Key ingredient in ‘Impossible Burger’ approved by FDA

“The Food and Drug Administration has approved the key ingredient in the vegetarian-friendly Impossible Burger. It’s a big win for Silicon Valley-based Impossible Foods as it expands its distribution.

The ingredient, soy leghemoglobin, releases a protein called heme that gives the meat substitute its distinctive blood-like color and taste. Just as the Impossible Burger was gaining in popularity and reach, The New York Times published a report last year revealing that the FDA was concerned that the soy-based ingredient had never been consumed by humans.”

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Stumptown Opens Third New York Cafe in Historic Brooklyn Firehouse

Stumptown Coffee Brooklyn Cobble Hill New York

“Portland, Oregon-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters today opened its third cafe in the New York area, inside an historic firehouse building in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood.

Coffee for the cafe will come from Stumptown’s Red Hook roastery, which also turns out coffees for the company’s other New York locations, including a bar inside the Ace Hotel in Midtown Manhattan and a Greenwich Village standalone cafe with an attached training lab that offers public tastings.”

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Beer remains favorite drink in US

“More than four out of 10 Americans (42 percent) who drink alcohol said they prefer beer, while 34 percent choose wine and 19 percent opt for liquor such as whiskey.

Beer has almost always been Americans’ favorite alcoholic beverage across the last 26 years in which Gallup has tracked preferences. In 2005, wine gained favor and evenly vied for drinkers’ attention and did so again between 2011 and 2013, Gallup says.”

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Starbucks rolls out Italian-style bakery concept

Princi-SEA-Commessas

“The Italian-style bakery will feature breakfasts including baked eggs and pastries; pizzas, soups, salads and sandwiches at lunch; deserts and breads. Coffee will include a Starbucks blend designed for the bakeries, and espresso beverages. It will also serve cocktails, beer and wine — the latest effort in Starbucks’ ongoing quest to drive sales in the afternoons and evenings.”

“In 2016, Starbucks then-CEO and executive chairman Howard Schultz tapped Milanese baker Rocco Princi as a food purveyor for the company’s new high-end retail formats, including its showpiece Roastery and Reserve stores. These are part of the Siren Retail strategy Schultz devised to appeal to coffee connoisseurs and bolster the broader brand cachet.”

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Dunkin’ debuts $2 snack menu to boost all-day sales

“Having mastered the coffee-and-doughnut breakfast trade, Dunkin’ Donuts is looking to expand its appeal at other times of the day.

The chain is going to offer what it calls a Dunkin’ Run menu aimed at take-out customers. Part of its appeal will be price — $2 per item for five products like its Donut Fries, doughnut strips that mimic the look of french fries, and chicken tenders with a waffle-like coating.”

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