Know What's Happening in Food
Know What's Happening in Food
New Chef Program Trains Autistic Talent for Fine‑Dining Kitchens
Chefs on the Spectrum, launched by chef Franklin Becker and autistic cook Joseph Valentino, trains and places people on the autism spectrum in fine‑dining restaurants. The initiative debuted at a $2,500 Autism Speaks fundraiser in Manhattan, targeting both the restaurant labor shortage and unemployment among autistic adults.
A leading Canadian rice producer announced plans to construct its first processing facility in the United States, targeting the Midwest market. The $55 million plant, slated for construction in Arkansas, will have an annual capacity of 120,000 metric tons and create roughly 150 jobs. The move aims to shorten supply chains, reduce freight costs, and capture growing demand for specialty rice varieties. Production is expected to commence in late 2027, positioning the company as a cross‑border agribusiness player.
Chomps, the plant‑based snack pioneer, announced the launch of chicken sticks, its first animal‑protein snack. The new product is positioned as a high‑protein, low‑carb option for on‑the‑go consumers. Initial distribution will hit major U.S. grocery chains and select convenience stores....
Once Upon a Farm, the organic baby‑food brand, unveiled three new product lines in April 2026, expanding its portfolio with plant‑based fruit and vegetable blends. The launches feature 100% recyclable, BPA‑free packaging and are slated for nationwide distribution through a...
Nature’s Path, the organic breakfast cereal leader, announced a comprehensive brand refresh in April 2026. The overhaul includes a modernized logo, updated packaging designs, and a renewed visual identity emphasizing sustainability and clean‑label transparency. The company also introduced a refreshed...
Greg Foran, former Walmart U.S. CEO, took the helm at Kroger in February 2026, pledging to accelerate top‑line growth. In fiscal 2025 Kroger posted adjusted earnings per share of $4.85, beating Wall Street forecasts, while net sales edged up 0.4%...
The United States banned Russian seafood imports in 2022, yet Russian fish continues to appear on American plates through Chinese processing facilities that re‑label the product as Chinese. This loophole exploits the trade‑law concept of "substantial transformation," allowing harvested fish...
Dong Yuan, a Hunan‑style restaurant in North Acton’s Park Royal estate, has turned fire‑intensive wok cooking into its signature experience. Owner Cui Yaohua, formerly in scrap‑metal and 3D‑filament businesses, revamped a former Lebanese takeaway with water‑curtain wok burners to deliver...
Nestlé has introduced the Snack Vibes line under its Choco Crossies brand, featuring cocoa‑free chocolate made from Planet A Foods’ ChoViva ingredient. The range, aimed at Gen Z in Germany, will launch next month in classic, hazelnut and salted popcorn...
The Big Brine, a pickle‑focused festival, will take place on September 12‑13, 2026 at Hackney Bridge in east London. Organized by Clarice Downes and Emma Winstanley, the event is self‑funded and priced at £20 per ticket, with sales beginning April...
Swedish Michelin‑starred chef Marcus Jernmark opens Lielle, his first Los Angeles restaurant, in a 2,300‑sq‑ft subterranean space designed by Lovers Unite. The 42‑seat venue features curved leather loveseats, a barrel‑vaulted cork ceiling, and vintage lighting that evoke a historic wine cave. Jernmark...
Oyster farming in Vietnam. About an hour outside of Hue. Blue food winning here and the oysters were incredible. Pics of them to come. Come travel with me modernadventurists #MOADtravel
Renowned chef Luke Nguyen is launching Lua, a seafood‑focused restaurant at the newly redeveloped Sydney Fish Market on 9 March. Developed with Doltone Hospitality Group, the venue features an open‑hearth concept and a live charcoal fire pit, reflecting Nguyen’s Vietnamese roots...
India’s Self‑Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), representing 3.8 million informal workers, is confronting a rapid “feminization of agriculture” as climate shocks force men to migrate to cities. To protect its largely female farming base, SEWA has rolled out a parametric climate‑insurance scheme...
Joyce Uptown Food Shelf in Minneapolis adapted its operations after the federal Operation Metro Surge, which saw thousands of ICE and CBP agents deployed and resulted in two fatal shootings. At the surge's peak the pantry operated at 130% capacity,...
Jack Daniel’s has launched its fourth limited‑edition Tennessee whiskey in partnership with McLaren Racing, commemorating the team’s 1,000th Formula 1 Grand Prix and the distillery’s 160th anniversary. The 86‑proof release, up from the standard 80 proof, uses the brand’s classic mash...
