We’re not candied-out just yet — there are too many bat-shaped caramels and ghost-hued lollipops still haunting the store shelves — but we are beginning to think of the stove-warmed snacks of November, those rib-sticking foodstuffs that feel like a cool fall day was wrapped in a bready bun.

These savory stables of late fall do run the gamut, which means that asking any lover of heartier fare to alight on a single awesome eat that symbolizes the season can be a challenge.

But for many Porto’s-obsessed Southern Californians, Thanksgiving can’t truly begin with a golden plate of Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls.

These seasonal orbs of well-spiced deliciousness are a palate-pleasing play on the world-famous Potato Ball, a goodie that might just be the best-known menu item at Porto’s Cafe & Bakery. (We say “might” knowing that the Milk N’Berries Cake fans are also extremely dedicated to their favorite delicacy.)

But unlike the powerhouse Potato Ball, a year-round classic, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball is a seasonal offering, one you need to purchase in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Or even Halloween: A dozen Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls are now available on the Porto’s Bake at Home site, giving the biggest ball buffs a chance to enjoy their favorite fall treat in October, days ahead of Halloween.

You can also swing by your go-to Porto’s — there are six locations, including Buena Park and Burbank — and pick up a single Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball for $1.89, if you’re just seeking a quick and satisfying taste.

Of course, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball isn’t the only quirky spin on the superstar snack. There’s a Cheese & Spicy Pepper Potato Ball on the Porto’s line-up, and, in the springtime ahead of Easter, the Seafood Potato Ball makes a tangy return.

We’re not candied-out just yet — there are too many bat-shaped caramels and ghost-hued lollipops still haunting the store shelves — but we are beginning to think of the stove-warmed snacks of November, those rib-sticking foodstuffs that feel like a cool fall day was wrapped in a bready bun.

These savory stables of late fall do run the gamut, which means that asking any lover of heartier fare to alight on a single awesome eat that symbolizes the season can be a challenge.

But for many Porto’s-obsessed Southern Californians, Thanksgiving can’t truly begin with a golden plate of Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls.

These seasonal orbs of well-spiced deliciousness are a palate-pleasing play on the world-famous Potato Ball, a goodie that might just be the best-known menu item at Porto’s Cafe & Bakery. (We say “might” knowing that the Milk N’Berries Cake fans are also extremely dedicated to their favorite delicacy.)

But unlike the powerhouse Potato Ball, a year-round classic, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball is a seasonal offering, one you need to purchase in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Or even Halloween: A dozen Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls are now available on the Porto’s Bake at Home site, giving the biggest ball buffs a chance to enjoy their favorite fall treat in October, days ahead of Halloween.

You can also swing by your go-to Porto’s — there are six locations, including Buena Park and Burbank — and pick up a single Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball for $1.89, if you’re just seeking a quick and satisfying taste.

Of course, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball isn’t the only quirky spin on the superstar snack. There’s a Cheese & Spicy Pepper Potato Ball on the Porto’s line-up, and, in the springtime ahead of Easter, the Seafood Potato Ball makes a tangy return.

The coffee chain announced that, beginning Oct. 22, people in the United States, Canada and other select international locations can purchase two new drinks in partnership with the upcoming movie “Wicked.”

The limited-time drinks are inspired by the film’s main characters, Glinda (the Good Witch of the South) and Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West).

Glinda’s Pink Potion is “inspired by Glinda’s bright character and of course her iconic association with all things pink,” according to Starbucks beverage developer Natalia Vasquez, and features a Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refreshers Beverage shaken with coconut milk, ice and a scoop of freeze-dried dragonfruit, and topped with nondairy strawberry cold foam and colorful candy sprinkles.

Meanwhile, Elphaba’s Cold Brew is “inspired by Elphaba’s bold energy and stunning green skin,” according to Starbucks beverage developer Rosalyn Batingan, and features Starbucks Cold Brew sweetened with peppermint-flavored syrup, and topped with nondairy matcha cold foam and green candy sprinkles.

In addition, Starbucks will also sell “Wicked”-inspired gift cards. Beginning Nov. 7, fans can also purchase a variety of “Oz”-related tumblers, with options from the Glinda, Elphaba or Emerald City collections, in addition to other general “Wicked” choices and a trio of mugs from the “Wicked” Discovery Series Collection.

“Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, opens Nov. 22, while “Wicked Part Two” is slated to open in theaters on Nov. 21, 2025. A promotional blitz for the highly anticipated movie is already underway. “Wicked” Stanley cups have already been causing chaos at Target, while Walmart seems to already be sold out of its microwaveable “Wicked” Mystery Color Macaroni and Cheese that comes with color-changing pink or green cheese.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Wendy’s new Boo! Bags aren’t just for kids. Here’s what’s inside
• The ‘Wicked’ Stanley Cups are so pop-u-lar, they nearly caused a brawl at Target
• Children of influencers are pushing back … and some lawmakers are on their side

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

We’re not candied-out just yet — there are too many bat-shaped caramels and ghost-hued lollipops still haunting the store shelves — but we are beginning to think of the stove-warmed snacks of November, those rib-sticking foodstuffs that feel like a cool fall day was wrapped in a bready bun.

These savory stables of late fall do run the gamut, which means that asking any lover of heartier fare to alight on a single awesome eat that symbolizes the season can be a challenge.

But for many Porto’s-obsessed Southern Californians, Thanksgiving can’t truly begin with a golden plate of Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls.

These seasonal orbs of well-spiced deliciousness are a palate-pleasing play on the world-famous Potato Ball, a goodie that might just be the best-known menu item at Porto’s Cafe & Bakery. (We say “might” knowing that the Milk N’Berries Cake fans are also extremely dedicated to their favorite delicacy.)

But unlike the powerhouse Potato Ball, a year-round classic, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball is a seasonal offering, one you need to purchase in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Or even Halloween: A dozen Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls are now available on the Porto’s Bake at Home site, giving the biggest ball buffs a chance to enjoy their favorite fall treat in October, days ahead of Halloween.

You can also swing by your go-to Porto’s — there are six locations, including Buena Park and Burbank — and pick up a single Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball for $1.89, if you’re just seeking a quick and satisfying taste.

Of course, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball isn’t the only quirky spin on the superstar snack. There’s a Cheese & Spicy Pepper Potato Ball on the Porto’s line-up, and, in the springtime ahead of Easter, the Seafood Potato Ball makes a tangy return.

Chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, milkshakes – and now TV shows and podcasts?

Chick-fil-A plans to launch a new app on Nov. 18, with a slate of original animated shows, scripted podcasts, games, recipes and e-books aimed at families.

While it’s an unusual move for a restaurant company to wade into the crowded media world, Chick-fil-A has been expanding outside of food for years already — with the ultimate goal of directing more people to its over 3,000 restaurants. Since 2019, Chick-fil-A has held the spot of the third-biggest U.S. restaurant chain by sales, trailing only Starbucks and McDonald’s, with many fewer locations than either. Last year, its revenue reached $7.89 billion, according to franchisee disclosure documents.

As it tries to drive more restaurant sales, the company has sold branded merchandise, like a sleeping bag that resembles its chicken sandwich’s packaging, and created a spinoff brand called Pennycake, which offers family-friendly games and puzzles. And for the last five years, it’s released animated shorts on YouTube during the holiday season as part of its “Stories of Evergreen Hills” series.

“We’ve been paying attention to some research and conversations we’ve had with families that are our customers, and insights bubbled up that content and games are both adjacent to mealtime,” said Dustin Britt, Chick-fil-A’s executive director of brand strategy, entertainment and media.

“Our belief is, as we add value to their experience, then we’re giving them a reason to want to enjoy more Chick-fil-A with us,” he added.

A preview of the app viewed by CNBC included the first 22-minute episode of “Legends of Evergreen Hills,” which continues protagonist Sam’s adventures in the fantasy world of Evergreen Hills; the first installment of “Hidden Island,” a scripted podcast about a family that shipwrecks on a deserted island; and a step-by-step cooking tutorial that uses a Chick-fil-A milkshake as a key ingredient.

Customers can pre-download the free Chick-fil-A Play app for their iPhones, iPads and Android devices ahead of the launch next month.

Why is Chick-fil-A is betting on content

Chick-fil-A decided to create the app following years of discussions with customers and as consumer behavior shifts away from prolonged visits to its restaurants.

While many of Chick-fil-A’s customers still enjoy its in-restaurant playgrounds, more of its customers are now using its drive-thru lanes and ordering delivery, according to Khalilah Cooper, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of brand strategy, advertising and media. Rival McDonald’s has slowly been erasing its PlayPlaces, a change likely resulting from fewer children using the playgrounds, concerns about health and safety, and a shift away from marketing to children.

“We’re looking at this app as a way to have a digital playground for the entire family to enjoy, whether they’re in our restaurants, in the drive-thru, driving to soccer practice or even relaxing at home,” Cooper told CNBC. “We want it to be an extension of our in-restaurant signature hospitality and generosity.”

