Unemployed critics, very employed basketballers, Taste of Syracuse and Wendy’s grilling tips

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

In honor of National Donut Day…

• One of the most retweeted food stories this week involves the tale of an unemployed food critic out in Seattle.

• In a rare sports story here, LeBron James may be staying in Cleveland… because if he does Iron Chef Michael Symon will cook for him monthly.

• The Taste of Syracuse festival starts up today (runs tomorrow as well, 11am-11pm).  Local potato rapper ToTs is scheduled to hit the music stage tomorrow.

• Finally, in honor of summer finally feeling like summer here in Syracuse… a crash course in grilling (courtesy of corporate Wendy’s in the 1980s).

Hello Yuengling, goodbye bananas, goodbye boxed wine (guy) and goodbye Doc’s Little Gem

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• Yuengling is seeking out consumer opinion on a variety of their beers. They did Black & Tan last month but this time around the traditional lager is up.

• 1) Who knew there was a “Banana Museum”? 2) It’s so sad that it’ll be closing.

• This week college campuses across the country lamented the passing of the boxed wine inventor (note that link is courtesy of Ted Leo).

• Finally, Doc’s Little Gem sadly closed its doors for the last time this past week. Check out my take (and hear from Doc himself) over at the SyracuseDiners.com blog.

Cuse culinary enemies, grocery bagging, help for Doc’s and help finding CNY diner experts.

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• With the NCAA tournament on the horizon this week, it’s important to remember the Orange’s culinary adversaries – Diet Coke and Chipotle.

• In other National Championship news, David Letterman received a visit from the National Grocery Bagging champ last week.

• Some solemn news in the CNY dining world this week, Doc’s Little Gem Diner has again been hit by major financial issues and could be facing a foreclosure in the near future.  (Here’s hoping the 81-N construction will start pushing hungry drivers their way)

• Finally, I was recently recruited to help with an exciting new project for the CNY diner world!

SyracuseDiners.com is going to be a multimedia project bringing you a look at the Onondaga County diner scene like you’ve never seen before. The main project will focus on 14 local favorites and then upwards of 70 diners will be included in the site’s database. These diners will also serve as potential topics of interest for the site’s official blog (that yours truly has been asked to contribute to). If you are involved directly in the ‘Cuse diner scene, know someone who is or can speak to the scene to provide perspective, please e-mail me if you’d be interested in somehow getting involved.

More local foodie love, more odd foods, more pancakes and more Bourdain.

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• As previously featured here (then added to our blogroll), local baker Ian Chin is a fun foodie to follow in CNY. The Daily Orange finally caught wind of him and offered a profile.

• Two types of food even Ian probably hasn’t yet tried to make: Fruit Inside Other Fruit and Selleck Waterfall Sandwiches.

• If you forgot to celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP on Tuesday, don’t fret. Read up on the cakes’ history, eat at Mother’s Cupboard and then check back here later in the week.

• Finally, if you’re on Bourdain withdrawl due to the Olympics, check out some unique Bourdain situations below.

Dr. Tony?

A 2014 Olympic hopeful?

ToTs live, Masters Season II, Trivia Thursdays and off-beat Bourdain

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

All via Twitter…