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, an initiative launched by chef Franklin Becker and autistic cook Joseph Valentino, trains and places individuals on the autism spectrum in fine‑dining kitchens. The program debuted at a $2,500 fundraiser for Autism Speaks in Manhattan, targeting both the restaurant labor shortage and unemployment among autistic adults.
Italian Easter cake colomba, a dove‑shaped sweet, is gaining global popularity. Artisanal producers like Olivieri 1882 emphasize four‑day natural sourdough fermentation, while commercial bakeries use industrial yeast and additives for scale. New York‑based Settepani Bakery expands the tradition with chocolate, pistachio, and Nutella variations, shipping nationwide via Goldbelly. The cake’s cultural symbolism of transition and its adaptable recipe drive consumer interest beyond Italy.
Cedar Key, a one‑square‑mile island off Florida’s northwest coast with roughly 800 permanent residents, has become a surprising foodie hotspot. The tiny community boasts two coffee shops, a bakery, a food truck, a bar, several restaurants, and a seafood market,...
Chef Kwame Onwuachi announced that Maroon, his Caribbean‑inspired steakhouse, will open on April 24, 2026 at Sahara Las Vegas. The 125‑seat venue blends classic American steakhouse techniques with Afro‑Caribbean flavors, signaling a high‑profile addition to the Strip’s upscale dining roster.
Chef Michael Symon, famed for inventing Cleveland‑style BBQ, opened Mabel’s BBQ, a chic downtown eatery that showcases the city’s Eastern European roots with Midwest flavors. The menu centers on meats smoked with local applewood and sauces built on Bertman’s Stadium...
Hong Kong’s Cantonese institution The Chairman has been crowned Asia’s Best Restaurant in the 2026 edition, with fellow Hong Kong venue Wing taking the runner‑up spot. Mainland China and Macau dominate the top ten, while Singapore secures six places in...
In tribute to the new BTS album, a visit to their favorite NYC restaurant will appear on Friday in my Substack, Robert Sietsema's New York. https://t.co/GzIfm1wxUP
Philadelphia International Airport set a Guinness World Record on National Cheesesteak Day by arranging 1,291 cheesesteak sandwiches in a single line inside the departure hall. The effort, organized by MarketPlace PHL, more than doubled the previous record of 500 sandwiches....
Bill’s, celebrating its 25th anniversary, has partnered with viral chef Poppy Cooks to launch a limited‑edition potato‑focused menu across all 49 UK locations from 13 April to 8 June. The collaboration introduces three new dishes—Poppy’s Burger, Loaded Tater Tots, and Crispy Smash...
Sweden’s new Ljungleden cycle path, a 170‑kilometre mix of dedicated trails and low‑traffic roads, officially opens in May 2026. The route threads wildflower‑filled countryside, coffee‑culture towns and connects existing long‑distance routes, promising a boost for active holidays and regional tourism.
Tohru, the latest addition to Munich’s culinary scene, has been awarded three Michelin stars within days of opening. Chef Masahiro Nakamura’s fusion of Japanese technique with German and European ingredients earned unanimous praise from critics, signaling a shift in the...
Jack Strong, executive chef at The Allison Inn and Spa and member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, is using his platform to revive and showcase Native cuisine. He runs a school‑based culinary program that serves K‑12 meals, operates a...
EHL, a premier hospitality school, will launch a two‑year associate degree in international culinary arts, fine‑dining experience and restaurant management, with the first cohort starting in September 2027. The program blends culinary techniques, guest‑experience training and restaurant‑operations coursework, and includes a...
Petty Pandean‑Elliott’s new Indonesian vegetarian cookbook introduces two plant‑based recipes—a winter gado‑gado salad and a pearl barley, pea and tempeh coconut curry. Both dishes highlight tempeh’s rising popularity in UK supermarkets as a protein‑rich, fermented ingredient. The gado‑gado serves 4‑6,...
The article details a classic Sicilian arancini recipe enriched with basil pesto and smoked scamorza. It walks readers through a slow‑stirred risotto base, cheese‑filled centers, and a crisp panko coating, finished with a bright pomodoro sauce. The dish is positioned...
A Nutella‑filled burrata combines Italy’s creamy mozzarella cheese with the chocolate‑hazelnut spread, creating a sweet‑savory dessert that has moved from an Australian specialty in 2018 to a global social‑media sensation. The concept can be replicated at home using store‑bought burrata...
