Photo: cnewtoncom/Flickr

LOCAL BITES

The Patriot
Still pulling together Sunday’s menu? Have a look at this new cocktail, introduced by Turkey Shore Distilleries in Ipswich. Made with Turkey Shores’ White Cap Rum, the “Old Ipswich Patriot” has been created in honor of our Pats. Bring that trophy home!!

B Crazy
Burton’s Grill in Andover is going ‘B’ crazy in anticipation of the Big Game. Brady, Belichick, Burgers, Beer, the Super Bowl…you get the picture. Edible details: a customized burger with bacon and blue cheese, when ordered with a beer, is $12 from 11:30 til kick-off.

That Boston/NY Rivalry
It’s got one looong history. Chowder’s in there, too! And chef Eric Brennan of Boston’s Post 390 (yikes! He’s a native New Yorker!) is not shying away from it. Brennan has created a chowder that places the creamy New England version side-by-side with that, um, other one — all in one bowl. Taste for yourself which is better at the 390’s Pre-Game Brunch, Feb. 5th. The price of that rivalry in a bowl is a whole lot less than the price of a ticket.

NATIONAL TREATS

A Kinder, Gentler Beef Nation
A new study suggests that modern beef production is a lot kinder to the environment than three decades ago. From NPR’s The Salt.

A Shorter Route from Farm to Table
A fascinating report from the WSJ about start-ups which base their businesses on placing consumers directly in touch with local farmers. This means more detailed information for consumers, less time spent marketing for farmers.

Consider the Workers
If eating ethically is a priority of yours, you may want to consider restaurant workers as part of the equation. Here’s a report from WNYC Public Radio.

GLOBAL TASTINGS

Food Reform, Slowly
Food prices around the globe remain at their highest level in decades, and this has been recognized as a critical problem for some time. Reforms are underway. Now, a report has come out which details those reforms and their pace of implementation. From the NY Times.