Middle-school bullies, despite what your mother said, were probably onto something after all–a hint of snark mixed with a pat on the back goes a long way. That’s the formula the invariably sunny Chef Thomas Keller has used to inspire the drooling devotion of foodies everywhere.

How does he fail to invoke the ire, malice or palpable hatred of any of his compatriots, fellow foodies or abandoned underlings? It’s a mystery as deep and impenetrable as the sphinx or the Kardashian’s impervious empire. It doesn’t make sense at all, while totally making 200 percent sense.

Celebrate the inherent mind warp with “Uncorked,” a KCET documentary that sets out to understand the impossible. Adding to the outre, snoozy excitement, it’s set to a lazy elevator beat that seems like something the former President Clinton would enjoy kicking back to while not inhaling.

If it’s not airing near you anytime soon, check out this clip of Keller glad-handing the world with TEDx.

The NYC Food Film Festival is devoted to exploring what we see, smell, hear and taste. Festival-goers will be able to explore 25 foodie films, plus sample snacks from Food Network all-stars like Amanda Freitag and Brad Farmerie.

There will also be an event called the Tribeca Taco Takedown, which may cause the entire festival to implode in giant deep-fried trendlet, or it may launch it into an all new Sriracha-hot apex of awesomeness.

Judging from a snippet of Hilah Johnson taking tortillas to task in a skimpy outfit on the festival’s website, this ain’t your standard Rachael Ray “Yum-O” recycled fare. Buy tickets here.

Yelle is on the hunt for a few good acts to open shows in New York, LA, San Francisco and Miami on their upcoming U.S. tour this fall. Interested bands can submit their music, video and contact information over at Yelle’s site.

The French band has also been enlisting the help of producer Second Date, who remixed “Comme Un Enfant,” from Yelle’s most recent album, Safari Disco. Check the remix here.

And for a quick history lesson on the band, Yelle told us about their humble beginnings.

Bobby Werhane, one of the West Village’s busiest restaurateurs, threw together a little party this past weekend.

The whole city was invited; for $40, partiers got to pick six restaurants to grab a nosh from (participating restaurants included Spasso, Yerba Buena, the Meatball Shop and other critic-approved gems). Called the Taste of the West Village, it was sponsored by a hodge podge of organic and specialty brands, including Hendrick’s Gin and Organic Valley, and featured not only top West Village restaurants, but other notable city hot spots like Michael Ferraro’s Delicatessen, plus coffee brewers and booze.

To add to the feel-goodery, the whole shebang profited local schools. And if you missed it this year, not to worry, Bobby Werhane plans to make it an annual event.

Uncensored Interview recently sat down with Bobby to chat about his vision of the ever-changing food business, hospitality and the inevitable blending of work and pleasure.

Check out his take on family meal, below:

WHY? Have canceled a tour that was set to start this week after singer Yoni Wolf injured both hands. He and fellow band member Josiah Wolf released this video, saying that some dates may remain, including Chicago on October 15 and a European tour afterward. The band was scheduled to perform acoustic sets with fellow anticon artist Serengeti opening.

No word on the damages, but perhaps it was the result of one of the band’s brawls.

The San Gennaro Festival has devolved in recent years into a bad Italian-American cliché everyone runs from while simultaneously craving.

Fortunately, a few fearless culinary heroes decided to grab the Mulberry Street clusterfuck by the berries and give it a fierce shake. Gone are the dropped vowels (“Eh, gimme some mozzerhel with my brazhoule!”) and the plaster of Paris saints. OK, that’s a lie.

All of the gaudy crap is still there (you know you want it), but now it’s joined by bib-worthy offerings from Torrisi Italian Specialties, Wylie Dufresene’s dad, Gabe Stulman, April Bloomfield and the two Frankies.

The New York Times dishes on the new-fangled goodies, but to really get into the rhythm and the rhyme of San Gennaro, you’ve gotta be there with a Zeppole in one hand and a cannoli in the other.

Before you head out, get primed for some old-fashioned cheese with the folks at Rubirosa, who somehow make spinning around to Earth Wind & Fire’s “September” look like a good time.

Army Navy have released a new video for their song “Ode to Janice Melt,” starring Jason Ritter and directed by Jeremy Konner of “Drunk History” fame.

The band is on tour throughout October, including a stop in New York for the annual CMJ Music Marathon, where they’ll be playing a few shows over the course of the festival. Their latest release, The Last Place, was released in July on the band’s own record label.

The guys stopped by our studio and talked about how surrounding yourself with the right people can make all the difference.