"eater" news and stories

The Next Iron Chefcontestants baited their lines in the latest episode, and found that going to the source can either leave you pretty much empty-handed (Marco Canora, whose fishing skills leave a bit to be desired), or with a line full of shark (chef Mary Dumont comes face to face with her own personal "Jaws"). Head over to Eater to read the recap of the Next Iron Chef highs and lows.

Two weeks ago, Chick-fil-A gave customers the chance to earn a free combo meal by coming in to their stores dressed in cow costumes. (In case you missed it, our editor donned spots to cash in on this deal.) Yesterday, KFC took a stab at this sort of publicity stunt (what, KFC, you haven't had enough press from the Double Down?) by offering the first ten people dressed in a competing chain's uniform a free Doublicious sandwich.

They even resurfaced a Colonel look-alike in a promotional video to encourage fast food employees to come get their sandwiches (in it, a McDonald's worker trades out his McD's hat for one bearing the KFC logo).

If that young man (or any competing uniform-wearers) lost his or her job on account of the free meal, KFC promised to welcome them into their arms of employment. Head over to Eater to see the promo video.

In late summer/early fall 2010, hot dogs will be making their debut on Broadway -- and we're not talking about the street carts selling standard New York City fare (and really, it's off-off Broadway). Eater chatted with Kristyn Pomranz and Katherine Steinberg -- one of our fellow AOL editors! -- who together wrote Hot Dogs: the Competetive Eating Musical. The pair first collaborated on I Can Haz Cheezburger: the MusicalLOL, mirrored after the same-named site, and atrribute Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Competition as their source of inspiration this go-round.

Head over the Eater to read about their favorite eating competition, why they think competitive eating has gotten more popular and more.

Photo: Stephane De Sakutin, AFP/Getty Images.

Gordon Ramsay may have turned over ownership of his New York City luxury restaurant Gordon Ramsay at the London to the restaurant's hotel, but the Michelin-starred celebrity chef and reality TV star is still on the hook for thousands from angry vendors.

Eater NY reports that vendors are suing Ramsay for more than $100,000 mere weeks after Midtown Manhattan's the London NYC hotel took over ownership of the 45-seat restaurant.

A spokesman for Ramsay told Slashfood the often-outspoken chef had "no comment" on the lawsuit. The London NYC did not return Slashfood's call for comment.

New York Times and coffee. Photo: The Nickster, Flickr

We reported back in May, along with the rest of the food blogosphere, that Frank Bruni, dining critic for the New York Times, was departing his beat as perhaps the most powerful journalist in the national restaurant scene.

Blogs like Eater, Grub Street and Gawker covered the departure obsessively, and their sadness at the departure of the man some called the Brunz -- or when feeling particularly tender, "King Brunz" -- was palpable.

Now Sam Sifton has stepped into the spotlight and, as editor Bill Keller's memo notes, up to the treadmill. (Bruni wrote about his rigorous workout routine for Men's Vogue). Food writers are already apoplectic about the newcomer: Eater has given the casual "Sifty" a shot, whereas Gawker is far more interested in finding a proper costume for the not-at-all-anonymous Sifton, who has long been the Gray Lady's Culture Editor. No doubt the suggestions of Gawker commenters, which range from Harry Potter to Lenny Dykstra to Anna Wintour, will prove helpful to the new critic.

As per the departure of the Brunificent One, his photo was released to the public this week. Gael Greene quickly tweeted, "Would you trade in your clunker and buy a new car from this man?" Eat Me Daily -- to hilarious effect -- delivered at once.