• Burger King CEO John Chidsey explains how the fast-food industry benefits from economic squeezes: “It’s very hard for me to imagine that the economy could ever get so bad that somebody could not afford to go buy a Double Cheeseburger from McDonald’s or a Whopper Jr. from us for $1.” [WSJ]
• Some food experts and wishful thinkers argue that rising meat and corn prices will cause Americans to consume fewer nutritionally questionable products and instead focus on local fruits and vegetables. [NYT]
• On May 31, for $100, you’ll have a chance to taste all the gems of the Upper West Side at the aptly named “New Taste of the Upper West Side.” [NYP]
• Cooking with a microwave can be dangerous and scary… [NYT]
• …but it can also be extremely useful in cutting down on prep time, even for an accomplished cook. [NYT]
• Tired of not knowing when to find stinging nettles and fiddlehead ferns at the Greenmarket? Consult this handy chart for your April–June shopping needs. [TONY]
• Bizarrely, France hasn’t won the World Cup of French baking competitions in more than a decade, but they’ve made some changes this year in hopes of taking home the top prize. [WSJ]
• The Puck Building, home to many a great culinary event, will host the Grand Street Settlement’s eighth-annual “Taste of the Lower East Side” on April 17. [Zagat Buzz]
• The Capital Grille is opening a second location in the Time-Life Building next year. [NYP]
• If you want to see how a pro introduces a new chef at one of his restaurants, watch this video of Daniel Boulud welcoming Gavin Kaysen to the kitchen of Café Boulud. [Snack]
