The San Francisco Chronicle had an interesting and informative article today on what's believed to be "the only sustainable sushi bar in North America." It serves no bluefin toro, hamachi, unagi, octopus or spider rolls (from Chinese blue crabs). It's called Tataki. Read about what they serve instead and how they do it here.

According to various news reports and this one from ABC News, beginning this week, the USDA is requiring that all food retailers label some foods with their country of origin. The law, called COOL (Country of Origin Labeling) will mandate that the consumer is informed where all "raw beef, veal, lamb, pork, chicken, goat, wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and whole ginseng" are from.

Amid the widening Chinese milk scandal, this might seem timely, but the ABC article correctly notes that the recent outbreak of E. coli was from spinach grown in California.

You've heard the grim statistic: Nine out of ten new restaurants close after one year. There are some who question whether it is true, so far as to call it a myth. The figure is closer to one out of four, these experts say.

But these days, with established pros like David Wilhelm floundering, the first figure doesn't seem so far fetched.

Fury, which was until recently a night club and sushi joint a few blocks away from John Wayne Airport, has shuttered. What was it like? I couldn't tell you. The closest I came to trying it was when I walked up to the door when they weren't open to check out their menu, which was posted outside. From what I read, it featured the usual assortment of rolls.

Though I can't recollect when the place actually opened, it didn't seem longer than a year ago.

In its place, a new restaurant and lounge called Code is planned. My source, who still wants to remain anonymous, provided the picture and noted that the location is notorious for turnover. Before Fury, it was Hamburger Mary's.

But here's what I'm hoping for what with that name: a restaurant and club aimed at computer geeks. Think about it. That area of MacArthur is full of tech companies, and as such, software engineers and programmers. What's a better recipe for success than to cater to the segment of the population that still has jobs (at the moment)?

When it rains it pours. Last Friday saw at least three stores opening at Diamond Jamboree Center. On the weekend, it was H-Mart, -- the anchor (and only) supermarket -- and Guppy Tea House. Either that or they both just won the Kentucky Derby. There were wreaths of flowers, balloons, the works.

The parking lot was a mess, as we all expected, but there was at least a concerted effort to keep it under control. Those entering the complex through Millikan Ave. side were directed by uniformed employees to drive around the back of the H-Mart and out the other side -- because nothing puts a damper on a grand opening celebration than when your customers get run-down by cars.

When I get tired of Norm's across the street from Weekly world headquarters for breakfast, I drive up Main Street until it switches from SanTana to Orange and head toward Kaffa! The 2004 Weekly review yellowing on the wall needs just a couple of updates--the owner isn't Justin Wong anymore but a nice Korean couple...and really, that's about it. The paninis still excel, both the breakfast variety and lunch specials (get the latter, especially, since it comes with a substantial salad). For the former, I always chow down on the Western bacon scramble--eggs shaped into a triangle, with mushrooms, crunch bacon strips, and melted cheddar in-between focaccia slices--and wash it down with freshly squeezed orange juice.

But one thing I cannot recommend is what Kaffa! is most famous for: coffee. People always assume I'm addicted to the stuff given my energy and natural jitters, but I can't stand the stuff--and the smell is starting to get to me as well. Hell, I don't know the differences between lattes, espressos, iced drinks and a cuppa joe. But I'll trust the workers from St. Joseph's across the street, the professionals who pop in at all hours, and miladay--who always orders a large soy latte, no foam--and say Kaffa! brews good caffeine gold. You'll have to try it yourself--and, while you're there, get a copy of the Weekly!

Kaffa!, 424 S. Main St., Ste. K. Orange, (714) 978-1992

For about a few weeks in 2006, Irvine had its own outpost of BCD Tofu House, part of the empire built on boiling cauldrons of Korean soft tofu soup called sundubu jjigae. Then, like the Red October, there was a defection. BCD became Koba Tofu Grill (if there's any two words that sound weird together it's "tofu" and "grill"), and Irvine was BCD-less...until now, with the new BCD at Diamond Jamboree.

It opened yesterday, with a balloon arch and what looked like red carpet. But that's just part of the Korean invasion. BBQ Chicken -- which is actually known for its fried chicken cooked in olive oil -- is also open for business, as is Chae Bahn next to it.

However, it seems that a Taiwanese bakery has got all the Koreans eateries beat. 85°C Bakery Café, which also had its grand debut yesterday, had a line out that snaked out the door and around the corner.

Me, I'm still looking forward to Capital Seafood.

A week late in posting, but better late than never: Orange Coast College's Captain's Table, the restaurant that functions as a lab and training class for the school's culinary students, is now open for the Fall Semester. Actually, their inaugural lunch was last week.

I've been to a few of these in the past and it's always been fun (if only because you're really rooting for these kids to do well). And although some of the themes are better than others (the French lesson theme was much better than their Japanese one), the food is always a bargain for the quality.

This year, they're changing things up. The focus will be on American regional cooking and the meals will be served family style and not individually plated.

But it still occurs every Thursday, though there is now only one seating: at noon. The cost is $12. But as always, the food will be cooked and served by the students themselves.

Their reservations book gets filled up quickly, so call ahead.

Here's their full schedule.

I've always thought that Orange County's been Yogurtland's turf. Case in point: The Pinkberry over at The District seems so eerily quiet while the lines at Yogurtland's original Irvine location are consistently and perennially long.

When they opened a new Tustin store, near Haveli on Newport Ave., even that location saw hordes of people.

Now there's one slated to open across from UCI* (which I am sure won't do anything to the lines anywhere else), and others including Tustin Marketplace and the Northwood neighborhood of Irvine.

What they need to do though, is open one up at the Irvine Spectrum, where Pinkberry seems to be doing well.

Let's settle it once and for all people: I want to see a fro-yo battle royale which ends in spilled blood...er, berry juice.

And yes, I'll be rooting for the home team.

*Special thanks to my source, who wants to remain anonymous for his own protection, for the picture and the tip!

No it's not a story by The Onion. This one's reported by WPTZ, an NBC affliate.

Read it for yourselves here.

Score one for the little guy!

Fellow blogger and foodie Brekkie Fan sent me a note that the Starbucks at Newport Ave. and Main St. in Tustin is going to become the second outpost of Kean Coffee.

Kean -- as all caffeine junkies already know -- is Martin Diedrich's indie coffee house; The one he built from scratch in Newport Beach after he sold his much-beloved local gem Diedrich's Coffee to the Starbucks empire.

Well now that more and more Buckies stores are folding, (Hmm, I wonder why fewer people are willing to pay $5 for coffee nowadays) this news seems sweetly karmic.

Brekkie Fan even got the scoop from Martin Diedrich himself.

"I did meet Martin today while at Kean," she writes.

"He served me my quiche. We got to talking, and it's an interesting story. The spot they will be occupying (slated for a January opening) is actually the site of his original Diedrich Coffee. How very full circle/karma-like is that?"