Famous Food

Aunt Jemima's relatives say they got screwed out of her pancake money following her death in 1955 ... and now, they're looking for reparations to the tune of 3 BILLION DOLLARS!!

The great grandson of Anna Short Harrington -- who took over the Jemima character in 1937 -- filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo, the Quaker Oats Company and 2 other businesses on behalf of her heirs.

D.W. Hunter claims the companies conspired to deny Harrington was a Quaker Oats employee ... but continued to exploit her image for more than 60 years without paying up.

Harrington was selected for the role because of her pancake recipe -- which they recreated for the grocery store ... but her family believes racial exploitation was involved in the deal.

Nicole Murphy was mum Thursday on her breakup with Michael Strahan ... but she had a lot to say about her new passion -- moscato.

Nicole was leaving the W Hotel in Hollywood Thursday when she shut down questions about her breakup -- which some are calling a revenge breakup.

But Nicole was unstoppable when it came to talking about the wine she's promoting.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay should think about going vegan ... because he's in yet another legal war over his failed restaurant The Fat Cow.

Ramsay's landlord has just filed a lawsuit ... claiming the chef skipped out on his $52K a month long-term lease in The Grove shopping center in L.A. The landlord wants $6 MIL!

The "Hell's Kitchen" star closed The Fat Cow in March ... after a long battle with a Florida restaurant owner who claimed to have exclusive rights to the name "Fat Cow."

Ramsay's also being sued for $10 million by his business partner ... who's royally pissed that Ramsay folded like a cheap suit over the restaurant's name. In his countersuit, Ramsay says the real reason the restaurant tanked is because his partner was a financial dummy.

Such an easy solution -- Phat Cow.

Jay Leno may have a future in competitive eating ... because he's the latest Fatburger XXX challenge champ!

The challenge is both simple and daunting ... devour an entire three-patty, 24-oz Fatburger with all the fixins.

Jay scarfed it down in 5 minutes flat at the new Bev Hills Fatburger. For that he got a certificate.

Jay joins an impressive list of gluttons, including the record holder who scarfed down a 16-patty, 128-oz monstrosity in 35 minutes.

As for Leno ... a little Jaywalking is definitely in order.

This is hilarious. The grandma from "Hollywood Hillbillies" proves that people with fake teeth can mow through a corn cob machine-gun style.

The scene: Mema (grandma) is in her backyard chowing down when her grandson rushes in to say they have a meeting with producer David Weintraub ... who eventually introduces them to Ray J.

Short of time ... Mema goes to town on the corn. Mind you ... this ancient chick doesn't have real chompers.

Auntie Fee is the hottest new thing on the cooking scene … because the woman affectionately known as Chef Sista Girl whips up some seriously unique dishes.

You know you ain't ever had a little ole punk ass cinnamon roll! So watch, learn … and please, don't ask any stupid questions!

She does, however, know one -- Oprah -- who can help her navigate her new-found fame.

NBC and Bravo got together with major cruise lines and ripped off the idea for a "Top Chef" special from 3 producers who are now suing the networks ... and crying racism -- this according to a new lawsuit.

According to the court docs ... the three accusers pitched a reality show called "Walk the Plank" to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruise Lines. Thirteen chefs would compete against each other on a cruise ship with the winner becoming the ship's Executive Chef.

The cruise lines rejected the idea, but soon after that NBC announced the release of "Top Chef - Chefs At Sea" -- in conjunction with the cruise companies ... according to the docs.

The producers say they're especially galled by the alleged screw job because they say NBC's networks have an agreement with the National African American Leadership Organizations to increase diversity.

NBC hasn't responded to a call for comment.

The producers not only state in the docs that 2 of them are African-American -- they add that even though the third producer is not ... she is married to a Black man.

Lisa Vanderpump's famous Bev Hills restaurant Villa Blanca has been hit again with a sexual harassment suit.

Pastry chef Martha Diaz filed a lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- in which she claims her manager touched her vagina, called her a fat, ugly whore, showed her porn on his phone and left pornographic pics in her locker.

Diaz claims she complained to upper management and does not mention the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star by name, although she does say she complained to "upper management and ownership."

Lisa Vanderpump is selling Villa Blanca, the restaurant she made famous on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," TMZ has confirmed.

