The Bulldog Beats Out The Duck

Charlie Trotter plans 'sabbatical' after 25 years

(NEWSER) - A Chicago landmark will soon be history. Legendary chef Charlie Trotter is closing his restaurant in August, after a quarter-century of service. It's not a financial matter: "We’ve always been profitable, that’s for sure," he tells the Sun-Times . But Trotter is ready "to put the flag in the sand" and achieve some non-culinary goals, including travel and a graduate degree in philosophy and political theory. More»

Bankrupt restaurant chain offers bad food at high prices

(NEWSER) - There are a lot of theories as to why Sbarro filed for bankruptcy last month—including “too-rapid growth” and the decline of malls. But Justin Peters has “a simpler explanation: Nobody likes Sbarro,” he writes in Slate . “Devoid of atmosphere, charm, and gustatory relevance, with no signature product to call its own, it's America's least essential restaurant.” On top of that, a simple slice of pizza sets you back $3.49. More»

Sporks, wine stoppers serve no discernible purpose

(NEWSER) - Have you ever truly benefited from a spork? Do you face a pressing need to bake muffin tops, not actual muffins? The Daily Meal rounds up the most useless food-related inventions:

• Quesadilla maker: Don’t you already have a pan?
• Spork: Use a fork or use a spoon. End of story.

Noma, in Copenhagen

(NEWSER) - After four years, El Bulli has been knocked off the pedestal: It was ranked the world's No. 2 restaurant in this year's survey of the 800 most influential chefs and critics. The new top dog? Copenhagen's Noma , which has been wooing foodies with its classic Nordic fare. Chef René Redzepi forages for the mushrooms and berries used in his dishes in nearby forests, and refuses to use Mediterranean standards like olive oil and sun-dried tomatoes, reports the Telegraph . More»

Feeling adventurous? Try cat stew.

(NEWSER) - If you think chef Daniel Angerer’s breast milk cheese is a bad idea, check out these nine questionable culinary creations, from The Frisky :

• Cat stew: An Italian chef called "cat, soaked for three days in the running water of a stream" a "delicacy."
• Squirrel canapés: A hotel in England makes squirrel pancakes out of animals caught on the grounds—the chef says they taste like rabbit.