The shop where I buy chicken ran out last weekend. Well, not completely: there were a few whole birds, some marinated segments and a few lonely boneless, skinless thighs kicking around. But the usual giant mountain of chicken breasts was gone.

Isn't it always the case that once you're personally connected to something, you start noticing stories about it cropping up everywhere? For me, it's high cholesterol - recently diagnosed in several of my family members.

Typically timed to coincide with the start of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (now underway at Toronto's Exhibition Place), organizers of the Canadian Culinary Book Awards have announced the winners of the 13th annual edition.

Expectation and tradition can play a big part of special occasion eating -- one might expect a slice of cake (or perhaps a cupcake or equivalent) on one's birthday, for instance. For me, holidays definitely inspire food expectations, like roast turkey or spiced pumpkin pie.

Chef, author and TV personality Anthony Bourdain is brash, opinionated and a straight talker unafraid to broadcast his warts-and-all perceptions - all qualities that have made him a bestselling author, a popular blogger and a brilliant guest judge for the TV hit Top Chef.

With sustained warm weather finally upon us, nonstop soccer online and on the telly and flip-flops as far as the eye can see, thoughts have inevitably turned to summertime eating - and imbibing.

This spring, honeybees have been all the buzz, it seems, with a host of articles published and news features broadcast about urban hives and local honey as well as continued documentary reports about the troubling and mysterious colony collapse disorder. Heck, even one of my suburban friends suddenly decided to take an intro to beekeeping course.

So, when I got an invite to get up close and person with a few hundred honeybees, I happily accepted.

One of the latest food lessons I've learned of late is this: listen to your produce seller.

Like my Food Bytes colleagues Kevin, Amber, Tara and Andree, eating well and trying local specialties is an important part of travelling for me. This year, I was lucky to squeeze getaways to both Houston (to visit in-laws) and New York (to visit a girlfriend) into my March break, with some interesting food outings in both cities.

Watching cooking and food shows can only teach you so much, I was thrilled when co-Food Bytes blogger Tara asked me to join her at a local culinary shop for a recent knife skills class. Finally, I could put some wannabe Iron Chef skills into practice!