Iran has brought days of relative calm in the Middle East to an end after launching what the US called a "surprise" attack in a striking change to the pattern of fighting.
Rather than responding to a fresh American strike, Tehran chose to restart the fight itself, showing a growing willingness to use military force to shape the course of the war on its own terms.
This in turn sets the stage for fresh escalation. "We are going to beat the f**king sh*t out of them," US President Donald Trump told Fox News Wednesday morning. "We'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating."
That threat could hardly have surprised Tehran, which launched its missiles knowing they might bring US bombers back.
Trump had attributed last week's pause to a request from Iran because "they asked us very nicely" and wanted talks. Tehran never publicly committed to the recent pause, although a senior Iranian official said "our armed forces also decided not to take military action."

#Trump #fresh #going

Jamie Foxx and Alyce Huckstepp were seen in Beverly Hills a few months after the news about their first baby together broke
Foxx, 58, is already a dad to daughters Corinne, 32, and Anelise, 17, from previous relationships
PEOPLE confirmed the couple's relationship in August 2023 after they were spotted dining together in Malibu
Jamie Foxx and his girlfriend Alyce Huckstepp enjoyed an evening out to dinner ahead of welcoming their first baby together.
On Tuesday, July 28, the actor, 58, was photographed leaving the restaurant Crustacean in Beverly Hills, Calif., wearing a straw hat and a black T-shirt. Foxx's pregnant girlfriend Huckstepp stood behind him, wearing a long black tank-top dress that highlighted her baby **** p.

#huckstepp #baby #jamie #first

Cracker Barrel will soon have a new leader.
The company announced on July 27 CEO Julie Masino will step down as CEO and member of the board effective Aug. 10. Masino will be replaced by David Deno, most recently the CEO of Bloomin' Brands, the owner of casual restaurant chains such as Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill.
Masino will remain with Cracker Barrel as an adviser until Oct. 9, the company said.
"Following a robust and thoughtful search process, we are pleased to welcome David as Cracker Barrel's next CEO," said Carl Berquist, independent chairman of the Cracker Barrel board, in a news release. "He brings decades of experience across the restaurant and retail industries, with a strong track record of leading businesses through growth and a demonstrated commitment to operational excellence, guest experience, and team member engagement."
Deno said in the news release he is "honored to lead the Cracker Barrel team" and looks forward to "unlocking the full potential of this remarkable brand." Deno began his tenure as CEO of Bloomin' Brands in 2019, having previously served as the company's executive vice president and chief financial officer from 2012 to 2019.

#barrel #masino

This story was originally published on FSR. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily FS Insider.
Cracker Barrel is changing CEOs as it works to regain traffic and trust from guests.
The company announced Monday that David Deno will become CEO and join the board of directors effective August 10. He replaces Julie Masino, who has led Cracker Barrel since November 2023 and will step down from the top role and board on the same date. Masino will stay with the company in an advisory role through October 9 to ******* ist with the transition.
Deno brings decades of restaurant experience to the position, including five years as CEO of Bloomin' Brands, parent company of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. He joined Bloomin' Brands in 2012 as CFO before taking over as CEO in 2019. He previously held senior positions at Best Buy, Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut, and Burger King.
During Deno's tenure, Bloomin' credited him with strengthening profitability and its balance sheet, including navigating the company through the COVID pandemic and optimizing its international portfolio. He retired from the CEO position in 2024.

#barrel #deno #steakhouse

Detroit — All Si Woo Kim wanted was a little Korean barbecue Tuesday night.
He ended up in Canada — and late for dinner.
"Never a dull moment with Sio Woo," fellow PGA Tour professional Michael Kim wrote on social media Tuesday night, in sharing the hilarious (and for many Michiganians, all-too-familiar) anecdote.
"Thanks for the content my guy."
BRAND new Si Woo Kim story:

There’s a solid Korean bbq restaurant I always go to when I’m in Detroit. I text Si Woo, wanna grab dinner tonight at this place? He goes sure.

