Has Halloween come early? Bars disguise themselves to avoid the liquor ban, lettuce may be the new spinach, Gordon Ramsay’s secret sister emerges from the shadows, and more.
• First the trans-fat fighters came for NYC. Then, D.C. Now, if N.J. lawmakers have their way, you won’t even be able to water-taxi your way to the stuff. [Nation’s Restaurant News].
• Having cracked down on spinach, the E. coli police go after green-leaf lettuce. [Los Angeles Times]
• Bars evade the booze freeze by posing as restaurants (and if that doesn’t work, they’ll buy pairs of mustache glasses). [NYP]
• Topping off a recent slew of testosteropenings — Lonesome Dove, Porter House, etc. — Corio promises servers in skivvies. [NYDN]
• Tony Bourdain and other food scribes recall no-can-do assignments; says Peter Elliot, “publicists should have their heads examined.” [Snack]
• Glasgow and (soon) London get a Priceline-style Website for haggling over the dinner bill. Will there come a day when we can ask Daniel, “How does 50 bucks for the prix-fixe sound?” [Sunday Herald]
• Gordon Ramsay tells all, unfortunately, including how the name of his first restaurant was inspired by his penis. (Also, something about a long lost sister.) [Chow]
• Does Jamie Oliver fancy himself the new Ali G? First he gave a sophomoric fake interview on Danish television; now his fat suit causes a stir. [Daily Mirror]
