Critics Call, Writerly Advice, and Yum-O in Bonobo

​Today's notes on national stories, local trends, random tastes, and other bycatch dredged up from the food media.

1. Critic for an episode. According to the Inside Scoop, Check, Please! is casting its next season. Take your yelping to the next level: All you have to do is fill out the online form.

2. All primates make picky noises about their food. A new study of bonobos say they make a series of barks and peeps when they come across their favorite food (bragging to their friends? inviting them to share?), part of five different calls that communicate the tastiness or awfulness of their food.

3. Honey boozers are badass. Stay in the food writing business
long enough, and you'll begin to see certain stories cycle through: We
should be eating bugs! Here are the grossest things local restaurant
inspectors have found! Mead is finally becoming hip again!  Is this time for real?

4. Good advice. Monica Bhide interviews Kim Severson, author of Spoon Fed, about how she knows a good story, how she wrote a book while working
full time, and what she thinks all beginning (hell, long-time) food writers should know.