As many Music City dining aficionados may have noticed,  The New York Times  ran a lengthy feature on Nashville restaurants. There were some interesting geographical interpretations of our fine city (and the word "hipster" appeared half a dozen times, prompting some tattooed and bearded East Nashvillians to hop off their fixed-gear bikes and tweet their grievances) but the article deftly highlighted some fantastic Nashville restaurants well-deserving of recognition, and it's great to see the Nashville dining scene getting some attention on the national level. 

Restaurants featured in the article include  Bolton's Spicy Chicken and Fish, Las Paletas, Mas Tacos, City House, Margot Cafe and red-hot newcomers The Catbird Seat and  The Pharmacy. The piece largely centers on East Nashville, which has seen no shortage of foodie love in recent days. Tyler Florence and The Great Food Truck Race spent some time on the east side a couple weeks back, and Adam Richman noshed upon the  Asian flank steak sandwich at Mitchell Deli just last week for his new show, Best Sandwich in America.

With all this focus on Nashville restaurants, we'd be remiss not to mention our recently updated list of  Nashville's Top 100 restaurants. 6 of the 7 restaurants mentioned in The Times article are currently Top 100's, and other new additions to the list include Giovanni, Gojo Ethiopian, Kayne Prime, The Smiling Elephant, Suzy Wong's,  Table 3, Tavern, and PS Noodle Pot. Follow the link for complete details of our Nashville update. 

Props to The Times for recognizing Bolton's Spicy Chicken and Fish

The best burger bun in town, from The Pharmacy

The Travel Channel will feature East Nashville's own Mitchell Delicatessen tonight at 8 pm CDT on Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America. A much slimmer Richman (of Man vs. Food fame) is clearly benefitting from the switch to a new show, which does not require him to consume/sweat through 12-egg omelettes from Beth's Cafe, 180 Oysters from Acme Oyster House or fiery phaal curry from Brick Lane among other ludicrous food challenges. 

As for the Mitchell's sandwich up for the honor of competing with the nation's best: That would be the Asian Flank Steak Sandwich topped with provolone and crunchy giardiniera (available only on Mondays). As far as we're concerned, it couldn't have happened to a more deserving restaurant. This great little neighborhood deli provides hearty breakfasts, local meats and cheeses, and wonderful sandwiches - we're particularly fond of the turkey-apple-brie, the curried chicken salad and the turkey-avocado-bacon (Benton's, of course). Here's a sneak preview of tonight's episode, in which the Asian Flank Steak Sandwich will compete with the chicken cheddar biscuit from Time-Out in Chapel Hill and the Chicken Conquistador from Zunzi's in Savannah, GA. 

Huffington Post Food counts down 9 "Foods So Spicy You Need A Waiver." Among the tongue-torching dishes are the Pasta Plate from Hell from the East Coast Grill (Cambridge, MA) and Phaal Curry from Brick Lane Curry House (New York). The slideshow even includes a few videos of Adam Richman of Man vs. Food sweating and breathing heavily over his plate, as per usual. How appetizing. 

Shutterfly gives some solid tips on taking pictures of your food. No advice on how to keep your waiter and dining companions from rolling their eyes as you whip your phone out at the table.

The return of Portlandia means more fun at the expense of locavores, high-falutin cocktails and confounding theme restaurants, via Eater. 

Elizabeth Gunnison of Esquire writes that we shouldn't mourn the loss of Twinkies just yet, after Hostess filed for bankruptcy Wednesday. Just to be safe, you might want fill your pantry with Ho Hos, Sno Balls, Ding Dongs, and Zingers. It is 2012, and these indestructible foods may prove useful during apocalyptic events. 

Twinkie the Kid may be looking for work soon.

The internet can be such a delicious place. Here's a look at the most significant web happenings in the world of restaurants and dining today.

Esquire released its Best New Restaurants of 2011 list. They (justifiably) dock points for restaurants where ...

"Any cast member from Jersey Shore would be allowed to dine.

Adam Richman of Man v. Food eats.

Liquid nitrogen, oysters, chocolate syrup, or caviar are used to make ice cream."

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council weighs in on the Tiger Woods hot dog fiasco:

"The use of an iconic food in an act of violence against an iconic golfer like Tiger Woods is reprehensible -- and a violation of hot dog etiquette. Some might call the thrower a 'wiener,' but we'd say that's too high a compliment. Hot dogs are meant to be enjoyed -- not weaponized. "

Clay Risen of The Atlantic gives a brief history and a beginner's guide to the oft-divisive pumpkin ale. Beer + pumpkins: what's not to like here?

And finally, for your viewing edification, a short film on the true birthplace of pizza: Korea.