He searches the name of the restaurant on Google Maps, and without much thinking starts driving. But…

#restaurant

July 27 (Reuters) - Cracker Barrel on Monday said Julie Masino would step down as its CEO, nearly a year ‌after the company faced criticism from conservatives, including U.S. ‌President Donald Trump, for a short-lived decision to change its decades-old logo.
Here are the details:
• Masino will step down as CEO on August 10 after about three years in the role and will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until October 9.
• Cracker Barrel named ‌restaurant industry veteran David ⁠Deno as its new top boss.
• In August 2025, the company faced backlash on social media for ⁠its decision to modernize its logo and stores and replace its decades-old "Old-Timer" signage which featured the image of an overalls-clad man known as "Uncle Herschel" leaning against a barrel.

#cracker

GEV's $176B backlog positions it as the premium AI infrastructure bet; NEE trades at 22x forward earnings with 8%+ EPS growth through 2032.
NextEra's Duane Arnold nuclear restart, backed by a 25-year Google PPA, targets Q1 2029 and anchors its long-term AI power strategy.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and NextEra Energy didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV) and NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) reported June-quarter results within 48 hours of each other. GEV sells the turbines, transformers, and grid gear every hyperscaler needs. NextEra owns the megawatts, the interconnects, and a Florida utility that hyperscalers want to plug into. Two ways to buy the same AI power bottleneck.
GE Vernova posted Q2 revenue of $11.10 billion, up 21.8% year over year, with bookings of $24.2 billion and a $176 billion backlog. Electrification revenue jumped 68%, and $2.7 billion of that came from data center orders in the quarter alone. CEO Scott Strazik told investors GEV is "on track to deliver 20 GW of annual gas turbine output in the third quarter of 2026, with 24 GW in 2028" and 30 GW by 2030. Wind guidance includes roughly $400 million in EBITDA losses.

#nextera #quarter #backlog

A comprehensive collection of personal artifacts chronicling the life of one of America's most recognizable restaurateurs, including his former home and restaurant, is up for auction.
From his iconic bow tie to an original cash register, Americana aficionados have the opportunity to snag some of the items that made Colonel Harland Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken a global household name.
Here's what you should know about the auction and Sanders' legacy.
The Menish Group, an auction and real estate firm based in Louisville, Kentucky, is auctioning what it describes as "a remarkable collection of personal artifacts, memorabilia, documents, furnishings, and historical objects **** ociated with Colonel Harland Sanders and Claudia Sanders," his wife.
Pre-bidding is available and will culminate in a live auction held in Shelbyville, roughly 30 miles east of Louisville, on the evening of July 28.

#personal #americana

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Whataburger announced QSR finance veteran Ryan Moore as its next Chief Financial Officer. Moore will join Whataburger July 31, bringing deep restaurant experience to help guide the company's financial strategy as the brand continues to grow.
"Ryan is a proven financial leader with deep experience in the restaurant industry and a strong track record of helping brands navigate periods of meaningful growth," said Whataburger President and CEO Debbie Stroud. "He's a collaborative leader who understands that when you invest wisely in your people, your operations and the customer experience, stronger financial results follow. He also understands how to create sustainable growth while protecting the qualities that have made Whataburger an iconic brand for 76 years. I'm excited to welcome Ryan to our leadership team as we continue building for the future."
Moore's 16 years of restaurant finance leadership include six years as Chief Financial Officer of Torchy's Tacos and 10 years at Taco Bell, where he served as Vice President of Finance. His experience includes helping restaurant brands grow beyond their core markets, aligning investment with growth and preparing organizations for their next stage.
"Whataburger is an iconic regional brand with the opportunity to become a national player," Moore said. "Success means finding the right way to share Whataburger with people who have not yet had the opportunity to experience it, while keeping the core essence and heart of the brand. It means making the right investments, taking the right risks and adapting thoughtfully as we enter new markets."

