It's no secret that we love Southern food 'round these parts, and what's more, we love the people who've made it their life's work.

In light of last night's devastating storms across the South, we want to know how you're doing and what we can to to help. Please use the comments thread below to connect, and we'll do our best to get the word out and update this post throughout the day.

Follow us @eatocracy for even more updates. You're in our thoughts.

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Some potentially helpful links (we'll keep adding as they come in):
CNN Impact Your World | Feeding America | Animals Lost & Found | Hands on Birmingham | Southern Foodways Alliance | American Red Cross | Alabama Food Banks | Toomers for Tuscaloosa on Facebook | Register as Safe and Well via the Red Cross

- Birmingham's @MagicCityPost has a list of local resources and ways to help: Tornadoes kill dozens across Alabama; now is the time to help

- From our friend, chef and pitmaster Drew Robinson, who is based in Birmingham, Alabama, via Twitter: "RT @jimdunaway: Everyone asking how to help. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox tells me # for volunteers. 205-561-4169. Text REDCROSS to 90999 for $10 donation"

- Brittany Turner of Legislative Barbie is compiling a list of Tuscaloosa Tornado Relief Efforts

- The good people of Blackberry Farm are offering relief and shelter to those who very much need it right now.

A few of our favorite Alabama chefs on Twitter: Christopher Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club | Drew Robinson of Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q | Dreamland BBQ

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.

Blimey! With all the recent “I do” hullabaloo, it's a bit surreal that the royal nuptials are finally happening.

And because scrambling at four in the morning for party supplies sounds like a positively dodgy idea, we've enlisted our very own British expat to teach us colonials how to properly celebrate. Penny Bradley is the co-owner of LYON in New York City and, conveniently enough, Yorkshire-born.

Five Ways to Celebrate the Royal Wedding in True British Style: Penny Bradley
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Everybody must get sconed - including Her Majesty the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth's Drop Scones
Enough for 16 people
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Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe.

• Crown roast: Jay Rayner predicts the royal couple's menu. - Guardian

• Gefilte guilt and the unsatisfactory state of Jewish-American food.  - TIME

• Which food causes the most foodborne illness in the United States? - US News and Report

• The Torrisi boys and their quest to identify the inimitable and immigrant-heavy terroir of New York City. - New York Times Magazine

• Instead of using 50 hot dogs in a competitive eating contest, Robert Sietsema suggests a novel thought: give them to the hungry. - Village Voice

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday.

Summer is so close, you can practically taste it:  April 28 is Blueberry Pie Day.

Pioneers first started the tradition of making fruit-filled pies in the United States because of an abundant berry crop.  What better way to eat extra fruit than baked inside a flaky crust?

Some people swear that the secret to a perfect blueberry pie is cardamom.  Substitute a pound of blueberries for a half pound of peaches in this peach and cardamom pie recipe for a flavorful variation (idea courtesy of the Daring Domestic).

If you're feeling more traditional, try this original lattice-top blueberry celebration, complete with video demonstration.

With just a few ingredients, it’s a dessert as easy as pie.  Just don’t leave it cooling on the windowsill too long. Remember kids, only you can prevent pie piracy.

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