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Iron Chef White House Episode Used Ringer Veggies; a New Bread Man for Per Se

• The Food Network has admitted that the vegetables used in the highly touted White House episode of Iron Chef America were not actually from the White House garden. [Chicago Tribune]

• Thomas Keller has recruited Phoenix’s Ben Hershberger to helm the bread program at his New York restaurants. [Chow Bella/Phoenix New Times]

• A group of former B Bar and Grill employees have brought a lawsuit against the restaurant, alleging labor violations. [Crain’s]

• In an effort to appeal to both upscale and downmarket consumers, Johnny Rocket’s will debut three new concepts this year: a sports bar, a fast-food restaurant, and a mobile kitchen. [NRN]

• KFC has pulled an Australian ad that showed a white man mollifying a group of African-American people with fried chicken after the ad caused controversy in the United States. [Ad Age]

• A new study shows that, despite their interest in calorie counts, New Yorkers consumed many more calories than usual over the holidays. [NYT]

• New Yorkers’ rising interest in sustainable meat hasn’t been great news for the city’s vegetarian eateries. [NY Press]

• It’s that time of year again: El Bulli is now taking reservations for 2010. [Zagat Buzz]

Yonah Schimmel Knishery is celebrating its hundredth anniversary this year. [City Room/NYT]

• Veteran food expert Michael Taylor has been named as the country’s new food-safety czar. [NYT]

• New numbers suggest that the rise of obesity in America may have leveled off in the past few years. [NYP]

Iron Chef White House Episode Used Ringer Veggies; a New Bread Man for