Patricia Cobe

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Kids' menus get an upgrade

Mac and cheese down, broccolini up as restaurants offer kids healthier, more premium choices.

Restaurants energize brunch with new formats and flavors

Consumers are seeking dining-out occasions that offer an engaging experience and enticing food and drink, and operators are updating brunch to deliver both.

Food

As summer wraps up, fall menu launches gain ground

Taste tracker: Shake Shack partners with famous chefs for LTOs; bacon and cheddar team up at Wendy’s and Schlotzsky’s; nachos and tacos trend at El Pollo Loco, Torchy’s and Taco Cabana; Dutch Bros. and Bennigan’s tout new drinks; and sweet treats get seasonal.

Food

As summer wraps up, fall menu launches speed up

Taste tracker: Shake Shack partners with restaurateur Dominique Crenn for an LTO; bacon and cheddar team up at Wendy’s and Schlotzsky’s; nachos and tacos trend at El Pollo Loco, Torchy’s and Taco Cabana; Dutch Bros. and Bennigan’s tout new drinks; and sweet treats get seasonal.

Food

Look for restaurants to dig deeper into 2021 trends and freshen them up for 2022

The pandemic slowed the emergence of trendy new flavors and ingredients, but futurist Liz Moskow sees innovation ahead.

Emerging Brands

How Playa Bowls turned a blender and a dream into a growing fast-casual concept

Rob Giuliani and his partner, Abby Taylor, started with a stand on the Jersey shore selling smoothies and acai bowls and grew it into a 126-unit chain.

Marketing