The other day I had a sudden, strong craving for an egg sandwich, so I headed to 'Wichcraft with the onion frittata in mind. A brilliantly constructed breakfast sammie, it uses precooked frittata and incredibly fresh ciabatta, so it's not at all messy. The combination of white cheddar, Parmesan, and slow roasted tomatoes creates a rich, multifaceted flavor that's almost — but just almost — too bold. A touch of leek and oregano give it an added Italian punch. I was excited to find the recipe in Tom Colicchio and Sisha Ortuzar's 'Wichcraft cookbook, and it's surprisingly easy to make. Get the recipe now.

Burger King has found itself in the spotlight again after offending a religious group and most recently contemplating major menu changes. The number two fast food chain has upset Hindus worldwide with a new Spanish print campaign that features the Hindu goddess, Lakshmi, sitting atop a meat sandwich with the caption, "A snack that's sacred," in Spanish.

The Hindu religion, which has the highest proportion of vegetarians among major denominations, frowns upon showing meat with a revered goddess, as well as exploiting one of its sacred symbols. Although the Hindu American Foundation has demanded that Burger King pull the ad, so far, BK has declined to comment. Perhaps the chain's executives were focused on other developments. Today, Burger King store operators are voting on a measure to slash the price of its double cheeseburger to $1 this Summer, in an effort to win over competitors' customers — and at a time when top rival McDonald's has been focusing on premium offerings. Last year, rising costs forced the world's biggest burger chain to remove its trademark Double Cheeseburger from its Dollar Menu.

Do you feel that Burger King has made two major missteps, by offending members of a religious community, and focusing on low-end items? Should the advertisement be withdrawn, and an apology issued? Would you be more likely to eat at Burger King than McDonald's if the company offered a $1 double cheeseburger?

Photo by flickr user Neubie

When one thinks of a French dessert many things come to mind: creme brulee, chocolate eclairs, profiteroles with chocolate sauce, or apple tart tatin. While these are delicious options, for my Bastille Day lunch, I want to serve a light, summery, fruit-based treat like a clafouti. Traditionally clafouti — a custard-like French baked dessert —  features ripe cherries, but I plan on giving this peach-raspberry variation a try. It has an elegant, yet rustic presentation that's perfect for enjoying on a warm afternoon in the garden. If this dish sounds appetizing to you be sure to get the recipe!

• Make restaurant-caliber Summer sippers in the comfort of your own home. — San Francisco Chronicle
• Will the latest menu labeling laws around the country truly affect consumers' eating habits? — Wall Street Journal
• Tips for selecting a versatile wine to bring to a potluck dinner. — Boston Globe
• Does preserving your own produce really save you money? — Washington Post
• The food world's current obsession with meat has brought forth a new class of young, hip butchers. — New York Times
• Quiz: Can you match these of-the-moment food words with their definitions? — Chicago Tribune
• The reeling wine industry has begun doing business with discount wine websites. — Los Angeles Times

Enough is enough, the White House has declared: Yesterday, a food safety working group established by Barack Obama announced new standards in the production of foods such as eggs, poultry, beef, leafy greens, melons, and tomatoes.

In the last year, members of virtually every food group — from spinach, jalapeños, milk, and peanut butter to cookie dough, beef, and now dry milk — have been recalled due to possible salmonella or E. coli contamination. With a series of new rules, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are hoping to prevent as many further food safety issues as possible. Find out what the guidelines are when you read more

For Father's Day, my dad got a shiny new smoker. While he's enjoyed experimenting with it so far, he's run into some technical difficulties. When I asked him what the instruction booklet said, I was shocked to hear that it does not include any smoking directions! Well listen up dad — and anyone else out there who is using a smoker this Summer — here are some important tips on how to properly use a smoker