Home About Articles Reel Blog Contact

Food & Drinks

The Independent •

Chick-fil-A changed its waffle fries and some fans are not loving it

Some Chick-fil-A fans are voicing their disappointment after the chain announced a change to its iconic waffle fries recipe.The fast-food giant recently updated its website to inform customers about “a slight adjustment” to the fries, to make them “stay crispier, longer.” The new recipe includes a coating with pea starch, which the company clarified “doesn’t contain any of the nine major allergens.”However, the change hasn’t gone over well with some loyal customers. Founder and CEO of clothing b...
The Independent •

Social media feud with food influencer costs chef his job

San Francisco Michelin-starred chef Geoffrey Lee stepped down from his leadership roles at three prominent restaurants —Ju-Ni, Handroll Project, and the newly opened Hamburger Project — on Friday, January 3, following a publicized social media clash with food influencer Kathleen Ensign. According to The San Francisco Standard, the social media showdown began in December after Ensign posted a lukewarm review of Hamburger Project, calling the smashburger “good but not great” and rating it a 7.2 ou...
The Independent •

Freezing popcorn is TikTok’s latest food obsession

TikTok’s latest food trend has snackers tossing their popcorn into the freezer, transforming the beloved warm treat into a crunchy, chilly sensation that’s dividing social media. Known for showcasing everything from clever hacks to questionable experiments, TikTok has birthed viral hits like the cucumber salad and the controversial “gatorwine” hack for stretching cheap wine. Now, frozen popcorn is stepping into the spotlight.In September, content creator Dustin Hadley tested the trend in an Inst...
The Independent •

McDonald’s returns with fan favorite sauce you can now buy for limited time only

The McRib, a McDonald’s fan favorite, is making its much-anticipated return. Beginning December 3, the American fast food chain is pulling out all the stops for the McRib’s festive return to participating locations throughout the U.S. Not only will the McRib — described by McDonald’s as “seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and tangy pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun” — be available to order at restaurant locations nationwide, but so will i...
The Independent •

Delta to begin serving Shake Shack burgers on flights for certain customers

Delta Air Lines is teaming up with Shake Shack to bring the chain’s beloved burgers to the skies.Starting December 1, first-class passengers on flights out of Boston covering more than 900 miles will have the chance to enjoy a Shake Shack Cheeseburger as part of their meal, with plans to expand the offering to other US markets throughout 2025.“A delicious cheeseburger is an iconic comfort food – our customers know that which is why burgers are one of the top-ordered menu items we offer,” Managin...
The Independent •

How to safely defrost your Thanksgiving turkey

Millions of Americans are already preparing their feasts for this Thanksgiving — including the frozen turkey, which takes center stage for many holiday menus. When it comes to purchasing a turkey for Thanksgiving, buying a frozen bird is oftentimes the most convenient choice because it allows shoppers to get ahead of the holiday chaos. However, thawing them safely is no small task. Thankfully, experts at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Butterball — one of the largest U.S....
The Independent •

Nearly 7,000 pounds of hot dogs recalled after producer missed federal checks

The USDA recalled 6,900 pounds of hot dogs after discovering that they did not undergo federal inspection. On Monday, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a notice recalling nearly 7,000 pounds of hot dogs when Kentucky-based meat house AW Farms found they were “produced without the benefit of federal inspection.” The recall of the summer classic affected restaurants and hotels in Ohio and West Virginia that received the hot dogs on or after May 30, which reportedly have a shelf life o...
The Independent •

‘Swicy’ treats are this summer’s hottest food trend in grocery stores

The “swicy” food trend has taken over supermarket shelves, from Walmart to Target.

Coming in all sorts of food items, including chips, popcorn, burgers, and ice cream, as well as drinks from brands like Starbucks and Coca-Cola, companies are hopping on the “swicy” trend by offering sweet and spicy versions of their most popular products.

“The spicy trend is here to stay,” food industry advisor Sally Lyons Wyatt of market research firm Circana explained to CNN. “My whole motto for a couple of y
The Independent •

Pringles and Crocs collaborate with limited edition shoe collection

Pringles and Crocs are collaborating for a limited edition shoe collection, some of which will come with a built-in snack can holster.

The shoe company revealed that they planned on releasing a brand new collection of shoes in another collaboration with the snack brand, which is owned by Kellogg’s

Matias Infante, vice president of global brand partnerships and energy for Crocs, wrote in a joint announcement, “This partnership seamlessly combines the flavor-packed world of Pringles with the ico
The Independent •

Shopper calls out Trader Joe’s over ‘Trader Ming’s’ label

A woman has called out Trader Joe’s for the names on its cultural food packaging.

In a viral TikTok video, user Kyi (@kyeatdaays) took issue with the grocery store chain’s names on cultural food products. She captured a point-of-view skit to illustrate to viewers the moment she realised that the name at the top of her frozen bag of Mandarin Orange Chicken read Trader Ming’s instead of Trader Joe’s.

The video followed her opening her freezer, pulling out the frozen chicken bits, and putting the
The Independent •

McDonald’s Snack Wrap is coming back

According to a company announcement on 7 December, the fast food chain reportedly plans on expanding its chicken-based menu by adding the beloved, fan-favourite Snack Wraps after they were discontinued in 2016.