The content on the app focuses on themes like generosity, friendship, problem-solving, creativity and entrepreneurship, according to Cooper. Chick-fil-A designed the app’s content to appeal to children 12 years old and under and their parents.

After the initial launch, new episodes of “Legends of Evergreen Hills” will release weekly through the holidays; “Hidden Island” will follow a similar drop schedule. Next year, the Play app will launch “Ice Lions,” another scripted audio series based on the true story of Kenyan teenagers who want to form the country’s first ice hockey team.

Most of the content that will be available on the app was created with outside partners led by Chick-fil-A’s internal team, but some of it was licensed. The company didn’t disclose the names of its external partners.

“We’re constantly thinking about what additional elements we can add into the app over time,” Cooper said.

In August, media publication Deadline reported that Chick-fil-A has been working with outside production companies for content, including unscripted shows, like a family-friendly game show.

“I’ll say that we’re exploring a variety of different types of content, and everything right now is a potential opportunity for us. We’re going to keep learning and exploring and figuring out what things work,” Britt said.

Restaurants as media brands

As legacy media players like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have found out, making content is expensive and attracting viewers is difficult, given the glut of available options on streaming services.

For brands like Chick-fil-A, the calculus is a bit different. Rather than using content to make money from subscriptions or advertisements, they’re looking to sell more of their own products. That’s been the case since Procter & Gamble first sponsored daytime radio shows to sell its soap – creating the soap opera.

“There’s a lot of content creation that happens from media houses for brands, and I think that brands want to tap into that because it feels more authentic. It feels more like content and not an ad,” said Stephani Estes, chief media officer for Goodway Group, a digital marketing agency.

More recent entrants include Starbucks, which announced this summer that it will create original content through a partnership with Sugar23. And in January, Chuck E. Cheese said it’s working with “Top Chef” producer Magical Elves to create its own game show.

“I think the biggest question I would have, as a marketing professional, is what is the business problem that you’re trying to solve? And is the dollar invested in that content creation or particular initiative going to pay out more than spending that dollar somewhere else in the marketing funnel?” Estes said.

For Chick-fil-A, the branded content gives it a way to connect with kids – without the same stink as advertising directly to them – and foster goodwill toward the brand from their parents.

And unlike Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery, Chick-fil-A has some flexibility to figure out if the investment is working. As a family-owned company, it isn’t beholden to shareholders who might push back against an expensive marketing endeavor.

Chick-fil-A also has cash to burn, especially given its meteoric growth over the last decade. From 2018 to 2023, its systemwide sales nearly doubled. Last year, it raked in net earnings of $1.07 billion. Chair Dan Cathy, who served as CEO from 2013 to 2021 and is father to current CEO Andrew Cathy, has a net worth of $10.6 billion, according to Forbes estimates.

Coincidentally, Dan Cathy owns Atlanta-based Trilith Studios, whose stages have acted as sets for many Marvel movies and TV shows, plus Francis Ford Coppola’s 2024 mega-flop “Megalopolis.” Tax breaks and cheap labor have helped Atlanta become the “Hollywood of the South” over the last decade. Cathy has previously drawn criticism for remarks he made in 2012 opposing same-sex marriage, and the company’s foundation donated to anti-LGBTQ groups during his time as chief executive.

Dan Cathy was not directly involved in the development of the Play app or making decisions related to the content, according to Cooper. Chick-fil-A also hasn’t worked with his studio – yet.

“We’ve not currently done any work directly with Trilith to date, but that’s something that we continue to explore, where it makes the most sense for both our businesses and brands,” she said.

A representative for PepsiCo, the makers of chips that include Tostitos and Ruffles, confirmed to TODAY.com that the company will soon add 20% more chips to “bonus” bags of Ruffles and Tostitos for the same retail price.

The company’s decision comes as consumers online are complaining of widespread “shrinkflation,” that is, paying the same retail price — or more — for a product that’s now smaller.

In 2021, the Consumer World website reported that a bag of Tostitos’ “Hint of Guacamole” chips had shrunk in size from 12 ounces to 11 ounces. The site, which was launched by consumer protection lawyer Edgar Dworsky, also found that a bag of Tostitos “Hint of Lime” chips had dropped from 13 ounces down to 11.

A quick search for #shrinkflation content on X and TikTok shows shoppers annoyed by the skimpier content sizes of everything from Chef Bombay frozen dinners to Glad kitchen garbage bags to the now “comically small” McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish.

One TikTok user filmed himself opening a snack-size bag of Doritos only to find five chips inside. “Five chips!” the user yells in frustration while holding up five fingers.

The video garnered more than 670 comments from equally irritated shoppers, one of whom wrote, “I can’t even bring myself to buy chips anymore. To get two handfuls in a $6 bag is maddening!”

Despite the skimpier packaging sizes, the prices of salty snacks have continued to rise in recent years. In September 2020, the average price of a 16-ounce bag of potato chips was $5.02, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By September 2024, the price had jumped to $6.46.

Everyday consumers aren’t the only ones riled up about “shrinkflation.” Lawmakers are also getting involved.

Earlier this month, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania called out PepsiCo, General Mills and Coca-Cola for using shrinkflation tactics as a means to boost their bottom line.

The two lawmakers sent individual letters to each of the companies’ CEOs, pointing out how they have reduced product sizes while charging the same or a higher retail price.

General Mills, for example, reduced the sizes of many of its cereal boxes in 2021, “including decreasing ‘Family Size’ Cocoa Puffs from 19.3 ounces to 18.1 ounces while charging the same price,” read their letter to General Mills Chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening.

“Then, from mid-2021 to mid-2022, General Mills hiked prices five times, and in 2023, your Group President of North American Retail bragged that the company was ‘getting smart about how we look at pricing,'” it added.

The lawmakers’ letters also accused each of the companies of “dodging taxes” as part of their “pattern of profiteering.”

“People have noticed that their box of Cheerios and bag of Doritos are smaller, but prices are higher — and at the same time these giant corporations are paying lower tax rates than the average American,” Warren said in a statement to NBC News.

“We can’t let them get away with this price gouging and tax dodging. It’s just plain wrong, and we’re fighting back.”

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from Today:

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On Oct. 17, pasta fans have an extra reason to indulge in their favorite meal: National Pasta Day. To celebrate the foodie holiday, many restaurants and brands are cooking up tempting discounts. These are a few of our favorites.

Bellita Pasta

Bellita, a brand selling handmade and naturally sun-dried pasta, is offering TODAY.com readers 15% off its website on National Pasta Day using the code BELLITA15.

Bertucci’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta 

To celebrate National Pasta Day, Bertucci’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta customers can take advantage of a fall value meal deal that runs through the end of the month. The three-course meal is available Monday through Friday and starts at $16.99. It comes with customers’ choice of meal (pasta, specialty pasta or chicken Parmesan) along with salad and a cannoli.

Bravo! Italian Kitchen

Bravo! Italian Kitchen has a fall value meal deal running throughout National Pasta Month (October).

As part of the offer, customers can get a three-course, classic meal starting at $16.99 Monday through Friday. The prix fixe meal comes with a soup or salad, a pasta dish and a dessert (cannoli or creme brulee). Customers can select a pasta meal, specialty pasta meal or a specialty entree meal.

Additionally, the restaurant is offering 50% off any pasta through Oct. 17 for customers who dine in. The offer excludes dishes with shrimp and lobster.

Brio Italian Grille

Through Oct. 17, Brio Italian Grille is offering 50% off any pasta — except those that include lobster or shrimp —when customers dine in.

Daily Harvest

Between Oct. 17 — 20, new Daily Harvest subscribers can save 15% on packages of multi-serve pasta using the code PASTA15, and 15% on the brand’s Pasta Party bundle with the code PASTABUNDLE. The best part? The brand’s pastas are gluten-free!

Fazoli’s

At participating Fazoli’s locations, customers can order two entrees (choose between spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce, and fettuccine Alfredo) and two small drinks for $10. To score the deal, mention the promotion or use the code Pasta24.

Goodles 

Goodles, a brand of dried pas

ta, is offering TODAY.com readers 20% off sitewide on National Pasta Day with the code TODAY20.

Gopuff

Through Oct. 20, Gopuff is slashing the price of Rao’s Homemade products by 25%. On Oct. 17, the online retailer is also offering 25% off Goodles Loopdy-Loos dried pasta.

GourmetGiftBaskets.com

GourmetGiftBaskets.com is offering TODAY.com readers 25% off Italian gifts with the code PASTATODAY through Nov. 8.

Maggiano’s

Maggiano’s customers can enjoy $0 delivery throughout the month of October.

Olive Garden

Olive Garden’s Never Ending Pasta Bowl is back for a limited time and is available on National Pasta Day. The promotion, which starts at $13.99, lets customers eat all the pasta they want plus unlimited breadsticks and soup or salad. For $4.99, customers can also add never-ending toppings.

Sfoglini

From Oct. 17 — 18, Sfoglini will offer 25% off all purchases of $35 or more. 

