The proof is in the pudding…

1. El Bulli to Close Permanently (NY TIMES)
2. China has 2.1 million tons of sugar in reserve (COMMODITY ONLINE)
3. Anthony Bourdain & Eric Ripert launch show on Martha Stewart radio (CANADIAN PRESS)
4. Guy Fieri Game Show Previews… – VIDEO (EATER)
5. Tasty traditional delicacies for Tet holiday (VIETNAM NEWS)
6. Delia Smith’s Eighties recipes: Mushrooms in hot garlic butter (DAILY MAIL)

Everything’s better with bacon!

1. 2009: The year that sizzled with Bacon (THE STAR)
2. Ted Nugent takes aim at vegetarian stars: Threatens to kill more animals (CONTACT MUSIC)
3. Taylor Lautner & Taylor Swift Break Up Over Food (NATIONAL ENQUIRER)
4. A Taste of Heaven features recipes from monks & nuns (DALLAS NEWS)
5. Genius behind the ‘Joy of Cooking’ (CNN)
6. Jamming with Laura O’Brien of Josephine’s Feast – VIDEO (SERIOUS EATS)
7. A holiday tradition: Restaurant critic empties his mailbag (NOLA)
8. Nobu Owner Drew Nieporent Says Vegas Dining `Oversaturated’ – VIDEO (BLOOMBERG)
9. Great Inventions Of 2009: The Vegawatt – AUDIO (NPR)
10. Outback Steakhouse settles gender discrimination suit for $19M (BUSINESS JOURNAL)
11. Food-drop traditions take the Times Square ball one better (NAPLES NEWS)
12. Notes on the fridge: 10 years of news you can chew (AUSTIN 360)

Cooking things up!

1. Mary Ann of ‘Gilligan’s Island’ fame shows you how to skin a potato – VIDEO (LA TIMES)
2. Roco’s Eye-ful (NY POST)
3. Top Ten Food Typos for 2009 (SQUID INK)
4. Seven Influential Culinary Icons (DAILY FORK)
5. A Centuries Old Secret to Great Pasta (ATLANTIC)
6. Taco Bell’s new spokesperson, Christine, claims to have lost 54 pounds eating Fresco menu items (NY DAILY NEWS)
7. Racheal Ray Named #100 Sexiest Woman in the World (FHM)
8. Sparkling Wines for New Year’s Eve (SALLY’S PLACE)
9. The Decade in Restaurant Trends (SLASH FOOD)
10. A Guest of National Importance: Previews of Iron Chef’s Visit to the White House (FOOD NETWORK)
11. For Korean food, 2009 a year of food hits, misses (KOREA HERALD)
12. Looking back on 2009′s top new Bay Area restaurants (SF GATE)

Are you a glutton for punishment?

1. TV Tokyo to broadcast qualifier for the 2010 “Gluttonous Queen” contest on January first
2. Food Poisoning Blamed In Second Northwest Flight 253 Bomb Scare (ABC NEWS)
3. These healthy foods are worth a second taste (FREEP.COM)
4. The Fattest Man in Britain: See how a reporter got on after gaining a few pounds for the day (MIRROR)
5. Holiday Bento Box Slide Show (TREND HUNTER)
6. The frites of the matter (THE NATIONAL)

Holiday tidings!

1. Diners sign Christmas pud waiver (BBC NEWS)
2. Is Brooklyn’s Rachel Coleman the Worst Cook in America? (VILLAGE VOICE)
3. Woman dies in rush for bread (HERALD)
4. In today’s bowls, soups from all over (PHILLY.COM)
5. Michael and Bryan Voltaggio launch web-based video series (EATER)
6. Mr. World Fitness Sues Over Cereal Tooth Killer (TMZ)
7. Beef Group Challenges EPA Climate Finding (FOX BUSINESS)
8. 2009′s best and biggest moments in Chicago dining (TRIBUNE)
9. Shawn Johnson risks life to sell a candy bar (AD WEEK)
10. French Laundry is enduring and enchanting (SF GATE)
11. Chef Beau MacMillan in Food Network’s ‘Worst Cooks’ (AZ CENTRAL)
12. How Panera Bread Defies the Recession (TIME)