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 483 posts by Baylen Linnekin
Scout Willis and Stepdad Sing “My Sober,” an Ode to Coffee
Jan. 27, 2011 — Celebrity, Friday Food Song
Taverns & the Origins of the First Amendment’s Assembly Clause
I've posted a working paper at SSRN in which I make the case that The proper situs of the Assembly Clause, research reveals, is in its birthplace: colonial America’s taverns. Colonial taverns served not just as establishments for ...Jan. 19, 2011 — Drink, Food Law, Food Writing
Food Porn Meets Real Porn
I'm psyched to be heading to the food truck First Friday in Venice, CA tonight. Speaking of LA and food trucks, one here is in the news because it stars in an upcoming film of sorts, reports ...Jan. 7, 2011 — Pop Culture, Quirkies
Reason.tv’s DC Food Truck Video (Featuring Red Hook Lobster DC & Yours Truly)
Jan. 6, 2011 — Crispy Video
New Food Safety Law Has No Critics
According to CNN.com, there are two camps when it comes to the new food safety bill Pres. Obama signed into law yesterday: those who support it, and those who support it but wish it would do even ...Jan. 5, 2011 — Food Law, Food Politics
LAT Restaurant Critic Outed, Ousted by Fearful Restaurateur
The internets are abuzz over the outing of LAT food critic S. Irene Virbila (sort of pictured at right). Not only did restaurateur Noah Ellis, of LA's new Red Medicine, snap Virbila's photo and post it online--ruining ...Dec. 23, 2010 — Food Writing, Restaurants
Quick Bites
While I defended Sarah Palin recently in the face of a ridiculous and amateurish attack by a CNN contributor/Michelle Obama supporter, I'm firmly on Mrs. Obama's side in this conflict. What the hell does Palin find objectionable ...Dec. 20, 2010 — Quick Bites
Quick Bites
CSPI sues McDonald's over toys in its Happy Meals. McDonald's fights back! My guess? This is the tipping point to a backlash that will push CSPI to utter irrelevance within two years. [Eatocracy] Dannon, fined $21 million ...Dec. 17, 2010 — Quick Bites
NPR Contributor Takes on “Myth of the Food Desert”
NPR contributor John McWhorter, once dubbed "the most unpopular black man in America" for having authored a book in which he derides many hip hop artists as little more than pushers of false victimization claims and tired ...Dec. 15, 2010 — Food Politics, Food Writing
Quick Bites
Marion Nestle seems pretty certain the First Amendment shouldn't apply when she believes "consumers would be better off" if it didn't apply. [FoodSafetyNews] Wikileaks publishes American cables on Venezuelan arepa socialism. [CNN] End the "McVictim" syndrome. [...Dec. 14, 2010 — Uncategorized
Jamie Oliver Breaks Sales Records, Does Zombie Chic
There's no hiding the fact I'm no fan of Jamie Oliver the policymaker. That said, I really dig Oliver's cookbooks--especially his early Naked Chef books, including this one, which I had Oliver autograph way back in ...Dec. 10, 2010 — Celebrity, Food Writing
LA City Council Pretty Much Gives Up On Even Trying to Make Any Sense
So reports SoCal Public Radio. The Los Angeles City Council.... has unanimously approved new steps to limit stand-alone fast food chain restaurants. In the 30-square-mile area that includes West Adams, Baldwin Village and Leimert Park, L.A. City Councilman Bernard ...Dec. 9, 2010 — Banned
Michelle Obama and USDA Teaming Up to Ban Bake Sales?
Ridiculous. Indefensible. In that spirit, look for a totally disingenuous defense from Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in 5, 4, 3... "This is really about supporting parental choice. Most parents don't want their ...Nannying Kids’ Center to Parents: Ditch the Hot Drinks
If you're a parent and love your child--or think that your parents loved you as a child--then you really need to learn about how caring for kids means never having any sort of hot liquid in their proximity. ...Dec. 6, 2010 — Quirkies
Are You a “Junk Food Junkie” Junkie?
The song, by current NPR Mountain Stage host Larry Groce, was a hit for Groce in 1976, or shortly before the time Pres. Jimmy Carter is rumored to have ...Dec. 1, 2010 — Quirkies
Quick Bites
Though I didn't even know they were married, it appears Kraft and Starbucks are headed for a nasty divorce. [TheStreet] Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser team up to cheer on the controversial food-safety bill that appears headed ...Nov. 29, 2010 — Quick Bites
Palin Talks Sense (!) on Obesity, Causing Critic to Blast Her as “Immediate Threat to Future of Country”
How hard is it to convince me that Sarah Palin either said or did something stupid? You'd have a tougher time trying to get me to try a free sample of bacon or beer. But as distasteful as ...Nov. 26, 2010 — Food Politics
