will host a turducken course on Sunday, Nov. 23 from 6-9pm. $45 secures your place. For more information and tickets, click here.

Hot Links
Wurstküche is just one more reason to need to head to LA this winter. This new sausage spot in downtown LA has all the traditional sausages you’d expect, but the Alligator & Hickory-Smoked Pork Andouille Sausage or the Rattlesnake, Rabbit and Jalapeño are at the top of my must-try list. The condiments sound damn good too: Citrus Ginger Mayo, Cranberry Cinnamon Mayo and Strawberry Ketchup. Anyone been to Wurstküche yet? Thoughts?

Eater asks readers to vote on the hottest chefs in New York. My fellow Minnesotan, Chef Gavin Kaysen, already got the boot, but Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud and Top Chef Season One winner Harold Dieterle are still going strong. Nationally or interntaionally, male or female-- Who would get your vote?

A Different Kind of Happy Meal
Who says food critics have to be old enough to vote, drive a car or see a PG-13 movie without parents? Certainly, not anyone 12-year-old New Yorker (and aspiring food writer) David Fishman talks to. Check out his solo dining experience at Solumeria Rosi. What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you ever pull off any stunts like this to get a little experience?

Yet Another Reason to Get the iPhone
I rock a BlackBerry, and I don't have plans to buy an iPhone (but love my iPod touch). But for those of you contemplating an iPhone purchase, check out this case. Technology meets bacon. I love it.

Anyone tried the Urban Spoon application on their iPhone? Molly in our office just downloaded it and it seems pretty cool. Here are the deets: It senses what city you're in,  then lets you pick the neighborhood, type of food you're craving and price you'd like to pay... then finds a restaurant that suits your desires. You can also go for broke by shaking your iPod and letting it arbitrarily pick a destination (like a slot machine). Users can also look up restaurant contact info and reviews from the application.

So I gotta ask... what do you think? Does it solve the age-old question of "What do you want to eat tonight?" Could be a great way to find a place to eat on the road.

Chef-Elect?
Yes, he'll have to deal with the war and economy, but at least President-ecect Barack Obama won't have to do it on an empty stomach. New York Daily News reports Chicago chefs Rick Bayless, Art Smith (aka "Oprah's chef") and Daniel Young are under consideration to be the White House kitchen's new head honcho. No matter who gets the job, no dinner guest will ever leave unsatisfied. Who would you want in the kitchen if you were elected President?

What the Cluck?
Apparently, someone in Japan hasn't been thrown by the current state of the economy. Takashimaya Co., a Japanese department store, is offering truffle-stuffed roast chickens for 84,000 yen ($847) apiece. This cute little bugger, flown in from Landes, France, will be filled with black truffles, foie gras, white sausage and chestnuts. What's your big holiday culinary splurge?

For those of us without an extra grand to spend on fowl, check out this budget-friendly experiment: A couple in Encinitas, Calif. tried a dollar-a-day diet for a month. Do you think you could pull it off?

Get more out of voting than the satisfaction of partaking in your basic American right. Many establishments are giving away free stuff just for casting your vote. Jon Eick's blog, So Good, highlighted a few national brands passing out comped delicious treats to those donning an "I Voted" stickers. Did you score any free stuff?

The city of Long Island is trying to break the habit of drinking bottled water by putting the kibosh selling the stuff in city vending machines. Additionally, they're upgrading drinking fountains and providing free reusable bottles to residents. Would you be willing to swap out the bottled water for tap?

You’re Doing It Wrong
Steeping a pot of your favorite tea might be more complicated than you think. Check out this video for tips on making the most of your tea.

Please Wait to be Seated
Scoring a table at El Bulli isn’t easy- just ask Jay Rayner, who waited 17 years for a coveted seat. Think it was worth the wait?

You sit down in an ethnic restaurant and are bombarded by choices. What's authentic? What do the regulars eat? What's only on the menu for the gringos? Steven Shaw, blogger and founder of eGullet, recently released Asian Dining Rules, which demystifies Indian, Chinese, Korean and SE Asian restaurants. We dig his insight and think this book is an entertaining read for food lovers.

You can find more of Shaw's food musings on eGullet. We especially like this piece on how to get the most from restaurants. Do you have any tips on getting the most out of your restaurant experience?

A Cellars Market
It's always nice to make space in your closet for new threads, and it seems Le Cirque has the same idea with wine. This iconic Manhattan establishment, tight on vino storage space, will auction off some of their phenomenal bottles at the restaurant on Nov. 7, 2008. Some cases could fetch up to 20k. During the auction, food and wine lovers will enjoy a TBA prixe fix meal for $395. I have a feeling this won't be one of those fast-talkin', auctioneer-wearin'-a-cowboy-hat type events.

Cheap Digs
Unless you've been living on a deserted bus in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, you're aware of the state of the economy. This recession has trickled down into nearly every facet of life... but let's focus on travel. Airlines are cutting flights, tickets are through the roof. With less people traveling, hotels are feeling serious pain... and we're reaping the benefits. Check out these tips on how to take advantage of amazing hotel deals from Conde Nast Traveler.