Additionally, the brand is slashing the price of its limited-edition Sporkful Cookbook & Pasta Trio box by 20% through Oct. 18. The set comes with three boxes of Sporkful pasta and a signed copy of “ANYTHING’S PASTABLE: 81 Inventive Pasta Recipes For Saucy People,” a cookbook by Dan Pashman, host of the Sporkful podcast.

Wildgrain

Wildgrain, a brand of slow fermented sourdough breads, fresh pastas and artisan pastries, is offering TODAY.com an exclusive discount for National Pasta Day. Readers can save $10 o their Wildgrain order using the code TODAY10.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• 57 things to do this Halloween that are frightfully fun
• 84 Halloween trivia questions and answers that are a real treat
• What are ‘boo baskets’? Parents debate this love-or-hate Halloween tradition

To celebrate the release of its limited-edition menu featuring items inspired by “The Addams Family,” the fast-food chain is running a buy-one, get-one-free deal on Whoppers for one day only.

More specifically, rewards members can get a free Wednesday Whopper, aka a classic Whopper served on a purple bun.

Here’s everything you need to know to score the spooky deal.

The deal is only valid on Oct. 17, just in time for the October supermoon

Participating U.S. Burger King locations will offer a “BOGO Wednesday’s Whopper” deal to rewards members on Thursday, Oct. 17, which just happens to be the day when an October supermoon will reach peak fullness.

The offer, aptly marketed as Uncle Fester’s Full Moon Feast, is valid while supplies last, and purple buns aren’t guaranteed.

You have to buy one full-priced Whopper to score the deal

Rewards members who purchase one Wednesday’s Whopper at regular price on Oct. 17 will get another for free. The limited-edition menu item is basically a traditional Whopper, but served on a purple bun that gets its color from purple potatoes.

Certain exclusions apply

The BOGO deal is only valid on the Burger King app and website for order ahead or dine-in. Rewards members can use the six-digit “My Code” located in their rewards account (where available) and activate the offer in the “Offers” tab to score the deal.

As always, price and participation can vary and upsizes/modifications can cost extra.

Rewards members are limited to one offer per account and the deal can’t be combined with other coupons or offers.

Lastly, the offer isn’t valid in Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories, and it isn’t available during breakfast hours.

The new Addams Family menu features four items

Each of the items in the limited-edition menu are inspired by the animated film “The Addams Family.”

• Wednesday’s Whopper: A Whopper with Swiss cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles and onions on a purple bun.
• Thing’s Rings: Crispy onion rings with themed packaging.
• Gomez’s Churro Fries: Crispy, fried churros covered in cinnamon sugar and served with chocolate dipping sauce.
• Morticia’s Kooky Chocolate Shake: A shake made with soft serve, chocolate cake batter fudge, and black and purple cookie pieces.

Burger King also has a limited-edition collection of King Jr. Meal toys to celebrate the new menu.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• 57 things to do this Halloween that are frightfully fun
• 84 Halloween trivia questions and answers that are a real treat
• What are ‘boo baskets’? Parents debate this love-or-hate Halloween tradition

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Wide receiver Davante Adams was traded this week from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Jets, where he will be reunited with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, with whom he played on the Green Bay Packers from 2014 until 2021.

That move leaves a hole not just in the Raiders’ offense, but also in the real estate market in Las Vegas that Taco Bell is determined to fix. That’s because Adams has appeared in an ad campaign for the chain, in which he has a Taco Bell restaurant in his house.

https://t.co/fF0ZHz9U2x pic.twitter.com/xinazMxwDf

— Taco Bell (@tacobell) October 15, 2024

“The most underrated storyline surrounding a potential Davante Adams trade is that there could be a house with a Taco Bell coming available on the market soon,” read a post on X before the trade was finalized.

Taco Bell had some fun with the idea that Adams has left behind a home outfitted with one of its restaurants. On Oct. 15, it posted a mock ad for the house from online real estate company Opendoor, while noting the residence was in an “undisclosed” location in Las Vegas.

“Imagine waking up to the smell of crunchwraps, every single morning,” the listing begins. “Welcome to your new dream home, cause guess what — you finally do have taco bell at home.”

The ad then revealed some of the amenities that any die-hard Taco Bell fan would find as irresistible as a 5-Layer Burrito.

“This property boasts a luxurious 8 bed 10 bath and a fully functioning Taco Bell, fire sauce packets will come in every drawer.

“The house comes equipped with a full time employee, Todd who will tend to your every Taco Bell need. Come home, come hungry.”

Adams also got in on the joke that his home in Sin City has a Taco Bell when he joined Rodgers for an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Oct. 15. When asked if he’d shack up with Rodgers and bring in a Taco Bell now that they’re teammates again, Adams said he’d have to pass on the option while noting his home came with two Taco Bells.

“No, we’re going to travel. I got two in my Vegas crib, so we’ll just keep those over there,” he said.

“Love the commercials,” Rodgers joked.

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BIO-EXORCISMS? They aren’t usually considered to be palate-pleasing pastimes, nor is it particularly posh when a ghost wants to send the humans occupying a particular house skedaddling in frightened fashion. But we can all agree that Beetlejuice, the world’s — and the otherworld’s — most famous bio-exorcist possesses a natural proclivity towards getting fancy. He does, after, all, have a penchant for donning snazzy tuxedos and he always seems up for a dazzling dinner party. So when a fan of the iconic horror-comedy character learns that a San Diego hotel restaurant is staging a swanky Halloween night dinner, one that derives tasty and tony inspiration from the Ghost with the Most and the more appetizing aspects of the afterlife, we are ready to call “Showtime!” and tuck in our napkin.

THE GRANT GRILL, at THE US GRANT, is presenting a “Beetlejuice”-inspired All Hallow’s Eve Supper, an elegant affair that takes flavorful notes from the film phantom. The bells-and-whistles meal is an impressive 13 courses, because of course it must be on Halloween night, and the price for two people, “inclusive of tax and gratuity”? It’s, oh yes, $666 (though, yes, there is the $333 option, if you’re attending on your own). Executive Chef Mark Kropczynski created the menu, which features dishes like Octopus “The Sand Worm” Two Ways — Smoked and Fried. The cocktail pairings, which includes Betelgeuse, The Bio-Exorcist, were dreamt up by mixologist Rex Yuasa (the libation is “a haunting riff on whiskey and cola”).

“13 DARING SOULS”: The limited-seating dinner — there are seats for “13 daring souls” — begins promptly at 8 o’clock and costumes are encouraged, so find your best Delia Deetz dress or Maitland-style finery. “Much like the new ‘Beetlejuice’ film, we’ve taken classic, beloved elements and reimagined them in a bold, creative way,” says Chef Kropczynski. “This dining experience is designed to surprise, delight, and maybe eve scare you a little. We can’t wait to see our guests enjoy each dish and drink as part of this interactive, theatrical Halloween celebration.” Call out “Beetlejuice!” three times, then learn more at the Grant Grill site.

Time updated (Oct. 17)

Chef Philip Pretty and Head of Operations Lauren Pretty are basking in the glow of their new restaurant, Olive & Rose. The fine dining eatery, which rests on the first floor of a renovated mid-century motel on Atlantic Avenue, offers morsels that include black cod, caviar, octopus and house cocktails.

The siblings, who hail from Long Beach, said they worked hard to create an inviting atmosphere to pair with the delectable menu.

“The space is beautiful,” Chef Philip said. “It warrants people wanting to come here and be communal and hang out.”

The new space, a predecessor to Michelin-starred eater Heritage Restaurant, is named after the chef’s children. Family has been a central focus for the restaurants from the name to the leads.

“Chef Pretty is my brother; he’s 11 years my senior,” Lauren said. “I think that’s why we work well together in business because we never had anything to fight about growing up. He was always just a friend to me.”

Keeping family a main point of their restaurant’s success, this value also motivated the siblings to donate some of their earnings to charity.

“Our grandparents died of cancer,” Philip said. “We raise money for the Miller Children’s (Hospital) Cancer Society. We just did one Saturday and we raised $20,000.”

Earning a Michelin star with Heritage in their hometown was a feat they said they are proud to own. It also serves as inspiration to do the same with Olive & Rose.

“I’ve traveled a lot in my life and I’m always happy to come home,” Lauren said. “I don’t think there’s anywhere else I would want to live. I love this city.”

An evening in October is such an ensorcelled occasion that poets regularly pay homage to it, artists enthuse about its magical qualities, and pretty much everyone makes a push to be out and about, all to soak up the night’s many pleasures.

And the fact that it has cooled down, and become rather more fall-like, in Southern California? We mean, at least compared to recent weeks?

Yes: We’re definitely seeking something special, celebratory, and full of flair over the next few Saturdays. And if food can be involved? Things grow more magical, indeed.

Taste of Santa Ana is a longtime fall foodie festivity, a party that returns, with appetizing on-the-dot-ness, each October.

And come Oct. 12, the snack-around soirée will call upon MainPlace Mall for a night of great tastes, lively libations, and more than a bit of “Día de los Muertos” merriment.

Guests will pay tribute to “… the rich cultural heritage of Orange County’s diverse community through food, music, and art” at the festival, which is marking its ninth outing in 2024.

