• David Beckham is currently enrolled in a pasta-making course in Italy. [Mirror]
• Martha Stewart practiced pole dancing on her show yesterday. [PopWatch/EW]
• Today the L.A. City Council will consider an outdoor smoking ban at restaurants and nightclubs. [L.A. Times]
• Customers wearing cowboy hats will get a free sirloin steak taco from East Hollywood’s El Pollo Loco from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. today. [My Fox L.A.]
• Once a special occasion luxury, tasting menus are now largely affordable. [NRN]
• Nina Lamb, whose ex-husband Jac Holzman founded Elektra Records, cooked for The Doors, Phil Ochs, and Judy Collins and now belongs to a gourmet cooking club. [L.A. Times]
• Medical tweezers are chefs’ new tool of choice for placing garnishes on dishes. [NYT]
• Russia has instituted a ban on U.S. chicken imports. [NYT]
• Weight Watchers is suing Jenny Craig for misleading references to clinical studies. [NYP]