Food

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday cautioned consumers against using quinine for leg cramps, warning that the drug could cause severe side effects, including death. Quinine, sold in this country under the brand name Qualaquin, is approved for treatment of uncomplicated malaria, but has a long history of use as a remedy for leg cramps, especially at night. In many countries, it is sold over the counter. Studies have shown that it can reduce the incidence of cramps by one-third to one-half but that as many as one in every 25 users can suffer serious side effects.

If you came up with a better prune, would the world beat a path to your door? That's what Jim Doyle, a now-retired UC Davis fruit breeder, was hoping in 1992 when he crossed Improved French, the standard variety for prunes, with Tulare Giant, a large-fruited fresh-market European plum. He was searching for a variety that ripened earlier than Improved French, to allow producers to harvest and dry their crops more efficiently; he succeeded in this, but by chance the new variety, named Muir Beauty, was irresistibly delicious.

Michael Moore and Susan Sarandon have dropped in. A seasoned diplomat dispenses free advice. Supporters send everything from boxes of food and clothes to Whole Foods gift cards. They even have their own app, for the legions of fans following them on iPhones and Androids. Nearly two weeks into a sit-in at a park in Manhattan's financial district, the "leaderless resistance movement" calling itself Occupy Wall Street is at a crossroads. The number of protesters on scene so far tops out at a few hundred, tiny by Athens or Cairo standards.

Régis Bouvier is something of a genie, turning out lovely Burgundies at affordable prices. The 2009 Marsannay from the lieu fit (named vineyard) Clos du Roy hit my buttons with its lush Pinot Noir perfume and taste of fresh cherries and earth. This is Burgundy, sweet and gentle. Bouvier's Marsannay vineyard isn't premier cru but may as well be for the quality of the juice it produces. A fine value from a fine winemaker and grower. Open a bottle for a braised chicken dish, maybe one with bacon, mushrooms and pearl onions.

Think of boxing's quest for fame and fortune as a game of musical chairs. Recently, the song stopped and Tim Bradley quickly sat down. The 28-year-old fire hydrant, a 140-pounder from Palm Springs with lightning-quick hands and feet, signed with Top Rank Promotions. That's Bob Arum's company, and 46 years after he quit being a Harvard lawyer and found Muhammad Ali, Arum's is still the logo you want on your boxing gloves. Bradley had been with Gary Shaw's promotions, but when his contract ran out this summer, Bradley ran out too. Right to Arum.

In one of the largest expansions of health coverage to the uninsured, Los Angeles County is enrolling hundreds of thousands of residents in a publicly funded treatment program and setting the stage for the national healthcare overhaul. The county hopes to register as many as 550,000 patients and is assigning them to medical clinics for services at no cost to them. At the same time, the county is transforming its healthcare system to be less focused on acute care and more on primary care.

The waters near the nation's largest port complex have become a bustling feeding ground for increasing numbers of blue whales, putting the endangered animals at greater risk of being hit and killed by the enormous ships moving in and out of the harbor, according to researchers who've been tracking them for nearly two years. The whales, which migrate along the coast of California and are regularly spotted from May to December, are congregating in such numbers in the midst of this virtual freeway of ship traffic that the spot has become "the area of densest concentration close to shore in all of California," said research scientist John Calambokidis.

The Obama administration said it will review the cases of 300,000 illegal immigrants currently in deportation proceedings to identify "low-priority" offenders — including the elderly, crime victims and people who have lived in the U.S. since childhood — with an eye toward allowing them to stay. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the review as the Obama administration has sought to counter criticism that it has been too harsh in its deportation policies. By launching the case-by-case review, officials said they are refocusing deportation efforts on convicted felons and other "public safety threats.

  Momofuku's Crack Pie Total time: 1 1/2 hours, plus cooling and chilling times Servings: Makes 2 pies (6 to 8 servings each) Note: Adapted from Momofuku. This pie calls for 2 (10-inch) pie tins. You can substitute 9-inch pie tins, but note that the pies will require additional baking time, about 5 minutes, due to the increased thickness of the filling. Cookie for crust 2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon (3 ounces) flour Scant 1/8 teaspoon baking powder Scant 1/8 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (1 stick)

A portion is a portion is a portion -- unless, that is, it's a giant, super, king or grande portion, in which case it's probably trouble. Over the last 30 years, portions have grown by heaps and mounds in restaurants across the country and in many homes as well. During that same time, the waistlines of Americans consuming those mega-meals have grown more and more generous too -- to the point that now two-thirds of American adults are considered overweight.