The choices will be piquant and plentiful, with “… over 30 of the area’s top restaurants, food trucks, cafes, and breweries” in appetizing attendance.

Adding to the atmosphere? Altars, sugar skulls, and other seasonal details will be on display, the sorts of touchstones that reveal the veil between worlds will soon be lifting.

Find out about tickets, including the VIP option, and more on the Taste of Santa Ana site.

A company that is one of the largest providers of french fries to fast food giant McDonald’s closed a plant in Washington and laid off nearly 400 employees as sales remain sluggish for the chain.

The cuts at Lamb Weston, the country’s largest french fry supplier, were announced in an earnings call by the company’s president and CEO, according to Fox Business.

The layoffs constitute 375 employees, or nearly 4% of the company’s total workforce.

Although the company also supplies french fries for other restaurants and grocery stores, its business from the fast food industry is the biggest driving factor behind Lamb Weston’s sales.

According to the New York Post, the frequent low-cost meal deals offered by fast food restaurants in an effort to lure customers back to the drive-thru lane have not helped the french fry giant financially.

Industry experts have attributed slowing fast food sales to rising costs on menus of many major chains.

“Many of these promotional meal deals have consumers trading down from a medium fry to a small fry,” Lamb Weston CEO Thomas Werner said last week on an earnings call, via CNN.

Bimbo Bakeries USA, which includes brands such as Sarah Lee, Entenmann’s and Ball Park buns and rolls, appears to be defying an FDA warning sent in June that said the several of the company’s products are “misbranded” because the labels list sesame or tree nuts even though those ingredients aren’t in the foods.

In a response to the FDA, Bimbo officials said they wouldn’t change their sesame labeling. The company said it creates “nationally uniform labels” that prevent people from inadvertently eating foods that can trigger potentially life-threatening reactions. The firm said it was not attempting to avoid legal requirements to avoid cross-contamination in plants.

“We think our approach is the most protective of sesame-allergic consumers,” the company wrote in a July 1 letter obtained by the advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest and shared with The Associated Press.

Bimbo officials confirmed their position in an email to the AP on Wednesday, calling it a “conservative approach” for consistent labeling of nationally distributed products.

FDA officials did not immediately comment on the company’s response. By law, the agency can take actions ranging from recalls to civil fines and criminal charges against firms that fail to heed warning letters.

But CSPI and other food safety advocates said the standoff continues a practice that misleads the estimated 33 million Americans with food allergies and results in limited choices for the more than 1.6 million who are allergic to sesame.

“We depend on accurate food labeling to feel safe,” said Sung Poblete, chief executive of the nonprofit group FARE, Food Allergy Research & Education. “We depend on accurate labeling to make the food choices that we make.”

The impasse follows a 2023 federal law that requires that all foods made and sold in the U.S. to be labeled if they contain sesame.

Bimbo Bakeries, which bills itself as the nation’s largest commercial baking company, was among several food producers and restaurant chains that began adding small amounts of sesame to foods that didn’t have it previously — and then listing it as an ingredient.

Several companies said they did that because it was too difficult and expensive to keep sesame used in one part of a baking plant out of another and they wanted to avoid liability and cost.

The FDA has said that such actions are legal, although they violate the spirit of the law.

In its response to the FDA, Bimbo said it has plants where some products are made with sesame and some are not. But when it came to labeling, the company said that the most “protective approach” for consumers was to declare sesame as an ingredient and use the same packaging for all of the products.

However, Bimbo officials told the agency they did change labels for certain breads that said they included tree nuts when they did not. The new labels now say the breads include hazelnut, the only nut used in the products, the company indicated.

CSPI had petitioned FDA in 2023 to halt the practice of adding sesame to foods to prevent risks of cross-contamination.

It’s not clear what action the agency will take over Bimbo’s refusal to heed a warning letter, said Sarah Sorscher, CSPI’s director of regulatory affairs.

“It’s so unusual to see a big company, like Bimbo, calling the FDA’s bluff,” she added.

We’re not candied-out just yet — there are too many bat-shaped caramels and ghost-hued lollipops still haunting the store shelves — but we are beginning to think of the stove-warmed snacks of November, those rib-sticking foodstuffs that feel like a cool fall day was wrapped in a bready bun.

These savory stables of late fall do run the gamut, which means that asking any lover of heartier fare to alight on a single awesome eat that symbolizes the season can be a challenge.

But for many Porto’s-obsessed Southern Californians, Thanksgiving can’t truly begin with a golden plate of Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls.

These seasonal orbs of well-spiced deliciousness are a palate-pleasing play on the world-famous Potato Ball, a goodie that might just be the best-known menu item at Porto’s Cafe & Bakery. (We say “might” knowing that the Milk N’Berries Cake fans are also extremely dedicated to their favorite delicacy.)

But unlike the powerhouse Potato Ball, a year-round classic, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball is a seasonal offering, one you need to purchase in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Or even Halloween: A dozen Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls are now available on the Porto’s Bake at Home site, giving the biggest ball buffs a chance to enjoy their favorite fall treat in October, days ahead of Halloween.

You can also swing by your go-to Porto’s — there are six locations, including Buena Park and Burbank — and pick up a single Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball for $1.89, if you’re just seeking a quick and satisfying taste.

Of course, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball isn’t the only quirky spin on the superstar snack. There’s a Cheese & Spicy Pepper Potato Ball on the Porto’s line-up, and, in the springtime ahead of Easter, the Seafood Potato Ball makes a tangy return.

Stars in Southern California? They aren’t solely found along Hollywood Boulevard.

Our storied region is home to more than a few timeless venues that have enduring fandoms, those devoted followings that effortlessly span the generations.

And when those venues regularly appear on the silver screen, as The Smoke House Restaurant often does?

Yep, you’re in the presence of Hollywood greatness.

Or, in the case of The Smoke House Restaurant — or just the Smoke House, if you prefer its snazzier shorthand — “Burbank bigness.”

The red-booth’d charmer, which opened in 1946, has long held court on Lakeside Drive, though if you think of the eatery’s street as West Olive Avenue, we get that: One side of the restaurant fronts the busy thoroughfare, and, just across the street, Warner Bros. Studio.

The Smoke House has long been the off-lot meeting place for studio luminaries, and we do mean “long been,” for the restaurant is marking its 78th anniversary throughout much of October 2024.

And to honor the milestone? Guests can look forward to various deals priced at $19.46, a nod to the eatery’s founding year.

The Smoke House has celebrated with anniversary deals before. Past $19.46 deals have included Brochette of Beef as well as the Pork Chop, two savory stalwarts from a menu brimming with stick-to-the-ribs favorites.

The kick-off night, Oct. 8, will also include a raffle for those guests who can count 1946 as their birth year (of course, they’ll be asked to show identification).

Even if you can’t swing by the Smoke House during its anniversary celebration — and the always-varied anniversary menu will be available through Oct. 31, giving you some time to make a date — you can always visit it on the big screen.

It was seen in “La La Land” in 2016 and “Argo” from 2012.

Of course, admiring the destination’s low-lit allure in a movie doesn’t put a basket of that obsessed-over World Famous Garlic Cheese Bread in front of you.

So perhaps the best plan is this: Stop by the Smoke House, order that basket of this decadent bliss and enjoy every warm and cheesy bite, then return home to admire the icon on-screen.

The restaurant chain announced it will once again offer its Boorito deal — for its 24th year — in honor of Halloween.

Chipotle Rewards members who come into an eatery dressed in costume this Halloween (Oct. 31) can get a $6 entrée from 3 p.m. until closing time throughout the United States. That price will be 7 Canadian dollars in Canada, while a £6/€7 entrée will be offered in locations in the United Kingdom and France.

In addition, 53 Chipotle locations in college towns across the U.S. will remain open until midnight on Halloween.

“As an annual Halloween tradition for our fans, we are always looking for ways to level up our celebration,” Chipotle chief brand officer Chris Brandt said in a statement. “By extending hours on college campuses and expanding the festivities across two continents for the first time, Boorito will be bigger than ever.”

This year marks the first time Chipotle’s European locations will get in on the promotion. The Boorito was initially sold in 2000 in the U.S. before expanding to Canada in 2009.

The return of the Boorito comes on the heels of Chipotle announcing in September that it has teamed up with Spirit Halloween to create a line of real Halloween costumes based on a trend in which people make fake costumes that are sold in the familiar Spirit Halloween packaging.

Some of the outfits you can purchase include Chipotle Fork, Chipotle Napkin, Chipotle Water Cup, Chipotle Burrito and Chipotle To-Go Bag. The costumes are available at select Spirit Halloween brick and mortar stores, as well as on its website.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

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Coming across several surreally soggy plot points and adorably mirthful moments in an episode of “SpongeBob SquarePants”?

Such gleeful gifts are as plentiful as the grains of sand carpeting Bikini Bottom.

In fact, a fan of the animated Nickelodeon phenomenon, which is diving into its 25th anniversary in 2024, would say that smile-summoning surprises are very much a part of SpongeBob’s water-logged world, thanks to the many offbeat adventures he and his pal Patrick Star boldly undertake.

