Today's Food Pulse
Omaha restaurant turns to hydroponics for on‑site greens
A downtown Omaha eatery has installed an LED‑lit hydroponic system to grow leafy greens and herbs directly on its premises, allowing it to produce key ingredients in‑house. The move reflects a broader surge in vertical‑farm adoption despite recent USDA loan freezes.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Nestlé sells Blue Bottle Coffee to Centurium Capital
Michelin‑Recognized Alteño to Open in Austin’s Tallest Hotel Tower
Fonda Fina Hospitality announced that its Michelin‑recognized Mexican concept Alteño will open in summer 2026 inside 1 Hotel Austin, the city’s forthcoming 74‑story skyscraper. The move expands the Denver‑originated brand into a high‑profile luxury hotel and signals growing demand for upscale Mexican cuisine in Texas.
The Simple Trick To IHOP's Perfect Pancakes Is More Important Than It Seems
IHOP’s executive chef Scott Randolph revealed on TikTok that the chain’s signature fluffiness comes from using cold water in the batter, which slows gluten formation. He also stresses keeping the batter lumpy and avoiding over‑mixing to preserve air bubbles. Additional...
Dave Portnoy Stunned by Pizza Restaurant Where Delivery Drivers Wear Suits
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy reviewed Mike’s Underground Pizza, a Long Island joint that delivers pies in black suits. The restaurant requires customers to call first, then coordinate via text to arrange a secret‑gate drop‑off. Portnoy praised the crust, rating...
Japanese Restaurant’s Six-Patty-High Burger without Buns Has the Internet Salivating
Tokyo’s Shake Tree Burger & Bar has sparked online frenzy with its Wild Out burger, which swaps traditional buns for two 120‑gram steak patties, effectively creating a quadruple‑cheese sandwich. Priced at ¥2,250 (about $14), the burger is topped with cheese,...
The Obsessive, Fearless Evolution of Jeremy Chan’s Ikoyi
Since opening less than ten years ago, Ikoyi has vaulted into London’s elite restaurant roster, a notable achievement in a market saturated with Michelin‑starred venues. The restaurant’s ascent is anchored by chef‑owner Jeremy Chan, whose cross‑cultural upbringing—Canadian, Chinese, and British—feeds...
NYC’s Upscale Indian Spots Consistently Fall Short
Is it just me or are all of the upscale Indian places in NYC beyond mid. I’ve now been to Ambassador’s, Bungalow, Junoon, Musaafer, Gupshup. Each more disappointing than the last.
500 Culinary Leaders Convene in Cologne to Shape Gastronomy's Future
Five hundred chefs and restaurateurs from 21 countries gathered in Cologne for the JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs Congress, unveiling a South American expansion and a partnership with United Waterways. The event highlighted innovation, sustainability and the evolving role of chefs as entrepreneurs.
Rome Festival Celebrates Olio Di Roma PGI and the City’s Olive Oil Heritage
Rome hosted the inaugural Olio di Roma PGI Festival from April 10‑21, celebrating the city’s centuries‑old olive oil heritage. The event combined tastings, culinary demos, school workshops, and a book launch, culminating in the L’Eterno Award ceremony at the historic Curia...
Olive Oil Or Butter? Here's Which Fat Is Best For A Flavorful Steak
Chef Sam Hazen of Palladino's Steak & Seafood advises using a high‑smoke oil—such as avocado, grapeseed, or canola—to sear steak, then finishing with butter for flavor. He warns olive oil can turn bitter at extreme heat and butter burns around...
Whole Foods Market Debuts Line Of Robert Hall Wines, The First Domestic Regenerative Organic Certified Wines On Its Shelves
Whole Foods Market announced the national launch of Robert Hall Winery’s Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, the first domestically produced ROC‑certified wines on its shelves. The wines, priced at $29.99 per bottle after a strategic price...
Michelin Chef Adrien Cachot Teams with Sushi Shop for $36 Limited-Edition Sushi Line
French Michelin-starred chef Adrien Cachot has launched a limited-edition sushi and mochi collection with international chain Sushi Shop, priced between $3.75 and $36 and available in stores from April 23. The partnership blends Cachot’s avant‑garde restaurant ethos with a mass‑market...
