Weekend Reading: Cookie Propaganda, Korean Soups and Stews, and More

The former French president François Mitterrand was a noted gourmand, and his last meal was an epic feast that included, among other delicacies, the illegal-to-eat ortolan, or songbird. Writer Michael Paterniti wrote about the dinner, and Mitterand's dying days, for Esquire. It's an amazing piece of food writing. Esquire —Camille Rankin, managing editor

Forget sushi. Never mind ramen. There are a ton of great Japanese restaurants in NYC that specialize in other less infamous, but no less delectable, dishes. From yakinuki (Japanese grilled meat) to izakaya (drinking spots that serve great food), here are a bunch of options. [Huffington Post] —Adam Bookbinder, art director

Spicy and deeply flavored, Korean soups and stews might just be the best thing you can put in your belly when the weather is cold. For your next Korean meal, bookmark Serious Eats' helpful (and tantalizing) primer on Korean soups and stews. It offers an overview of the difference between jjigae (stews), guk (soups), and tang and jang (meat-based soups and stews), along with deep-dives into 18 mouthwatering bowls that you'll definitely want to try this season. Serious Eats —Karen Shimizu, senior editor, @karemizu

Activists in South Korea use chocolate biscuits as an anti-communist propaganda tool, sending them to North Korea attached to balloons with political leaflets. [BBC] —Mari Uyehara, senior editor, @mariuyehara

I'm familiar with breakup ice cream, but until I read about Tan Shen, a gal from Chengdu, China who hunkered down in a local K.F.C. for a solid week to mend her broken heart, I didn't fully understand the healing power of The Colonel's extra-crispy fried chicken. [People] —Kellie Evans, associate food editor