This is all to say that we should be surprised that SpongeBob-inspired surprises are in store during the milestone anniversary, including the one that’s rolling for Randy’s Donuts.

The Krabby Patty is, without quibble, the most famous foodstuff seen on the series, but finding a Krabby Patty that is actually totally krab, er, crab-free, but does have all of the components of a doughnut?

Randy’s Donuts is up for the cheerful challenge: Meet the Krabby Patty Donut, which will be available at most Randy’s Donuts locations from Oct. 8 through 27.

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The bun is, well, a doughnut, while the “meaty” centerpiece is devil’s food, which is not meaty but is full of chocolate oomph.

The slice of “tomato”? That’s red velvet, and the “lettuce” is coconut (it’s “fluffy,” shares the Randy’s Donuts team).

And the “sauce” of this sweet sandwich is an icing made to look like cheese, which may elicit a “jumping jellyfish!” (Note: Not to be cheesy, but this is not cheese, but rather the magic of lookalike frosting.)

If you want to complete your Krabby cuisine experience, a Bikini Bottom Pineapple Lemonade Refresher, an iced or frozen beverage that pays tangy ode to SpongeBob’s famous pineapple home, will also pop up on the special limited-time menu.

Updated: Oct. 7

It’s true that you’ll likely enjoy a Dodger Dog once you reach Dodger Stadium, and maybe some popcorn, too, but if you’re meeting your baseball buds beforehand, chances are good that you’re meeting at Philippe the Original.

Phillipe’s, which is about a five-minute drive from the stadium, has become the pre-game meet-up spot for generations of fans looking to enjoy a hearty French Dip sandwich and some bright pink hard-boiled eggs before the first pitch.

The Opening Day celebrations in the springtime are legendary, with a sea of celebratory blue filling the capacious restaurant, a vintage spot that is also loved for its classic candy counter, fiery table mustard, and sawdusty floors.

So of course Philippe’s will be celebrating the Dodgers postseason run in all of the merch-ready, fandom-pleasing ways.

Several items made for the fandom are for sale on the site, or can be found for sale at the restaurant, including the Dodger blue rally towel, a clear tote made for game days, and a picnic blanket perfect for the lap on a chillier night at the stadium.

Dodger beers, too, are part of the line-up, should you want to swing by the restaurant for those “Blue Vibes.”

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Things to do Oct 3

Things to do this weekend: Family outings with a playful October twist

Even if you’re well-merch’d-up, and you’ve got the Dodger tees and blankets and all you need to support the team this fall, finding that pre-game spirit among other supporters is easy to do at this classic, stadium-close destination.

Call it a delicious, Dodger-supporting wonderland of filling foodstuffs, nostalgic sides and desserts, and true team spirit.

Throughout National Pizza Month, restaurants are cooking up a myriad of deals and special menu items. Ready to claim your piece of the pie? Run fast because these sales won’t be around for long

Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta

Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta is offering customers $4 New York Style Cheese Pizza by the slice through Oct. 31. Additionally, customers can pay $40 for two large 18-inch thin crust cheese pizzas with the code 40THANNIVERSARY through Oct. 31.

California Pizza Kitchen

Throughout October, California Pizza Kitchen is running a BOGO for the Bold offer. It entitles customers to a free Take & Bake Pizza (available in five flavors) when they order a Burnt Ends BBQ Pizza or a Bacon & Brussels Pizza. The offer is valid at participating restaurants and online.

Casey’s

Casey’s has a range of deals in store for customers throughout the month of October:

• All October: Buy any large pizza, get a large specialty pizza for 50% off with the code BOGO.
• Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in October: $15 large specialty or breakfast pizza with the code SAVE.
• Oct. 4: $14 large taco pizza with the code TACO.
• Oct. 11: $10 large sausage pizza with the code SAUSAGE.
• Oct. 17 — 20: $10 large pepperoni or sausage pizza with the code DEAL.

Circle K

Just in time for National Pizza Month, Circle K has launched a new $5 meal deal that entitles customers to two slices of pizza or a personal pizza plus a 20-ounce Pepsi.

Domino’s

Through Oct. 6. Domino’s customers can save 50% on any size menu-priced pizzas. The offer is valid on online and app orders, and applies to all types of crust.

Donatos Pizza

During National Pizza Month, Donatos Pizza customers can order two one-topping Bakery Crust Pizzas for $19.99 (or one for $11.99).

Gopuff

Gopuff will run the following deals from Oct. 28 to 31:

• $2 Off Genio pizzas
• $2 Off Amy’s Kitchen pizzas
• $1 Off Red Baron pizzas

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

Mangia! Mondays are returning to Grimaldi’s Pizzeria this month starting Oct. 7. As part of the deal, customers can order a 16-inch Traditional Cheese Pizza for $12 ($14 at the Palazzo location in Nevada) at participating restaurants (except in New York and New Jersey) while dining in. The deal is also available on Oct. 14, 21 and 28.

Hungry Howie’s

Through Oct. 27, Hungry Howie’s customers can pay $12 for a limited-edition Pink Pizza (aka a large cheese pizza topped in edible pink glitter) from the chain’s secret menu. The best part? Hungry Howie’s will donate 50% of the sales to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Little Caesars

Little Caesars has two deals for National Pizza Month:

• Through Oct. 20: 20% off any pizza when you buy a 3 Meat Treat using the code PIZZATREAT.
• Through Oct. 20: 10% off online orders of $10+ using the code HANGTEN.

Marco’s Pizza

Marco’s Pizza has several deals in store for National Pizza Month:

• Through Oct. 6: Use the code MEGAMEAL for a $19.99 Mega Meal Deal that includes a large one-topping pizza, Cheezybread and Cinnasquares.
• Oct. 14 — 20: Get 10% off e-gift cards.

Matchbox

Matchbox is offering customers 20% off all pizzas on online orders in October.

Milton’s

Through Oct. 21, Costco shoppers can save $3.40 on a 2-pack of Milton’s Roasted Vegetable Cauliflower Crust Pizza, making the sale price $10.49.

MOD Pizza

Kids eat free every Sunday in October at MOD Pizza. The chain restaurant is also running a fundraiser throughout the month to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Mountain Mike’s Pizza

Mountain Mike’s Pizza customers who purchase any pizza (excluding mini pizzas) can get any 6-count classic or half-pound boneless wing order for just $4.99 and any 12-count classic or 1-pound boneless order for $8.99.

Peter Piper Pizza

Peter Piper Pizza has weekly deals for National Pizza Month:

• Oct. 1 — 6: $12.99 for a large one-topping pizza.
• Oct. 7 — 13: Buy one pizza, get another 50% off.
• Oct. 14 — 18: $8 gameplay when you purchase a lunch buffet.
• Oct. 20 — 27: Piper Deal #1 (large one-topping pizza and two drinks for $22.99).
• Oct. 28 — 31: Free delivery on orders of $30+.

Porta

For the month of October, Porta frozen pizzas are $1 off at Whole Foods stores nationwide. The brand has four flavors: Margherita, Pepperoni, Sausage & Caramelized Onion, and Mushroom & Fontina.

Schlotzsky’s 

Schlotzsky’s is offering customers $20 off any catering order of $200+ through Oct. 31 using the code SPOOKY20. The offer includes the chain’s Pizza Bundle (available at select locations in Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma), which comes with four large pizzas, one group salad, a 1-gallon beverage, a cookie tray and a reusable ice bag.

The deal is valid on orders placed over the phone or online.

Wiseguy Pizza

Wiseguy Pizza customers can score an 18-inch cheese or pepperoni pizza and three free garlic knots for $20 through Oct. 31. The offer is valid in-restaurant at all locations or online.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

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Health departments have been issuing seasonal advisories based on guidelines from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration about avoiding unpasteurized juices, which can contain bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Bacteria from the fresh apples used to make cider can end up in your drink if the product is not pasteurized, meaning it has not been treated with heat or ultraviolet light to kill harmful pathogens.

Here’s what to know to stay safe.

The dangers of unpasteurized juices

The FDA has received reports over the years related to unpasteurized cider and other fruit juices that have caused foodborne illness, generally referred to as food poisoning.

Untreated juices and cider can contain bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli and Cryptosporidium parasites, according to guidelines from the government of Canada, another country with plenty of apple orchards.

Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems can be particularly susceptible to serious illness and even death from drinking unpasteurized cider.

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache and body aches, and they usually occur within one to three days of drinking the contaminated juice.

Are most apple ciders pasteurized?

The majority of the juice sold in the U.S. is pasteurized, so most of the products at your local grocery store are not a concern in that regard. Most juice made from concentrate, plus cider in cans, bottles and juice boxes sold on grocery shelves away from the refrigerated aisles are all usually pasteurized.

However, some health food stores, cider mills, farmers’ markets, and juice bars may sell juice they made on site that is unpasteurized, according to the FDA.

Untreated juice is usually sold in the refrigerated section of any market. However, freezing or refrigerating the unpasteurized juice does not remove potential bacteria — only the process of pasteurization does that, according to the Canadian guidelines.

How do I know if apple cider is unpasteurized?