Tuscan chicken stew Total time: About 1 hour Servings: 4 Note: Adapted from Food Network Kitchens' "How to Boil Water. " 1 onion 4 cloves garlic 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini or Great Northern beans 8 bone-in skinless chicken thighs (about 3 pounds) Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Pinch crushed red pepper flakes 1 large sprig rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/2 cup dry red wine 1 (14-ounce)

Dear SOS: I'm a regular at BLD on Beverly Boulevard and absolutely love its fresh vegetable salad — so simple yet all the ingredients blend perfectly! Would love the recipe, especially for the dressing! Thanks, Stephanie Swedlove Los Angeles Dear Stephanie: Fresh, lightly herbal, sweetened with a touch of honey and with just the right amount of tang, BLD tosses its homemade dressing with a wonderfully bright and colorful salad of crunchy fresh corn, edamame, roasted bell peppers and green beans, along with diced rich avocado and toasted cashews.

Here's a big bear hug of a dry stout. It pours dark, dark brown, virtually opaque, with a medium tan head. The nose is fairly malty with a hint of molasses, but it's also piney and a little peppery. On the palate, it's less sweet than the nose would suggest — in fact, hoppier than sweet, with a long, dryish, medium-bitter finish. Big Bear Black Stout actually registers 55 International Bittering Units, which is well up in IPA territory, though it's not as bitter as many a West Coast insane IPA (if you're in the mood for insane hoppiness, try Bear Republic Brewing Co.'s Red Rocket Ale)

King's Burgers/Got Sushi? LOCATION 9345 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, (818) 885-6456 PRICES Burgers, $5.59 to $7.99; specialty bowls, $7.50 to $8.99; sushi rolls and appetizers, $4.50 to $7.50; specialty rolls and sashimi plates, $7.50 to $15; omakase , $60 and up. DETAILS King's Burgers is open 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Got Sushi? is open 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner.

Los Angeles Food & Wine, a new annual festival featuring top chefs and in-demand restaurants, debuts this weekend at L.A. Live (and various locations around the city), featuring more than 100 celebrity chefs who will take part in demos, seminars, lunches, dinners and after-hours events, with tastings from more than 300 wineries. Participants include Wolfgang Puck, Sang Yoon, Nancy Silverton, Tom Colicchio and many more. Locations and times vary. Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets to events range from $50 to $2,000.

Here's the deal: You know a lot about food. You've seen all the shows; you've read all the books. On Chowhound you're a god. You love Vinny and Jon and Lindy and Grundy, and you always — always — get your reservation at LudoBites. But when it comes to cooking, well, there's a little problem. It's not that you can't cook; it's just that what you do in your own kitchen doesn't really match up to your aspirations. You dream of flying, but you're finding it hard to get off that skateboard.

Southern California, long the epicenter for customizing cars and motorcycles, is now also the go-to place for made-to-order food trucks. The food truck craze has revived one of the region's classic postwar businesses — catering trucks — breathing new life into the companies that sprang up decades ago to make the vehicles that frequent construction sites, factories and movie shoots. Hopeful gourmet truck entrepreneurs come from all over the country to get retired vehicles transformed into gleaming, rolling emporiums that dish out everything from comfort food to exotic fare.

WASHINGTON – Following a spike in reported complications, the Food and Drug Administration released an updated advisory Wednesday about a surgical mesh implanted in women to strengthen vaginal tissue that can become weakened, especially after childbirth. In its report, the FDA says a review of industry literature and the adverse event reports has shown little evidence that the device, which is implanted vaginally or abdominally, improves pelvic organ prolapse, where a woman's uterus, bladder, or rectum can slip out of place.

Mac 'n' cheese with soubise Total time: 1½ hours Servings: 6 Note: Adapted from Michael Ruhlman's "Ruhlman's Twenty. " Soubise 1/4 cup (½ stick) butter, divided 1 onion, sliced Kosher salt 1 shallot, roughly chopped 3 tablespoons flour 1 1/2 cups milk 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 3 tablespoons sherry 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 to 2 teaspoons dry mustard 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 6 or 7 gratings of fresh nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon cayenne or smoked paprika 1. Melt half the butter in a medium pan over medium heat and add the onion and a four-fingered pinch (about one-fourth teaspoon)