Second Servings: The Daily Meal's Week In Review 9/24/12

Sure, it's been a busy week and weekend. So you may have missed some of the great stories put out by The Daily Meal's talented editors and their fantastic special contributors. But you wouldn't want to head into the work week having missed some of the best food stories on the Web. So here's a second serving of some of the great food and drink stories that you definitely shouldn't have missed.

TOP NEWS/HOT ITEMS

Nick Offerman Performs Slam Poem for Bacon displaying his infinite love for bacon.

Apparently, 25 percent tips are the new norm, meaning 30 Percent Tips Could Soon Be the Norm.

EAT/DINE

Top Food Blogs of 2012: The Daily Meal look at the world's most popular English-language food blogs.

This week's Sandwich of the Week: Spitzer's Fried White Catfish Sandwich hails from New York City's Lower East Side.

TRAVEL

Celebrity chefs share their Top 25 Favorite Seattle Restaurants.

Headed to India? Enter for a chance to win accommodation at the Taj Palace in New Delhi with The Daily Meal's #BestHotelRestos Taj Palace New Dehli Sweepstakes.

COOK

Want to lower the amount of sodium in your diet? Try these 10 Low-Sodium Substitutes, which are easy and healthy ways to replace the sodium in your diet without doing away with flavor.

Would your kitchen pass a health inspection? The Daily Meal offers 15 Tips to Cook Safely in the Kitchen.

RECIPES

Figuring out which kind of oil to buy can be a slippery affair. Cooking Oils, Simplified sorts out the overwhelming selection.

Fresh or Dry Pasta? The Daily Meal explains the difference between fresh and dry pasta and how to sauce your chosen pasta appropriately.

ENTERTAIN

Go beyond steins and lederhosen and get tips on How to Host an Authentic Oktoberfest Bash.

With fall underway, try these Clever Chili Party Tips to enjoy one of the season's heartiest dishes.

VIDEO

Jody Eddy on 'Come In, We're Closed' — the author discusses her new book that looks into restaurant staff meals.

Ali Rosen sits down with Daniel Boulud and Cyril Lignac, who discuss Cooking Across Continents.

DRINK

Celebrate Oktoberfest — and the 200th birthday of the biergarten — at the Country's Best Beer Gardens.

Take the Wine Tutorial for Real Men and get tips from the Paso Wine Man.