It's often surprising how much lies at the intersection of food and politics. Beyond "power lunches," which are often political, lies a fiery little universe of food ideas that are controversial and potentially worthy of a wine-soaked discussion.

The newspapers know this, and each week we become a little more educated about the politics of what's on menus across the country.

'Dried-Up Profits' and The Bambi Factor

Naturally, as it's published from the seat of national power, The Washington Post does food politics really well. Today's front page is dominated by twin stories about grass-fed beef and venison. The first story focuses on the recent drought, and explains how we cannot have "grass-fed" cows without rain to water the dwindling green stuff.

"About 20 percent" of people invited to nosh venison samples at a D.C. Whole Foods Market declined because of what Hot Plates is going to call the Bambi Factor. Yes, "a certain adorable Disney fawn" is stopping them from branching out and trying this reportedly "lean, healthful choice with more protein, less saturated fat and three times more iron than beef."

Some may have the impression that deer meat would taste "gamy," as a friend of Hot Plates recently said. According to the article, that is true of white-tailed Bambis, but "farm-raised red deer tastes mild." Though the United States has almost 8,000 deer farms, only 20 percent of those produce deer meat that comes to market here.

Carrot Complications

Farm-to-school programs aim to get local produce into cafeterias, and this benefits schoolchildren and farmers alike. But the sweet carrots grown in upstate New York aren't making it into NYC schools because "the logistics are very complicated," according to The New York Times. The story is indeed complicated, but it is worth reading -- and city kids could even be eating locally grown "Carrot Crunchers" by the end of the month.

Mercury Worries? Some $mell a Fi$h

Young female tuna lovers got good news from the medical establishment a few weeks ago: Eat at least 12 ounces of seafood weekly, including tuna and mackerel. This was surprising to many who've been carefully watching their consumption since 2004, when both the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency warned women of the dangers of eating too much mercury-loaded fish, and recommended eating 12 ounces maximum.

Apparently, it didn't take long for people to sniff around: Now, "several coalition members have renounced the findings, some criticizing the coalition’s leadership for taking thousands of dollars from the fishing industry to promote the recommendations." The nutrition chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics, for one, is "appalled" about this fishy situation. Read for yourself and form your own opinion; Hot Plates is planning on sticking with moderation and common sense.

Savory and Tart

There are other blessedly non-political tasty bits to tell you about today. For olive lovers, there is nothing so perfect at the end of a long day -- or at the beginning of a long weekend -- than a bowl of mixed olives to enjoy with an afternoon cocktail. This New York Times story explains how these lovely little things get "from the tree to the table," which, in one olive artist's case, involves "packing them into jars with whole garlic cloves and hot peppers, sliced celery and lemons."

And after a salty meal, what is a better cleanser than a fat, tart grapefruit dripping with lip-stinging juice? The Rio Star grapefruits, from the south of Texas, sound amazing, and they are ready to eat now if you live in that region, says the Dallas Morning News. Along with the article comes a recipe that sounds odd but it might just be amazing: grapefruit cheesecake.

Virgin Cocktail: A Delicious Oxymoron

This week, we are going to do something a little different: this roundup will come in three small plates instead of one giant one. Today, we covered food stuff. Tomorrow it's people and places. Then, hooray, it's Wine Friday!

But just to give you a little sip of something good, and since it is only midweek, Hot Plates will leave you with this item about Pinot Noir Soda. The Berkeley company offers a Chardonnay version as well, and the L.A. Times writer says the drinks have the "floral notes of the grapes," but no tannins (and no alcohol). Won't take the edge off your day, but great for the long 9 months it takes to grow a baby!