#whataburger

Corey Heim is a special driver, and I think we were already aware of that even before his recent Cup victories. He's won 26 Truck races in less than 100 starts, and toppled various records there en route to his 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series **** le.
But there's always an adjustment period when a rising star moves up to Cup, right? Well, maybe not for Heim. 23XI Racing being a top-level team certainly helps, but Heim is actively beating fellow Toyota drivers like Reddick, Hamlin and Bell in head-to-head battles.
He won at the San Diego Street Course by passing Reddick late in the race, and he reclaimed the lead from Hamlin on the final restart of the Brickyard 400, before withstanding the pressure of Bell in the closing laps to win that race as well.
In doing so, Heim is accomplishing feats NASCAR hasn't seen in literally decades.
Corey Heim is the first driver to win two races in just his first 15 career starts as a NASCAR Cup driver since A.J. Foyt did it in 1965 -- 61 years ago. Foyt managed to win the summer Daytona race in both 1964 and 1965 while competing part-time. The legendary driver also won those races with two different race teams, which even Heim won't can't match.

#heim #truck #hamlin

Officials across Europe have restated the need to use VAR only to change "blatantly incorrect" decisions and address clear missed incidents.
UEFA convened referee chiefs from all 55 national ****** ociations last week along with representatives from the International Football ****** ociation Board (IFAB), which sets the game's laws, in a bid to reach a consensus on the best approach to officiating.
There was "unanimous" support for further measures to speed up restarts, such as the time limits on substitutions and five-second countdowns for goal kicks and throw-ins.
However, arguably the most significant statement was a restating of VAR's original purpose.
"VAR must only intervene in situations of 'clear and obvious' error, i.e. when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident," a UEFA release stated.

#uefa #only #Europe #international

LeBron James is yet to play a game for the Philadelphia 76ers, but the city is massively celebrating his arrival.
LeBron James will likely finish his NBA career in Philadelphia after signing a two-year deal with the 76ers. The announcement has sent a wave of happiness through the city.
James may spend the next two seasons in Philly, but the King will not be living in the same city. Instead, James will reportedly live in New York City and take helicopter rides during game days and training.
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
The 4x NBA champion may not live in the city, but it hasn't stopped Philly restaurants from giving massive offers to LBJ, per a report from The Athletic.

#james #city #live #instead

While markets data shows that the global market for dining out is projected to grow from $1.9 trillion now to more than $3 trillion by 2030, many individual chains that were popular in another era are struggling to survive amid changing consumer trends.
U.S. chains like Smokey Bones, Peet's Coffee, and Joe's Crab Shack have collectively closed dozens of locations this year. Meanwhile, over in the United Kingdom, Leon and The Real Greek both nearly halved their store locations in 2026 despite once going through a period of rapid expansion that made them well-recognized chains in the country's major cities.
With the first location opening in the Greater London borough of Enfield in 1974, the restaurant chain Beefeater has, over several generations, earned a reputation for being a family-friendly steakhouse chain serving grilled steak cuts, burgers, and fish and chips at more accessible prices.
At its peak, the chain had approximately 140 standalone and Brewers Fayre brewery-attached locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. But amid soaring operating costs the hotel and dining company Whitbread confirmed plans to shutter all remaining 106 restaurants by September.
Earlier in the year, Whitbread announced a restructuring plan that aims to bring down annual costs down costs by £250 million ($333 million USD).

#kingdom

Zendaya and Tom Holland are making the most of married life as they travel the world promoting their latest projects, and a source exclusively tells In Touch that the newlyweds are turning the press tour into an extended honeymoon.
According to the source, the couple has been squeezing in romantic dinners and sightseeing between stops for Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.
"They've been all over the world together the last month, and they still have more stops to go," the source says. "Everywhere they go, it's the absolute best of the best, it would cost them hundreds of thousands to do this sort of trip on their own dime."
While the source says that work "does take priority" for Zendaya, 29, and Holland, 30, whenever they get a free moment, "they're out enjoying the best restaurants and going incognito to enjoy the sights."
The source continues, "They're completely wrapped up in each other and still very much in that honeymoon phase, so everything they do right now feels extra special."