OldTown White Coffee has introduced a Hot & Cold product range in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and China under the “Your Favourites Made Cold” campaign, developed with digital agency Kingdom Digital. The new line dissolves seamlessly in both hot and...
The 2026 Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau lists 98 starred restaurants—77 in Hong Kong and 21 in Macau—underscoring a year of continuity rather than upheaval. Seven three‑star venues remain unchanged, while two‑star spots see modest movement and a...
The article confirms that the traditional “outside‑in” utensil rule still governs formal dining settings. Etiquette expert Nikesha Tannehill Tyson explains that forks belong on the left, knives on the right, and the soup spoon farthest right, with dessert pieces positioned...
Eric Clapton’s 2018 three‑day visit to Le Colonial Chicago turned a single menu item into a lasting story. The legendary guitarist dined there three times in under 48 hours, ordering the same cari ga each meal. Le Colonial, a French‑Vietnamese...
Alex Prichard, culinary director of Sydney’s iconic Icebergs Dining Room, announced he will leave his role after 11 years to launch his own restaurant. The new venue, Sara Dining, is slated to open in Berry on the NSW South Coast in...
The article spotlights a two‑ingredient oatmeal made with canned coconut milk, positioning it as a quick, flavorful upgrade to traditional oats. It explains why canned varieties—regular or lite—deliver richer taste and higher fat content than carton milk. Readers learn three...
Dolly Parton shared a no‑fuss Southern cornbread recipe that relies on just three staples: coarse self‑rising cornmeal, buttermilk, and bacon drippings, seasoned with salt and pepper. She emphasizes using grainy brands like Martha White or White Lily to achieve a...
Holy Carrot Bistro has opened in Spitalfields, marking the brand's second London location and a shift to a neighbourhood bistro format. Founded by Irina Linovich and helmed by chef Daniel Watkins, the venue expands the fire‑led, fermentation‑focused, low‑waste menu first...
Chef Albert Adrià presented a trio of provocative dishes—blood broth, lamprey and hare with truffle—at the Alimentaria 2026 trade fair in Barcelona. The showcase highlights the chef’s continued push into experimental gastronomy and has drawn both acclaim and criticism from...
Jada Spices’ plant‑based chicken salt, first pitched on Shark Tank, has moved from a niche vegan product to a mainstream seasoning available in U.S. retailers like Whole Foods and online. The blend replicates the umami‑rich flavor of Australia’s beloved chicken‑salt seasoning...
Maison Pommery will host a one‑night‑only champagne tasting at Sycamore in Covent Garden on 8 April 2026. Tickets are £50 (approximately $62) for a two‑hour session featuring three Pommery cuvées, including the newly launched 1874 Apanage Blanc de Blancs and the rare...
Bar Rocco, a 108‑seat Italian‑American brasserie helmed by celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, opened this month in the Kimpton Era Midtown hotel adjacent to Rockefeller Center. The venue offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring steaks, pastas, seafood, and inventive cocktails. It...
Adding a splash of beer to mac and cheese can deepen the sauce’s flavor without making the dish taste like beer. Food creator Jamie Milne advises swapping a quarter‑cup of milk for an equal amount of beer while making the...
James Trees, a celebrated independent restaurateur, launched High Steaks atop the Rio Las Vegas Hotel’s Masquerade Tower, marking his first major hotel partnership. Backed by Rio CEO Patrick Miller, Trees secured autonomy over suppliers and staffing, allowing him to iterate...
Delmonico’s Hospitality Group announced a new 11,735‑square‑foot Midtown Manhattan location slated for 2027 and the appointment of Adam Plitt, a former Le Bernardin chef, as executive chef. The expansion aims to capture Midtown’s corporate clientele while preserving the brand’s 200‑year legacy.
Bar Ferdinando is set to open on April 15 as an all‑day café and bar in the former 121‑year‑old Ferdinando’s Focacceria on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Owner Sal Lamboglia, who acquired the space from longtime proprietor Francesco Buffa, retained much of the...
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U.S. cafés are introducing savory, umami‑focused coffee drinks that replace traditional sweet syrups with ingredients like miso, cheese foam, tahini, and bone broth. Baristas say these additions balance coffee’s inherent bitterness and produce a fuller, rounder palate. The movement taps...
Chef Gang Lin, former right‑hand at the acclaimed Yoshino sushi bar, is opening his own eight‑seat counter, Kobashi, on Manhattan’s 7th Avenue next month. The new venue blends his Chinese heritage with traditional Edomae sushi, promising a distinctive culinary experience....
