
New York Gets Its First Taste of Tokyo Pizza
Tokyo’s Seirinkan pizza, led by master chef Susumu Kakinuma, launched a limited‑time pop‑up at Tao Group’s Sake No Hana in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The menu offered three handcrafted pies—margherita, marinara and a white with wasabi—priced at $45 each, and diners endured up to 90‑minute waits due to a single‑oven setup. Kakinuma imported seasonal wheat blends from Tokyo and applied a wood‑burning technique that produced a mochi‑like crumb and charred crust. The event marks the first U.S. foothold for the chef’s acclaimed Tokyo‑style pizza concept.

Ancient Crunch Makes Health, Taste And Beauty The New Snack Standard As It Expands Its Tallow-Fried Masa Chips In Retail
Ancient Crunch, a snack brand focused on pre‑industrial processing, is scaling its tallow‑fried masa tortilla chips from online‑only to roughly 2,000 retail doors, including Sprouts and an upcoming rollout at Whole Foods. The company’s chips use nixtamalized organic corn and...

What to Cook when You Don’t Feel Like Chopping an Onion
The article explores the growing "lazy cooking" trend, highlighting how home cooks can skip onions without sacrificing flavor. Chef Stephen Chavez outlines five onion‑free dishes—scrambled eggs, cacio e pepe, pesto pasta, chicken piccata, and breaded chicken cutlet—and recommends flavor‑boosting substitutes...

Costco’s Rotisserie Chicken Is Caught in a Legal Broiler
Costco’s Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken, long‑priced at $4.99, is now the subject of two class‑action lawsuits. The first, filed in California, alleges the chicken contains sodium phosphate and carrageenan despite marketing it as preservative‑free. The second, filed in Washington, claims...

Landmark Vote Positions Helsinki as a Plant-Based Policy Frontrunner
Helsinki City Council approved a landmark initiative to cut the city’s meat and dairy procurement by 50 % by 2030, replacing them with plant‑based meals in schools, daycares, hospitals and other municipal venues. The motion passed 57‑23 with broad cross‑party support...

Beyond Meat Expands New Line of Protein Drinks with Four Additional Flavors
Beyond Meat announced four new flavors for its Beyond Immerse sparkling protein drink—Cherry Berry, Strawberry Lemonade, Piña Colada, and Cucumber Grapefruit. The beverages, available in 10‑gram and 20‑gram protein versions, also deliver 7 grams of fiber, antioxidants and electrolytes. Launches are limited‑time and...

New Research Project at TU Berlin Develops Standardization for Plant Protein Functionality
A three‑year research initiative led by Prof. Dr. Stephan Drusch at TU Berlin, in partnership with the University of Hohenheim, is developing standardized methods to quantify the techno‑functional properties of plant proteins such as solubility, emulsification, gelation and foaming. The...

Happy Plant Protein Outlines New Value Creation Strategy for Mills and Agricultural Co-Ops
Happy Plant Protein, a Finnish food‑tech firm, introduced a dry‑extrusion process that converts locally sourced pea, faba bean, oat and soy flours into textured vegetable protein (TVP). The technology lets regional mills and agricultural co‑ops upgrade low‑margin flour into high‑value...
How GLP-1 Medications Are Driving Food and Beverage Innovation
GLP-1 weight‑loss drugs are reshaping food consumption, prompting manufacturers to redesign products for smaller portions, higher protein, fiber, and micronutrients. About 10 % of U.S. adults currently use these medications, and over half meet eligibility, creating a sizable market. Companies like...
The 4-Stage Integration Gap Holding Food Manufacturers Back in 2026
Food manufacturers are largely stuck in a hybrid, partially connected integration state, where systems like ERP and MES exchange data inconsistently. A 2025 survey shows nearly 70% of firms cite cost as the primary obstacle to deeper digital transformation, yet...
Chefs in the Schools: Equitable Meals Across New York City
Chefs in the Schools (CITS) completed a three‑year pilot that delivered scratch‑made, plant‑based meals to nearly one million New York City public‑school children daily. The program developed 44 culturally inclusive recipes, trained cooks in over 1,000 schools, and engaged more...
Recipe: Sauerkraut and Pancetta Soup for Bad Weather
The Financial Times published a recipe for a sauerkraut and pancetta soup designed as a hearty option for cold, rainy days. The dish combines tangy fermented cabbage with salty pork belly, creating a rich broth that promises both comfort and...
Book Excerpt | Meat: How the Next Agricultural Revolution Will Transform Humanity’s Favorite Food―And Our Future
Bruce Friedrich’s new book argues that plant‑based and cultivated meat are essential to curb animal‑agriculture harms. It reveals that creating convincing plant‑based meat is a complex scientific problem, requiring teams of biologists, chemists, and engineers rather than simple culinary tricks....

A Sushi Master Is Hiding Above Eleven Madison Park
Japanese sushi master Eiji Ichimura has launched an open‑ended residency at the Studio, a nine‑seat counter perched above Eleven Madison Park in New York. The omakase menu, priced at $325 per guest, focuses on edomae‑style sushi with rare items like...
A Winter Storm Equals Flooding and Disaster for Three L.A. Restaurants
Presidents Day flash‑flood warnings inundated three Los Angeles eateries, forcing Gritz N’ Wafflez, Sala Coffee & Wine Bar, and Valley Grounds Coffee to halt service. Gritz alone anticipates $25‑30 k in repair costs and a similar amount in lost revenue, while...

Istanbul, a City Powered by Soup: Here’s Where to Refuel, Around the Clock
Istanbul’s culinary scene is anchored by an extensive network of soup kitchens and 24‑hour eateries that keep the city humming after dark. The FT guide maps out the most iconic broth‑centric spots, from historic çorbacı houses in Beyoğlu to modern...
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[EBook] Winning the Shelf Playbook
Tastewise’s new eBook, “Winning the Shelf Playbook,” argues that point‑of‑sale data alone can no longer secure shelf space in 2026. Brands must leverage real‑time consumer signals—claims, usage occasions, prep contexts, and basket behavior—to craft SKU stories that resonate with empowered...

Chef Joseph 'Joe' Randall, Trailblazing 'Dean of Southern Cuisine,' Dies at 79
Chef Joseph "Joe" Randall, celebrated as the “Dean of Southern Cooking,” died on Feb. 14 at age 79. Over a five‑decade career he championed Black chefs, founded the African American Chefs Hall of Fame in 1993, and opened culinary schools in...

Sông Quê Phở Bar, London E1: ‘The Best Phở in Town’ – Restaurant Review | Grace Dent on Restaurants
London’s long‑standing Vietnamese eatery Sông Quê has launched a dedicated phở bar on Commercial Street, expanding its 25‑year legacy. The compact venue offers a focused menu of beef, chicken, prawn and tofu phở alongside a handful of small plates such...