Epi-Log @ Epicurious tells us that retro cookbooks are back. Actually, they are just telling you. I already knew it. How did I know it? Because I have sustained minor injuries the last three times I wandered into the cookbook section of my favorite used bookstore. A normally robust section, teeming with titles and shelves groaning under the weight of gastroporn of the ages – the area has been thinned considerably and consistently over the past few months by hordes of women, shoving each other out of the way to greedily snatch up not only the originals but any reprints they can lay their hands on. I wasn’t even all that interested in buying a cookbook that day – just thought I’d browse on my way to the mysteries shelf when I paused. BIG mistake. I limped for days.

Speaking of the whole “old as new again” thing, Grub Street reports the repurposing of beer in Brooklyn. I am not a beer fan as a rule so I must be honest and tell you that I am not all that sure I’d like it the second time around either – bread or no bread.

But what if we don’t care about cookbooks of the past (which actually I do care about but I’ll go in better prepared to defend next time) and what if we aren’t interested in beer saved and used again to form crunchy-munchy croutons (which upon further reflection, I may not object too as much as I did at first glance). But what if we’d rather look to the future?

Future coming right up!

Whilst on Grub Street, I was reminded that Winter New York Restaurant Week 2009 week looms large on the horizon early next year. Start thinking now, friends for there is much to choose from. In fact, over 100 of the restaurants will be participating for the first time. Reservations open on January 5 for meals from January 18 to January 23 and January 25 to January 30.

Do other cities do similar things to this? I can’t imagine that they don’t. Anyone?