Real estate sources tell TMZ ... Hilton & Hyland -- as in Rick Hilton -- has the listing.

Lisa is coy about the sale, telling us she merely wanted an appraisal because people have expressed interest in buying the joint. But our real estate sources say Hilton & Hyland have the deal and are actively looking for a buyer.

The move comes weeks after the restaurant was socked with a $100,000 punitive damage judgment. Former waitress Karina Bustillo won that plus another $6K in her sexual harassment lawsuit.

Kandi Burruss' backstage demands are HILARIOUS ... whatever you do, don't screw with her Popeyes fried chicken!

TMZ has obtained a copy of Burruss' contract rider ... listing her demands for the touring production of her musical show, "A Mother's Love" ... and she's VERY picky.

When it comes to food ... the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star demands Popeyes fried chicken. The contract states: "Please do not substitute for KFC or Churches, we know the difference."

But ... even though she won't eat KFC birds ... she insists on KFC cole slaw.

Burruss is just as finicky about her bathroom requirements ... a brand new toilet seat for starters -- which must be installed under the supervision of the road manager or an assistant. Plus, the bathroom must be fully stocked with Cottonelle toilet paper and Dove soap.

Other demands:

-a black Mercedes Benz Sprinter
-golf carts and umbrellas in case of rain
-a police escort to skirt traffic jams -- because "under no circumstance shall Kandi be delayed arriving at or departing" from the venue.

Aretha Franklin had a malt-down at a Johnny Rockets in Niagara Falls ... after one of it servers screamed at her for trying to eat her takeout order inside the restaurant.

Franklin ordered a burger to go from the popular chain after her sold out show Tuesday ... then sat down to eat ... and that's when she claims the server went off, saying her conduct violated the take-out policy.

Franklin said the worker was "very rude, unprofessional and nasty."

Johnny Rockets is contrite ... apologizing for the actions of the new employee ... adding the server has been spoken to and educated on its takeout policies.

Billy Bob Thornton pissed off the cast of "Cupcake Wars" when he ripped their show -- and reality TV in general -- for being a waste of airtime, but now that they're fighting back ... he's going soft.

The actor said a mouthful about the cupcake show on his recently aired episode of "Oprah's Master Class" -- such as, "Seriously, it's not that G** damn dangerous to make a cupcake."

But last night when we caught up with Billy Bob he kinda backpedaled, and said the 'Cupcake' peeps need to chill ... he was just trying to be funny. Watch the clip though -- there is one thing he's owning. Fair to say, he won't be tuning in to Food Network anytime soon.

Thing is ... Billy's commentary WAS funny as hell. Too bad he's not standing by it.

Mykelti Williamson won't step foot in the restaurants named after his most famous character ... because he's got issues with corporate giant Viacom.

Of course Mykelti played Bubba in "Forrest Gump" -- which inspired the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. chain of restaurants, so we brought it up with him at LAX on Tuesday ... only to discover he's NEVER eaten there.

MW first told us how he celebrated the recent 20th anniversary of 'Gump' -- but quickly launched into a rant about the movie studio's parent company and its ties to the restaurants, and big oil ... of which he's not a fan.

Only problem is he's mistakenly referring to Gulf Western Oil, which has nothing to do with Viacom. A company called Gulf + Western DID merge with Paramount (and eventually Viacom) ... but is NOT an oil company.

Glad we could clear that up. Now make a reservation, Mykelti.

DMX is a dog food connoisseur ... appreciating the nuances of dry vs. wet.

The dog-lover/rapper was on his way out of LAX when we asked if he'd ever sampled dog food.

X gave an educated answer from experience. He also had a strong, quick opinion on the healthiest canine food for human consumption.

Britney Spears just brought a piece of Vegas to the Cheesecake factory she stiffed ... because her waitress just hit the jackpot.

TMZ broke the story, Britney chewed and screwed Sunday when she walked out of the Thousand Oaks, CA restaurant without paying her $30 bill for an appetizer and salad. Britney says she thought her security guy paid the tab and he thought she did.

Now she's bringing in the ultimate peacemaker to make things right -- Benjamin Franklin. Our Britney sources tell us the waitress is getting a $100 tip -- more than 300%. That's on top of the $30 tab.

We're told Britney -- who left with hard evidence of her heist (a doggie bag) -- felt terrible about the mistake.

Britney -- she stiffs good.