#best #zendaya #they 're #World

Mercedes deputy technical director Simone Resta has delved into George Russell's recent woes, as the team identified a software issue compounded by the Briton's older power unit.
Russell and his squad have been mystified by a lack of top speed relative to team-mate Kimi Antonelli at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. Mercedes' lead racer attempted to tweak his driving style, to no avail, as his troubles were linked to the power unit's software code resulting in an imbalance in energy distribution.
Read Also:
Mercedes identifies George Russell's F1 power unit software issue
"As we all know, it's a very complex new set of regulations with the power unit," Resta said. "It's quite early days. We've just done 10 races so far, and there is a lot to learn. We are still learning a lot together, ourselves and our colleagues at HPP. We found a bug in our software, and we had to react to it.

#resta #russell

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol built his reputation at Chipotle Mexican Grill by following one formula: fix operations, rebuild customer traffic, and wait for margins to follow.
That playbook produced a stock return of more than 770% during a six-year tenure that more than doubled annual revenue and saw restaurant-level margins climb from about 19% to nearly 29%, Chipotle's quarterly results showed.
Less than two years into his role at Starbucks (SBUX), the early data suggest the same recovery pattern is emerging across the chain's U.S. locations.
Customer visits are rising, same-store sales have accelerated for three consecutive quarters, and the company recently raised its full-year earnings outlook.
The stock sits near a 52-week high, however, and the market has priced in a completed turnaround that hasn't reached the income statement yet.

#brian #chipotle

Jason Banks made it two wins from two in the men's singles on a mixed day for Team Scotland in the bowls at the SEC Centre.
Former world number one, Banks, backed up his first group game win on Thursday with another straight sets victory, this time against Pakistan's Mohammed 'Chico' Qureshi - who runs an Indian restaurant in Glasgow.
The 30-year-old stormed to a 16-2 win in the first set, scooping up two full-houses of four bowls in a single end along the way, before a tighter 7-3 victory in the second set.
Banks faces Fiji and Wales over the weekend, before rounding off his Group C campaign against England on Monday morning.
The women's pairs endured the mixed emotions of the tie-break on their first day of action.

#jason

Economic issues have forced another franchisee of the nation's largest fast-food chain, Subway, to file for bankruptcy protection, as the restaurant sector continues to battle rising costs.
Subway Sandwich Shop franchisee Cherry ****** e Company, which operates three North Dakota locations, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize its businesses, according to BankruptcyObserver.
The Regent, N.D.-based Subway franchisee filed its Subchapter V petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of North Dakota on July 21, listing over $19,000 in ****** ets and over $1.8 million in debts, according to court documents.
The debtor did not give a reason for filing for bankruptcy in its petition. Debtor counsel Karl Johnson of MJB Law Firm PLLC was not immediately available for comment.
The debtor's largest unsecured creditors include the U.S. Small Business Administration, owed over $487,000; Dakota Western Bank, owed over $394,000, Grasshopper Bank, owed over $343,000; TVT Capital Source LLC, owed $240,000; Glenridge Capital LLC, owed over $130,000; and Byzfunder NY LLC, owed $128,000.

#bank

Usually, when a company files for bankruptcy, that filing follows obvious public struggles.
When it's a retailer, regular customers notice fewer staff members working and inventory gaps. A restaurant might have similar staffing issues while subbing out higher-quality ingredients for cheaper ones.
Employees and customers don't always see the warning signs, however.
Workers say that was the case for SouthPrint, which filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy and abruptly shut down earlier this year.
"A long-standing fixture of the Henry County business community has come to a sudden and staggering end. SouthPrint, Inc., located on Holly Drive, abruptly shuttered its operations on a recent Friday afternoon, leaving dozens of employees in a state of shock and disbelief," Star News TV shared.

