Starbucks Bounces Back; America Goes Crazy for "Cabbage Crack" (Kimchi)

Restaurants are starting to offer more luxurious prix-fixe menus -- or more downscale tasting menus, depending on your perspective. Upscale Greek Milos Estiatorio, The Capital Grille, and Dovetail are all offering wallet-friendly multiple-course menus.
[Nation's Restaurant News]

Emeril Lagasse is getting his own live talk show on the ION network, his first show since the Food Network canceled Emeril Live in 2007.
[Popwatch]

Eight German teenagers were hospitalized after a daring each other to chug a chili sauce more than 200 times hotter than Tabasco sauce.
[Huffington Post]

Starbucks' rebranding efforts appear to be working. The company, which has struggled to compete with McDonald's espresso drinks, has seen increased revenues in the first quarter.
[NY Times]

America has gone kimchi crazy. Chefs like David Chang introduced the Korean spicy pickled cabbage to New York diners, and now even Wolfgang Puck is serving it.
[Washington Post]

Pljeskavica is a flat, wide burger beloved in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia, that can be found at several places in Queens, as well as at Kafana in the East Village and Employees Only.
[NY Times]

David Beckham has enrolled on a pasta-making class in Milan. The soccer star says: "I've always loved cooking. Now I'm Italy, I want to learn how to make amazing pasta."
[Mirror]