Deceptive Morsels

From The New Yorker’s archive: a menu of pieces about food of suspicious (or even illegal) origin. View in browser | Update your preferences Deceptive Morsels As you recover from Thanksgiving’s indulgences, step away from the fridge. It’s better to read than eat, at least for now. This week, we bring you a menu of pieces about food of suspicious (or even illegal) origin. In “Raw Deal,” Dana Goodyear reports on a raw-milk-trafficking gang in California known as the Rawesome Three. In “Slippery Business,” Tom Mueller explores the trade in adulterated olive oil, a business so prevalent in Europe that it became the focus of an anti-fraud olive-oil task force. Sometimes the source of intrigue is drink. In “The Jefferson Bottles,” Patrick Radden Keefe investigates the mystery behind one wine collector’s flair for tracking down rare vintages—including, it was alleged, invaluable bottles from the private collection of Thomas Jefferson. (“The level of wine was ‘exceptionally high’ for such an old bottle—just half an inch below the cork—and the color ‘remarkably deep for its age.’ The wine’s value was listed as ‘inestimable.’ ”) Finally, in “The Maraschino Mogul,” Ian Frazier writes about a factory in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn hiding illicit activities in its basement. Cherries on top, and something else below. Who knew? —David Remnick From The New Yorker’s Archive Dept. of Gastronomy Raw Deal California cracks down on an underground gourmet club. By Dana Goodyear | April 30, 2012 Letter from Italy Slippery Business The trade in adulterated olive oil. By Tom Mueller | August 13, 2007 Newsletters Sign Up for The New Yorker’s Movie Club Newsletter Reviews of the current cinema, plus recommendations for classics and underrated treasures available on streaming services, every Friday. A Reporter at Large The Jefferson Bottles How could one collector find so much rare fine wine? By Patrick Radden Keefe | September 3 & 10, 2007 Our Local Correspondents The Maraschino Mogul After the bees turned red, Arthur Mondella’s cherry empire revealed its secrets. By Ian Frazier | April 23, 2018 You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the New Yorker Classics newsletter. Was this e-mail forwarded to you? Sign up. Unsubscribe | Manage your e-mail preferences | Send newsletter feedback | View our Privacy Policy Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.