A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

THE POWER OF THE TABLE: Remember that Top Chef challenge a few weeks ago about designing a healthy school lunch within the confines of the $2.60/student budget? Remember this blog's longstanding crush on all culinary operations of Philadelphia's Marc Vetri? The Philadelphia Daily News' Ronnie Polaneczky writes today about this real-life collaboration for the kids of Girard College's Dream Camp, and it's not just about introducing panko crusts or chick-pea and cucumber salad into kids' lives:

Better still, the food is not spooned onto plates by the cafeteria staff but shared family-style at each table of eight, where civilized behavior and stimulating conversation is encouraged and rewarded.

"The meal becomes an entirely different experience for these kids," says [Vetri's business partner] Jeff Benjamin. "So many of them never sit down with their families, around a table, and discuss their lives. This is a whole different way of eating."