LA Weekly: Apples as art. -- Jeff Gordinier NPR: No, really, bag-in-the-box wine can be much more than just O.K. But a new research report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (yes! Box-wine research!) reveals that it absolutely must be kept cool enough, in storage. - Glenn Collins Ideas in Food: Dark and Stormy Brownies with fresh ginger, dark rum and lime oil: brilliant or jumping the shark? T.B.D. -- Julia Moskin Decanter: Andrew Jefford on the global issue of difficult-to-pronounce wine names. Öküzgözü and Bogazkere, anybody? -- Eric Asimov New York: Rum, whiskey, gin - all made in New York (mostly in Brooklyn, of course) and sampled here, distillery by distillery. -- Patrick Farrell Hungry Ghost: Perfectly precious gifts for the advanced food lover, like Michael Hemmer knives and Mast Brothers chocolate. -- Julia Moskin Texas Monthly: Jason Cohen takes a look at the Hole in the Wall, a scrappy Austin dive where the likes of Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams have performed in the past. These days it's getting the revitalization treatment, courtesy of the chef Paul Qui. But it's good to hear that not everything is changing. "Jim Beam is still three bucks," Mr. Cohen writes. The bathrooms are still dive bar bathrooms, grafittied walls and all. On Tuesday, there was no cover, with the usual metal tip bucket hanging at the front of the stage, the bands playing as pictures of Doug Sahm, Townes Van Zandt and other legends gazed down on them from their place of honor atop the Guadalupe picture window." -- Jeff Gordinier Food Politics: Marion Nestle strongly advises visiting the "Transforming the American Table" exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington for insights on the industrialization of the food supply, as well as the "Our Global Kitchen" show at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan for its multinational perspective. - Glenn Collins OnEarth: This is hard to swallow: Americans are simply wasting a whole lot of food. -- Jeff Gordinier The New York Times: The last time Pepsi hooked its brand to a pop star (trying to reinforce its connection with Michael Jackson after his death), the reflected glow was not all flattering. Now the company is hoping for better luck with Beyoncé. - Patrick Farrell Insatiable Critic: The much-humbled but irrepressible Pino Luongo is now toiling in the kitchen at Morso, which he does not own, and Gael Greene is very much liking his signature Tuscan fare. - Glenn Collins The Hudson Independent: In the villages along the Hudson River north of New York City, several restaurants were among the businesses that were swamped by Hurricane Sandy. Many now hope to rebound before Christmas. -- Jeff Gordinier The Associated Press: After some lawmakers complained that children were not getting enough to eat in school, the Department of Agriculture will allow more grains and meats in school lunches. -- Maria Newman The Guardian: In England, pubs seem to be shutting down at a fast enough rate that it suggests a crisis. Heston Blumenthal, the chef, has some curious thoughts about what they need to do to survive. (Edible snooker tables?) -- Jeff Gordinier