Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below.

Zester: Houstonians excited about Trader Joe's coming to town might be considerably less supportive of the grocery giant after reading Barry Estabrook's insightful and provocative piece on the plight of tomato farmworkers in Florida. Estabrook is a two-time James Beard Award winner and a former contributing editor at Gourmet, so you know this article isn't filled with baseless accusations. On the other hand, kudos to Whole Foods for being the only large grocery store to support these farmworkers.

City of Ate: Even Dallas recognizes the awesomeness that is a burger from Hubcap Grill, choosing it to lead off its "Burgers Across Texas" post. Check out the accompanying slideshow here.

29-95: Over at the Chron's culture site, J.C. Reid introduces readers to an enormous porkchop sandwich at Burt's Meat Market that's a sandwich in name only.

Great Food Houston: During a recent trip to Philadelphia, Ruthie Miller checked out the cheese steaks from both Pat's and Geno's and found Pat's to be the overwhelming winner in the battle...as well as much closer to the cheese steaks served up at local favorite Pappa Geno's.

Slate: If you thought 2011 was going to be the year of the pie, this hilarious article from Slate will be the final nail in your coffin of crushed hopes and dreams. Pie: It's gloppy, it's soggy, it's un-American.

Relish Austin: Last but not least, if you -- like most of us -- had to miss the annual International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) conference in Austin, check out Addie Broyles's excellent wrap-up of the five best things she learned at IACP this year.