marcus samuelsson

If "Restaurant Wars" is always your favorite episode of Top Chef, then Food Network wants you to pick its battle next. Premiering July 21 at 10 p.m. EST, with a special sneak peek July 18, 24-Hour Restaurant Battle pits two teams of aspiring restaurateurs against each other in a race to open an eatery in just one day. Diners and judges will decide whose formula has the most potential, with the winners taking home the funds to fully realize their dream. Just watching the trailer is stressing me out, which is probably a sign of a good show. Here's a preview:

With sometime Top Chef judge Scott Conant hosting, and Top Chef Masters winner Marcus Samuelsson weighing in as a judge, 24-Hour Restaurant Battle seems like it's taking a stab at the Bravo show's success. Though we've been hearing more about the Food Network's new sister channel lately, I'm glad to see the flagship station serving up some new, creative fare too. Do you think you'll check it out?

• How do you enjoy fried green tomatoes? — The Epi-Log
• Jimmy Dean, the sausage maker, has died. — Eater
• Taste testing Boston Market's new $3.99 sliders. — Serious Eats
• Can one eat meat and still support the environment? — Huffington Post Food
• A flash mob of 200 dancers recently hit up the Marin farmers market. — Grub Street SF
• The color pink makes for an absolutely gorgeous dessert table. — Hostess With the Mostess
• Take a look at all of the resources you need to open a restaurant in San Francisco. — Inside Scoop
• Now that he's won Top Chef Masters, Marcus Samuelsson plans to celebrate by teaching cooking classes. — Feast
• 29 recipes perfect for Summer's picnics. — Chow

With the finale of Top Chef Masters last night, season two came to a close, and the winner, who beat out 21 of the country's most acclaimed chefs, turned out to be somewhat of an upset. Curious to know who took home the title? Find out when you keep reading.

This morning, the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) announced the finalists for its 2010 cookbook awards. Among the finalists? Notable restaurant chefs Thomas Keller, John Besh, Marcus Samuelsson, and Michael Psilakis, as well as former Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl.

The IACP awards winners in the following categories: American; Baking: Savory or Sweet; Chefs & Restaurants; Children, Youth, and Family; Compilations; Culinary History; First Book; Food Photography and Styling; Food Reference; General; Health and Special Diet; International; Library Food Writing; Professional Kitchens; Single Subject; and Wine, Beer & Spirits. To find out which notable cookbooks have — and haven't — been included, read more.

• Apolo Ohno likes his coconut chicken curry muy caliente. — Eating Well
• You knew it was coming: a mashup of Ina Garten's quirky mannerisms. — Gawker
• Next stop for Guy Fieri: the White House. — Eater National
• Joel Robuchon savors his first-ever In-N-Out Burger. — GoodBite
• Even Peeps haters could fall in love with the new chocolate-covered Peeps. — Serious Eats
• Trust your animal instincts with an adorable jungle-themed baby shower. — Hostess With the Mostess
• More on the menu at Red Rooster, Marcus Samuelsson's upcoming Harlem eatery. — Grub Street NY
• At 32 percent alcohol, BrewDog's Tactical Nuclear Penguin is the world's strongest beer. — Epi-Log

I've seen my share of awkward moments on The Martha Stewart Show — she's spun around a stripper pole, not so subtly insulted Rachael Ray, and threw down rhymes with Snoop Dogg about "green" brownies. Awkward moments and all, I can't ever turn away from Martha. Maybe it's because regardless of how weird it seems to everyone else, it never is to her.

She took it to an entirely different level on yesterday's show though. At a roundtable discussion with comedian Kenan Thompson, chef Marcus Samuelsson, and nutrition and weight management expert Dr. David Katz, Martha tells Kenan he should ask Dr. Katz a question because, "You're a little overweight." I cringed and looked away, finding myself in even more disbelief because it didn't even occur to her that she had done anything wrong. Oh, Martha.