#southprint #customers #chapter #county

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 17: Flavor Flav (C), Rhiannon Rae Ellis (2R) and Team USA members Alexandra Carpenter (L) and Hilary Knight (R) attend a private Team USA Athletes Only Dinner featuring top celebrity female chefs and hosted by Flavor Flav during Flavor Flav's SHE Weekend at the new Westoria Restaurant inside The Cosmopolitan on July 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for ABA)
For years, the conversation surrounding women’s sports has centered on one word: equality. Flavor Flav is demonstrating another word leaders should consider: investment.
For many fans, Flavor Flav will forever be remembered as Public Enemy's energetic hype man, a 2013 Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductee, the larger-than-life personality behind the iconic clock necklace, or the star of reality television's Flavor of Love.
But this past weekend, the Public Enemy co-founder brought more than one hundred Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists from Team USA’s Women Olympic and Paralympic programs to Las Vegas for SHE Weekend—short for Sports, Hospitality and Entertainment— for a four-day celebration designed to give America’s female athletes something many had rarely experienced at this scale: a victory celebration built specifically around them. I went to experience it for myself, and it was incredible.
The weekend included a parade on the Las Vegas Strip, front-row seats to a private concert from Public Enemy, receiving keys to the Las Vegas Strip, and attendance to the Backstreet Boys’ Sphere residency, where Team USA Medal winners received an onstage acknowledgment. This was in addition to a slate of curated dinners and programming talks from executives across the spectrum.

#public

Scottish bowler Jason Banks is fond of the Alishan Tandoori in Glasgow. But he knows it is best to avoid it this week.
Why? Because Pakistan's Mohammed 'Chico' Qureshi - who Banks will face in the Commonwealth Games men's singles on Friday - runs the restaurant.
While Banks was the first Team Scotland athlete to compete at these Games - as he defeated Robert Simpson of Jamaica in straight-sets - you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise, as the well-supported Qureshi took to the portable rink at the SEC Centre in the session prior.
Pakistan was the name on the back of his shirt, but the 67-year-old restaurateur - who competed at the 2014 Games - has called Glasgow home for over 50 years.
Is 2026 the Commonwealth Games' last dance or a future-proofing revamp?

#games #commonwealth #jason

City Different Investments, an investment management firm, released Q2 2026 investor update for its global equity strategies. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. City Different global equity strategies delivered strong results in the second quarter, but trailed the global market driven by AI enthusiasm. Its Focused Global returned +7.08%, and Global Equity returned +5.36% during the quarter. This compared to the MSCI All Country World Index return of +14.93%. YTD, the strategies returned +11.28% and +5.29%, vs +11.25% for the index. The global strategies involve focused portfolios of long-only equities selected on a global basis, aimed at long-term investment potential. The firm remains optimistic about these portfolios, which are constructed based on long-term fundamental ****** sments. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, City Different Investments highlighted ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR). ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is a clinical research organization that provides outsourced development and commercialization services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. On July 21, 2026, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) stock closed at $166.62 per share. One-month return of ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) was 4.54%, and its shares lost 1.51% over the past 52 weeks. ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) has a market capitalization of about $12.72 billion.
City Different Investments stated the following regarding ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) was a new purchase and became the top contributor to our results for the second quarter. Founded in 1990 by two Irish doctors, this Dublin-based provider of clinical research services and ****** ytics saw its stock price clobbered over the past two years due to the triple whammy of: 1/ a post-COVID-19 demand slowdown; 2/ AI-related fears; and 3/ an accounting error that led to a minor restatement of results. However, our team has followed this industry since 2019, and we bought ICON eagerly in April once the valuation became compelling. Now the accounting error has already been fixed, and leading growth indicators, such as bookings and cancellations, are encouraging. Our research suggests that ICON could be a net beneficiary of AI due to proprietary data, domain expertise, and regulatory barriers, among other factors. A combination of an improving growth rate and a declining share count could boost ICON's valuation from here."

#public #iclr

Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry's European family trip didn't stop at a closely watched reunion with King Charles.
In a July 23 Instagram carousel, the ***** ss of Sussex shared insight into her "summer holiday" with kids Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
The family of four, appearing to be in Portugal with a Alentejo region sign featured in a snap inside a restaurant, spent time at the beach, in the countryside and in the pool. Harry, wearing a backwards baseball cap, is seen flipping his daughter in the pool. In another photo, Meghan watches from the sand as her husband and children head toward a wave.
She also captured a view from behind of her family strolling through a garden. The young ones' faces are obscured throughout the images, as the Sussexes maintain their children's privacy.