Golden Avenue, a new multi‑level Middle Eastern restaurant and bar on 67 Edward Street, opens as the flagship of Anyday’s South Edward leisure masterplan. Designed by J.AR Office, the venue blends brutalist materials with lush greenery, featuring seven retractable roofs,...
The article spotlights seven standout white Burgundy wines, ranging from entry‑level Montagny Premier Cru to elite Grand Cru offerings, each praised for mineral‑driven aromatics, bright acidity, and nuanced oak integration. Prices span $46 to $210, reflecting the region’s tiered appellation...
My 4 minutes-delicious lunch in 4 pictures: Black truffle-morel omelette. Thank you lebernardinny Team egestel68 for spoiling me 🙏
The food‑and‑beverage sector is accelerating its focus on fiber as a growth catalyst, with major players launching or expanding high‑fiber product lines. Mondelez is eyeing the snack‑bar category as a new platform for fiber‑rich offerings, while Throne Sport Coffee secured...
The article outlines a minimalist recipe for brownies that prioritizes texture, flavor depth, and structural precision. It recommends five deliberate changes: swapping water for coffee, whisking eggs and sugar before other ingredients, using chopped chocolate chunks, upgrading to premium vanilla,...
Carolynn Carreño shares a turkey chili recipe that transforms lean ground turkey into a rich, beef‑like stew by using duck fat, caramelized tomato paste, and tomatillo salsa. The method emphasizes heavy vegetable reduction, extensive spice blooming, and a generous bean...
Chef Gabriel Kreuther, a two‑Michelin‑star veteran, opened Saverne, a 145‑seat modern brasserie in Hudson Yards, marking his first new restaurant in eleven years. The venue showcases open‑fire cooking and Alsatian‑inspired dishes that echo his childhood in the French region. Kreuther’s...
The North American Olive Oil Certification (NAOOA) is tightening its standards, lowering the free fatty acid limit for extra virgin olive oil from 0.8% to 0.5% and shortening the best‑if‑used‑by date to 18 months. The program, which already carries the...
Renowned sushi maestro Endo Kazutoshi has opened a five‑month pop‑up at Mayfair's private members club Annabel’s, offering a £245 tasting menu with an optional £120 sake pairing. The chef, whose London flagship Endo at the Rotunda remains closed after a...
HeyNu, a nutrition‑focused startup, has unveiled its flagship line of protein bars aimed at health‑conscious consumers. The bars deliver 20 grams of protein per serving, use plant‑based, sustainably sourced ingredients, and debut in three flavors across nationwide retail channels. The launch...
Regenerative agriculture is gaining traction as a climate‑friendly farming model that simultaneously boosts crop yields and restores biodiversity. Farmers adopting cover crops, reduced tillage, and diversified rotations report higher soil organic matter and resilience to extreme weather. Recent field trials...
Belgian chocolatier Pierre Marcolini will launch its flagship store on Regent Street, London, on March 27, following a soft‑launch event on March 25‑26. The new West End location will showcase exclusive flavours such as strawberries‑and‑cream, a dedicated hot‑chocolate "grand cru"...
Ferrero Group unveiled a revamped leadership structure aimed at accelerating global growth and innovation. Giovanni Ferrero will remain Executive Chairman while a newly created Chief Operating Officer role will be filled by longtime executive Pietro Ferrero. The reorganization consolidates the...
A masterclass in San Antonio taught home and professional bakers how to make pan dulce, the iconic Mexican sweet bread, while sharing personal stories of cultural heritage. Led by Los Angeles chef Alex Pena, participants crafted conchas, nubes, and other varieties, emphasizing...
Rachel Roddy shares a one‑bowl apple, honey and poppy‑seed cake that blends Polish miodo wnik with Italy’s tortino di mele e papavero. The recipe relies on honey’s humectant properties and natural fructose to keep the crumb moist and enhance caramelisation. Roddy...
Belgian agtech startup Rainbow Crops received a $7 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to scale its AI‑powered Trait Foundry platform. The technology combines multiplex genome editing, precision breeding and high‑throughput phenotyping to develop climate‑resilient varieties of corn,...
Chef‑owner Phil Wood announced that Ursula’s Paddington will close on Saturday 23 May as its lease expires. The colourful venue opened in 2021, blending Australian flair with European bistro style. Wood cited the growing difficulty of running a small independent restaurant...
New York‑based Mezcla closed a $9.5 million Series B round led by Bluestein Ventures to accelerate product development and broaden distribution. The funding brings total capital to $16.5 million and follows a 128 % compound annual growth rate since 2022. Mezcla’s plant‑based bars, built...
