BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse has brought back the Spooky Pizookie for the Halloween season. The dessert includes a cookies ’n’ cream cookie topped with two scoops of orange vanilla bean ice cream, a crackable chocolate sh…
#Food culture
This week in Food culture · updated Tue Oct 06 2026
The food and beverage industry this week showcased innovation across multiple segments, from limited-edition novelty products to strategic expansion plans. Energy drink brands capitalized on seasonal trends, with companies launching Halloween-themed and alcohol-alternative beverages targeting specific consumer occasions. Quick-service restaurants continued menu testing in regional markets, while major brands pursued unconventional partnerships—from artist collaborations on luxury champagne to chocolate bars featuring beloved snacks. Beyond beverages and packaged goods, significant infrastructure developments emerged, including a major indoor water park attraction and grocery chain land acquisitions positioning businesses for long-term growth. These developments reflect broader industry trends emphasizing experiential marketing, premiumization, and regional customization.
AI-written weekly briefing drawn from this topic's recent stories.
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BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse Revives Its Spooky Pizookie for Halloween
McDonald’s to Hand Out Bottled Pickle Brine During Chicago Marathon Weekend
McDonald’s is launching Pickle Boost, bottled pickle juice, around the Chicago Marathon on October 11. The company will offer free bottles at a Lakefront Trail preview on October 9 and at five Chicago restaurants on race…
Swig Construction Begins, Base Kamp Opens in Omaha
Swig, a Utah-based chain known for customized sodas, has started construction on its first Nebraska location at 219 South 72nd Street, taking over a former Starbucks near 72nd and Dodge. Base Kamp Coffee & Wine has opene…
Foxy Sushi Permanently Closes in Omaha
Foxy Sushi at 18101 Chicago Street has permanently closed.
Lisa’s Radial Cafe Ranked No. 17 Among Midwest Diners
Discovery Matt placed Lisa’s Radial Café on its list of the 30 best Midwest diners. The Omaha restaurant, at 817 North 40th Street, ranked No. 17. Lincoln’s Hi-way Diner was the only other Nebraska entry, at No. 25.
Base Kamp Coffee & Wine Opens in Regency Shopping Center
Base Kamp Coffee & Wine is now open in the Regency Shopping Center.
Five More Omaha Burger Spots Featured in Latest Tour
The third part of Grow Omaha's burger tour visits five more restaurants in the Omaha area. The stops are Charred Burger + Bar, Everett’s, Rusty Nail, Corvette Cafe and Jukes Ale Works. The writer found a few pleasant sur…
McDonald's 2026 Monopoly Promotion: The Rarest Game Pieces to Watch For
McDonald's has launched its 2026 Monopoly promotion, offering physical game pieces with eligible menu items through November 1. Reddit users identified the rare pieces needed to complete major prize combinations, includi…
Fourth-Generation Restaurateurs Launch New Pizza Concept in Downtown Ann Arbor
The Mancy family, with over a century of restaurant experience in Toledo, has opened The Stubborn Brother Pizza Bar in Ann Arbor's South Main district. The establishment specializes in New York-style thin-crust pizza alo…
Plant-Based Meat Alternative Created With 3D Printing Technology Launching in Northeast Stores
Steakholder Foods is preparing to introduce Perfecta Premium Plant-Based Meat, a line of products manufactured using 3D-printing technology, to supermarkets across the Northeastern United States before year-end. The prod…
Seasonal Celebration Venues Spring Up Across Omaha for Halloween
Temporary bars and party venues celebrating Halloween have opened throughout Omaha for the holiday season. These pop-up establishments offer festive gathering spaces for residents looking to celebrate the occasion. The v…
New Leadership Named for Upcoming Omaha Public Market
Plans for an upcoming public market in Omaha have been revealed, along with the announcement of a new executive director to oversee the project. The details of the market's vision and initial leadership were shared with …
Liquid Death Launches Limited-Edition Vampire-Themed Energy Drink for Halloween
Liquid Death has released Blood Zero, a limited-edition energy drink marketed as a Halloween novelty with a vampire theme. The sparkling beverage features raspberry cream flavor, contains zero sugar and just five calorie…
Taco Bell Debuts Three-Cheese Grilled Steak Taco in Nashville Test Markets
