Huevos rancheros, hold the huevos. Not so long ago, searching the Southwest for vegan Mexican food would glean you “hippy dippy white vegan stuff like tempeh, or they get a taco and put cubes of soy in it,” according to Los Angeles food columnist Gustavo Arellano. This is the norm no more, according to a new Associated Press feature, which documents the rise of a sophisticated vegan Mexican dining scene—and the grudging acceptance it has met with in traditional corners of the community. If we were to critique the piece un poco, we would want to read more about the actual food!
Bodega blues. Whether you stop in for milk and bread, a cup of morning Joe, or a legendary chopped cheese sandwich, the bodega is a crucial cornerstone for many New Yorkers. Yet as gentrification continues its spread across the five boroughs, small businesses are at risk of increased commercial rents. Meanwhile, city agencies and NGOs are incentivizing bodega owners to update their iconic storefronts with shiny signs and glass walls. As empty storefronts create opportunities for a change in the city’s streetscapes, what will remain of the local bodega? Curbed New York has the story.
Deal or no deal. House Democrats are aiming to strike up a compromise with Republicans that will give farmworkers—an estimated half of whom don’t have work authorization—legal status in the U.S. This concession would come in exchange for a new requirement that all employers use E-Verify, an internet-based verification system that checks a job applicant’s eligibility to work. (Currently, E-Verify is mandated on a state-by-state basis.) Though increased E-Verify use has long been on the GOP wishlist, some Republicans consider giving legal status to farmworkers a non-starter. The last time such a path to farmworker citizenship was granted was during Reagan’s presidency. Pew Charitable Trusts’ Stateline blog has the story.
Disrupt disruption. UberEats has a novel new feature called “Pickups” which we’ll let them describe for you: “You place an order through the Eats app and you go to the restaurant to collect it.” In a post positively dripping with snark, The Takeout gets to the heart of this goofy proposition—UberEats is suggesting you go get your own food, then trumpeting that you won’t have to pay a delivery fee! Some fees will apply.
McNope. What happens when you combine a Big Mac and artificial intelligence? Fries with that. McDonald’s has developed new technology to nudge customers by making menu suggestions based on the time of day, weather, and wait times, The New York Times reports. McD’s has even tested technology that can recognize license-plate numbers and suggest customer purchases based on their drive-through habits. George Orwell is salivating in his grave. (Honestly, though, we would show up for a Big Brother-themed Happy Meal promotion.)
