Cheese Dog at Happy Hound

A RECENT New York Times piece entitled “Foie Gras Palates, Hot Dog Pocketbooks” discusses how the internet’s “infinite real estate” is behind what the author, Frank Bruni, calls our “fetishization of everyday food.”

Bruni suggests his point is illustrated when one types the search term “cupcake blog” into a Google browser and finds the number of cupcake-focused sites (as of today, 2,470,000).

When we write about food, are we really imbuing our crispy bacon strips and extra-dark chocolates with the power of fetish objects associated with sexual gratification, desire or worship?

Is it a sin to Tweet about our favorite recipes or blog about what was on last night’s table? And if I find some psychological fulfillment and emotional satisfaction by simply eating a hot dog (and even taking a picture of it), does that make me a deviant?

Can’t a hot dog just be a hot dog and this girl simply someone with a good appetite and too much free time on her hands?

Alameda County Fair

1. French Fry Face Off
2. Are you sure you want to eat there?
3. Looking for a new recipe?
4. If it ain’t deep fried, it’s un-American
5. What we eat when we eat alone: new book from Deborah Madison
6. Forget about fancy sea salts — sugar is now Raising Cane
7. Is Alice Waters a legend?

On Foodbuzz today, the “Top 9″ is featuring my recipe and photo for Spicy Skirt Steak Tacos with Avocado-Corn Salsa — a recipe which I have to admit is pretty great. (Making the Top 9 means the recipe is one of “the best of 2,679 posts from the Foodbuzz Community based on yesterday’s activity.”)

I’m proud to be on the same page as Kathy’s Vegas’ lucious looking Pineapple Fritters and The Gourmet Girl’s Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes.

Sometimes you get lucky with fast food...

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I haven’t had much of an appetite lately. The fears that come with unemployment have put a damper on my enthusiasm for most things nosh-able.

Yesterday, however, after sitting through four hours of “career counseling,” I was famished and dashed down to the deli on the office building’s first floor.

I ordered what I thought would be safe: a simple, warm chicken breast sandwich.

Inexplicably, the sandwich was served with harsh ball park-style mustard slathered all over the bun.

What kind of tasteless person came up with such a combo? (It looked as disgusting as it tasted.)

I wiped off most of the yellow junk and ended up with four tiny bites of food to fill my growling stomach (at a price of six bucks).

In our busy world, fast food may be a necessary evil, but does it have to be so bad for us?

At least in the world of Fancy Fast Food, what is so bad for us is looking great: www.fancyfastfood.com

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More fun with fast food

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Home Delivery

Feeling Sociable?

Could’ve Had a V-8

Parts is Parts

Big Buns

Picking Up Zsa Zsa

Kosher-style Beef @ Supreme Dog

ON FRIDAY our hometown hero, Joey Chestnut, successfully defended his title in the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest’s first-ever sudden death overtime (New York Daily News).

I was so excited that I ran over to Top Dog/Supreme Dog — where Joey trains — and ordered ONE beef Kosher-style Frankfurter!

As I write this, I’m even noshing on a home dog (Bar S brand — 69-cents a pack at FoodMaxx), the breakfast of unemployed champions!

EAT IT UP: More News About Joey Chestnut

• San Jose’s Chestnut Wins
• Chestnut Sets Hot Dog Eating Mark
• Chestnut Wins Again!
• The Best to Ever Walk the Face of the Earth
• Competitive Eating 101
• Death by Cheese