Having debuted in 2006, portable Snack Wraps were a hit amongst young customers. They were marketed as a healthy option for on-the-go consumers.

The Snack Wraps were so popular that they were credited with boosting sales the chain’s sales at the time. However, after 10 years on the menu
The Independent •

Steakhouse customer pays double for meal after miscommunication with waiter

Two friends at a steakhouse were told that sides were ‘unlimited’ by their waiter only to find they had to pay double after receiving the check.

In a viral TikTok video, user Mikey (@notmikeyd) explained to viewers that when dined with his friend Josh at a restaurant, his server explained to them that their steak meal would come with “unlimited” sides. Excited, Josh ordered the steak, while Mikey got pasta, and both agreed to share their orders. Mikey noted, “We’ll have a little sharing experie
The Independent •

Man shows the increase in grocery prices since 2019

A man has shown how grocery prices in the United States have increased since 2019, and the difference is jaw-dropping.

In a viral TikTok, content creator Gary Bird (@thegarybird) compared the prices of household staples sold at Whole Foods to the cost of those same items in 2019. With a cart full of groceries, Bird began the video by saying: “In 2019, all of this food in here only cost $87.50.”

He showed himself buying typical items like milk, eggs, bread, vegetables, meat, and other essential
The Independent •

NYC restaurant hits back after scathing review of $28 shrimp

After food critic Robert Sietsema wrote a scathing review of the restaurant Foxface Natural for Eater New York, the restaurant slammed the publication for greenlighting the “hit piece.”

Foxface Natural is reportedly a post-coronavirus project from owners Kushnir and Sivan Lahat, who were behind the original Foxface, another restaurant known for serving camel and elk meat sandwiches, and a one-star review from the New York Times. The restaurant originally closed during the pandemic and was set t
The Independent •

Gisele Bündchen announces new cookbook with family favourite recipes

Gisele Bündchen announced that she would be releasing a cookbook based on family recipes.

The supermodel, 43, revealed that she had written her first cookbook, titled Nourish, which will consist of a collection of hearty, healthy meals she loves to whip up for her family. The cookbook will also provide insight into Bündchen’s family dynamics and will reportedly have anecdotes and stories about her family.

Below an image of the cover, Bündchen captioned in an Instagram post: "I am so excited to
The Independent •

Starbucks releases new fall menu with two brand-new drinks: ‘Pure joy’

Starbucks has just dropped its 2023 fall lineup with the added surprise of two brand new drinks alongside fan favourites like the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte.

According to the coffee chain, fans should be prepared to say goodbye to summer with a taste of fall on 24 August, when items new and old make their way to Starbucks locations.

As companies all over begin to decorate their storefronts with autumn-themed merchandise, Starbucks prepares to celebrate not only one of its most lucrative season
The Independent •

12 cinnamon brands to avoid after high lead levels found in spice blends

A third of cinnamon powders and spice blends recently tested contained high levels of lead, a new study has found. According to a recent Consumer Reports investigation, researchers discovered high lead levels in several cinnamon products. Elevated lead levels were reportedly also present in some multispice products. With cinnamon being a kitchen staple, this discovery may affect the spice’s widespread use in desserts, like snickerdoodles, or savory dishes, like roasted chicken.The organization’s...
The Independent •

Nestlé announces plans to launch frozen foods targeting Ozempic and Wegovy users

Nestlé has announced plans to launch frozen foods that target weight-loss drug users.

In the last year, GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have skyrocketed in use as celebrities like Oprah Winfrey have credited them with their slimmer figures. With the growing number of consumers taking the drugs, Nestlé has revealed plans to launch the new frozen-food brand, Vital Pursuit, aimed at the burgeoning demographic.

According to a recent survey from the health policy resear
The Independent •

New York Times columnist David Brooks roasted for complaints about $78 airport meal

New York Times columnist David Brooks was mocked on social media after he complained about a $78 meal at the airport.

On 20 September, Brooks posted a photo of a burger, fries, and a half-empty drink on X - formerly known as Twitter. “This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible,” he wrote above the image.

However, a Community Note beneath the photo debunked Brooks claims. “Based on the similar table, glass, chair, sheet and cut of fries, th
The Independent •

Starbucks releases new fall menu with two brand-new drinks: ‘Pure joy’

Starbucks has just dropped its 2023 fall lineup with the added surprise of two brand new drinks alongside fan favourites like the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte.

According to the coffee chain, fans should be prepared to say goodbye to summer with a taste of fall on 24 August, when items new and old make their way to Starbucks locations.

As companies all over begin to decorate their storefronts with autumn-themed merchandise, Starbucks prepares to celebrate not only one of its most lucrative season
The Independent •

New ‘Malibu Barbie Dream Drizzle’ cheesesteak has people driving hours to get a taste

While capitalising on the blockbuster success of the Barbie movie, Gino’s Cheese Steak and Onion in Fayetteville, New York, has gone through nearly 20 gallons of its pink sauce since the film premiered on 21 July.

Barbiemania has spread far and wide with brand partnerships galore, and the runaway success of the film has led to not only big businesses cashing in on the Barbie magic but small businesses like Gino’s, too. Josh Amidon, the owner of Gino’s and a self-described “Cheesesteak Jedi”, wa

Let's get social!