Are you a fan of the growing mobile social networking game foursquare? Now you can earn a "Foodie" badge in foursquare by checking into Zagat-rated restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco. And that's not all – our editors are also adding insider tips to the game in all five cities, and putting together a “Meet the Mayor” feature. Want to get in on the foursquare fun? It's easy. Click here to learn more.

Hatfield's

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

After finding success in a miniscule space on Beverly Boulevard, chef Quinn Hatfield and his partner/pastry chef/wife Karen have moved their New American Hatfield's to the space that was home to Michel Richard's Citrus (followed by Alex, Meson G and Red Pearl); a massive remodel has brought an understated elegance to the space, which includes a wall of greenery, a whimsical linen chandelier and a multihued hardwood floor, and there’s now a full bar run by esteemed sommelier/mixologist Peter Birmingham.

6703 Melrose Ave.; 323-935-2977

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Hatfield's

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Chefs hit the beach for the "Food & Wine Cayman Cookout."

Photo: courtesy of the event

Posters advertising the second annual "Food & Wine Cayman Cookout," held last month at The Ritz-Carlton on Grand Cayman, show a striking image of Eric Ripert, standing in the ocean in his white chef coat, azure waves up to his knees. Strolling down the magnificent beach as the event got underway, some guests did a double take. There was Eric, standing in the ocean with a cigar in his mouth, chatting with friends and surrounded by his kids.

“Excuse me,” ventured one passing guest. “I saw you cooking lobster on the beach yesterday and it smelled incredible. I just caught some lobsters today. What is your recipe?” The affable Ripert, executive chef at The Ritz-Carlton’s signature restaurant, Blue, explained his simple preparation, and welcomed other inquiries. Just up the beach Anthony Bourdain was playing with his daughter and the normally inaccessible David Chang of Momofuku fame was catching some rays. Chefs were everywhere – relaxing at the spa, sitting at canopied dining tables that float on the ocean and toiling away preparing feasts for the guests. It was foodie heaven.

The long weekend’s activities began with a beachfront feast –and while there was Angus beef and local lobster tails whipped up by the Ritz Carlton chefs; the sand and sea gave a new dimension to the concept of surf and turf. The following day saw a marathon of meals including a Spanish feast courtesy of José Andrés (LA’s The Bazaar) and a taco tasting created by Dean Fearing (Fearing's in Dallas).

The truffle in question

Photo: courtesy of Patina

It's time for the annual Black Truffle Dinner at Patina, held February 9–11 at Joachim Splichal's flagship inside the Walt Disney Hall. There will be a choice of four different prix fixes – four courses for $140, five for $155, six for $170 or seven for $185. Sourced with truffles from the small village of Richerenches in the southeast of France, the dinner's quite a deal, as this year's crop is running around $1,500 a pound. For those who go for the full seven-courser, the meal includes a black-truffle salad with white mushrooms and Parmesan; winter vegetables with a black-truffle condiment; foie gras ravioli with black truffles and sunchoke emulsion; seared day-boat scallops with leeks and black truffles; milk-fed veal tenderloin with wild mushrooms and black truffles; a truffled Brie de Meaux as the cheese course; and, for dessert, a Bartlett pear with black-truffle ice cream.

• – Eleven Madison Park sous-chef James Kent will represent the U.S. in the Bocuse d'Or. [NRN, Eater]
• – Customers are interested in so-called "fast-food diets." [NRN]
• – Restaurateurs in New York are nonplussed about the impending introduction of health-inspection letter grades. [Diner's Journal]

• – The FDA wants listed serving sizes to reflect reality. [NYT]
• – One in five Britons mistakenly claims to have a food allergy. [Telegraph]
• – Dairy farmers ponder going co-op. [NYT]
• – Beer. Good for the bones. [Indpendent]
• – Scenes from this year's Wing Bowl. [SE]
• – Josh Ozersky has some issues with "new naturalist" cooking. [Time]
• – Health magazine borrows from sister publication Real Simple. [NYT]
• – Culinary workers smoke. A lot. [Post-Gazette]
• – The long history of candy and Valentine's. [SlashFood]
• – Which were your favorite food-related Super Bowl ads? [SE]
• – Gross food stories in list form! [Consumerist, via ColdMud]

The Buttermilk Truck

Photo: courtesy of the truck

On February 13, LA Center Studios will host the First Annual LA Street Food Fest, an event offering the opportunity to sample the wares of some of LA's hottest food trucks all in one place. Samples will range from $1–$5, with trucks like The Buttermilk Truck, The Grilled Cheese Truck, The Sweets Truck, Fresser’s, Frysmith, The Slice Truck, Flying Pig, Fishlips and Komodo represented. To add to the fun, a Valentine's Day marketplace showcasing local wares will be on hand, as well as a DIY craft den, live performances and a photobooth. Beer and wine will be available at donation-based bars supporting the LA regional Foodbank, and free bike valet will be offered (11 AM–5 PM; $5 general admission, $30 VIP tickets; 500 S. Beaudry Ave. Downtown; click here for further details).

• – Finally! Heinz has redesigned the ubiquitous ketchup packet. [NYDN]
• – Foregin food aid is hitting Haiti's black market. [NYT]
• – The number of restaurants in the U.S. has declined, but not as much as was expected. [NRN]

• – Burger King and its franchisees may still be bickering, but profits are up. [NRN]
• – How Rachael Ray magazine's March Madness pizza decisions were made. [Slice]
• – There isn't going to be an Alinea bar anytime soon and if it does open, it isn't going to be called "Boom." [GS: C]
• – The E.U. is pondering banning all commercial bluefin tuna fishing. [NYT]
• – Touchscreens, the future of vending machines. [WP, via GS: B]
• – The "drunkest" cities in the U.S. [USAT]
• – Shatter-proof pints may help reduce drinking-related violence. [Independent]
• – Ever wonder what it would be like to eat two pounds of meat, two sides, a cupcake and a 32-ounce drink within an hour? Wonder no more. [GS: NY]
• – NBC is in some hot water for a now-removed Black History Month menu. [Vulture]
• – Making due in Afghanistan for six weeks on Spam. [Guardian]
• – Related: Army chefs recreate Iron Chef in Iraq. [FTL Lamp, via Eater]
• – Google Maps is now photographing the inside of stores, are restaurants next? [SearchEngineLand, via TechMeme]
• – Cat food taste test. [Fork in the Road]

2010 marks the Year of the Tiger

Photo: Denver Aquino

Believe it or not, there’s another big holiday happening on February 14 – Chinese New Year. It's a time for feasting with family and friends, and if none of the spots on our Top Chinese list strike your fancy, the seafood palaces of Chinatown and the San Gabriel Valley are always popular choices. For ideas about where to celebrate the Year of the Tiger, read the reviews after the jump.

Barney's Beanery

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Whether you're rooting for the Saints or the Colts, Drew Brees or Peyton Manning, there's no question everyone will be watching the Super Bowl on February 7. Here are some spots for you and yours to gather (without having to worry about cleaning up afterward).