Taco Bell is expanding its menu testing with a new Grilled Steak Three Cheese Taco available at select Nashville-area locations. The item features a flour tortilla grilled with a mozzarella, pepper jack, and cheddar blen…
Grocery Chain Acquires Acreage for Potential Omaha Location
Hy-Vee has acquired a 9.4-acre parcel valued at $5 million within the Hanover Falls commercial development near 156th and State Street. The purchase does not confirm immediate construction plans, as the retailer frequent…
Weekly Local Business and Entertainment Roundup
This weekly segment covers various Omaha business developments including retail openings and renovations, a major soccer stadium redevelopment agreement under city review, and updates on community institutions. Notable i…
Q Street Restaurant Shuts Down for Repairs Following Water Damage
Winchester Bar & Grill on Q Street has temporarily ceased operations after experiencing significant flooding damage to its building. Cleanup and restoration efforts are underway with assistance from staff and volunteers.…
Mattel's First-Ever Branded Water Park Coming to Bellevue in 2027
Bellevue will be home to the world's first Mattel Wonder Indoor Water Park, a 100,000-square-foot facility opening in late 2027 featuring Mattel-branded attractions like a Hot Wheels slide tower and Barbie activity pool.…
Houston's October Food and Beverage Calendar: 17 Must-Try Events
Houston's food scene comes alive in October with a diverse lineup of culinary celebrations ranging from Oktoberfest festivities at local breweries to the Southern Smoke Festival featuring over 100 chefs and bartenders. T…
Local Wedding Planning Guide Highlights Trends and Thrift Alternatives
Current Magazine's 2026 wedding guide provides couples with insights on contemporary trends and cost-effective strategies for planning their special day. The guide explores current dinner, dessert, and cocktail trends wh…
Charming British Inns Perfect for Autumn Getaways and Rural Rambles
Hello Magazine highlights several cozy British pubs offering comfortable accommodation alongside scenic autumn walking routes. Featured establishments combine traditional hospitality with quality amenities, allowing gues…
Damien Hirst Designs Limited Edition Dom Pérignon Bottles With Colorful Artistic Patterns
Celebrated contemporary artist Damien Hirst has created a special collaboration with Dom Pérignon that transforms vintage champagne bottles into collectible art objects through his distinctive kaleidoscopic visual design…
Energy Drink Brand Launches Beer-Inspired Flavor for Sober October
C4 Energy introduced All Hopped Up, a new energy drink formulated to taste like light beer with orange notes while containing 200mg of caffeine and vitamin B12 with no artificial colors. The product launches during Sober…
King's Hawaiian Rolls Get Chocolate Treatment in Limited Partnership
King's Hawaiian collaborated with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés to create a limited-edition chocolate bar featuring pieces of the brand's new Maple Brown Sugar Rolls blended into creamy milk chocolate with maple flav…
Planning the Perfect 2026 Wedding: Trends, Decor, and Local Resources for Ann Arbor Couples
Current Magazine releases a comprehensive wedding guide for 2026 couples, covering the latest trends in ceremony aesthetics, dining, and celebration styles while encouraging engaged couples to balance trendiness with tim…
New Cocktail Bar Set to Replace Iconic Prime Rib Restaurant
Azure Cocktail Bar is preparing to open at the longtime location of Jericho's Restaurant on West Dodge Road, following the establishment's closure earlier this year. The new venue has applied for its liquor license, with…
October Weekend Offers Saudi Cuisine, Wine Tasting, Pet Portraits, and Musical Performance
The first weekend of October brings diverse entertainment options to the D.C. area, including a Saudi Arabian dinner and fashion show at an embassy event, a wine tasting featuring over 125 selections, and a jewelry showc…
Supermarket Private Labels Reinvent Themselves as Premium Alternatives to National Brands
Store brands have undergone a dramatic transformation from generic budget alternatives to offerings that rival or exceed name-brand quality and appeal. Retailers like Aldi and Kroger now market sophisticated private-labe…
Meghan Markle Launches Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar Through Her Lifestyle Brand As Ever
The Duchess of Sussex has introduced a limited-edition holiday advent calendar priced at $148 through her lifestyle brand As Ever, created in collaboration with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés. The calendar features 24…
