I like to check in with my friend Michael Ruhlman every week or so. And by friend, I mean a guy who writes books I read and admire. And by check in, I mean read his blog. It's always full of great food info, but this past week he's been breaking some great news, as well. Here's the Ruhlman Rundown:
- Tony Bourdain's yearbook photos (I can call him Tony because I am his friend, too).
- Alinea, The Cookbook — one of the most important and innovative chefs in the country (Chicago's Grant Achatz) worked with his friends and partners to write, photograph, design and self-print a massive, obscenely beautiful cookbook. And it only costs $50. Take that, Ferran Adria.
In other news:
- Swedish typo poisons stupid home cooks
- National Geographic gets into food with a beautiful new interactive site full of maps, photos and cheese-o'-the-month clubs.
- French scientists use particle accelerators to authenticate vintage wines. I'll take my 1914 Petrus with a side of mini-black hole, thanks.
- Fish to eat. Fish not to eat. Grouper is a no-no.
- The US government can — and does! — forbid producers from testing for Mad Cow.
- Forget about innovative and exciting food, why can't Bay area restaurants have bathrooms like this?
- Ikea good for more than just cheap wood crap.
- Still want your food news and info from a newspaper? Too bad.
Thanks to Grub Street, SeriousEats, Grinder.
This article appears in Sep 3-9, 2008.
