Romney, Bachmann, Santorum and the rest of the '12 class of G.O.P. hopefuls (along with the attendant hordes of media folk) have descended upon Iowa to make pals with the caucusing public over pork products and pancakes. A diner is a fine place for these aspiring candidates to chow down with the hoi polloi, but if they really wanted to show the locals that they're not just flying by, they'd have made right for a Maid-Rite.

Since 1926, Iowans have been feasting on the the iconic "loose meat" sandwich, invented by Muscatine, Iowa butcher Fred Angell. Angell began franchising the idea throughout the Hawkeye State under the name "Maid-Rite" after a delivery man he'd drafted to taste his creation purportedly said, "You know, Fred, this sandwich is just made right."
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Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe.

• Pepsi is getting sued by a man who claims to have found a mouse in his Mountain Dew can. Pepsi cries "erroneous" saying Mountain Dew would have burned through the carcass. Pretty sure it's a lose-lose situation. - The Atlantic

• Lord Almighty, if you feel the temperature rising - just think what it means for the vineyards. - Environment 360

• The bottom line just got served: Restaurants respond to a hike in the minimum wage. - NRN

• Ruminations on Rick Santorum's visit to the Pizza Ranch. - Vanity Fair

• Eat oysters. Become a more interesting person. - Bites on Today

Wasabi lovers may want to add more than a small pinch to their soy sauce the next time they go to their local sushi bar. The green paste, made from a fiery root called Wasabia Japonica, it is not only the perfect accompaniment to raw fish - it has also been found to possess numerous health benefits.

Mentions of the now internationally popular condiment have been found in Japanese manuscripts dating as far back as the 8th century, when it was used more as a medical herb than a complement to food.

According to wasabi expert Naohide Kinae, recent studies have shown that the root has characteristics suppressing a bacterium responsible for many stomach related diseases, such as gastric inflammation and possibly even stomach cancer. Some have promoted it as a means to prevent food poisoning, one of the reasons why it is often served alongside raw fish.
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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.

Today is anything but the pits because January 3 is National Chocolate-Covered Cherry Day!

If you're at all concerned about breaking any resolutions so early in the game, just remember that cherries are not only fruit, but a super-fruit that is really good for you.

Sweet, indulgent chocolate-covered cherries have been in production since 1864. You know you're into something good when, with one bite, you hear that telltale snap and then a sweet liquid center oozing with cheery cherry goodness follows close behind.
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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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