Ryan Jennings of Eye is the first mainstream writer to be less than thrilled with Cowbell, pointing out that the dishes are uneven and too pricey. Kudos on coining the phrase “locavore’s crackden” - I’ll be putting that one to good use, although perhaps not in a positive way.

At NOW, Steven Davey gets yee-haw enthusiastic about Marc Thuet’s role in the BBQ joint Cluck, Grunt and Low.

The high-profile chef and owner of the eponymous Bistro and Bakery on King West as well as Atelier in Liberty Village has been drafted by just-launched barbecue joint Cluck, Grunt & Low to save its bacon now that original partner and chef Paul Boehmer – formerly of such A-list hotbeds as Opus, Ultra and the Spoke Club – is no longer involved. Some say he was pushed, others say he jumped.

My understanding was that Thuet was involved from the beginning, though, not brought in to “save its bacon” when Boehmer left.

Meanwhile Grahan Duncan, in a bit of reverse food-snobbery, has dismal things to say about Buddha Dog pointing out that - organic, sustainably-raised meat or not - $2.50 for a 4-inch hot dog is more than most people are going to be willing to pay. He follows up that theme with a review of Pabst Blue Ribbon in his drink-up column.

In a similar but opposite theme, Wayne Roberts looks at the “anti-planet narcissism” in asking whether organics are worth the extra price.

At Metro, Billy Munnelly suggests some Niagara reds, and Aonghus Kealy previews the Black Creek Brews Fest at Pioneer Village this weekend and talks about last week’s Golden Tap Award winners. Also in Metro, Rick McGinnis looks at organic meat with a visit to The Butchers, and offers up a handy list of the fun things found in non-organic meat. Ew! McGinnis also visits The Greek Corner, at College and Spadina.

Kasia Iglinski looks at pomegranate vodka, which hopefully represents the very end of the list of things we’re going to stick this so-called “wonder-fruit” into. It’s in my shampoo, yo. Enough with the pomegranates, already.