The 40th anniversary of Chez Panisse in Berkeley hasn't passed without notice.
Here's a nice, long piece from Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle. I've never been but features colleague Michael Sragow has -- he was teaching a Berkeley graduate journalism course on writing on film. He just told me that Chez Panisse was one of the few things that entirely lived up to its reputation."
Baltimore photographer and Zagat editor Marty Katz told me that when he showed up at Chez Panisse in between the breakfast and lunch sevice the staff took pity on him and brought out fresh muffins for him.
And here are pictures and coverage from Friday night's anniversary party at the Berkeley Museum of Art (Eater SF)
Closer to home, Erik Maza has this story on the beer garden trend -- Baltimore was a beer-garden hot spot back when, and the 21st-century version will be opening soon at Power Plant Live!
The Baltimore City Paper has published its annual guide for Baltimore college students including a superb rundown on the area's best cheap eats.
Back farther away from home, the Atlanta Journal Constitution has a farewell article for "Good Eats," Alton Brown's Food Network show that will be taping its final installment next week. I met Brown when he came to Baltimore for last year's Foodie Experience at the Hippodrome -- nice guy.