Frank Bruni Moves from Dining Section to Op-Ed Page; Subway Tests Café Model

The United Food and Commercial Workers union is trying to mobilize 5,000 workers at 27 Target stores in the New York City area. [NY Times]

The city has extended its 2003 ban on smoking in restaurants and bars to include city parks and public beaches. [Reuters]

Despite economic woes and rising inflation, sales of organic foods continue to grow in Europe and the United States, attracting investors. [NY Times]

Former New York Times food critic and author Frank Bruni has been named an op-ed columnist at the paper. [Wall Street Journal]

Joseph Yannai, a cookbook author in Westchester, was charged with molesting eight young female assistants between 2003 and 2009. [NY Post]

A new social networking site called Restaurant Reason, launched by a waiter, enables restaurants to train staff and do online scheduling. [Wall Street Journal]

Cattle ranchers around the country are up in arms over new regulations for branding cows that will not recognize hot-iron brands and instead call for numerical ID tags. [Wall Street Journal]

The Daily Meal ranked America’s most successful celebrity chefs, with Wolfgang Puck and Jamie Oliver getting top honors. [NY Post]

Subway is taking a page out of McDonald’s book and testing a more upscale format called Subway Café that will feature espresso drinks and baked goods. [Nation’s Restaurant News]