#charles

The fast-growing Mediterranean chain has a history of rewarding dip-buyers, but the price you'll pay to get in still requires careful consideration.
At Cava (CAVA), the strategy is clear: win on value. While many restaurant peers have been raising prices, Cava's management is playing a different game. On its latest earnings call, the company reiterated its focus on keeping prices down to drive traffic, noting that its price adjustments have been "only slightly more than half of ****** ulative CPI since 2019." It's a bold move designed to build loyalty and gain market share. For investors, however, the stock has recently served up a sharp pullback of about 29% from its recent high. That has you wondering: is this a chance to buy into a winning strategy at a discount, or is it a trap?
The answer starts with history, which offers some encouragement, though on a very small sample size. This isn't the first time the stock has seen a steep drop. The question is what happened next.
How Past Cava Dips Have Played Out
Since going public in 2023, Cava has experienced a drop of this magnitude on 3 separate occasions. For the two prior dips old enough to have a full 1-year result, the median return over the following twelve months was a sizable 123%. That's a powerful bounce-back. However, it wasn't always a straight line up. Buyers typically had to stomach a bit more pain first, with the median worst further drawdown hitting 17% before the recovery took hold. The detailed history in the table below shows the range of outcomes, but the past pattern has been one of eventual, strong recovery.

#dips

Las Vegas, Nevada-based Wynn Resorts, Limited (WYNN) designs, develops, and operates integrated resorts. Valued at $9.8 billion by market cap, the company offers amenities such as guest rooms and suites, restaurants, golf course, spa, bars, meeting and convention ****** e, night clubs, and recreation and leisure facilities. The luxury resort and casino company is expected to announce its fiscal second-quarter earnings for 2026 after the market closes on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Ahead of the event, ****** ysts expect WYNN to report a profit of $1.04 per share on a diluted basis, down 4.6% from $1.09 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company missed the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while beating the forecast on another occasion.
PayPal Says a $53 Billion Takeover Offer from Stripe Undervalues It. How to Play PYPL Stock Here.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos Called Amazon's Customer Service to Prove a Point But Waited in Silence for More Than 10 Minutes — 'It Was Really Long'
Micron Stock Is Near Bear-Market Territory. Here's Why ASML's Guidance Says Buy the Dip.

#company #Stock #billion

As health officials investigate a multistate cyclospora outbreak, so far linked to recalled iceberg lettuce, many Americans are asking the same question after eating a salad or sandwich: Should I be worried?
Federal health officials have linked shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in five states to a subset of the outbreak, prompting the fast-food chain to pull Taylor Farms lettuce from its food.
Additionally, Taylor Farms de Mexico has recalled certain iceberg lettuce products sold at Walmart under the Marketside brand and distributed to restaurants and other food-service customers.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently addressed the spread of cyclosporiasis, telling reporters during a July 21 news briefing that "we do have the outbreak under control."
"We have done extensive forensics, epidemiological forensics, and we have identified the source of the outbreak. We, and the companies that are involved, have implemented a recall," Kennedy added.

#Health #farms #linked

Garrett Crochet didn’t choose to come to Boston, but he did choose to stay here. After making just one start as a member of the Red Sox (on the road in Texas), Crochet signed a six-year contract extension to remain with the organization through at least 2030. He was a standout on the field in his first season with the team, and while he hasn’t been able to replicate that this season, he’s working to endear himself to the community by partnering with Sam Adams for the release of Crochet’s Pale Ale, which is on tap at bars, taprooms and restaurants in the New England area and available as part of the “Our City. Our Beer” variety pack.
“A big thing for me was ingraining myself in the Boston culture, and Sam Adams is really that to a T,” Crochet said.
He isn’t wrong. When the Scots descended upon Boston for the World Cup, they drank the Sam Adams Downtown Taproom out of Boston Lager. He’s also made a habit of dominating the Yankees. In four regular season starts, he’s posted a 3.29 ERA and a 36.8% strikeout rate, as well as 7.2 innings of one-run baseball in the postseason. I conducted the interview from a hotel room in Milwaukee while on a bachelor party, and joked that the bachelor was upset with Crochet for hurting his family team. Crochet apologized but quickly rescinded it upon learning that the bachelor is a Yankees fan.
Crochet hasn’t pitched since April, but the rotation has picked up the slack in his absence. That rotation is comprised largely of huge, left-handed pitchers. Each arm is different, but Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Ranger Suarez, and Jake Bennett all come armed with a four-seam fastball, cutter/slider, and some kind of breaking ball. Crochet’s best utilized standing on the mound, but because of the similarities with his teammates, he’s able to contribute from the bench.
“There’s much more benefit to the eye test that goes on during a series,” Crochet said. “We’re playing three or four game series and it’s all lefties that we’re rolling out there, so it’s fun to watch … When a guy is in the middle of his start I’m not passing any information, you know, he went into today prepared ready to make the start and has all the information that he feels he needs to have success … if I think someone is really looking not good on the changeup, I think me and Tolle have a little bit more room to exploit [the changeup] given that other teams aren’t planning for it at all against us.”

