Winery scam; Martini Madness sold out and other food and wine events; Disappeared restaurants updates; nibs and sips (Sonoma Index-Tribune) Martini Madness sold out ... As some of you may have, I received an e-mail purportedly from one "Anna Maldonado" who identifies herself as "an American" and whose e-mail address appears to be an Italian hosting site called Katamail.com . She says she lives and works in Bangkok, Thailand, and that "when I was around last time I got a bottle of one of your wines from a friend as a gift and I love ... [News Source]

North Dakota beef finding export markets (The Bismarck Tribune) Two Asian countries with a taste for North Dakota beef have visitors touring the state this week, including a group with plans to start processing cattle here. [News Source]

Hard times for tourism industry (Sherbrooke Record) “A difficult year, but not catastrophic.” That is how the Eastern Townships Tourism association characterized the past year’s tourist activity. For a number of reasons, 2009 saw the Eastern Townships have to deal with about $15 million in lost revenue. [News Source]

U.S. bone-in beef shipment has passed document review (Chinapost.com.tw) The first shipment of U.S. bone-in beef to Taiwan in five years has passed a document review. The beef can clear customs for satisfactory foods pending a thorough examination concerning drug and chemical remnants in the product. [News Source]

Swing star Michael Andrew performs with BSO (Florida Today) Musical stylings of the so-called "Great American Songbook" should fill the King Center auditorium Saturday when the Brevard Symphony Orchestra presents "Singin' & Swingin' Pops Concert with Michael Andrew." [News Source]

Swine flu was as elusive as WMD. The real threat is mad scientist syndrome. Remember the warnings of 65,000 dead? Health chiefs should admit they were wrong – yet again – about a global pandemic. [News Source]

Football fixtures for January 16, 17, 19, 20 (Isle of Wight County Press) SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 Sydenhams Wessex Football League, Premier Division: Hamworthy Utd v Brading Town; Newport v New Milton Town; East Cowes Victoria v Fawley; Hayling Utd v Cowes Sports. [News Source]

Key shipment of US bone-in beef arrives in Taiwan (AFP via Yahoo! News) The first shipment of US beef-on-the-bone arrived in Taiwan on Friday, amid a controversy over the island's decision to re-impose a ban on other beef imports because of health concerns. [News Source]

DOH vows vigorous inspection of U.S. bone-in beef (Chinapost.com.tw) TAIPEI, Taiwan --The Cabinet-level Department of Health (DOH) promised to conduct vigorous inspections of U.S. bone-in beef Friday after the first batch of six packages of the U.S. beef arrived in Taiwan earlier that day after a five-year hiatus. [News Source]

First batch of U.S. bone-beef arrives, second one due next week (Chinapost.com.tw) TAIPEI, Taiwan --The first shipment of 163 kg of U.S. bone-in beef arrived in Taiwan Friday after a hiatus of five years, according to Davis Wu, director of the Taiwan office of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. [News Source]