• The Year of the Dragon begins today, and the Chron runs us through some of the symbolic foods that are traditionally part of the lunar new year feast. [Chron]
• And in terms of great Chinese food, San Francisco is neck-and-neck with New York these days. [Zagat Buzz]
• Butchering is the new black; not only are vegans choosing careers around the cleaver, but eaters are interested in every bit of information they can obtain about the meat they consume. Which probably makes them severely annoying jerks, but is generally a good thing. [NPR]
• Frank Bruni nibbles on the Paula Deen debate by arguing that thin food writers eat the tiniest of portions and looking at Smart Chefs Stay Slim, a new book about chefs and the scale. [NYT]
• The eating habits of the Brits are being described at “lazy” and “ugly,” a stereotype that may or may not be exaggerated, considering a report that more than half their meals out are burgers or kebabs. [Guardian UK]
• Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are on an eating escapade in Nola, lapping up beignets at Café du Monde and ice cream at Creole Creamery, proving that New Orleans can turn even a Gossip Girl into a hungry girl. [People]