Veteran Chef Keith Chapman Launches Farm-to-Table Concept in Chelsea
After 25 years in the restaurant industry, chef Keith Chapman has established The Rooted Table, a farm kitchen and catering operation located at Agricole Farm Stop in Chelsea that emphasizes Michigan agriculture and comm…
Jimmy John's Launches Sweet-and-Spicy Pickle Bites in Collectible Buckets
Jimmy John's has introduced Swicy Jimmy Pickle Bites, a new sweet-and-spicy variation of its signature pickles, packaged in a limited-edition 48-ounce collectible bucket. The thick-cut pickle slices are brined in a sweet…
Audrey Hepburn's Son Dispels Eating Disorder Rumors, Reveals Star's Daily Routine
In a newly released authorized biography, Audrey Hepburn's son Sean Hepburn Ferrer contradicts longstanding rumors that his mother struggled with an eating disorder, describing her as someone who enjoyed cooking and eati…
Long-Running Local Brewery Shuts Down After Decade in Business
Backswing Brewing Company ceased all operations on September 22 after more than ten years of producing craft beer in Nebraska. The brewery had already closed its Omaha taproom location in October 2025 but continued brewi…
Graza Partners With Athletic Brewing for Limited-Edition Non-Alcoholic Pilsner Infused With Olive Oil
Olive oil brand Graza collaborated with Athletic Brewing Company to create Cold Off The Press, a non-alcoholic pilsner that incorporates extra-virgin olive oil during the brewing process to enhance flavor complexity. The…
KFC Opens Redesigned 'Open House' Location Featuring Expanded Menu and Modern Dining Experience
KFC debuted Open House, a new restaurant concept in McKinney, Texas that reimagines the fast-food dining experience with an expanded menu including breakfast options, multiple sauce customizations, artisanal beverages, a…
Brach's Launches Limited-Edition Candy Corn Fragrance That Sells Out in First Drop
Brach's released its first-ever fragrance, an eau de parfum designed to capture the scent of candy corn with notes of vanilla, spun sugar, and honey. The limited-edition product sold out during its initial September 22 r…
Taco Bell Tests Steak and Potato Quesadilla with New Cutting Style
Taco Bell is conducting a limited test of a new Steak & Potato Loaded Quesadilla in Oklahoma City locations that combines grilled marinated steak, crispy potato pieces, cheddar cheese, and jalapeño sauce in a flour torti…
Cheez-It Launches High-Protein Cracker Variety with 7 Grams per Serving
Cheez-It has introduced a new Protein Original cracker line that combines the brand's signature cheese flavor and crunch with a nutritional boost of 7 grams of protein per serving. The crackers are made with 100% real ch…
Chipotle Revives Margaritas with Limited-City Tour Throughout October
Chipotle is temporarily bringing back margaritas for the first time since discontinuing them in 2020, offering them for $6 at select locations during weekend pop-ups called The Summon the Spirits Tour. The tour will visi…
Popeyes Officially Launches Honey Chicken Biscuit After Social Media Demand
Popeyes has released a new Honey Chicken Biscuit that incorporates a modification fans have been making on their own for years by drizzling honey over the chain's chicken sandwich. The sandwich features crispy chicken on…
Sommelier Taylor Schmidt Johnson Brings Farm-to-Glass Philosophy to Echelon Kitchen and Bar
Taylor Schmidt Johnson, Wine Director and Lead Sommelier at Echelon Kitchen and Bar, curates wine selections emphasizing small producers and sustainable farming practices aligned with the restaurant's seasonal menus. Hav…
New Restaurants and Businesses Open in Washtenaw County This October
The Rooted Table, a farm-to-table concept from Chef Keith Chapman, has opened at Agricole Farm Stop in Chelsea, emphasizing local Michigan producers and chef-driven hospitality. Several other establishments are also laun…
Metro Detroit Chefs Unite for Charity Dinner at Miss Kim
Miss Kim restaurant will host a collaborative dinner on October 6 featuring seven local chefs working together to support the Southern Smoke Foundation. The $145 tickets will include sustainably sourced Michigan meat pro…
Omaha Restaurant and Retail Updates in the Latest Lightning Round
The segment reports that Fogo de Chão may be headed to Village Pointe, based on a building permit for the former Kona Grill space and leasing materials. It also covers Trax To Go, Azure Cocktail Bar, Paul Moss Kitchen’s …
Starbucks at 195th and Highway 370 Closes Permanently
The Starbucks location at 195th and Highway 370 is no longer operating. The closure appears in Grow Omaha's archive of restaurant closures.
