washington post

What's Columbus, OH, got going for it? According to The Washington Post, a lot. It's poised to become America's next big food city. Writes Jane Black, "The once-conservative Ohio capital has blossomed into a certified food lovers' town, with serious cocktails and microbrews, pastries worthy of Paris, fantastical ice cream flavors . . . and extraordinary food shopping."

The boldness of her statement got me thinking about what other US locales have proven themselves worthy food destinations. I'd personally argue Austin, TX — it's known for everything from barbecued brisket to crêpes to breakfast tacos. What town do you think has what it takes to become America's next big food city?

We're always talking about what to give other people (and we have all these great guides on SavvySugar), but what about treating yourself? According to a retail survey, 57 percent of shoppers are gifting themselves this holiday season, and that's four percent up from the previous year, The Washington Post reports.

As the economy is slowly rebounding, consumer confidence is picking up as well, which may be why more people are self-gifting this year. Are you adding yourself to your Christmas shopping list, and if so, what are you buying yourself?

Source: Flickr User mmlolek

You may want to think twice about having loose lips on your Twitter account: Mike Wise, a sportswriter for the Washington Post, was suspended on Tuesday for sending out an untrue tweet to his followers.

Pretending to have the scoop on the suspension of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Mike sent out a tweet on Monday, which gave the number of games the quarterback will sit out: "Roethlisberger will get five games, I'm told."

Find out why he tweeted when you read more.

Hot on the heels of news that Top Chef 7 has been delayed, rumors are flying that the show will be filmed in the nation's capital. Yesterday, DC food blog Metrocurean said it received word that Bravo crews could roll in as early as next week — and anonymous tipsters quickly began leaving intel that the cast, crew, and judges would be staying on location in historic neighborhood Dupont Circle.

Today, The Reliable Source, the Washington Post's gossip column, is also reporting that Top Chef will be filmed in the nation's capital. It doesn't surprise me that Washington DC is the purported season seven location. I'm already envisioning episodes involving Michelle Obama's garden, the White House farmers market, and former Top Cheffers (and locals) Spike Mendelsohn, Carla Hall, and Bryan Voltaggio.

Would you be pumped if Top Chef 7 took place in Washington DC?

Source: Flickr User Alotor

While the vegetarian trend has continued to rise, a meat movement is also gaining popularity. The latest subject in sustainable agriculture? Pasture-raised veal. Compared to conventionally raised veal, rose veal, as it's been dubbed, is leaner, with a blush color.

Eating veal has long been an animal-welfare issue, with opponents pointing to calves confined in stalls so tiny that livestock are unable to move. But producers of pasture-raised veal argue that the meat comes from hormone- and antibiotic-free calves who drink their mother's milk, consume pasture grass, and freely roam pastures.

Animal-rights activists are against the slaughter of young animals who have strong maternal bonds — yet according to veal proponents, calves are the same age as lamb and older than pigs when they're slaughtered. Where do you stand? Would you be more likely to eat pasture raised veal?