Diplomatic Dining: Spain’s ambassador-designate to Malaysia Sergi Farré Salvá hosted a food-focused gathering at Barra Restaurant, presenting the “Restaurants From Spain” certification plaque to chefs and the team, underscoring how cuisine can act as a cultural bridge. Regional Rivalry: New Jersey’s Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham Food and Music Festival returns to Hillsborough, turning the decades-old breakfast debate into a full-on tasting showdown. Food & Water Quality: Minnesota’s Bald Eagle lake is being celebrated after decades of watershed restoration helped cut phosphorus and algae, leading to delisting from impaired waters in 2024. Restaurant Openings: Tacoma’s Corbeau veterans are gutting Fergie’s on McKinley Ave for a scratch-kitchen diner-plus-tavern concept, while Keene, New Hampshire welcomes Black Cloud Brewing at the former Modestman address with a pizza-forward menu. BRICS Gala Dinner: India’s BRICS leaders were served an all-vegetarian menu featuring Gujarati, Himalayan, and South Indian dishes like Khandvi Mille-Feuille and Gucchi Marmik. Home-Cooking Hacks: A test of frozen French fries ranks oven baking highest for crisp results, and a separate apple-slicing study finds simple anti-browning methods that actually hold up. Health & Food Science: A new tick-borne virus study in China points to Asian longhorned tick nairovirus as a possible cause behind severe cases that test negative for expected pathogens.