Exactly What to Book, Taste, and See at the 2026 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
The 2026 Food & Wine Classic returns to Aspen from June 19‑21, offering more than 80 events and over 60 top chefs, sommeliers and drinks experts. Attendees can choose a Consumer Pass for access to the Grand Tasting Pavilion, cooking...
7 Best Places To Get A Muffuletta In New Orleans, According To Local Chefs
The muffuletta, a classic Italian‑American sandwich invented in early 1900s New Orleans, remains a culinary icon of the city. Local chefs surveyed identified seven standout spots, from the original Central Grocery to inventive versions at Cochon Butcher, Stein’s Market & Deli,...
Dinnerly Meal Kit Review (2026): Hearty Meals on a Budget
Dinnerly, the budget arm of Martha Stewart‑endorsed Marley Spoon, now offers more international dishes while keeping portions generous. Prices range from $6 to $10 per serving, dropping to $6 for large family plans, positioning it between cheap kits like EveryPlate...
The After-School Special
Starbucks’ cold, customizable drinks have become a cultural staple for U.S. teens, with Refreshers alone representing a $2 billion platform. A recent Piper Sandler survey shows over half of American teenagers favor Starbucks, while cold beverages now make up 75% of...
Ajinomoto Creates New Tech to Replace One of Cultivated Meat’s Most Expensive Components
Japanese food conglomerate Ajinomoto has engineered a plant‑derived hinokitiol compound to replace transferrin, the most expensive ingredient in cultivated‑meat culture media. Transferrin accounts for roughly 95% of media costs, so the new iron‑binding molecule could slash production expenses dramatically. Hinokitiol...
Elena Arzak Takes Lead as Juan Mari Steps Down From 3‑Star Arzak
Juan Mari Arzak and María Teresa Espina Aguirre have resigned as administrators of Arzak, the three‑Michelin‑star restaurant in San Sebastián. Their daughter, Elena Arzak, now heads the business, inheriting a €6 million (≈$6.5 million) turnover and a legacy that spans four generations.
Anthony Bourdain Said This Was 'Probably The Single Worst Thing' He Ever Ate
Anthony Bourdain labeled Icelandic fermented shark, hákarl, as "the single worst thing" he ever ate during a 2005 episode of No Reservations. The dish, made from Greenland shark that is fermented and air‑dried for months, is traditionally paired with the...
Why We’re All Going Bananas for Banoffee Pie
Banoffee pie is experiencing a renaissance on upscale UK menus, with The Hart in Marylebone debuting a version that layers muscovado toffee, banana crème diplomat and Chantilly cream. Hawksmoor’s take adds whisky‑infused dulce de leche and mascarpone, while chef Tom...
Lyaness Unveils Collaboration 2.0 Menu, Blending Cross-Industry Ideas in New Cocktails
Renowned bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana, known as Mr Lyan, is launching Collaboration 2.0 at London’s Lyaness on May 13. The menu features 11 new cocktails and seven updated classics, each inspired by concepts from outside the bar world such as regeneration,...
Lennox Hastie’s Grilled Whole Flounder with Pil-Pil and Capers
Chef Lennox Hastie showcases a whole flounder grilled over charcoal, finished with a bright pil‑pil sauce of olive oil, garlic, chilli and capers. The fish, about 600 g each, is brushed with oil, seasoned, and cooked in a greased basket for...
Seagrass Boutique Hospitality to Open Hunter and Barrel Steakhouse in Canberra
Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group is set to open its fifth Hunter and Barrel steakhouse on 8 May, marking the brand’s first entry into Canberra. The new Scotts Street venue will showcase Australian‑sourced meats, including grass‑fed Wagyu and a 1.1 kg Tomahawk, prepared over...
Lennox Hastie’s Grilled Octopus with Braised Chickpeas and Sobrasada
Chef Lennox Hastie unveils a grilled octopus recipe that pairs charred tentacles with braised chickpeas, cumin, fennel and preserved lemon, finished with a spoonful of spicy sobrasada. The dish relies on high‑heat caramelisation, smoky pimentón and bright citrus to create...
Curry Puff Pies and King Noodles: Ranie Saidi’s Everyday Malaysian Recipes
Chef and food writer Ranie Saidi has published a collection of everyday Malaysian recipes, featuring curried potato karipap pies and king noodles in a tangy sambal. She draws on lessons from her late grandmother, a wedding cook, who taught her...
