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.

We admit it - there are far worse problems in the world than having too much grilled goodness around, but by Tuesday, even the most dedicated cooker-out can get sick of Sunday's ribs. Luckily, chef Patricio Sandoval of Mercadito Restaurants is here to help you transform leftover chicken, shrimp, steak, vegetable and pork drudgery into a festive second-chance feast.

And yep - he's sharing recipes to boot.

Five Ways to Use Grilled Leftovers: Patricio Sandoval
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In response to my recent article about a neighbor's highly odoriferous grilling habits, a goodly chunk of commenters raked me over the coals (or in this case the gas jets) for not marching over with a case of beer, introducing myself, and offering up a grilling lesson. I totally understand and celebrate that impulse, and it comes from a generous place.

In the little upstate New York town where I spend a lot of time, I fire up my smoker (many, many, many yards from anyone's house) and next thing I know, my husband and I are happily hosting a dinner party for half the town. A lit grill there is an invitation to dine - and that's the way it is in plenty of places around the country.

Not so in New York, where I've made my home for the past 15 years. In the Brooklyn neighborhoods I've lived in, the aforementioned salvo to a stranger would be met with at best suspicion and at worst, a call to the cops or an introduction to the business end of a baseball bat.
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Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe.

• How the "demonic" fork became fashionable to use. - Gizmodo

• A very posh tipple: the Pimm's Cup. - Slate

• California now requires all restaurant and retail workers involved with food to pass a food-safety test. - Nation's Restaurant News

• Tim "Eater X" Janus demonstrates his frank strategy for this weekend's Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest at Coney Island - Wall Street Journal

• A reluctant cook learns to accept failure and work with what she's got. - Oakdale Onward

From the Global Public Square blog:

Barbecued dog and steamed paws?

These and so much more were to be had at this weekend's dog meat festival near Seoul.

Alas, it was not to be.

Animal rights activists put up such a stink that the organizers, from the Korea Dog Farmers' Association, said there was no way they could go through with the event.

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This Independence Day, make your cookout the cream of the corn crop.

Living up to the old adage "knee-high by the Fourth of July," fresh bushels of summer corn are set to arrive at the farmers markets and grocery stores just in time for the long holiday weekend.

Instead of boiling the heck out of them, chow down on the cobs straight from the grill, paint them with butter and call it a day.

Or you can go the way of Chef Julian Medina of Toloache Restaurant and spice the summertime favorite up with the popular Mexican street food approach of elote: grilled (or sometimes roasted) corn on the cob slathered with mayonnaise, dusted with salty queso fresco and chili powder, and served with a tangy twist of lime.
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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.

Oh, snap! - July 1 is National Gingersnap Day.

This is one chewy cookie with an international reputation.  Famous for its cinnamon color, crackled top, snackalicious texture and spicy bite, gingersnaps suit even the pickiest of cookie aficionados.
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Pssst! Got a sec to chat?

We are utterly thrilled when readers want to hang out and talk – whether it's amongst themselves or in response to pieces we've posted. We want Eatocracy to be a cozy, spirited online home for those who find their way here.

Consider the daily Coffee Klatsch post as your VIP lounge – the primary comments thread for readers who'd like to chat about topics not related to the articles we're running. That way, everyone knows where to find each other, and each post's comments section remains on topic.
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