About Baylen Linnekin

Baylen Linnekin is a lawyer, food writer, and (inadequately self-trained) cook. Baylen has interviewed chef/author/TV host Anthony Bourdain; written about the canard of Chicago's foie gras ban; hailed the wonder of D'Artagnan's Duckathlon; and detailed how he tracked down some moosemeat and made mooseburgers in a quest to figure out Sarah Palin. His most recent article, in the Chapman Law Review, detailed California's crackdown on its most important asset: its abundant and fantastic food. Baylen's goal is to defend the rights of restaurateurs, bar owners, food and beverage sellers, chefs, farmers, and diners. He lives in Washington, DC.

There are 428 posts by Baylen Linnekin

Food-Labeling Interview with FoodCALC’s Alyson Mar

Recently I attended a menu-labeling webinar put on by FoodCALC, a San Francisco company that describes itself as a leader in web-based online nutritional analysis ...

Sep. 3, 2010 — Food Law

Quick Bites

Organic strawberries are better than conventional ones. And conventional strawberries are better than organic ones. [LAT] California actually decides not to ban something. [CNN] A fantastic post about how foreign food aid harms the very people it's intended ...

Sep. 2, 2010 — Quick Bites

Quick Bites

Jamie Oliver tells Christiana Amanpour that his various multi-billion-dollar failed schemes are all about finding "a really good value bang for your buck." [ABC News] Mario Batali's Eataly set to open. Just don't call it a food court. [WSJ] Baby carrots, which are sort ...

Aug. 30, 2010 — Quick Bites

This Week in Bacon

Over the last several years (as you know) bacon has leapt from the meat aisle to nearly every segment of the food and beverage market. There’s bacon-infused Bakon vodka (not to be confused with ...

Aug. 26, 2010 — This Week in Bacon

Everything You Never Knew About the Quiet Success of Trader Joe’s

Other than knowing that I love to shop there, I have to admit that I know little about Trader Joe's. Fortune, in an awesome profile of the company up today, explains its massive success and why my ignorance ...

Aug. 23, 2010 — Food Writing

Blogging About Lindsay Lohan Now (Sm)all Part of Hard Day’s Work

As some of you know, I've been putting my lawyering skills to work for the past several months as an attorney with Lehrman Beverage Law, a Virginia firm that specializes in federal regulation of alcohol beverages. I ...

Aug. 20, 2010 — Celebrity, Food Law

OKC Bombing Conspirator Nichols Loses Suit Demanding Better Prison Food

Even the world's smallest violin playing is too much for this story: A judge in Denver has dismissed claims by Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols that prison officials violated his constitutional rights by depriving him of a diet ...

Aug. 18, 2010 — Quirkies

Quick Bites

Seattle raised the number of chickens local residents may keep in their yards from three to eight, but also blocked the cock banned the introduction of new roosters. [MyNorthwest] Marion Nestle summarizes proposed food safety legislation. Where does ...

Aug. 17, 2010 — Quick Bites

Quick Bites

Corby Kummer says, "Partisan. Partisan. Partisan. Food stamps. Partisan. Teachers. Partisan." I react in comments. [The Atlantic] Watermelon art. [Daily Mail] Food mags all the rage. [NY Post] How to make a nutritious school lunch. [Greeley Tribune] Food ...

Aug. 13, 2010 — Quick Bites

San Francisco Regulations Devastate City; Male Nurse Oblivious

Last month I had to explain to a male nurse from San Francisco why I think his fair city (and state) is ...

Aug. 12, 2010 — Banned, Food Law, Restaurants

Jamie Oliver School Lunch Could Easily Have Made List of Worst Fast Foods

The newest worst-foods list, published by Men's Health magazine, includes the McDonald’s Big Breakfast with Large Biscuit, Hotcakes, Margarine, and Syrup, which boasts 1,370 calories, 64.5 g fat (21.5 g saturated) and 49 g sugar. Admittedly ...

Aug. 10, 2010 — Food Writing

Hella Bad Wine Bill Inches Along in Congress

The LAT has sounded the alarm bell over HR 5034, a booze bill currently winding its way through Congress. Big ups to the LAT for this lede: With little public notice, distributors of alcoholic ...

Aug. 6, 2010 — Drink, Food Law

Bloomberg Troops Getting Fat on Backs of NYC Taxpayers

When it comes to letting NYC taxpayers decide what foods they want to spend their own money on, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg may be one of the country's most notorious food nannies. But when it comes time for ...

Aug. 3, 2010 — Food Politics

Obituary Recalls DC Before Al Fresco Dining was Allowed

I was thumbing through the Washington Post yesterday--something I hadn't done with the Post (or most any newspaper) in some time. You see, though I grew up reading 2-3 papers a day, a few years ago I joined ...

Aug. 2, 2010 — Banned, Food Politics

Quick Bites

The voluminous recent Wikileaks release contains word Pakistan's intelligence agency tried to poison an American geologist's beer. With battery acid. [CSM] This breakfast rocks! The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art (outside Chicago) features a cool table-setting-themed exhibit ...

Jul. 29, 2010 — Uncategorized

…Buy Me Some Peanuts and Crackerjacks an All-You-Can-Eat Sporting Experience

Sports Illustrated's Brett LoGiurato (who as of last month was writing for a college newspaper) has an interesting article up at the magazine's website looking at the reaction of some in the public-health community to the ...

Jul. 26, 2010 — Food Writing, Pop Culture

CGI Voice + Unplaceable Accent + Deboner = Awesome

[Via JJW's Facebook feed.]

Jul. 23, 2010 — Products

Quick Bites

The National Agricultural Center launches what looks to be an awesome war-era food poster exhibit. [Good Potato] Brillat-Savarin et du bon vin de Bugey. [Le Monde] Arizona's hideous new immigration law drives immigrants--and the good tacos they make--out of ...

Jul. 20, 2010 — Quick Bites

Quick Bites

Subway sandwich shop in Tokyo hops on the sustainability bandwagon and grows own hydroponic lettuce. (Actually, it grows only 5% of the lettuce it needs, and that lettuce costs buttloads more than conventional lettuce.) [Fast Company] Carl's Jr. ...

Jul. 14, 2010 — Quick Bites