San Diego‑based BlueNalu has raised $11 million in insider‑led financing to accelerate production of cultivated bluefin tuna toro, targeting a commercial launch in 2026. The funding will support scale‑up of bioreactor facilities and advance regulatory approval, with FDA clearance expected soon....
Sydney’s Arthur restaurant announced it will close its current seven‑year iteration on 31 May, with a new restaurant and bar under the same name slated to open in July. The venue has built a reputation for a 100 % Australian set‑menu,...
Woodford Reserve has unveiled its 2026 Kentucky Derby bottle, featuring a new label designed by artist Anna Murphy titled “Dress to Impress, 152.” The limited‑edition bourbon, identical to the standard Woodford Reserve expression, will retail for $50 and hits shelves nationwide...
Food manufacturers are feeling a sharp cost squeeze, with 78% reporting a 13% average rise in per‑product expenses. Common cost‑cutting tactics—deferring maintenance, slashing training budgets, and postponing visibility investments—often generate hidden expenses that outweigh the intended savings. The article argues...
Bevel Coffee, a former pop‑up, opened its first permanent 600‑sq‑ft storefront on Allen Avenue in Altadena. Owner Kevin Mejia serves a Honduran‑Ethiopian espresso blend roasted in his garage, alongside matcha lattes, loose‑leaf teas, and pastries from Bakers Kneaded. The opening...
Amazon is rolling out a new supercenter model that doubles as a fulfillment hub, with the first site slated for Orland Park, Illinois in 2027. The hybrid design dedicates roughly half the space to warehousing and the rest to a traditional...
The 2026 Farm Bill preserves existing nutrition programs such as SNAP, TEFAP and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, extending them through FY2031 without additional funding. Democrats and health‑focused NGOs argue the bill fails to address hunger, restore cuts, or...
Golden Steer, a storied Las Vegas steakhouse operating for 68 years, has opened a flagship location in Manhattan. The restaurant recreates its neon‑lit, mob‑era ambience with slot‑machine décor, a “Mob Room,” and the city’s “largest baked potato.” Its menu sticks to classic...
Adejoké Bakare invited friends to a West African feast, featuring five signature dishes curated by Chishuru’s head chef. The menu ranged from classic steamed bean cakes to a Senegalese twist on pain perdu, each presented with detailed home‑cooking instructions. Bakare’s...
Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” episode on the Mississippi Delta spotlighted a handful of iconic eateries, from Big Apple Inn’s smoked‑sausage sandwiches to Doe’s Eat Place’s legendary steak‑tamales. The show also featured soul‑food staples at The Senator’s Place and pit‑smoked whole‑hog barbecue at Lamar Lounge. Several of the highlighted...
Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” episode on Punjab aired in April 2014, exploring the state’s rich, dairy‑heavy cuisine and Sikh hospitality. The show highlighted three key eateries – Kesar da Dhaba’s buttery kulcha, Beera Chicken House’s iconic tandoori chicken, and Chapslee’s...
“Reaching flow state” (a phrase I just discovered 😂) with the team at Les Salons Bernardin. Poached Halibut à la minute, with Truffled Morels and finished tableside with Wild Mushroom Bouillon.
The joy of blood orange salads. A shot of late winter/early spring loveliness. My latest newsletter (Substack). Featuring the orange salads of Claudia Roden. Plus an orange salad with dates, almonds and Parmesan adapted from Suzanne Goin. Also the Mazafati...
James “Monty” Montero launched Cachasol, a tequila brand built around a six‑acre agave farm and on‑site distillery in Sayulita, Mexico. The venture replaces traditional shelf‑first distribution with immersive tours, cooking classes, and a farm‑to‑table bar that serve as the primary...
Heaven Hill has unveiled the 22‑year‑old straight bourbon from its Heritage Collection, the oldest release in the series to date. The expression blends 270 barrels distilled in 2003, bottled at barrel proof (64.6% ABV) without chill filtration, and carries a...
In the latest Strait Forward episode, host Channing Lee and award‑winning food journalist Clarissa Wei spotlight Taiwanese cuisine beyond the usual beef noodle soup and xiaolongbao, framing it as a pillar of Taiwan’s soft‑power strategy. Wei promotes her new cookbook,...
The 4th Annual Youth Storytellers Field to Film Festival, part of Groundswell International’s Youth Storyteller Program, invites Indigenous and rural youth to document agroecological transformations in their communities. Running through March 12, the 2026 edition places a special emphasis on...
