• Mario Batali has backed out of judging this year’s Vendy Awards. [Midtown Lunch]
• Like many consumers, restaurateur Donatella Arpaia has been looking for ways to cut her spending while dining out, including tipping less for subpar service and visiting high-end restaurants for lunch only. [WSJ]
• Classy: PETA has erected a billboard reading “Meat Kills” outside of the Scotland hospital where a pregnant woman recently died of swine flu. [Copyranter]
• Sakura Sushi & Thai Cuisine was evicted from its Nolita building after officials feared a crack in the structure could lead to collapse. [EV Grieve]
• All Starbucks iced coffee comes sweetened unless otherwise specified. [Newsday]
• A new crop of city ice creams, including those at Harbour and Golosi, are lighter than the usual cold treats. [NYDN]
• Wolfgang Puck is lobbying ICANN to add .food to the list of top-level domains. [Eat Me Daily]
• La Bonne Soupe, which closed after a fire several months ago, will be up and running again soon. [Food Writer’s Diary/NRN]
• PepsiCo has purchased 20 percent of Japan’s largest snack company. [Crain’s]