Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs

Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below.

Great Food Houston: Former EOW blogger Ruthie Johnson posts on her personal food blog about the state of the city in 2010 and what she hopes to see in 2011. Her list of Houston accomplishments in the past year is a salient argument for why Houston was recently named one of the nation's best food cities by John Mariani and Esquire.

Dude, You Going to Eat That?: On the other end of the year-end spectrum, Dr. Ricky offers up his argument against any "best of" lists, being particularly aggravated at the overlap that often occurs in these lists to the exclusion of smaller, more overlooked yet equally worthy restaurants.

H-Town Chow Down: Albert Nurick shows why wonderful service at a restaurant -- even a chain restaurant -- can make even the most staid meal special. I wish there were more "Cookies" in the world...

29-95: Chris Reid encourages you to make at least one of your New Year's resolutions this: Explore Houston's diverse dining scene. This blog post is a great jumping off point for those looking to live a little in Gulfton, Chinatown or Long Point.

Chicago Tribune: Finally, it appears that the "foodie backlash" is still making waves across the country. And, as always, it's a food blogger/writer -- Christopher Borrelli, in this case -- who's making the stand against food lovers who are "a little too insistent, a little unhinged." Are these rotten apples in the bunch really becoming that big of a problem within the context of the larger food world? With a "lack of self-awareness and privilege creeps in that veers toward self-parody," Borrelli argues that these foodies are, indeed, that proverbial little kid who pees in the pool and ruins it for the rest of us.