Here are the craziest dust-ups that went down this year, from the war on Paula Deen to the anti-grapefruit crusade.
Anthony Bourdain vs. Paula Deen
Paula Deen: "Hey, y'all, guess what? I have diabetes and whatever, I'm still into doughnut burgers but also totally coincidentally endorsing a diabetes treatment drug, maybe you should check it out."
Anthony Bourdain: "Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business so I can profitably sell crutches later."
WINNER: Tie.
Bourdain got people to pay attention to him. Paula Deen got a ton of drug money and also lost 30 lbs.
Park Slope Food Co-Op vs. Israeli Hummus
A little background: There is an infamously self-righteous grocery store in Brooklyn's yuppiest neighborhood called the Park Slope Food Co-op. In order to shop there you have to also volunteer to work there.
In March, the Park Slope Food Co-op Members for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (aka BDS) lobbied for the store to boycott Israeli hummus and other Israeli products (including SodaStream seltzer makers! Did you guys even know those were made in the Holy Land?). This was because they wanted to make a Big Statement, via hummus, against the Israeli government's anti-Palestinian actions. The boycott was opposed by a rival faction within the co-op called More Hummus, Please.
ALL OF THIS IS REAL AND REALLY HAPPENED. The Daily Show segment covering this epic showdown is really worth watching.
WINNER: Hummus.
The boycott died a swift death when the co-op *voted not to vote* on the ban.