AuX Labs Nabs $4M to Commercialise Cheese Made From Animal-Free Milk Protein
Toronto‑based AuX Labs secured $4 million in a round led by NYA Ventures and Nàdarra Ventures to commercialise its precision‑fermented recombinant casein. The funding will accelerate a brewing‑capacity‑leveraged platform that produces animal‑free, melt‑and‑stretch cheese at price points viable for pizzerias and...
Lennox Hastie’s Charred Corn with Espelette Butter and Manchego
Chef Lennox Hastie showcases a simple yet indulgent dish: corn cobs grilled until charred, brushed with a homemade Espelette butter, and finished with grated Manchego and chives. The recipe emphasizes the smoky sweetness of caramelised kernels, the bright heat of...
Lennox Hastie’s Grilled Bavette with Charred Onions and Romesco
Chef Lennox Hastie showcases a grilled bavette steak paired with charred onion hearts and a vibrant romesco sauce. The 1 kg cut is cooked high‑heat to develop a deep crust while its intramuscular fat renders, delivering buttery richness. A homemade romesco—made...
Plant ‘N’ Beef: Germany’s Rewe Group Re-Enters Blended Meat Space with New Burger
Germany’s second‑largest supermarket chain, Rewe Group, has re‑entered the blended‑meat market with its new Plant ‘n’ Beef burger, a 70% beef‑30% fava‑bean hybrid. The two‑pack retails for €2.99 (about $3.30), roughly half the price of Rewe’s own‑brand all‑beef burger at...
Michelin Stars Meet: Alléno and Bosi Launch Joint Pop‑Up at London’s Four Seasons
Michelin‑starred chefs Yannick Alléno and Claude Bosi will co‑host a special “Counter Culture” event at Alléno’s London restaurant Pavyllon, located in the Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane, in late April 2026. The partnership, described by Alléno as a “natural and...
Bobby Flay's Fruity Hack Is The Secret To Better Grilling
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay reveals that grilling fresh peaches before blending them into barbecue sauce creates a smoky, caramelized sweetness that balances the heat of chipotle or Calabrian chilies. He says the fruit holds up on the grill and adds...
Seeking Cookbooks Rich in History and Storytelling
Doing a little research for a new project… friends, what are some of your favorite cookbooks that are heavy on the history and storytelling? IE: The Mosquito Supper Club or California Soul.
Intimate Farm Kitchen Private Dining, No Reservations Needed
We celebrated a very special person in our lives at a very special place. Such a wonderful experience at a farm kitchen where every detail was carefully crafted. No reservations. no menus. no strangers. just you, your people, and a...
Nine New NYC Restaurants Added to Michelin Guide Highlight City’s Culinary Diversity
Michelin has recently added nine New York City restaurants to its guide, with five located in Brooklyn and four in Manhattan. The selections span traditional, contemporary and author‑driven concepts, reinforcing NYC’s status as a global food capital.
Remembering KM's: Pricey Nostalgia and Wild Dining Vibes
I loved Kate Mantillini's. Have many great memories there. It was not a diner... unless your idea of a diner was a place where the tab was always $40 or more per person no matter what you ordered. Could easily...
Daniel Boulud And Alain Ducasse On Pairing Wine And Fine Dining For A Good Cause
Renowned chefs Daniel Boulud and Alain Ducasse reunited at New York’s Restaurant DANIEL for the 28th Sunday Supper, a $3,500‑per‑person, four‑course charity dinner. The event, featuring guest chefs such as Michael Cimarusti, raised $1.3 million for Citymeals on Wheels, supporting homebound seniors....
H.wood Group Takes 10K SF for New Art Deco Dining Concept at 351 West 14th Street
The H.wood Group has secured a 15‑year lease on roughly 10,000 square feet at 351 West 14th Street in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. The space will house the brand’s first New York City Lady Delilah supper club, a 1930s Art Deco‑inspired venue that...
Always Get Flat, Rubbery Pancakes? This Simple Fridge Ingredient Added Just Before Cooking Makes Them Ultra Fluffy
Home cooks often end up with flat, dense or rubbery pancakes because the batter lacks air and is over‑mixed, which develops gluten. Chefs Lena Abraham and Jean‑François Piège recommend a simple fridge staple—stiffly whipped egg whites—folded into the batter just before...