#boston #adams #start #yankees

Hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, and pretzels have long been staples of the ballpark experience. Yet in Seattle, baseball fans have embraced a snack that surprises many first-time visitors: toasted grasshoppers. What began as a specialty dish at a local restaurant quickly evolved into one of the most talked-about concessions at Seattle Mariners games. The unusual offering not only challenged expectations about stadium food but also introduced thousands of people to a traditional ingredient that has been enjoyed in parts of the world for centuries.
The story begins at Poquitos, a Mexican-inspired restaurant in Seattle led by executive chef Manny Arce. When the restaurant first opened, Arce added toasted grasshoppers, known in Mexican cuisine as chapulines, to the menu as a novelty. Chapulines have been eaten for generations, particularly in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where they are considered a popular street food and a rich source of protein. Seasoned simply with salt, lime, and chili, they offer a crunchy texture and a savory flavor that many diners compare to roasted sunflower seeds with a hint of spice.
Although the snack attracted curious customers at the restaurant, its popularity reached an entirely new level when the Seattle Mariners expressed interest in featuring it at what is now known as T-Mobile Park, formerly Safeco Field. After sampling the product, the organization decided it would make a unique addition to the stadium's food lineup. The response exceeded every expectation. Fans eager to try something different lined up to buy the toasted grasshoppers, and supplies disappeared almost immediately during games.
What initially seemed like a niche offering quickly became a stadium sensation. Chef Arce expected that his first shipment of approximately 50 pounds would last several weeks. Instead, it sold out in a single day. As demand continued to grow, the numbers became astonishing. More than 300,000 individual servings were eventually sold, requiring well over 1,000 pounds of grasshoppers to keep up with fan interest. On many game days, vendors ran out before the first inning had even ended.
The success of the snack reflects changing attitudes toward food and the growing willingness of consumers to explore unfamiliar culinary traditions. Around the world, edible insects are recognized as nutritious, environmentally sustainable sources of protein that require fewer natural resources than conventional livestock. While many people still view the idea with hesitation, others appreciate the opportunity to experience flavors that are common in different cultures.

#many #first #mexican

Benny Blanco shared a TikTok of Selena Gomez celebrating her 34th birthday with an Italian cooking class
The couple prepared dishes like eggplant parmesan and stuffed squash blooms while enjoying picturesque Italian scenery
They also dined at Trattoria della Santa in Bologna, where the restaurant owner praised them as lovely and gracious guests
Benny Blanco is sharing an inside look at Selena Gomez's birthday celebration.
The Hermoso producer, 38, documented the picturesque Italian cooking class the couple attended in honor of Gomez's 34th birthday, in a new TikTok video shared on Wednesday, July 22.

#italian #shared #class

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Nearly 12 months after backlash to a new logo tanked its sales, Cracker Barrel is on a roll.
In an update Monday, the family-dining chain said same-store restaurant sales were down 2.5% year over year through the first 11 weeks of the current quarter, while same-store retail sales were up 0.5%.
That continues the chain's momentum from the previous quarter, when same-store restaurant and retail sales were down 2.6% and 1.8%, respectively.
The company said it now expects to either meet or exceed the high end of its revenue and earnings guidance for the fiscal year, which runs through this month. That indicates it will generate at least $3.3 billion in revenue and $125 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the fiscal year.

#year