Unpasteurized juices that are packaged and sold are required by the FDA to carry a warning label that reads as follows:

WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems. 

In addition to checking for the label, you should also heed the “best before” date on the packaging and discard it if it’s expired.

However, there is another area to make sure to double check. Apple orchards, cider mills and farmers’ markets that sell cider by the glass are not required by the FDA to have a warning label on it.

In that case, it’s best to ask whether the cider is unpasteurized if you are unsure.

The FDA also has guidelines if you decide to make your own cider at home after a day of apple picking.

Make sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds and cut away and damaged or bruised areas of the apples. Also make sure to wash all the apples thoroughly with running water and dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe off any residual bacteria.

And, pregnant people and young children should avoid drinking fresh-squeezed juices at ciders, per the FDA.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

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October, for many people, takes its flavorful inspiration from pumpkins, apples, and the sweeter side of the spice cabinet.

But there are foodies — or shall we say “seafoodies” — around Southern California who approach the tenth month with a hefty dollop of tartar sauce and a squeeze of lemon.

That’s because the start of fall around our ocean-adjacent region is very much about seafood celebrations, from the traditional lobster cook-outs of September to the major festivals of October, including the Harbor & Seafood Festival in Santa Barbara and Off the Hook Seafood Festival at Santa Monica Pier.

San Pedro Fish Market is also in the swing of this briny season, or shall we say, “in the swim,” thanks to the tangy return of the company’s popular shrimp-themed special events.

SHRIMPFEST24 is diving into all three locations, with a special happening set for Wilmington Oct. 11, San Pedro on Oct. 18, and Long Beach on the final Friday of October, the 25th.

Those World Famous Shrimp Trays, a sizable, shrimp-filled dish that is synonymous with the company, will be a tempting centerpiece of the “unique, all-inclusive dining experiences.”

The seafood is cooked right there, adding to the party-like spirit of SHRIMPFEST24, and live music will up the convivial atmosphere. Other nice perks, like location-exclusive dishes, will pop up during the festival, so be sure to check ahead to find out what each eatery is offering.

“Kings of FI$H,” the new Amazon Prime Video docuseries, is behind the cinematic vibe of the upcoming celebration. Cast members will stop by the Wilmington kick-off on Oct. 11 to meet diners.

“Fresh! Seafood! Action!” is the 2024 theme of the SHRIMPFEST24, in fact, another nod to the series.

For tickets, details, and to be in the swim at one of SoCal’s shrimpiest celebrations, check out the SHRIMPFEST24 site now.

We first found about the collab back in August when an internal Wendy’s memo dated Aug. 16 leaked online.

Social media users have hypothesized how the cartoon patty might taste IRL for years — and now they’ll get their answer:

• Krabby Patty Kollab Burger: Wendy’s version of the iconic Krabby Patty features a quarter pound of Wendy’s beef, two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and a “top-secret” Krabby Kollab sauce served on a toasted bun.
• Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty: This new flavor has a Vanilla Frosty base swirled with a pineapple-mango puree.

“In a world of people cutting corners, Wendy’s is known for quality in everything we do — from our fresh, famous food to collaborations with brands that our fans love,” Lindsay Radkoski, Wendy’s U.S. CMO said in a press release. “So, it makes sense that two of the most iconic squares in pop culture are teaming up to bring a taste of this unique, limited-time experience to life for fans of all ages!”

Wendy’s says its partnership with Nickelodeon and Paramount is an exclusive one for a national quick-service retail brand, and it’s the first to bring food items inspired by SpongeBob into the real world. Now, we all can munch on a Krabby Patty like we live in Bikini Bottom.

Dario Spina, CMO of Paramount Brand Studio, said the collaboration is also a way for the brand to celebrate two-and-a-half decades of everyone’s favorite porous pal.

In that spongy spirit, on Oct. 7 and 8, customers in Los Angeles’ Panorama City neighborhood can also enjoy a Wendy’s Krabby Patty Kollab Meal through an immersive Wendy’s drive-thru experience.

Will Wendy’s ever share the recipe for its “top secret” sauce? Asking for a friend … named Plankton (cue Mr. Krab’s cackle).

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

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Taco Bell and the National Day Calendar team recently announced that National Taco Day will now be celebrated on the first Tuesday in October every year to ensure it always falls on Taco Tuesday.

To mark the occasion, many restaurants are rolling out deals on Oct. 1, while others are running theirs on Oct. 4. That translates into several days of freebies and discounts for taco fans everywhere! Here’s a list of key deals to help you keep track.

Baja Fresh

Between Oct. 1 — 4, Baja Fresh rewards members can take advantage of a buy one, get one (of equal or lesser value) free deal on tacos and taco combos. The online offer can be redeemed using the code TACO2024 at participating U.S. locations while supplies last. The coupon is limited to one per person, per visit.

Broken Yolk Cafe

On Oct. 4, participating Broken Yolk Cafe locations in the U.S. will run a buy one, get one 50% off offer on Baja Breakfast Tacos.

Bubbakoo’s Burritos

Bubbakoo’s Burritos customers can enjoy a $5 digital meal deal on Oct. 1. The meal comes with two basic tacos (soft or hard shell) with chicken, beef or pork and a side of chips and salsa. The offer is valid on app and online orders.

Chronic Tacos

On Oct. 4, Chronic Tacos loyalty members can enjoy a buy one, get one free offer on tacos in the chain’s app. The offer is valid at participating locations.

Del Taco

Del Taco rewards members can get The Del Taco for free with any app or online purchase on Oct. 1. The offer isn’t valid with other discounts and is limited to one per guest per day. Price and participation may vary by location.

Dos Toros Taqueria

Between Oct. 1 — 4, Dos Toros Taqueria customers can get free chips and dip when they cater a taco bar for at least 20 people. Use the code TACODAY24 to score the deal.

El Pollo Loco

Between Oct. 1 — 4, El Pollo Loco rewards members can order any three fire-grilled chicken tacos for $5. The offer is valid in-store, online and in the chain’s app. On Oct. 1, customers can also get free delivery on all orders.

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop customers can enjoy $1.50 OG Tacos all day on Oct. 1 at participating locations. The offer is valid on dine-in and to-go orders and is limited to 15 tacos per order while supplies last.

Laredo Taco Company

Laredo Taco Company, 7-Eleven’s Mexican restaurant, is offering customers $2 chicken fajita tacos on Oct. 4. The best part? There’s no limit!

Long John Silver’s

Long John Silver’s customers can order four tacos for $8 on Oct. 1. Through Oct. 25, customers can also score two fish tacos for $5.

On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

Through Oct. 13, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina customers can enjoy endless tacos (pulled chicken tinga or seasoned ground beef varieties) for just $10 while dining in at participating locations. Customers can upgrade to endless brisket or Southwest chicken tacos for an extra $3.

Qdoba

Qdoba rewards members can earn double points on all purchases between Oct. 1 — 3.

Rubio’s

Since the date of National Taco Day is a bit in flux this year, Rubio’s is offering customers two days of deals:

• Oct. 1: $2.50 original fish tacos for all customers
• Oct. 4: A free a la carte taco with any purchase for rewards members, and the opportunity to win a free taco every day for a year when you check in on the app (no purchase required)

Sheetz

Between Oct. 4 — 6, Sheetz customers can enjoy $2 off any taco order when they make any purchase. The offer is available in the chain’s app.

Surcheros

Surcheros loyalty members get a free, small order of queso in honor of National Taco Day on Oct. 1 with app and online orders while supplies last.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell is celebrating National Taco Day on Oct. 1. To mark the occasion, the chain is offering customers $1 tacos for 10 hours.

Rewards members can take advantage of the deal between 10 a.m. — 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 and order up to 10 tacos throughout the day for $1 each. A different taco will be available every hour while supplies last.

Taco Bell rewards members will also have access to additional deals dropping in the chain’s app every Tuesday throughout the month of October.

Taco John’s

Taco John’s rewards members can get a free Beef Stuffed Grilled Taco on Oct. 1 with any purchase. Throughout October, rewards members can also enjoy a new offer each Wednesday.

The Greene Turtle 

On Oct. 4, The Greene Turtle is offering half-priced tacos.

TXB

Between Oct. 1 — 4, TXB app users can take advantage of a buy one, get one free deal on tacos.

WaBa Grill

WaBa Grill customers can get 50% off any Boom Boom Taco Trio on Oct. 1.

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The popular Philadelphia chain topped the American Consumer Satisfaction Index’s first ever convenience store study, which ranked Americans’ favorite spots to refill their gas tanks and their stomachs. 

The surveys were conducted over a seven month period ending in Sept. 2024, with chains scored from zero to 100 on categories including convenience of store hours and locations, coffee freshness, food quality, wait times and speed of checkout.

The most popular convenience stores, the study found, are the ones that have focused on making food — and making it well — as consumers focus more on the in-store experience when deciding where to fill up. 

“You see it with most of the big national and regional chains,” Forrest Morgeson, director of research emeritus at the ACSI, tells CNBC Make It. “They’re saying ‘We’re going to have really attractive food offerings. Not just a preheated breakfast sandwich, but food that will draw people in.'”

