"tinfoil swan" news and stories

Hi foodies! Photo: Xavier Barade

Not much to say here but "party, pizza par-tay." Happy Friday!

[Via Urlesque]

Shun's santoku knife on caramelized onion tart. Photo: Alex Van Buren

Knives. Outside of the full-time food dork world, people -- even foodies -- don't tend to talk about them much.

They have a bad association as, um, dull conversational topics: There's the unwelcome knife salesman banging on the door, or that eternal infomercial ("Only $39.95 in three easy installments!"). I owned a sub-par knife for years, until a friend trained at a local culinary institute basically took it away from me.

I've been shopping ever since with an eagle eye for sales. The santoku style caught my attention for its multiuse blade (note the indentations, which purportedly help keep food from sticking) and stylish look. And when I grabbed a Shun in hand at a local shop -- its base has a slight teardrop shape, perfectly suited to that soft nub between thumb and index finger -- I fell in love.

The Westport Flea Market's Burgermobile. Photo: Emily Farris

Before we all pile into the Burgermobile and head into the weekend, let's ketchup on the events of the past week.

The College of William & Mary spearheaded an effort to approve an asparagus stalk as their school mascot, while our beer blogger set out in search of the Great Lost Bear.

Our Coffee Meister got fresh about frozen beans, some nice Southern brothers threw down with an Iron Chef who'd just been grilled by the President and a pastry paragon fell short in his efforts to entice the wee folks with tofu pizza.

The Hungry Bride contemplated the morning after, our sommelier-in-training got a chilly response to the notion of iced wine, an Arkansas pea champ came out of her shell and we washed it all down with a Grasshopper and a pint of oyster ice cream.

Catch you at the Fancy Food Show!

Father's Day Burger Cupcakes. Photo: bakerella/flickr

Oh what a week! Strawberries are back in season (bring on the shortcake!), carrots are 25 percent healthier and Ubuntu's sommelier admits he eats meat.

Wylie Dufresne got salty this week on "Top Chef Masters," and we're not talking fun with NaCl. Tom Colicchio proved himself to be a fan of campy gothic vampire TV. And we digested all that yummy Big Apple barbecue. The Tweets from Aspen had us drooling so we thought up our favorite "pop-tails," and pondered our favorite foods and when, if ever, it's OK for a waitress to rest her dogs at your table.

Skinny Chef built a better grilled cheese, the Hungry Bride talked down-home wedding foods, the CoffeeMeister cupped and Bonnaroo fans made culinary do. And we reviewed "Craig Claiborne's Southern Cooking" and "The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen."

Here's to a Father's Day that's filled with good eats!

As promised, we're beginning our recap of the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party this past weekend, featuring 15 of the best pitmasters from around the USA. After you take a dip in the barbecue sauce fountain, courtesy of Mike Mills and Amy Mills of 17th Street Bar & Grill, click on the post to see our photos. "Peace, Love & Barbecue," everyone!