The anchovy pizza at City House.Photo: Keith Miles Each week on the Food Chain, we ask a chef to describe a dish he or she recently enjoyed. The chef who prepared the dish responds and then picks his or her own memorable meal. On and on it goes. Last time, Txikito chef Alex Raij called Ashley Christensen's Royale at Poole's Diner in Raleigh "over-the-top delicious." Now we want to know what makes... more.

What did you eat yesterday for Fourth of July? Never mind — whatever it was was certainly eclipsed by the contestants in the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island: Joey "Jaws" Chestnut took home the official trophy with 62 franks (short of his 2009 record of 68), while "Black Widow" Sonya Thomas choked down 40 dogs, making her queen among the ladies, now that they're ... more.

Photo: Michael Nagle/Getty Images Moments ago, a representative for this year's now-gender-equal Fourth of July Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest wrote to let us know that there are some very serious behind-the-scenes issues happening with this year's competitors. As you may have heard, three Chinese eaters are scheduled to compete this year, but we are now hearing that one such eater, Lui Ming Kui... more.

• Colorado is the only state with an obesity rate below 20 percent, and Mississippi is the fattest state. • Egg producers and the Humane Society have reached a deal for better conditions for hens: prepare for egg prices to rise. • Prisoners in California have gone on a hunger strike to protest conditions. Maybe they'd prefer vegan meals? • Stur-Dee Health Foods, probab... more.

Astoria: George Rallis of Hell Gate Social and Gary Anza of Bistro 33 pair up to open William Hallet, at 36–10 30th Avenue in Astoria. Bedford-Stuyvesant: Saraghina loses Massimiliano Nanni to his new project Celestino, at 562 Halsey Street, a Mediterranean bistro expected to open late August or early September. East Village: Peels revamped its breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus; it also a... more.

You'll recall that on July 4th, Takeru Kobayashi supposedly ate 69 hot dogs during an unsanctioned eating competition atop a Manhattan bar. (The official record stands at 68 hot dogs eaten in a single standing.) Well, turns out Kobayashi might not have even eaten 69 dogs after all. A new video released would seem to indicate the official scorekeeper number-flipper standing behind him was basicall... more.

• One expert argues that, with food prices so high, a good way to get rich is to become a farmer. Hmmm, probably best not to quit your day job just yet. • Vegans who are locked up in San Francisco jails will find their dietary needs catered to. Only in S.F., kids. • Taco Bell announced plans to add free Wi-Fi to U.S. restaurants … by 2015, at which point iPhones will pro... more.

Come Sunday, these babies will be slathered in ramp tartar sauce.Photo: Hugh Merwin Red Hook isn't the only place to catch nomadic food vendors this weekend: Expect to see a passel of Red Sox hats at this Sunday's New Amsterdam Market: Food writer, erstwhile Grub Street contributor, and onetime clam-shack cook Hugh Merwin will be serving fried clam belly sandwiches. Fried clam bellies — as... more.

Photo: Courtesy Nachos NY Will the next street vendor trend take the form of a bunch of inspired culinary travelers wandering the globe with nothing but a few basic ingredients and a folding card table? Consider the case of Richard Sloven, a recent San Francisco transplant who does booking and bartends nights at the Knitting Factory, then roams the streets of Brooklyn on his nights off, preparing... more.

Photo: Melissa Hom Albert Trummer has had his day in court (or one of them anyway; he’s still facing criminal charges for illegally setting his bar top on fire). A judge has told him and his disgruntled Apothèke partner Heather Tierney to get appraisers and a mediator to value the assets of the bar so that Trummer can be bought out. According to Diner’s Journal, Trummer’s n... more.

Photo: Melissa Hom Albert Trummer was back in court today, this time for criminal charges related to setting Apothéke's bar aflame (for the purposes of showmanship). Diner's Journal is reporting that Trummer rejected a plea deal that "would have let him plead guilty to disorderly conduct and avoid jail time." But that would have been way too simple for this story: Instead, Trummer tells th... more.

Photo: Melissa Hom The Daily News reports that Albert Trummer is now being sued by his Apothéke partner Heather Tierney (you’ll recall the two were at odds about who should take responsibility for Trummer’s ongoing FDNY woes). Trummer, who hasn’t commented till now, tells us: “It’s not a surprise for me. Now it’s on the judges and I believe in the American... more.

All week, the nation's fireworks displays and barbecues were disrupted by troubling reports from across the land: a competitive eater in existential crisis in New England, a banana-shaped car roaring through the upper Midwest, freeze-dried cauliflower powder posing as vegetables in cupboards throughout America. But, alas, there were still more odd tidbits this week, and it's all here in the James... more.

The AP is looking at the growing trend of processed, packaged foods that sneak some "vegetables" into the mix. We use the scare quotes there because in the case of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner Veggie Pasta, the vegetable in question is a freeze-dried cauliflower powder that "replace some of the flour in the pasta," which we're pretty sure doesn't actually count as a vegetable. Anyway, the idea ... more.

Photo: Saveur Plenty of people know that Del Posto pastry chef Brooks Headley was once the drummer for Born Against; Steve Albini has a food blog; and even Le Bernardin pastry chef Michael Laiskonis readily talks about his past in the Detroit punk scene. Well, today Saveur is looking at exactly why there's such a strong connection between the hardcore scene to the food scene. One theory: Both fie... more.

It's time to play Two for Eight. We just asked ten restaurants the best time they can squeeze a couple in for dinner; you need only make your chosen reservation. (As always, we make the calls but don't guarantee the results.) Today: New & Buzzy. ABC Kitchen (Menu) 212-475-5829 Two for eight? No Best available: Fully booked Ai Fiori (Menu) 212-695-4005 Two for eight? Yes Beauty & Essex (Menu) 212... more.

This man can cut a rug, and cut the curd.Photo: Anthony Delmundo/Courtesy of Adam Moskowitz If thoughts of Brillat-Savarin and Époisses don't also immediately conjure up images of hard-partying cheesemongers, know this: Last year's inaugural Cheesmonger Invitational, held at Larkin Cold Storage in a desolate corner of Long Island City, apparently started quietly enough with some blind tast... more.

Headed to the Bronx.Photo: Courtesy Babycakes NYC Babycakes NYC's Erin McKenna tells us that starting this weekend, both her gluten-free, vegan frozen chocolate-chip-cookie sandwiches and brownie-cream sandwiches — each filled with vegan frosting, not drippy soft-serve — will officially be part of the menu lineup at Yankee Stadium's Legends Suite. McKenna, an erstwhile Choco Taco conno... more.

Steve Albini, the abrasive noise rocker and legendary indie producer, is now a genteel food blogger. The Awl has discovered that the onetime front man of Rapeman is now more of a rabe man, and instead of excoriating the music industry in 'zines, he’s now blogging about the pasta dinners he makes for his wife Heather at Mariobatalivoice. Food really is the new rock! Albini’s current ban... more.

Photo: Dean Kaufman The Frankies have at long last expanded their empire into retail territory, reports Brownstoner. The storefront next door to Prime Meats — on the Luquer Street side — now bears signage for Prime Meats Delicat-essen & Provisions (yes, that hyphen is intentional). The deli case is full of sausages and the shelves are lined with pantry supplies, including Frankies-bra... more.