Noma Launches $1,500 Pop‑Up in Los Angeles, Bringing Three‑Star Michelin to West Coast
Copenhagen's three‑star Michelin restaurant Noma announced a pop‑up in Los Angeles that runs from March 11 to June 26. The $1,500 per‑person tasting menu will be served to 42 guests four nights a week, while about 130 Noma staff and...
Intelligent Robots Streamline Operations in Modern Bakeries
Romias #Robotics Builds Intelligent #Robot System to Support Modern Bakeries by @lukas_m_ziegler #FoodTech #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/4lqaHVMyH0
Why Whitefish Salad Tastes So Much Better When You Get It From The Deli
Zabar’s assistant vice president Annie Zabar explains why deli‑sourced whitefish salad consistently outshines home‑made versions. The key is premium, freshly smoked whitefish sourced from gourmet stores or smokehouses, which delivers a richer, salt‑balanced flavor. She also stresses gentle handling, thorough...
This Buzzy Seattle Coffee Shop Is Blending Hawaiian And Korean Flavors In A New Way
Orange Goose Coffee, a Hawaiian‑Korean‑inspired concept that began as a pop‑up in 2024, opened a permanent brick‑and‑mortar location in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood in March 2026. Founder Polu Arsiga hand‑built the interior and curates a menu of espresso drinks featuring in‑house...
Gordon Ramsay Launches World‑First “Idiot Sandwich” Pop‑up in Manila’s Uptown BGC
Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines is opening the world’s first Idiot Sandwich pop‑up at Megaworld’s Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City, Manila. The concept turns a notorious internet meme into a physical sandwich‑focused venue, promising premium ingredients and a...
Chef Stuart Ralston Launches Luxury Hotel Rooms at Edinburgh’s Lyla for $369 a Night
Chef‑turned‑hotelier Stuart Ralston has opened four upscale rooms above his Michelin‑starred Lyla restaurant in Edinburgh, charging £295 ($369) per night. The rooms feature bespoke design, a caviar‑filled minibar and a breakfast‑in‑bed service, reflecting Ralston’s belief that boutique lodging is a...
Instant Ice Cream
A new “magic” cup that freezes any liquid into soft‑serve ice cream is gaining attention after a live Instagram demo with a parent and child. The cup must be pre‑frozen for 5‑6 hours, then filled with a simple mix of...
Fable Brings Its Whole-Food Shiitake Mushroom Range to Waitrose Nationwide
London‑based Fable, a mushroom brand serving over 1,500 restaurants across the UK, Europe, Australia and North America, is launching its Tender Pulled Shiitake range in Waitrose stores nationwide on 6 May. The product is priced at £3.99 (about $5.10) and...
This Country Eats Even More Kraft Mac And Cheese Than The US
Canadians eat more Kraft Dinner than Americans, consuming over 50% more per capita. About 90 million boxes are sold annually in Canada, representing roughly a quarter of global Kraft mac‑and‑cheese sales despite the country's tiny share of world population. Over 80%...
Rhubarb Shines in Indian Chut
A mash note to the fleeting: Rhubarb, starring in a warm-spiced Indian chutney. Plus, three dining tips in L.A. https://t.co/XtL1ao8b0P https://t.co/NUoOwD0ZLf
Gastro, Pub
Jess Shadbolt and Annie Shi have launched Dean’s, a compact British‑style pub located next to their acclaimed Italian‑French bistro King. The new venue carries the same seasonal, ingredient‑driven philosophy that earned King its reputation. Dean’s blends classic pub comfort with...
My Go-To Late-Night Spot For Korean BBQ In Atlanta
Morning House, a Korean barbecue restaurant in Duluth, Atlanta, keeps its doors open until 5 a.m., catering to night‑shift workers and late‑night diners. The venue offers an all‑you‑can‑eat B menu for $30, featuring five beef cuts, 26 pork varieties, chicken, and...
In the Lab
Mariana Velásquez, cookbook author and food stylist, is rolling out her new book "Revel: A Maximalist’s Guide to Having People Over" alongside a tableware collection with Sur La Table. She will host her first book signing at Devoción coffee shop...