Wawa’s expansive menu features more than just hot sandwiches, pizza and quesadillas. There is also a full breakfast menu as well as smoothies, shakes, baked goods and fresh fruit.

No. 2 ranked chain QuikTrip, meanwhile, features tacos, BBQ sandwiches and wraps among its wide-ranging offerings.

These are the ACSI’s top scoring convenience store chains: 

1. Wawa (82 points)
2. QuikTrip (81 points)
3. Buc-ee’s (80 points)
4. Murphy USA (80 points)
5. Casey’s General Stores (79 points)
6. Sheetz (79 points)
7. Kwik Trip (78 points)
8. BP (77 points)
9. Cumberland Farms (77 points)
10. Speedway (77 points)

The chains that scored the best also have something else in common: robust loyalty programs. That’s because stores that offer memberships have customers who are “more satisfied, perceive higher value, visit more frequently, and are more likely recommend the store to others compared to nonmembers,” according to the report. 

Wawa, for instance, gives its members 10 points per dollar spent in-store. These can be spent on rewards like discounted fuel or free coffee, sandwiches and pastries.

“Loyalty programs are are a real differentiator,” Morgeson says. “They give you substantial benefits for being a frequent visitor to their store.” 

As these chains continue to compete for market share, expect future visits to the gas station to continue to improve.

“The companies that are ultimately going to succeed are the ones that offer the most satisfying experience to consumers,” he says. “The ones that keep consumers coming in and even going out of their way to visit those locations.”

The dumpling-famous dining gems of the San Gabriel Valley have their devoted fandoms, both online and in real life, and visiting two or three of them in a day is a piquant and powerful dream for many dumpling devotees.

Such a dream will become a delicious and palate-pleasing reality near the San Gabriel Mission when the sun begins to set on the first Friday of October.

That’s when the San Gabriel Dumpling & Beer Festival returns to the Mission District, giving gyoza-loving gourmands the chance to snack upon several different dumpling styles, with all sorts of fillings and flavors represented.

The 2024 roster is live on the festival site: Wagyu Smash Burger Dumplings from Fried Out LA, the Dumpling Burrito from Go Fusion Grill, and other tempting choices will be among the selections.

A craft beer garden is also part of the starlit scene — the wristband is $44.52 plus a fee — while non-alcoholic libations will be available, too.

While entry is free — sweet — you’ll want to have funds for dining and sipping.

Also sweet: Activities for kids are among the event’s adorable draws, and live music, too.

We’re not candied-out just yet — there are too many bat-shaped caramels and ghost-hued lollipops still haunting the store shelves — but we are beginning to think of the stove-warmed snacks of November, those rib-sticking foodstuffs that feel like a cool fall day was wrapped in a bready bun.

These savory stables of late fall do run the gamut, which means that asking any lover of heartier fare to alight on a single awesome eat that symbolizes the season can be a challenge.

But for many Porto’s-obsessed Southern Californians, Thanksgiving can’t truly begin with a golden plate of Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls.

These seasonal orbs of well-spiced deliciousness are a palate-pleasing play on the world-famous Potato Ball, a goodie that might just be the best-known menu item at Porto’s Cafe & Bakery. (We say “might” knowing that the Milk N’Berries Cake fans are also extremely dedicated to their favorite delicacy.)

But unlike the powerhouse Potato Ball, a year-round classic, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball is a seasonal offering, one you need to purchase in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Or even Halloween: A dozen Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls are now available on the Porto’s Bake at Home site, giving the biggest ball buffs a chance to enjoy their favorite fall treat in October, days ahead of Halloween.

You can also swing by your go-to Porto’s — there are six locations, including Buena Park and Burbank — and pick up a single Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball for $1.89, if you’re just seeking a quick and satisfying taste.

Of course, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball isn’t the only quirky spin on the superstar snack. There’s a Cheese & Spicy Pepper Potato Ball on the Porto’s line-up, and, in the springtime ahead of Easter, the Seafood Potato Ball makes a tangy return.

On Sept. 25, Dunkin’ announced its plans for a Sunday steal on National Coffee Day (Sept. 29): Dunkin’ Rewards members can get themselves a free medium hot or iced coffee with purchase by using the Dunkin’ app.  

In addition to free coffee, the doughnut chain is also collaborating with home fragrance brand Homesick for a scented collection in honor of the caffeinated food holiday.

Dubbed the Dunkin’ x Homesick Collection, the pair of items will be available starting Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. EST on the Homesick website and are meant to evoke a coffee-filled Dunkin’ experience.

Original Blend Candle

This candle combines the scent of espresso bean, cold brewed coffee and cream that Dunkin’ says is “reminiscent of a warm cup of roasted Dunkin’ coffee.”

Homesick says that the candle’s mid notes are caramel and vanilla extract and that its base notes include cocoa chips, sugar cane and crème. The candle is 13.75 ounces and costs $34.95.

Perfect Combo Car Freshener

This car freshener takes the scent of strawberries and combines it with the odor of coffee grounds, which the brand says “brings the scent of a Dunkin’ frosted strawberry sprinkle donut and iced coffee with cream straight to your car.”

Homesick says its mid notes include the smell of sprinkles, brown sugar and salted butter and has base notes of vanilla, “fresh dough” and heavy cream. This air freshener costs $12.

Dunkin’ is not the only doughnut retailer offering a sweet coffee deal this weekend. On Sept. 25, Krispy Kreme announced it will be offering free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase.

Additionally, the paper hat-rich chain is offering a doughnut deal on the day, too: customers who buy a dozen get one dozen original glazed for $2.

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LIFE MAY BE A BOWL OF CHERRIES, but we prefer to think of it as a banana split. After all, a classic dessert usually has different flavors of ice cream, signifying the variety of life, and all sorts of toppings, from the crunchy to the drizzly. (Our existence is not especially crunchy nor drizzly, but this speaks to how each bite of life can change.) Honoring the star of this dish, and all of the creamy, frozen, and utterly snackable ways we enjoy it, happens at a few tasty California festivals, including the peel-tastic party that graces the waterfront in Port Hueneme each fall. The Banana Festival, which celebrates its 11th gooey go-around Sept. 28, is a “celebration of a diverse working port,” which means that informative port tours also play a major and important role.

THE FREE EVENT… is known for its live music, its ocean-adjacent vibe, and a caboodle of banana-luscious treats for purchase. While the goodies festooning the snacky scene might change a bit, year to year, past festivals have featured banana lumpia, banana milkshakes, banana cookies, and, yes, banana splits. Over a dozen vendors regularly grace the fruitful happening, which pays tribute to both the banana and the busy deep-water Port of Hueneme, “one of the largest banana gateways in the country.” An area for kids — activities, games, and, sweet, banana crafts are on deck — and a line-up of shop-ready vendors are part of the day out by the water, too. Are you up for a pie-eating contest? Those are on the whipped-creamy schedule, too.

We’re not candied-out just yet — there are too many bat-shaped caramels and ghost-hued lollipops still haunting the store shelves — but we are beginning to think of the stove-warmed snacks of November, those rib-sticking foodstuffs that feel like a cool fall day was wrapped in a bready bun.

These savory stables of late fall do run the gamut, which means that asking any lover of heartier fare to alight on a single awesome eat that symbolizes the season can be a challenge.

But for many Porto’s-obsessed Southern Californians, Thanksgiving can’t truly begin with a golden plate of Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls.

These seasonal orbs of well-spiced deliciousness are a palate-pleasing play on the world-famous Potato Ball, a goodie that might just be the best-known menu item at Porto’s Cafe & Bakery. (We say “might” knowing that the Milk N’Berries Cake fans are also extremely dedicated to their favorite delicacy.)

But unlike the powerhouse Potato Ball, a year-round classic, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball is a seasonal offering, one you need to purchase in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Or even Halloween: A dozen Turkey & Gravy Potato Balls are now available on the Porto’s Bake at Home site, giving the biggest ball buffs a chance to enjoy their favorite fall treat in October, days ahead of Halloween.

You can also swing by your go-to Porto’s — there are six locations, including Buena Park and Burbank — and pick up a single Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball for $1.89, if you’re just seeking a quick and satisfying taste.

Of course, the Turkey & Gravy Potato Ball isn’t the only quirky spin on the superstar snack. There’s a Cheese & Spicy Pepper Potato Ball on the Porto’s line-up, and, in the springtime ahead of Easter, the Seafood Potato Ball makes a tangy return.

When it comes to the Halloween season, and the timely topic of decadent and dessert-y treats, we’re fairly used to the idea of removing wrappers.

This is because miniature candy bars, little lollipops, and gooey caramels have ruled our trick-or-treat-centric world for decades.

But a cooler confection, the kind that doesn’t arrive in a wrapper but rather on a cone or in a cup, has been making a sweet October stand in recent years: ice cream.

The reasons for this are easy to comprehend, and especially around Southern California, which can stay summer-like through October: The freezer-found foodstuff is often swirled with all sorts of fanciful ingredients, including the classic goodies we find in our Halloween bucket.

