• The Chron just launched a new food column called ‘The Breakaway Cook’ by Marin County food writer Eric Gower. [Chron]
• Is the KFC Double Down the new Burger King Quad Stacker? [Uptown Almanac]
• Michael Bauer is heading back home to the Midwest for a week and his blog will be dark until next Tuesday. [Chron]
• A new group headed by retired military officers called Mission:Readiness is concerned that over a quarter of kids aged 17 to 24 are “too fat to fight.” [AP]
• Starbucks will introduce vegan Frappuccinos on May 5. [Quarry Girl via Consumerist]
• A new crop of hybrid tomatoes claim to mimic the taste of heirlooms without the fuss, but heirloom purists are not impressed. [WSJ]
• 7-Eleven will soon launch Game Day, a new premium beer. [Dallas News via The Awl]
• Private chefs must deal with the mercurial whims of the rich and famous. [NYP]
• Russia’s elite are unhappy that the Icelandic volcano has limited their access to oysters and peaches. [Reuters]
• Durham, North Carolina’s local food scene is better than ever. [NYT]
