Fake food inspectors, some gifts for Toronto, a solution to insane restaurant queues

Fake food inspectors, some gifts for Toronto, a solution to insane restaurant queues

Should Yonge Street be for pedestrians only? (Photo by Scott Snider)

• On the eve of Hogtown’s 175th birthday, Star urban affairs columnist Christopher Hume has a few gift suggestions for the city to give itself: new street food, 24-hour restaurants, a car-free Yonge Street and a unique Toronto cuisine. [Toronto Star]

• Fleecing the foodies: dozens of store and restaurant owners in the GTA have reported visits from fake health inspectors selling “safety tests” for $30 and $40. [Metro]

• A tarnished reputation and ailing economy aren’t fazing Maple Leaf Foods, which has devised a new “recession resilient” business model. If only the company could develop a similar resilience to bad press. [Reuters]

• The estrogen-mimicking chemical Bisphenol A has been found in 86 per cent of soft drinks sold across Canada. [Globe and Mail]

• Finally, there’s a solution to the perennial problem of disorganized restaurant lineups. ReadyPing allows restaurants with Internet access to page guests via cellphone. We’re looking at you, Bonjour Brioche. [Springwise.com]