I was half expecting a graphic expose showing all the horrible things that happens in between getting our food from farm to the table. Granted, there is still some graphic footage that is needed to help get the point across, but it was such a small percentage of the documentary. This isn’t isn’t like a shock film made by extremists that you’ve might have seen floating around on the internet.

Food Inc. actually shows some people who are actually doing something and making a change, which is rather inspiring. Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm is highlighted in this film, and frankly, after watching his free roaming grass-fed cows and his ways of farming, I’m ready to sign up for the apprenticeship program.

The film also shows how the people working under the farm factories are exploited as much as the animals, and how Monsanto lawyers are a bunch of thugs. If you’ve ever wondered why your pieces of chicken from KFC come with pre-broken bones, you should watch this movie.

Overall, a great movie – go check it out!

Selling tamales on the streets of Los Angeles is a dangerous game of hide-and-seek. Tamale vendors, or “Tamaleros,” have to avoid obstacles like gangs, traffic, police and health inspectors to make only about $30 a day. Devin Browne talks to one Tamalero whose found ways to stay in business.

“Then one day, some cholo comes up to my lonchera and points a gun. It was during the day, but he didn’t care. I was by myself—my wife, who usually helps me, had the day off. I thought I was going to die. I was scared. I mentioned the name of the guy whose route I bought—said he was my boss. The cholo smiled and put away the gun. He didn’t buy anything that day, but they never bothered me again.”

The Los Angeles Times travel blog does an article about some NorCal street food vendors using twitter to alert customers of their location (the Kogi Truck of course gets a mention), and Serious Eats has a list of street food vendors who use twitter by region of the country.  EatingLA is also keeping a list of Los Angeles foodie tweeters. Are they missing any?  Are they all over rated?

When: July 18-19, 2009
Saturday, July 18: 12pm to 11pm
Sunday, July 19: 12pm to 10PM

Where: Rainbow Lagoon Park, downtown Long Beach

Click on the pic below for more details.

http://laist.com/2009/06/06/taco_zone_truck_set_on_fire_last_ni.php

We haven’t been able to make it up there, but word is they are back up and running.