Overcompensation

Three posts in one day! Because I took Monday and Tuesday off!

• Michael Pollan and Whole Foods CEO John Mackey are going to meet face-to-face in San Francisco in a debate entitled "The Past, Present, and Future of Food." It's February 27, and if you don't live in the Bay Area, and aren't likely to make the trip (or if you're legally banned from the area by a restraining order), you can watch it on a live webcast. (via The Grinder)

• Remember Stephen from "Top Chef: Season One"? Sure you do. He was the guy that everybody hated (although no one tried to shave his head)? The sommelier? Ringing any bells? Anyway, he's opening a new wine bar in downtown L.A. called Tastevin. But this isn't your daddy's wine bar. Tastevin will be aimed at hip 20-somethings who are rapidly developing a taste for wine (and maybe pretension, too). I think it's great. I'm super excited to go be lectured by Stephen about why I'm not sufficiently enjoying the Malbec he poured me. Finally there's a place for hip, wine-loving 20-somethings like -- Wait a minute, I'm thirty. Can I still go to this bar? (via Eater L.A.)

• If you're wondering what we're doing for Valentine's Day, I'll tell you. We're making moules normande from Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook. It's basically mussels with white mushrooms, apples, slab bacon (everything tastes good with bacon), and Calvados. Mussels are sort of "our thing." We've eaten them before for romantic dinners, and we both love them. Eating out on Valentine's Day is overrated. Usually the specials are ridiculous "romantic" food, and all of the desserts are laden with chocolate. Plus, the wait staff treats you like you're in Venice or something. And the restaurant around the corner from us has a prix fixe menu. The price? $95 per person. Basically, people who eat out on Valentine's Day are suckers. Unless you're eating out, in which case, have a great time!