Starbucks on 122nd and Fort Street Shuts Down
The Starbucks at 122nd and Fort Street has shut down for good. Grow Omaha's archive of restaurant closures notes the closure.
Starbucks at 96th and L Street Permanently Closes
The Starbucks at 96th and L Street is no longer operating. Grow Omaha's archive of restaurant closures lists the site as closed.
Female Chefs at Park City Festival Challenge Traditional Kitchen Leadership
At the Chef's Table Festival in Park City, Utah, women chefs discussed how they build careers around their own identities rather than a single model of culinary leadership. A panel titled 'Women Shaping the Future of Foo…
Azure Cocktail Bar Planned for Former Jericho’s Restaurant Site
A new cocktail lounge called Azure is planned for the West Dodge Road address that previously housed Jericho’s Restaurant. N.U.M Consulting, LLC has submitted a liquor license request for the business, and the Omaha City…
Two Writers Share What They Won’t Spend On in a Tight Economy
In a joint column, Carmen Macri and Ambar Ramirez list expenses they are cutting back on because of financial strain. They mention making coffee at home, skipping brunch and gym memberships, avoiding dating, and walking …
Azure Cocktail Bar Set to Take Over Old Jericho’s Space
Azure Cocktail Bar is planned for the former Jericho’s Restaurant location at 11732 West Dodge Road. N.U.M Consulting, LLC has applied for a liquor license, and a city council hearing is scheduled for September 29. Jeric…
Starbucks Japan and Pokémon Launch Pikachu Honey Cream Latte
Starbucks Japan and Pokémon have partnered on a Pikachu-themed honey cream latte. The collaboration uses the character as more than a simple label on an existing drink. It is part of a character collaboration between the…
Inside the Times Square EDITION’s Dining, Rooms, Terraces, and Nightlife
The Times Square EDITION general manager Chad Kemler discussed the hotel’s dining, rooms, terraces, and entertainment offerings. The property features restaurants by Michelin-star chef John Fraser, suites with Times Squa…
A banana cake helped a former ad writer rediscover her creative spark
In a personal essay, Helene Rosenthal describes leaving a copywriting career in advertising to become a stay-at-home mother to twin daughters. Feeling unfulfilled, she turned to baking and found a new creative outlet, ev…
Kraft and Solly’s Launch Mac & Cheese-Flavored Cream Soda
Kraft Canada’s KD brand has partnered with Solly’s Craft Soda to release a limited-edition cream soda inspired by Kraft Mac & Cheese. The drink is meant to combine the familiar cheesiness of the pasta with cream soda’s n…
Foodbeast Makes Hot Dog Croquetas With Beerchamel
Foodbeast’s Chris Abouabdo made croquetas with finely chopped hot dogs and a beer-infused béchamel he calls beerchamel. The filling uses Montucky Cold Snacks, heavy cream, Manchego, onion, wieners, flour, and nutmeg, the…
Slim Jim Sets Guinness Record for Longest Meat Snack Stick
Slim Jim earned a Guinness World Record on September 9, 2026, for the world’s longest meat snack stick. The stick measured 429 feet 5 inches and weighed nearly 70 pounds, beating its previous 314-foot record from 2023. A…
Hidden Valley Launches Black Spooky Ranch for Halloween
Hidden Valley is launching limited-edition Spooky Ranch, a jet-black version of its original ranch for Halloween. The color comes from fruit juice and cocoa rather than artificial flavors, while the buttermilk, herb, and…
Costco Canada Debuts Fresh Deli Ramen Kits
Costco Canada is selling fresh deli ramen kits that include chashu pork, soy-marinated eggs, shoyu broth, green onions, and noodles. Priced at $12.99 CAD per kilogram, a roughly $21 kit weighs about 1.6 kilograms and can…
Burger King Nigeria Adds Chef T’s Jollof Rice to Menu
Burger King Nigeria has added a jollof rice dish developed with Nigerian creator Thonia “Chef T” Bankz to its menu. The item pairs seasoned jollof rice with smoked or spicy chicken and plantains, and it took 30 recipe at…