• A Salinas man has been found guilty of selling what he claimed was an organic fertilizer product to farmers but to which he added two chemicals prohibited on organic farms. He could face up to 20 years in prison. [Chron]
• In anticipation of the new crop of Chronicle Rising Star chefs, the Scoop is looking back on Rising Star alumni, like the Class of 1994, which included Michael Mina, Traci Des Jardins, and Loretta Keller, as well as Brad Levy of the then newly open Firefly. [Scoop]
• CBS has just put out a list of the “Best Italian Food in San Francisco” via an Examiner.com writer. Delfina and SPQR are ignored (not to mention a host of others), but Bar Bambino and Farina make it on there. [CBS]
• Once you get a taste of good sushi, mediocre stuff becomes not worth it. So why not pay more and eat sushi less often? [Diner’s Journal/NYT]
• Holy chocolate wafer: Girls Scouts of America and Nestle are thisclose to releasing a collaboration cookie candy bar. [HuffPo]
• A university-sponsored study is seeking volunteers to participate in a Mars simulation focused on cooking. [Forbes]
• A 92-year-old woman in Florida is intent on preserving the culture and cuisine that went along with ladies’ Bridge lunches. [WSJ]
