The Intelligence Brief is our weekly compendium of food and drink news sourced from outlets all over the world, including right here at home.

Parallel 49 is getting some love from Ricky Gervais after the comedian names their Ruby Tears beer one of the best he’s ever tasted.

From Buffalo to Denver and Minneapolis to Louisville, a few top chefs weigh in on their favourite unexpected foodie cities.

Scout sits down with PiDGiN owner Brandon Grossutti to talk memorable dining experiences, enduring lessons and staying excited after 7 years of restaurant ownership.

Punch breaks down five must-try Japanese gins currently on the market.

A touching tribute to restauranteur B. Smith and recognizing the incredible impact she had on the world of food and drink.

“Like Leah Chase, Willie Mae Seaton, and Edna Lewis, Smith was an example of resilience and ingenuity in a professional climate that devalues the contributions of Black women. Often referred to as the “Black Martha Stewart” by predominantly white media, she proudly identified herself as a cook and recognized the history of Black women as the original domestic laborers of this country.”

While it’s well outside their job descriptions, nut farmers are having to play match maker in their orchards as climate change continues to impact the sex lives of trees.

This new fried fish food truck hit the streets this past week and it’s already got us hook, line and sinker.

This week in local food and podcasts: local chef, restaurateur and Cooks Camp 2020 organiser Robert Belcham talks with local cooks about the hospitality trade and how it might be fixed in a new series called Mis En Place.

And speaking of Cooks Camp 2020, tickets are now on sale.

Sommelier and activist Ashtin Berry talks about her work to increase representation and accessibility in the wine world.

“She’s been working in hospitality since she was a teenager in the mid 2000s. The industry is where she fell in love with wine, but it’s also where she began to understand that the industry is overwhelmingly white, and that the barriers to success for people of color are seemingly endless.”

The James Beard Award semifinalists were announced this past week with number of PNW nominees including Portland’s Expatriate and Eem and Seattle’s Il Nido and Canlis.

Take a peek at how much each democratic candidate is spending on food during this never-ending primary season (spoiler alert: the billionaires are topping the charts).

And speaking of democratic candidates, please enjoy this delightful video of Stephen Colbert breaking bread with Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Vancouver is getting some plant-based love as Acorn and Meet are named two of the best vegan restaurants in the world.

History in a bottle: with only 48 in the world, this limited edition, 45-year-old Irish whiskey is up for grabs for the bargain price of $40,000.

Are you finished with that? Recent research seems to explain why Granville Island seagulls are fearless when it comes to stealing your food.

A rare condition wherein this woman was unknowingly brewing beer in her stomach led medical professionals to deny her a much-needed liver transplant.

“Auto-brewery syndrome, also called gut-fermentation syndrome, is a rare condition in which excess yeast in the digestive system is fermented into alcohol and then released into the bloodstream.”

Eating via Instagram honours this week goes to @tokyo_to for reminding us of the incredible tacos we’re lucky to have here in Vancouver:

View this post on Instagram

what’s a girl gotta do to get some decent Mexican food in Montreal? ?

A post shared by nicole wong ? (@tokyo_to) on Feb 5, 2020 at 9:20am PST

Time is money and while food delivery apps are increasing in popularity, there’s a price to be paid for that convenience.

Forget about taking the cake. This Alaskan town takes the pie!

Despite Starbucks recent efforts to promote equality within the company, a recent research study finds that black baristas are paid less than their white counterparts.

Looking for work in the industry? Check out who’s hiring!