René Redzepi announced his resignation as head chef of Copenhagen’s Noma on March 12, following a New York Times report that detailed decades of staff abuse. The fallout forced sponsors to pull out of the restaurant’s $1,500‑per‑head Los Angeles pop‑up and ignited a...
Jupiter Burger, a Hackney street‑food stall famed for its In‑NOut‑inspired burgers, will open a pop‑up in north London this Easter. The pop‑up operates at Pasero on West Green Road, Tottenham, from April 1‑4 and April 8‑11, each evening between 5 pm and 9:15 pm....
Taix, the iconic 99‑year‑old French restaurant in Echo Park, will close its historic chalet‑style building on March 29, 2026 to make way for a six‑story mixed‑use housing complex. Owner Michael Taix sold the property to Holland Partner Group for $12 million and plans to...
Bettani Farms, the former Climax Foods, raised $6.5 million and acquired Hungry Planet, Numu and Stockeld Dreamery to create a unified vegan cheese platform. Leveraging its AI‑powered Caseed ingredient, the company unveiled a high‑stretch mozzarella that mimics dairy performance, achieving a...
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Top chefs across the U.S. reveal why they routinely ignore classic kitchen commandments, from using extra‑virgin olive oil for sautéing to skipping oven preheat for braised meats. They argue that boiling stocks can produce rich, milky broths, that lightly salted...
London’s bakery scene earned a major boost as the Good Food Guide released its 2026 list of Britain’s 50 Best Bakeries, featuring ten capital establishments. The roster includes newcomers such as Chatsworth Bakehouse, Arôme, Lucky Yu and August Bakery, alongside...
Chef Dan Barber, a farm‑to‑table pioneer, launched Row 7 in 2018 to bring restaurant‑grade vegetables to home growers. The seed company now offers about two dozen specialty varieties, such as the sweet, heat‑less Habanada pepper and the Sweet Garleek allium hybrid,...
Michelin announced that the 2026 Florida Guide will be released on May 28, 2026, instead of the originally scheduled April 14, and that the customary invite‑only awards ceremony has been cancelled. The guide will now be announced via press release...
Melco Resorts & Entertainment secured six Black Pearl Restaurant Guide diamonds in 2026, reinforcing its fine‑dining leadership in Macau. Jade Dragon earned the coveted three‑diamond rating for the seventh straight year and captured the Annual Dish Award for its steamed...
Bengaluru‑based ultra‑fast food delivery startup Swish closed a $38 million Series B round led by Hara Global and Bain Capital Ventures, pushing its post‑money valuation to about $140 million. The capital will fund deeper penetration in Bengaluru and entry into Delhi‑NCR and...
Most people think Italian wine is one thing, but it actually completely depends on climate. North = fresh, high acid wines South = richer, riper wined And that’s just the beginning of how complex Italy really is 🇮🇹🍷
I recently launched a thing: An online newsletter, “Next Course,” featuring essays, simple recipes, travel advice, and more. Please check it out. My debut column looks at the most controversial restaurant in the world: Noma L.A., where I lunched last...
The new Sydney Fish Market at Blackwattle Bay has quickly become a lively hub, helped by Efendi Group’s Hamsi Taverna, a Turkish‑Mediterranean restaurant occupying the market’s southwest corner. Its al‑fresco seating and a menu that marries Anatolian flavors with local...
Los Angeles’ iconic Cole’s restaurant, famed for inventing the French dip sandwich, will close its doors on March 29, ending a 118‑year run. The closure follows a series of extensions after owners Pouring with Heart failed to secure a buyer...
MyFitnessPal’s latest post showcases a plant‑based Tempeh Pad Thai that blends brown‑rice noodles, broccoli, corn, and a tangy tamarind‑sriracha sauce. Each serving delivers 369 calories, 16 grams of protein and only 339 mg of sodium, positioning it as a balanced, low‑sodium dinner option....
McDonald’s Big Arch burger, its newest limited‑time offering, is priced anywhere from $7.46 to $12.99, a spread of nearly 74% across the United States. The disparity, documented by NeoMam Studios, has ignited a conversation about regional pricing strategies and consumer...
Home cooks are swapping traditional beef broth for beer when braising pot roast, especially dark, full‑bodied stouts and porters. The malt‑forward flavors, acidity, and deep amber hue of these beers complement the collagen‑rich beef, producing a richer, more aromatic jus....
