Food isn't just the universal icebreaker: As Middle Tennessee's burgeoning foodie blogosphere proves, it's also the gateway to almost any topic you'd care to discuss—politics, as on Nicole Sauce's The Tennessee Waltz (nicolesauce.com); globe-trotting, as on Lannae Long's Lannae's Food & Travel (lannaelong.blogspot.com) and Joy Ramirez's Joy of Cooking (joycooks.blogspot.com); music, every Thursday on the great Ulika BBQ blog (ulikafoodblog.com). The increased scrutiny is no doubt a mixed blessing for local chefs, as the comment threads on the Scene's food blog Bites (blogs.nashvillescene.com/bites) sometimes resemble a culinary Dodge City. But it can't be coincidence that Middle Tennessee restaurants are bringing the heat now that the online community is watching—especially Claudia Young, whose cook eat FRET (cookeatfret.com) has a national rep among the foodie elite. An informed citizenry is the best thing that could happen to local restaurants—and to local eaters. —JIM RIDLEY