This week's show comes with a homework assignment.  Please read "Foodie Fatigue" by Christopher Borrelli prior to the show and be prepared to both laugh and do some head scratching.  The article appeared in the December 27 online edition of the Chicago Tribune and was forwarded to me by Great Taste listener Tom Kroupa.

Borrelli, who characterizes himself as "part of the problem," will spend some time on the phone with us from Chicago discussing his take on the frenzy surrounding many aspects of current food culture. 

Chris, you gave your Grandma a hard time for buying commercial English muffins "...when she has a local bakery nearby making artisan Portuguese bolos — which everyone knows is better!"  You're our kind of guy! No one, grandmas included, should feel safe from possible castigation.  After all, we have a divine mission to search out only the purest foods cooked up by our newly anointed gods of gastronomy and make certain everyone we come into contact with realizes that we know what's best for them to eat.  Or do we?

Is Michael Pollan's vision of food culture elitist or have the ideas he and other "food thinkers" espouse spawned a broader "food awareness" among the general population where obesity has reached crisis proportions?  Let us know what you think after reading Chris' article.  Email any comments or questions to me at sboss@lisco.com.

Also, we'll talk about our "bests" in different categories as we wrap up the year in food on GREAT TASTE.  From cookbooks to restaurants to producers to food writing to smart phone apps, we have some recommendations for you.  Finally, we'll share party food tips for ringing in the New Year.

Call us, email us, or stop by the studio Wednesday evening-we love to have a crowd experiencing live radio.  Make a resolution to follow us on Twitter in 2011 and vicariously enjoy all the great tastes we're fortunate to experience.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Steve and Kathy