Oh, hippies… Occupy Toronto protesters have taken over the basement of St. Patrick’s Market, a building owned by the city but leased out to various food shops, and the soon-to-be home of The Grove food emporium. The hippies occupiers swear to run a food strike and then a hunger strike unless they can become legitimate tenants of the space. [Toronto Star] [Globe and Mail]
Let it be noted that we are the architects of our own demise. Canada and Mexico are arguing that the US’s super-awesome Country of Origin Labelling laws violate the free trade agreement our countries have all been roped into. Which means that, besides forcing the US to stop labelling the food it sells so that consumers can know where it comes from, the chance of getting similar laws here in Canada (which local food advocates have requesting for years) is pretty much screwed. [Food Safety News]
Poor weather in the US south means that peanut butter is now too expensive to stock at food banks. [Village Voice: Fork in the Road]
You know how it just takes some people a while to figure out where they’re supposed to be and what they’re supposed to be doing? Writer Sarah B. Hood finally found her “thing”, cooking in the historic kitchen at Fort York. [Toronto Tasting Notes]
Yet again, this holiday season, Brits are in the aisles of Waitrose fighting over the last Heston Blumenthal Christmas pudding. [Independent]
As a year-round stout drinker, I don’t see the beer as a cold weather drink, but if you do, now’s the time to track down some Imperial Stouts (and a box of chocolates) to curl up with. [Toronto Sun]
We’ve all pretty much determined that “foodie” is a derogatory term, but there still a difference between someone who is a “food person” and someone who is not. [Serious Eats]
I’m not sure why Gina Mallet is re-reviewing Scarpetta, or why it’s showing up on the Post website as new today, but it’s reasonably coherent and worth a link for the end where she comes close to comparing the place to McDonald’s. [National Post]
Dear parents, that baby cover charge that the restaurant in the UK is charging? It has nothing to do with how much your baby is eating or whether they’re taking up a chair. It’s for the inconvenience of having the squalling little buggers there at all. [Eater]
And if you want your kids to be welcome at restaurants as they get older, why not consider a Harry Potter-themed dining etiquette course (complete with Great Hall), so the little darlings actually know how to use cutlery and a napkin instead of just eating with their hands (which is where a diet of fast food is likely to get them). [Daily Mail]