The Culinary Scoop

Meet Vanessa Braxton, best known as the founder of Black Momma Vodka. But now she has another venture brewing up. She just took over three storefronts in a New York shopping plaza to open Black Momma Tea & Cafe, a restaurant that will serve 160 different blends of tea, 3 flavored agaves and other vegan and organic food items such as muffins and wraps.

Opening in 2020 and located on Colonial Springs Road in Wheatley Heights, NY, Braxton’s goal is to become the Starbucks of the tea industry. And the cafe is already creating quite a stir especially because of it’s bold and very eye-catching name. But it’s an attention grabber, and it fits well with the local population which is about 60% Black and Latino.

This full-length documentary film follows artisan makers who’ve changed their lives and risked it all to create their own brands is now open for pre-order and available on demand November 26, 2019

Calling all foodies, oenophiles and travel junkies, this inspirational film is a must for your holiday bucket list, not to mention your friends and family gift list. Alluring and heartfelt, Tin City tells the story of passionate wine country craft makers whose permanently stained hands, aching backs, and barrels of dreams weigh heavy on the mind. These are the proud battle scars of Paso Robles’ small lot wine, beer, spirit, and cider makers making a name for themselves, and a home for their barrels, in Tin City, USA. Watch the trailer here.

Carnival Cruise Line today announced Carnival Kitchen, an engaging and hands-on culinary experience led by the line’s talented chefs, debuting on Carnival Panorama in December. Guests sailing on Carnival’s newest ship can enjoy more than 15 onboard cooking classes inspired by the expansive array of international cuisines showcased on Carnival Panorama.

“We’re committed to providing our guests with memorable onboard experiences, and now, they’ll have the opportunity to explore the art of cooking alongside our incredible culinary team in a fun, informative and interactive atmosphere,” said Cyrus Marfatia, vice president of culinary and dining for Carnival Cruise Line. “We’ve created a diverse selection of experiences that cater to every type of palate, so whether our guests want to learn how to master their favorite foods or want to try something new, Carnival Kitchen has it all.”

Twinkies Cereal is the latest tiny and tasty collaboration between Post Cereals and Hostess Brands

Post Consumer Brands and Hostess Brands, LLC are teaming up again to bring the iconic Twinkies™ brand to the cereal aisle. The new Post Hostess™ Twinkies™ Cereal is a delicious new way to enjoy the snack cake we all know and love in cereal form, giving fans another opportunity to satisfy their cravings.

Twinkies Cereal replicates the distinctive taste and familiar oblong shape of the golden-colored snack cake, delivering delightful sweetness in every bite. Twinkies fans can find the new cereal on grocery store shelves nationwide starting in late December.

The one weekend-only pop up to feature Nutella-inspired breakfasts created by notable chefs Geoffrey Zakarian, Tanya Holland, Dancakes and more

Hotella Nutella, a first-of-its-kind, weekend getaway experience dedicated to the beloved spread, is set to open January 2020. Inspired by Nutella®, The Original Hazelnut Spread®, the exclusive one weekend only pop-up will treat three Nutella super-fans and their guests to an unforgettable breakfast experience that showcases new and exciting ways to enjoy the hazelnut spread. Consumers interested in vying for a reservation for the weekend of January 10-12, 2020 can apply for the chance to win a visit to the property by going to www.HotellaNutella.com, and creating a video that demonstrates how Nutella makes their mornings special. Nutella fans can find full contest rules here.

To kick off the Holiday season with fun and mischief, Smirnoff just unveiled the brand’s latest campaign starring Emmy-nominated actress and LGBTQIA+ advocate Laverne Cox. The Holiday campaign, which lives across TV, digital and social, features Cox charismatically floating through a festive and over-the-top party where Smirnoff steals the show by embracing the unexpected and offering something for everyone (of legal drinking age, of course). The party features Smirnoff in unexpected ways including a festive Holiday tree made of Smirnoff No. 21 green apple martinis, a Smirnoff Kissed Caramel Moscow Mule cocktail hidden underneath a fruitcake, a beautifully wrapped bottle of Smirnoff ICE and a naughty and nice pairing – indulgent Chinese takeout and zero sugar Smirnoff Seltzer Raspberry Rosé¹.

The fifth annual scholarship awards will bring the Taco Bell Foundation to a total of $17 million in awarded scholarships, working toward its commitment of awarding $21 million by 2021

the Taco Bell Foundation opened applications for its fifth annual round of Live Más Scholarships, which will award more than $6 million to passionate young students. This year’s scholarship awards will be nearly $2 million more than last year and bring the Taco Bell Foundation to $17 million in total awarded scholarships, well on schedule to meet its commitment of awarding $21 million by 2021. 

“With student debt in America reaching an all-time high, the Taco Bell Foundation is proud to be part of the solution, fulfilling a growing need for accessible scholarship opportunities,” said Tina Nguyen, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “In the last round, we received an unprecedented 13,000 applications to our scholarship, which demonstrates the tremendous amount of students who will likely seek financial assistance from our program this year as well.”

No Matter How You Slice Them, Lemons Just Got Easier

Wonderful^® Seedless Lemons, a naturally seedless, Non-GMO Project Verified variety of lemon, is now rolling out in produce aisles at grocery stores across the U.S. and online at Amazon Fresh. Wonderful Seedless Lemons will be available in limited supply in year one, launching seasonally this November through May 2020, and are packaged in one- and two-pound bags. 

Arriving just in time to simplify your life for entertaining this holiday season, Wonderful Seedless Lemons will take the hassle of pesky seeds out of baking, cooking or squeezing when making favorite recipes.

According to a third-party study commissioned by The Wonderful Company that surveyed lemon buyers, 83% were likely to purchase a seedless lemon and 81% believe seedless lemons would be more convenient than lemons with seeds.