McComida Mexicana

McDonald’s is thinking about serving Mexican food. Help them out, now: Should they serve McNachos, McTacos, or McFlautas? McCarnitas, McSteak Picado or McBirria? Or McCochinita Pibil, the pibil’s choice?

Dressed to Chill

The new trend in salad dressings is to market them as “salad splashes” or “salad showers.” Soon to come: “salad misty drizzles,” “salad damp sprinkles,” “salad bone-drenching downpours.”

Take It Off, Take It All Off

H. J. Heinz Co. has invented a machine that peels a potato with lasers. It can blast off the skin in less than a second, and it’s also said to work on tomatoes. The device cost Heinz $1 million, says the Wall Street Journal, and that is a little steep, but if it can handle garlic and nectarines too, it might be worth it.

Eat American

In case you haven’t noticed, beef prices have been at record highs--one reason being rising exports to Japan. Ranching is currently the strongest sector of the farm economy, and as a result Nebraska has the lowest unemployment rate in the country.

After Lager, What?

As the “dry beer” craze fades in Japan, Asahi--the brewery that started it--is introducing the Japanese public to a revolutionary new brew called “Z.” Asahi explains that “Z” uses “an unusual yeast that floats, rather than sinks to the bottom.” In other words, this kicky new craze is . . . ale.

Readin’, Ritin’, Carbohydratin’

First there was alphabet soup; now comes Aleph Bais Fries--frozen French fried potatoes cut in the shapes of Hebrew letters. They’re made by Kineret Foods, a specialist in kosher frozen foods, which foresees their use in Jewish educational institutions. (We foresee a bigtime revival of the excuse “the dog ate my homework.”)

This Is a Holdup--Put Your Data Links in the Air

Several supermarkets in New England have had their free-standing automated teller machines ripped off lately--literally, ripped off their moorings and towed away during the night--and not, presumably, by people who were having trouble getting them to recognize their cards.