Plus: The World’s Worst Chicago-Style Hot Dog
1. Hooters Revamps Its Look, Aims To Be A Family Breastaurant, Er, Restaurant.
This can only work if they hire owls to replace their current waitstaff.
2. 3D Printed Chocolate Objects: Hershey Partners With 3D Systems.
PC Load Letter? What the fuck does that mean?
3. White Castle Named “Most Influential” Burger Of All Time.
Only in the after-midnight category. McDonald’s, obviously.
4. Red Lobster to Be Split From Darden’s Empire.
No longer family to Olive Garden.
5. Bee People.
“The sentiment behind Asheville Bee Charmer, a store slated to open in March on Haywood Road, isn’t solely sweet,” the Black Mountain News reports.
Sure, Kim Allen and Jillian Kelly plan to include a honey tasting bar.
But the couple’s motivation is equal parts nectar and necessity.
“It’s really going to be catastrophic if we don’t do something,” said Allen, citing the mass beehive deaths due to the mysterious colony collapse disorder. “It is a serious problem. If we can do a small part by providing responsibly made honey, that’s our part.”
The Asheville Bee Charmer shop, which will cutely open next to The Mothlight at Mr. Fred’s on Haywood Road, is intended to be a fun celebration of these winged insects that pollinate up to 30 percent of the world’s crops and 90 percent of wild plants, according to the National Resources Defense Council.
Turns out the whole thing got its start in Chicago.
[T]hey couldn’t, however, start raising bees in their Chicago community after neighbors protested the possibility. As their son entered his freshman year in Chicago, they decided it was time for their next chapter, both professionally and personally.
A friend who lived in Asheville put this mountain town on their radar, and they knew they wanted to head south soon. The duo love the outdoors, and are avid hikers and bikers.
They met at the Chicago Board of Trade more than 20 years ago. Kelly left the business to pursue massage therapy, but Allen continued to work as a commodities trader on the floor until recently.
“We just knew we loved it here,” Allen said. “We really liked the people here – the people were really nice – and we didn’t want to do the corporate thing in Chicago anymore.”
Rahm loses cute business to North Carolina!
6. Key Trends For 2014.
Pretty much the same trends from previous years.
7. Plocky’s Breaks Out.
“2013 was a breakout year of export success for one Illinois company,” according to the Food Export Association of the Midwest.
“Plocky’s Fine Snacks has taken its products from Hinsdale, IL to multiple export markets with the support of Food Export’s programs.”
For example:
“The year marked the company’s first time ever exporting their products to Australia. The first order of tortilla and hummus chips took place in November 2013 for $10,000.
“Another first for the company included two orders of hummus chips to Guatemala. The July and November sales amounted to $7,300 for the company.
“Plocky’s is also in its second year of exporting to the Middle East. Two orders to a buyer in Dubai resulted in sales of $6,600.
“Previous relationships established in China and Canada continued to grow the company. Total sales for products exported to China were $60,000 and Canada buyers purchased $46,000 worth of Plocky’s hummus chips. Overall the company saw export sales to these five markets of approximately $130,000 this year!”
See also: Plocky’s.
8. Kraft recall: Kraft Velveeta Cheesy Skillets Singles Ultimate Cheeseburger Mac.
It’s not easy being cheesy.
9. Honolulu’s Chicago-Style Hot Dog Joint Farkles Is Moving.
To Chinatown – not kidding.
10. Eating The World’s Worst Chicago-Style Hot Dog.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on January 27, 2014