We’ve got a sweet idea for how to celebrate National Pickle Day. Kick back with a jar of something briney and delicious (we favor spears of the homemade variety, or ones by McClure’s or Brooklyn Brine) and revisit Portlandia’s hilarious commentary on one sector of the artisanal food movement: “We can pickle that”.

Ah, the random food holiday. It’s something we will always love and, rest assured, find a way to honor on this blog. And today, to celebrate National Nut Day, we plan to dig into a big bag of macadamias and watch this scene from Best in Show at least a few times. Because really who isn’t nuts (sorry, couldn’t resist) about Christopher Guest? FV

As you may have noticed, despite the fact that there are no longer channels devoted to playing them around-the-clock, we still have some hardcore music video love around these parts. And when videos happen to feature anything food or drink-related we get particularly excited. Such is the case with “Coffee & TV”, the toe-tapper released by Brit band Blur in the late ‘90s (Proof of its ‘90s cred? It appeared on the Cruel Intentions soundtrack) starring an animated milk carton. Yup, that’s right. It’s downright adorable, but if humanized dairy products aren’t your thing, not to worry, it’s also a pretty great song. Definitely not an, ahem, milk dud. FIORELLA V.

Nowadays symbols of American consumption like Starbucks and McDonalds can be found the world over. In fact, when I’m traveling I’m often more surprised when I don’t see those institutions anywhere. That was the case when I visited Northern India a few years ago. For ten days, nary a set of golden arches did I see. Though McDonald’s has had a discreet presence in the country for years, this week they made an announcement that might help significantly boost their Indian popularity: they are opening a vegetarian-only branch. My first reaction, I will admit, was ew. I pictured Big Macs and Quarter Pounders as patty-less wonders of condiment and nothing more, or, just as unappealing, a vortex of meat substitutions: tempeh nuggets, anyone? But at the McDonald’s outpost opening near Amristar’s Golden Temple, a Sikh shrine at which meat consumption is not permitted, the vegetarian menu will include Indian-style creations like the already-popular, spicy potato-based McAloo Tikki burger. Which, I have to admit, sounds sort of delicious. FIORELLA

Historically music videos have not exactly been known to provide an accurate lens into the lives of the characters in them—after all, if we were to take their stories as truth all the “business women” I know are wearing clothes that are not nearly tight or short enough. And the role of video waitress, as too much time spent combing You Tube proved, has been subject to a variety of interpretations over the years (none, surprisingly, by the actual band The Waitresses). Herewith, a few of our favorites for your Friday viewing pleasure. Happy long weekend! FIORELLA

“Brass in Pocket” by The Pretenders

Our hands down favorite waitress music video moment. Though it’s true that Chrissie Hynde would be the coolest anything—hot dog vendor, bus driver, Gap sales associate etc—ever, she brings a new level of insouciant hip to the role of crummy diner waitress in the video for seminal Pretenders song “Brass in Pocket”. With her kohl-rimmed eyes and top-heavy bouffant, there really is nobody else here like her. Best part? The “I’m special” line is accompanied by her bandmates pointing to the “Specials” section of the menu. Pretty clever in a low-fi kind of way if you ask me.

http://vimeo.com/5037293

“She Works Hard for the Money” by Donna Summer

The titular “she” in Donna Summer’s female anthem really does work hard for the money. Ridiculously hard in fact. First she has to report for coffee-doling duties (with a side of ass-grabbing from male customers) at the low-grade diner she waitresses at before going to man a sewing machine at some sketchy sweat shop in the garment district, all before returning home to contend with her two bratty kids who yell and spill stuff. Oh, and did we mention her house gets broken into too? And all this waitress really wants to do is dance. Thankfully she gets to do just that—in the streets, with an army of other working women—at the end of the video. Phew; otherwise it would have been too bleak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deK2ZBrAw5g

“Womanizer” by Britney Spears

It should come as no surprise that in the land of Brit Brit a waitress is a highly sexualized creature who favors form-fitting attire and likes to think of that thing called a serving tray as a mere prop during spontaneous heated dance routines. No, really, what else is it for? And the inimitable Miss Spears has taken a turn as a waitress in two of her video opuses. In “Womanizer”, in which she also takes on the very sexy jobs of chauffeur and that aforementioned abstract “business woman”, Brit is a bad-ass (you know, cause she has tattoos and wears pleather pants) cocktail waitress at a rooftop bar, while in “Drive Me Crazy” (which features cameos by a pre-Entourage Adrien Grenier and Sabrina the Teenage Witch) she is a pigtailed, gum-snapping waitress at what appears to be a club.

“Again” by Lenny Kravitz

Gina Gershon is sooooo high maintenance. Or, at least that’s what Lenny Kravitz thinks in this video for his song “Again”. I mean, imagine a girlfriend who lives with you demanding a little affection and attention? It’s just so depressing for Kravitz, and his amazing Soho loft apartment, general fame and fortune, and chiseled physique (so much of it gets screen time it sort of warrants a mention) do nothing to make him feel better. So he’s forced to walk his lonely, sad self down to Café Habana and woo the beautiful lanky waitress working the counter there with claims that “he’s never had a yearning quite like this before”. Lies.

There’s a lot I appreciate about Elaine Benes: her prudish fashion sense (think demure granny floral dresses and brogues with ankle socks), her quick wit, her pioneering hair pouf (Snooki who?), and her singular dancing abilities among them. But lest we not forget that Elaine was also a pioneer of something else: the breakfast baked good. Or rather, part of one: the muffin top. Here, enjoy a glimpse back at her passionately anti-stump stance. FIORELLA