Omnivore Atlanta

You’ve probably read about the South Carolina woman who has been charged with criminal neglect because of her 14-year-old son’s obesity. The boy, who weighs more than 550 lbs., is now in foster care.

CNN interviewed the mother’s attorneys yesterday. …

Another Wednesday, another absurdly inexpensive meal of Chef Lance Gummere’s designer sliders at the Shed on Glenwood. I notice that in my original post on Omnivore, I suggested that the $3 treats were big enough that two would fill the average diner. The last two weeks, I’ve ordered three and Wayne has had four — and not because they’ve grown any smaller in size. Addiction. …

Blogger Amy Wallas hits Varasano’s: “We tried the salumi and the white clam pizza. The salumi was tasty, with good fresh mozzarella and Italian meats. The char on the pizza gave it flavor and body as well, but to be honest… .”

Gidget, Taco Bell’s mascot, gives up the ghost at 15. …

How to make a smoothie with your feet. …

Photographer Broderick Smylie checks out the action at Noon in Midtown. I may be mistaken, but I believe Broderick hit Noon after leaving another nearby restaurant still hungry. …

Steakhead has been quiet lately but he likes Teela Taqueria in Sandy Springs.

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“I want my money!” Taco Bell owes a certain little dog $42 million:

A federal appeals court Friday ruled that Taco Bell is solely liable for $42 million in breach-of-contract awards to two Michigan men who created the diminutive mascot that starred in the Irvine fast-food giant’s hit $500-million advertising campaign in the 1990s.

TV commercials featured the dog decked out as a beret-sporting revolutionary or bandit in sombrero, stirring complaints that they amounted to derogatory depictions of Mexicans. But the spots featuring the Chihuahua and voice-over by actor Carlos Alazraqui were phenomenally successful.

The talking dog’s refrain “Yo quiero Taco Bell” became a pop-culture punch line, as well as “Drop the chalupa!” — an instant favorite with sports commentators — and “¡Viva Gorditas!” (Long live the little fat ones, the name of the Mexican food chain’s stuffed crunchy taco).

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Hey, guess what. You’ll never guess. It seems that chain restaurants advertising healthy dining choices may be stretching the truth.

A Seattle resident has filed two class-action suits against Applebee’s and three chains owned by Brinker International.

We’re not talking marginal differences:

An independent laboratory tested the dishes, according to a Scripps Howard News Service article. “Dishes targeted to health-conscious consumers a popular chains like Chili’s, Taco Bell and Applebee’s contained as much as twice the calories and eight times the grams of fat than the restaurants claimed in their published nutrition information,” the article said.

And those discrepancies include Applebee’s “Weight Watchers” menu. Read the full story here. Read the original story that prompted the class action suits here.

And read a very funny blog post about dining at Applebee’s here.

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