Mediavore

North Korea In Need of Food Aid; L.A. Times Rants About The Beard Awards

• A debate is raging over whether the U.S. and South Korea ought to send food to North Koreans, many of whom are reportedly eating wild grass to survive. [NYT]

• Let’s hear it for the ladies, who won in at least five categories at last night’s James Beard Foundation Awards. [Speakeasy/WSJ]

• The L.A. Times says what we only dare to think: “Once again, no Los Angeles restaurants won a major [James Beard] award, continuing a string that dates back to 2004…” [LAT]

• Sour grapes: A California man who traveled all the way to Queens after answering a Craigslist ad for Chateau Lafite Rothschild was beaten, tied up, and robbed of $40,100. [NYP]

• The grace period is over and enforcement is due to start on the smoking ban. Meanwhile, the smoking restaurant patrons of Echo park are blowing smoke in the face of the new law. [Echo Park Patch]

• Yesterday’s blaze in Huntington Park gutted Windsor Quality Foods’ building which housed its Golden Tiger brand, a supplier of egg rolls and other eats to Costco and Red Lobster. [Bloomberg Businessweek]

• A company named (groan) Jammin’ Java is getting ready to debut Marley Coffee and tea pods. It is promised to be ital, and thus, vital. [PR Newswire]

• The national spread of the food truck movement is benefiting California companies who make them. [LAT]

• Because too many people around the world subsist mainly on flavorful, pesticide-minimal, locally grown foods, Sysco is looking to change that by expanding into overseas markets. [Chron]

• A whole bunch of people who never imagined they’d receive food aid are relying on government assistance in the wake of the recession. [USAT]

North Korea In Need of Food Aid; L.A. Times Rants About The Beard Awards