From Lindy’s on Fourth’s Facebook page:

ok january 31st from 11am to 4pm the Food Network will be filming Meat and Potatoes for their second season .....so come on down and eat and get on tv because from 11-4 its all about you and the host and the food .....love you all and hope to see as many of you there as i can .... much love LINDY

The two brothers who own and operate both local Vero Amore pizza restaurants are opening a new restaurant in Oro Valley called Noble Hops Gastropub.

If you’ve never heard of a gastropub, imagine your neighborhood bar, but a bit classier in both the atmosphere and food departments. The concept is massively popular in Europe and in larger cities across America.

Aric Mussman says Noble Hops Gastropub will serve 28 small-production beers on tap and 40 more in bottles. Some beers will be so rare that less than five kegs will ever make it into the country. The selection will rotate on a regular basis, and ceremonies will mark the tapping of especially notable kegs.

On the menu: American-style tapas, homemade pretzels served with made-from-scratch mustard, gourmet cheese plates and fish and chips made with Chilean sea bass breaded in panko crumbs. The menu hasn’t been finalized yet, but Mussman summed it up thusly: “We’re talking real food, no preservatives, everything made from really high-quality ingredients.”

Mussman said the same people who handled Janos Wilder’s Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails are handling the design and architecture. An indoor/outdoor bar boasting a view of the Catalina Mountains will seat 45. A lounge area out back will be outfitted with comfortable couches.

Noble Hops Gastropub is expected to open this spring.

I'm thankful Gizmodo didn't publish this story when I was in college and eating Taco Bell for nearly a meal a day:

That's the reason why an Alabama law firm is presenting a lawsuit for false advertising, claiming that what Taco Bell claims is "beef" in their commercials is just the aforementioned processed clustermass of disgust. It seems that they have a very good point.

The fact is that the containers in which the taco meatmud arrives to their establishments is labeled as "taco meat filling," which is exactly how it should be labeled in all advertising and packaging according to the USDA. Of course, the All-New Double Decker with Two Times More Taco Meat Filling will not sound very good on TV.

The irony is that not even if Taco Bell used Taco Meat Filling in their packaging and ads they would be right: The USDA says that any food labeled as "meat taco filling" should at least have 40% fresh meat. According to the Alabama law firm, their stuff only has 36% meat. Perhaps they should call it Almost Taco Meat Filling.

The owners of Boca have called off their offer to serve lion tacos because of threats.

From Boca's Facebook page:

Due to concern for safety of our families, customers, vendors, and friends we will not be selling African Lion Tacos on Feb. 16th, 2011. We will continue to bring unique and creative menu items, but not at the expense of safety.

Pre-orders will be fully refunded at the restaurant or by calling (520) 777-8134. Thanks for your support.

A new restaurant where one can dine while watching military aircraft take to the air has opened at the Pima Air and Space Museum.

Flight Grill is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. It features an outdoor patio that faces a runway where planes take off from Davis-Monthan Air Force base.

On the menu: burgers, quesadillas, chicken strips done three different ways, brick-fired pizzas, French fries, Caesar salad, soup, desserts and kids' items. Beer and wine is also available.

Access to the restaurant is through the museum, but a free pass is available for those who want restaurant service only.

Visit the museum’s website for more information.

The only thing missing: a DVD copy of a romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl.

[reddit]

I’ve been trying to ignore this whole melee … but the fur is certainly flying over on Boca’s Facebook page.

Owner Brian Mazon said he wanted to put the eatery on the map by selling lion tacos next month, but I’m not quite sure if the publicity stunt is going to hurt or help the restaurant.

One question has yet to be answered: Why is it permissible to eat a big cat, but ghastly to eat a house cat? And does lion taste like chicken? Because if it does that's gotta be one of the biggest ironies ever.

El Güero Canelo, the local joint famous for its Sonoran hot dogs and carne asada, is opening an eastside location.

The new location—which will be similar to the other two locations, but with a drive-through —is going in at an old Los Betos at 5802 E. 22nd St., said Corina Miranda, an El Güero Canelo spokeswoman.

“It’s going to be a nice one,” said Daniel Contreras, who owns the restaurants with his wife, Blanca. “I’ve been waiting for many, many years to do this, because I have a lot of support from our eastside customers, and finally we have a building over there. So it’s very nice.”

The new location is expected to open in late May or early June.

Contreras opened the first El Güero Canelo inside a tiny food trailer in 1993, and worked his way up. He said he comes from the humblest of beginnings, and that he thanks his loyal customers and a higher power for the degree of success he has known.

“I never had anything. I came from doing shoe shines and selling newspapers. I never went to school,” Contreras said today. “There has to be a higher power.”

Contreras said his business skyrocketed after the restaurant was featured on the national television shows Man V. Food and Food Wars. He also said that Janos Wilder played an enormous part in his success.

“Janos is the one that got me into the national media,” Contreras said today. “He brought people from out of state to eat here, and I have to thank him so much for everything. He’s such a good man, and he does so many good things for people in Tucson.”

“He’s definitely invited to the opening,” said Contreras.

This might be tough in the long run for the website that's partially made its trade on openly mocking the weight of Wal-Mart customers, although I guess this move won't help those patrons' fashion sense.

From Bloomberg:

The company said it will reformulate thousands of packaged food items by 2015, reducing the salt content by 25 percent and sugar content by 10 percent, and will remove all remaining industrially produced trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils.

“No family should have to choose between food that is healthier for them and food they can afford,” Bill Simon, chief executive officer of U.S. stores for Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, said in a statement.

• Mmmmmmmm, guaraches are good.

This is a guarache, and it is delicious. It is the signature food of the new Guarachez de Don Shuy at 4547 S. Sixth Ave. Big burritos, several kinds of fried tacos, tortas and other things are also available.

You may notice it comes with a fork and knife. This is because the soft corn tortilla thingamagig underneath cannot support the sheer weight of that enormous mound of veggies and meat on top. This is a good thing, especially considering it’s only $4.50 for one, or $7.50 for two.

There’s a little more information here.