One last meal, two lists, four logos all-time and several money-saving tips

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• We here at Diners Without Frosted Tips may have done dead diners, but check out what could be considered dead dinners from photographer James Reynolds (pictures of last meals from death row inmates).

• This week USA Today’s Pop Candy featured to food-related Pop Five lists: Best Movie Foods and Top Anthropomorphic Foods. (Yes, I had to look up “anthropomorphic“)

• A new college-focused financial blog with local ties, College Money Mag, offers ways to reduce spending on food this year.

• Finally, instead of focusing on their new logo, Starbucks-crazed disciples can try their hands at yumsugar’s Starbucks-fact quiz.

How Denny’s can transform your Thanksgiving

Food Essay and Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

What constitutes a great Thanksgiving – Unbelievable food? Extreme relaxation? Family bonding unlike anything you’ve seen before?

The holiday looks different for everyone but after 25 of them (maybe 18 that I can recall), it seems the oddest of celebrations end up as the most memorable. This year’s holiday was personally a pretty routine affair that just furthered my feelings… especially since it came directly after Thanksgiving 2009. Looking back, that’s the edition likely to go down as my all-time peak.

National Pancake Day, Dr Pepper’s Anniversary, Bourdain Part II and the Prince of Po-Tay-Toe

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• Mark your calendars for February 23, 2010. IHOP’s National Pancake Day promo is less than a month away. Until then, they’ve still got a deal to please…

• Other annual culinary certainties: you can depend on Dr Pepper. It’s celebrating its 125th anniversary this year making it the nation’s oldest soda (Note: I used the proper AP Style application of the brand).

• Two quick ‘Cuse food-related items of note: Dino BBQ is expanding throughout the Northeast and… ANTHONY BOURDAIN IS COMING TO SYRACUSE IN APRIL (yep, that means I’ll make a second trip to visit him).

• Finally, I’m not sure how I missed this for the past two years. Meet ToTs – a local rapper who only rhymes about… PO-TAY-TOE.

Grilling tips, Trader Joe’s, text etiquette and National Chain Restaurant survey results

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• ESPN’s Bill Simmons recently prepped folks for the outdoor grilling season by podcasting with Adam Perry Lang. The grill savant talked about over/under rated meats and tips for the weekend warrior.
  

• I discovered Trader Joe’s first during a summer in Albuquerque, N.M. but this weekend I heard of an NYC location. That makes this fansite even more valuable.

• Didn’t this go without saying? Etiquette folks say texting during meals is a no-no.

• Finally, in a survey of National Chain Restaurats, the No. 1 place for a quick refreshment… Starbucks. They also had top 10 finishes in overall experience and healthy options.  (Wendy’s pops up all-over this thing too).

The Frosty, Secret Beer, Ballparks and ‘Cuse Dining Week II

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• I don’t know that Wendy’s has stopped McD’s reign as the top fast-food jingle artist, but who can argue with a little more love for The Frosty?

• I’m a person who prefers a bar where I can hear my conversation as opposed to rubbing up on strangers. So, this Prohibition-style bar trend is cool.

• Baseball season is about take the main stage with the NBA finals almost over. You can tell because the amount of ballpark food stories is quickly increasing (read about Yankee beer, Yankee v. Mets food options and how to take down the Evil Empire with your stomach).

• Finally, if you missed the Taste of Syracuse festival this weekend all is not lost. ‘Cuse Dining Week is firing up a Part Deux this summer ($25 for a three-course-meal at select locales).