Items you may have missed from the Serious Eats universe ...

• Jennifer Maiser muses over the dilemma of how to eat locally when eating ethnic food. [Life Begins at 30]
• Leah Greenstein reminds us to keep an open mind and re-try foods that we may dislike, and also shares a perfect hot summer day recipe for cucumber avocado soup. [SpicySaltySweet]
• Chicago correspondent Michael Nagrant examines the bad rep of soybeans, thanks to being frequently masqueraded around as tasteless fake meat. [Hungry Mag]
• Cocktail connoisseur Paul Clarke suggests skipping eBay and opting for the high-quality replicas of vintage cocktail books by Mud Puddle Books for you collectors. [The Cocktail Chronicles]

• Snapshots from Vietnam contributor Cathy Danh takes a look at the tapas trend emerging within various ethnic cuisines in Ho Chi Minh City. [Gastronomy]
• Dinner Tonight contributor Nick Kindelsperger gives a shot at making his own bacon: "Certainly not the easiest thing I've done, but I think completely worth it." [The Paupered Chef]
• Cooking with Kids contributor Matthew Amster-Burton on supermarket club cards: "You know how manufacturers pay supermarkets for shelf space? I'm going to charge supermarkets for wallet space." [Roots and Grubs]
• Sandwich man Zach Brooks ventures over to Beacon for the mini burgers at the Burger Bar and has mixed feelings on whether or not it's really a "Midtown Lunch." [Midtown Lunch]