Usually we select just one, but there are too many fab bargain wine recommendations in the comments on our lunchtime poll on wine prices to get all picky. Peruse and make a shopping list.

5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe.

As we previously mentioned, we're having an absolute ball on Eatocracy this afternoon. Keeping up with this spherical spirit, we called on Daniel Holzman, co-owner and executive chef, of The Meatball Shop (where else?) in New York City for a well-rounded 5@5 listing.

Prior to opening The Meatball Shop in February 2010, Holzman spent time in some of the country's best kitchens, including Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin, Traci des Jardins' Jardinière and Michael Mina's temporarily closed Aqua, among others. Most recently, he was the executive chef at SPQR in San Francisco, California.

In the event you should find yourself on a deserted island with just some twigs and berries, Holzman offers up his survival kitchen essentials.

Five Cooking Tools to Bring to a Deserted Island: Daniel Holzman
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We are, in fact, having a ball at Eatocracy today. A dear friend of the blog just confirmed that he's now free of testicular cancer, having caught it via a self-exam early enough to have surgery that kept it from advancing past Stage 1.

So why are we mentioning this on a food site? Because we're talking about it wherever we can in the hopes that the men we love will get over whatever hang-ups they have and perform a simple self-check once a month.

In honor of his diagnosis, we're planning to throw a bit of a ball - a hootenanny where we're considering meatball sliders, smoky whiskey balls (recipe below), cheese balls and other, uh, spherical food - so we have an excuse to celebrate our friends who've beat and/or are fighting cancer and to share information on testing and prevention with the dudes we adore.

How can you help?
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Every weekday, we're highlighting a blogger we think you ought to know about. We can’t be everywhere at once, so we look to these passionate eaters, cooks and writers to keep us tapped into every facet of the food world. Consider this a way to get to know a blog’s taste buds, because, well, you should.

Meet today's featured blogger and blog:
Who: Clint Cantwell, of Smoke In Da Eye
Where: Garden City, New York
Twitter: @SmokeInDaEye
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So – we've established that y'all don't mind a tipple, and sommelier Belinda Chang dropped by 5@5 yesterday to share expert tips on sassing up an inexpensive bottle.

Commenters surprised us (as you often do), with staunch pro and con notions when it comes to more gently priced wines. So, today, we're asking:

Yes, that's crazily specific, but people reeeaaaaalllly have strong feelings on this topic. As always, pour out your feelings in the comments below, and while you're at it - share a few of your bargain faves.

Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe.

• To keep cool during the dog days of summer, even man's best friend needs a frozen treat from an ice cream van. - Daily Mail

• How one woman's body reacted to 21 days without refined sugars. - Mother Nature Network

• Preparing a pit-roasted pig at home. Step 1: dig a pit. - New York  Times

• Foods in the European Union containing artificial food dyes are now required to have a warning label that the product "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." - Food Safety News

• Marion Nestle explores the not so factual facts behind the food industry's health claims. - The Atlantic

With slogans like "Butch it up, Buttercup," and "These ain't your grandma's cupcakes," Butch Bakery and its founder, David Arrick, want the stereotypically dainty cupcake to beef up its pastry bag.

Six of the 12 cake flavors involve some sort of alcohol - whether it be brandy, whiskey, beer or Kahlua - and each Butch Bakery creation is topped with a camoflauge-, wood grain-, plaid- or other macho-patterned chocolate disc.

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Our pals at CNN Health report that according to researchers from the University of Texas School of Public Health and the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Americans are drinking more.

Per our lunchtime poll yesterday, our data doesn't address the "more" aspect of the question, but Eatocracy readers sure don't seem to be drinking any less.

The question was "Do you drink alcohol? Not how frequently, why or any of that. Do you or don't you?"

Yes 86% (24,368 votes)
No 8% (2,246 votes)
I used to, but I don't now. 6% (1,780 votes)
Total Votes: 28,394

And from the comments, "Hell, I'm drunk right now." - Beerman
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While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday and the most delicious finds on TV.

July 21, better known as National Junk Food Day, is a day to salute Ho Hos, gummy worms and "Chicken in a Biskit" crackers.

We're obviously not here to advocate noshing on the nutritionally deficient fare all day, every day, but what's livin' if you don't crack open a bag of Doritos "All Nighter Cheeseburger" chips every once in a while?

What's on TV?
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On Monday, we asked one simple question: Did your parents tell you any food fibs to entice you to eat or skip any foods?

And good grief, did your parents tell you the darndest things. Yeah, it's out of love, but wow, Mom and Dad, are your pants are on fire!

We've amassed a few of the over 500 food fallacies below, but first, a few mealtime myth busters.

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