• Ever wonder what cops really think of donuts? Or if most teachers actually loathe apples? GOOD Magazine did, too, and conducted an interview with four people in different jobs, asking them their take on the food most often associated with their profession. There's a cop talking about donuts, a pilot on airplane food, a teacher on apples, and a rock star on whiskey. Excerpt from the pilot's take on airplane food: "Economy travelers don't want to live out some bourgeois fantasy of the 1940s. Give me a damn sandwich or some pasta."

• Asylum gives us the ten weirdest pizza toppings, including squid ink and caviar.

• Bake a geek-worthy cake...Tux the Linux Penguin or an iPhone, anyone?

We have an in-flight food guide that we posted a couple of weeks ago to help Slashfood readers know what they're in for food-wise on several major airlines this summer. This week, the Wall Street Journal actually took to the skies to taste-test some of the meal options on various airlines. Dubbed the "unfree lunches," since you now almost always have to pay for meals and snacks when you fly.

Many of the "snack" boxes contained little food for the shocking amount of calories they contained, and the exact calorie count could not always be determined, since single-serving "cheeses" were often unlabeled. Overall, you'd do best to pass on the "insultingly skimpy" snack box from ATA ($3), which garnered the "worst snack box" award. United Airlines Right Bite Box ($5), by contrast, was voted the "best snack box" because their selections were "smart," reasonably healthy and stocked with popular brands - including organics. Air Canada was praised for their excellent muffin ($2) and offering of Subway veggie sandwiches ($5). As for the rest? Let's just say that packing your own snack is always a good idea.

Just when it seems that we'll never get any decent food on an airplane again, Southwest Airlines has introduced a special on-board snack. Produced by Nabisco, "golden airplane-shaped crackers" mark the airline's 35th anniversary. The unique crackers come in commemorative packaging.

Since Nabisco makes Ritz crackers, which already come in various non-circular shapes, Southwest's crackers will probably be very similar to them. The last time I flew Southwest, they were serving mini-pretzels, which I quite liked for an airplane snack. I'll be sad to see them go, even though Ritz are tasty, too. I'm just hoping that they decide to go with mini-airplanes, because the only thing sadder than not getting a snack on a plane is getting one lone Ritz cracker.

I don't mean put tiny packets of honey roasted peanuts and a vacuum-packed bag of wilted celery cticks in a flimsy box and charge yourself $4.95.

Conde Nast Traveler magazine challenged chef Gene Kato of Chicago restaurant Japonais to create an in-flight meal that was spoil-proof for three hours, leakproof, and didn't stink strongly enough to disturb your neighboring traveler (Conde Nast used the word "odiferous"). It couldn't be too difficult for something Japanese-inspired, since the concept of mobile food in bento boxes comes from Japan. Chef Kato created Miso-glazed Fried Chicken with Japanese Truffled Soybean Salad. The recipe is on Conde Nast's website.

I challenge Chef Kato to make something to take on a Korean Airlines flight that's not "odiferous." Kimchee anyone?

[via: Gadling]

Sure, we're getting used to all the extra charges that airlines are adding on top of the cost of the actual ticket. Changing your flight costs extra, bigger, heavier bags cost extra, and heck, we're okay with paying for an in-flight meal. That's better anyway, since you have the option of not eating airplane food.

However, the charges are starting to get ridiculous. Curbside check-in will cost extra per bag, asking for an assigned seat will cost more. Even a blanket will cost you a $1, and I doubt you get to keep the cheap thin piece of felt when you de-plane. But the worst of it? Airlines will be charging for drinks - not beer, wine, or a cocktail mixed from those tiny bottles. Sodas and snacks will cost $1 each. One dollar for two tiny cookies or a miniature bag of pretzels?!? You're better off dropping three quarters in a vending machine and getting a Big Grab of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

Heck, maybe you should just fire up the old "Woodie" and make it a road trip. At least you can stop at the gas station for 99 cent beef jerky.