‘What little they had to eat, they ate—cans of mysterious tinned meat and fishballs that supposedly contained cream. Even Nansen, the ship’s cat, went a little crazy. Eventually, penguins began flocking to the ship and the birds were—Cook wrote—“of equal interest to the naturalist and the cook.” He began eating penguins.’

"The problem, in simple economic terms, is that supply has gone down and demand has gone up. “We’re going back to where coffee began,” Giuliano says, “as an exotic, beloved culinary experience.”"

"Why doesn’t the British Library have a greasy spoon in it? This is, believe it or not, a serious question."

A guest post by James Griffioen pointing out that while there may not be big-box stores in Detroit, the city has plenty of places to get food (and not just junk, either).

"While the US military and government were grappling with the political implications of Sputnik 1, one of the ways in which ordinary people responded was to translate the body of the spacecraft into something familiar and edible.  The humble olive, with the addition of three or four toothpicks to represent antenna, became a symbol of the satellite." It's worth delving into the archives, too.

"Seven years ago I strolled around London writing what started as a guide and ended up almost an epitaph, discovering [...] the remnants of a culture once fuelled on strong tea but now forced to subsist on a paper cup of nearly boiling water with a tea bag floating disconsolately on its surface." Edwin Heathcote's eulogy to the British caff.

"We can all expect to have to pull into a motorway service station from time-to-time." An interview with the author of Food on the Move.

"What do the once-traditional fried breakfasts on offer around Britain say about how our cultural landscape is changing?" A very good read.

Will Self on Wagamama. Posted unread, but I know I'll want to read it.

Laurie Taylor on food and class. A good read (and hopefully a signifier of a good Something Understood tonight).

Due to their deal with the IOC, McDonalds look likely to be the only food retailer. Meanwhile, "Coca-Cola has exclusive rights to selling non-alcoholic drinks, including tea and coffee within the Olympic venues."

Recipes from the Roman empire to Jamie Oliver. "If Beeton’s recipes were not wholly novel, though, the way in which she presented them certainly was." I was reminded of this overhearing Aaron and Chris talking at Papercamp, so I thought I'd better send this.

A good post. Two comments: calories as currency comes up in Joe Haldeman's The Forever War. Secondly, is belief in money a rational or irrational religion? "Religion" may seem a bit strong, but money certainly relies on a certain amount of faith.

"We found ourselves discussing the perfect food. Not favourite food - that’s a different question - but perfect food, which works in a number of contexts and is flexible and suits all palletes." I agree- that food is toast.

On subsidies, biofuels and the developing world. "fill up an SUV's fuel tank with ethanol and you have used enough maize to feed a person for a year" "Despite the help, plenty of Western farmers have been beset by poverty."

New York Times article on the redesign of McDonalds restaurants in the UK, complete with what turn out to be Arne Jacobsen designer chairs. It seems as if most of the Central London branches have taken that look, too.

"Exclusive to Terminal 5 will be a breakfast menu" "Traditionalists can also plump for the more straightforward full English breakfast, or the US favourite of pancakes and maple syrup" Full English at Wagamama? That's just wrong.

Phil on the closing of the New Piccadilly (which is picking up plenty of attention) and the more general decline of classic cafes (less so).

The Guardian carries extracts from a book about everyday life, on breakfast, office work, and weather.

"The global rush to switch from oil to energy derived from plants will drive deforestation, push small farmers off the land and lead to serious food shortages and increased poverty unless carefully managed" Hardly shocking, but good to see reported.

"How can the supermarket possibly sell a pair of these synthetic cream-filled pseudocakes for less than a bunch of roots?" Micahel Pollan goes in search of the farm funding that provides an answer. Wonder how the CAP compares?

I orignally read this back when it first published, but keep needing to find a paywall-busting URL. It's a good, long piece on food, nutrition, science and diet. If you've not read it, please do.

(warning: PDF) sadly not textual, but an exquisite example of Islington pretension as a 12 year old talks sense and two idiots in authority talk nonsense about chocolate.

Just checking this again, and the maximum for London is still 167 (Chelsea Square), while 1123 Broadway has gone over 200. Maybe London really is American now. Sigh.

Gillian McKeith, doctor no more. Somehow the fact her husband's a lawyer makes a lot of sense.

For some reason I keep needing to find this article about disease threatening the banana monoculture.

"Cooking Mama picked up one or two awards at E3, which is entirely understandable as it makes an excellent first impression."

"An immoderate interest in chocolate has, over the past few years, become a defining female quality." Catherine Bennett on (recently?) acceptable modes of gender identity. The comments seem to be full of idiotic male bigots.

Joystiq coverage of the DS cookbook (links to Wired coverage also)

"Talk! DS Cuisine Navigator" a cookbook with voice navigation for the DS. Big in Japan.

"ready made beans on toast"? What idiocy is this? Even I can do beans on toast, for heaven's sake. I wholeheartedly agree on the tea granules too, although my tea making is hardly proper.

The Eastern Takeaway on Canonbury Road / Highbury Corner has now got us recommending it for life. We love them. If you need Chinese food in Islington, get it there.

In search of great pizza

Contains a map. We're doomed.

Lots of restaurants here (via ChrisDodo's URL for Helsinki)

Pontefract cake supplier to my better half, and foodie heaven, apparently