Sampler Platter: Cupcakes, coffee and the end of food as we know it

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A dash of news and a pinch of infotainment...

• What’s Jonathan Gold reading about? The death of the oceans, the collapse of the honeybee population and the end of food as we know it. Counter Intelligence
• Intelligentsia Venice, designed by Silver Lake architect and designer Ana Henton, to open in February on Abbot-Kinney. Food GPS
• Garden Berry ‘yogurt lounge’ to open on 9th Street downtown, next door to the Cooper Design Space and near Wood Spoon and the recently opened Gram & Papa’s. Angelenic
• Obama names Tom Vilsack to be his Agriculture secretary. L.A. Times
• Would a proposed new ‘cow tax’ raise your grocery bill? Epicurious
• Brits drink more California wine than French wine. Sadly, it’s mostly Gallo, Blossom Hill, Echo Falls, Rivercrest and Paul Masson. Telegraph
• Happy belated National Cupcake Day (Dec. 15)... and National Chocolate Cupcake Day (Oct. 18)... and National Vanilla Cupcake Day (Nov. 10).
• The natto is nasty but the ramen rocks at Santouka Ramen in the jumbo Mitsuwa market in Torrance. Eating L.A.
• Gourmet Pigs noshes on salmon belly crudo at Riva, the new restaurant from Jason Travi of Fraiche.
• Are there ANY good oyster po’ boys in SoCal? Chowhound
• One restaurant, three menus at Macy’s new Signature Kitchen in Costa Mesa. Fast Food Maven

-- Elina Shatkin

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