Salt & Straw has been the lick-forward leader in these spooky scoops and the 2024 line-up, a seasonal showing of five fun flavors, has made its annual debut.

On the starting bench is the ultra-super-popular salted butterscotch flavor dubbed The Great Candycopia, which is studded with candy that’s made in-house. But, for sure: Salt & Straw looked to Kit Kat and Snickers for appetizing inspiration while creating its candy.

The ethereally named Essence of Ghost is a black licorice sorbet — it’s “scotch-spiked” — and the vegan selection on the 2024 roster is Blackberry & Masa Tamale Sherbet, a fantasia rocking both coconut cream notes and marionberry.

Jack o’Lantern Pumpkin Bread has bits of nicely spiced bread in each scoop and cream cheese flair.

And Don Bugito’s Creepy Crawly Critters?

This is always and forever one of the main headliners of the Salt & Straw Halloween line-up, thanks to both the presence of “crunchy chocolate crickets” (actual crickets, yep) in the matcha ice cream as well as bits of toffee brittle that includes mealworms.

Stop by your local scoop shop — they’re in Venice, Pasadena, and Anaheim, as well as several other regional cities — for your haunting scoops before October disappears in a burst of mist.

But wait: Are you sticking close to home to watch horror flicks and build your Halloween costume? Fret not, Octoberists: Salt & Straw delivers locally and ships nationally.

17th Annual La Feria de los Moles: This delicious DTLA festival, billed as the “largest annual festival of Mexican gastronomy in the United States,” takes place over two tasty days at Gloria Molina Grand Park (do check the hours; the Saturday fun begins mid-afternoon). Entry is free to the Sept. 28-29 event, a dazzling array of mole dishes will be available for purchase, and a mole ofrenda will serve as a seasonal centerpiece.

Pumpkin patches, arise: Two major pumpkin-themed scenes — and by major, we do mean these farm-fun delights have a bevy of wholesome activities in addition to patch-based pumpkin browsing — are opening as September ends: The Fall Harvest Festival at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark and the Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Fest. Both events are ticketed, so check dates and details before you giddy up.

“Nights of the Jack” opens: There are some pumpkin-laden locations that are not about browsing for the best pumpkin; rather, you’re there to admire the glow of well-carved squashes expertly placed in dazzling displays. Make for King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas for this atmospheric evening whimsy, then stroll by thousands of ghoulish and gleeful gourds. Treats for sale, photo spots, and other fetching draws are woven through this whimsy, which begins Sept. 27.

Pizza Day at Smorgasburg LA: Several pie-perfecting specialists will swing by ROW DTLA on Sunday, Sept. 29 for this piquant celebration. Traditional slices will be available for purchase as well as innovative spins on the sauce-topped superstar (think breakfast pizza and an array of offbeat toppings). Entry to the outdoor food market is free, food and drink are additional, there’s a beer garden, and, oh yes, your pooch should stay at home.

The Cat Ambassador of Heritage Square: The Victorian buildings just off Arroyo Parkway have long caught the attention of passersby, but Belle Boy, the handsome feline that called the historical destination home for well over a decade, captured hearts. The museum recently said goodbye to its beloved “cat ambassador” but fans can attend a Sept. 28 fest in his honor. Cat adoptions, house tours, and more are on the roster. Tickets? Get yours now.

FISHERMEN FESTIVALS, the water-adjacent events that give people a deeper understanding of the ancient profession, are a longstanding and noble California tradition. These oceanside gatherings have regularly “surfaced” over the years all along the coast, from Bodega Bay to some of the state’s most southerly points, and stopping by a picturesque harbor to learn more is something that many seafood lovers have on their bucket lists. If you’re a devoted seafoodie, mark Oct. 19 on your calendar and make for the beautiful boat-laden area at the heart of the American Riviera for a day devoted to prepared-there seafood delicacies, interesting demos and talks, and harbor-centered learning. It’s the Santa Barbara Harbor and Seafood Festival, one of the delicious jewels on the city’s fall calendar.

OYSTERS, PRAWNS, AND LOBSTERS… will be available for purchase, as well as a host of tempting dishes, from seafood tacos to clam chowder. Complimentary rides with Sunswept Sailing and Celebration Cruises are also on the itinerary, as are dockside tours of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin. Music, vendors, fire boat demonstrations courtesy of the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol, and several other convivial and educational goings-on add to the sunshiny spirit of the day. Ready to take a deeper dive into this tasty and tangy festival, a true celebration of this busy harbor and the dedicated people who work to support a sustainable seafood industry? Add a squeeze of lemon to this lively line-up now.

So this is how we’re getting prepped for National Pizza Month, which is also known as “October” in some places: By finding those festive events that are sauce-luscious, crust-crunchable, and cheese-forward in all of the tummy-filling ways.

Locating such snackable scenes isn’t too hard in September, a month that boasts both National Cheese Pizza Day (that was Sept. 5) and New York’s Feast of San Gennaro, a world-famous event that boasts oodles of excellent authentic pies.

We’re wrapping up the nummy ninth month, though, at ROW DTLA, where Smorgasburg LA, that free-to-enter food-stravaganza will be paying tribute to all sorts of melty, saucy, munchable Triangles of Wonder.

Well, triangles and classic squares, too: Pizza Day will feature a host of creative pizza pros air-twirling all sorts of interesting noshables. Both offbeat offerings and a solid line-up of traditional pies will be available, so your pizza pleasures should be amply addressed.

Pizza Day is sliding out of the oven at Smorgasburg LA on Sunday, Sept. 29 and entry to the airy alfresco foodie fest is, as always, free.

Pop-up participants at the toothsome 2024 to-do include Badmaash — look for Butter Chicken Pizza, oh delish, and Lamb Kebab Pizza, too — and Bocca Bocca Pizza, where a Spicy Salami Pizza will be the piquant star.

And if you’re seeking “Grandma square slices,” the kind of iconic four-sided wonders that you enjoyed when you were a pizza-obsessed kid, head for regular vendor Quarantine Pizza.

You can find more non-pizza-fied delicacies beyond the pies, triangles, and squares. Chunky cookies, Japanese soufflé pancakes, and other meal-completing confections will also be for sale around the market.

Entry is free, pups should stay open, and a Gozney pizza oven demo — Gozney is co-presenting the event — is also on the roster.

After a dose of online speculation, the company confirmed to TODAY.com on Sept. 24 that it would be discontinuing Coca-Cola Spiced — the flavor that made its debut earlier this year. The soda, which combined raspberry and a “blend of warm spiced flavors,” is one of a few on the brand’s slate that folks online have seen disappear from store shelves.

“We’re always looking at what our consumers like and adjusting our range of products,” a spokesperson from The Coca-Cola Company tells TODAY.com over email. “As part of this strategy, we’re planning to phase out Coca-Cola Spiced to introduce an exciting new flavor in 2025.”

Spiced was first introduced in February and, in a March press release, was dubbed “a permanent addition to the lineup in North America.” Now, seven months later, the flavor is being retired — but it’s not the only one.

Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla was also discontinued late last year. The company confirmed the flavor’s demise back in March with a post on X that said it had been discontinued and was only available while supplies last.

“I think @CocaCola discontinued cherry Vanilla Coke in the bottle,” wrote a different X user on Sept. 1, tagging the company. “I haven’t seen it in months.”

“We decided to discontinue Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla due to consumers’ taste preferences and lifestyles constantly changing,” the brand wrote on X on Sept. 4. “As a Total Beverage Company, we are always searching for ways to evolve our product portfolio to bring consumers the beverages they want.”

Though some social media users missed the initial announcement by a few months, it doesn’t compare to the folks still asking if Diet Coke with Splenda is still around, even though it was discontinued years ago and is marked as out of stock on sites like Walmart. 

“@CocaCola do you all have Diet Coke with Splenda still?” asked one X user on Sept. 4. “I’m allergic to aspartame 🥺.”

“Unfortunately, Diet Coke with Splenda has been discontinued,” Coca-Cola replied. “We’re sorry for any disappointment.”

As expected, people online were unhappy to learn these flavors have metaphorically gone flat.

“this is a national tragedy are you proud of yourself,” wrote one X user.

“Congrats on making me switch to pepsi,” said another. “This was a huge fail on your part @CocaCola.”

One more even called it a “Massive L.”

But not everyone was so choked up by the discontinuations. One not-so-sad redditor wrote “Bye, Felicia!” when they heard about the Spice supply drying up. Another chimed in to say, “Yeah people didn’t really like it.” Plenty of other redditors suggested reviving other flavors in its place.

Coca-Cola has been busy these past few years releasing a slew of unique and limited-time flavors. 

In 2022, these included Dreamworld, a soda meant to evoke “technicolor tastes and surrealism of the subconscious,” and the gaming-inspired Byte, “inspired by the playfulness of pixels.” In 2023, the brand released Coca-Cola Move with Rosalía which was “transformation flavored.” 

This past August, the brand partnered with Oreo to release two items: The Oreo Coca-Cola Sandwich Cookie, which is red and black and contains Coca-Cola syrup, as well as the limited-edition Coca-Cola Oreo Zero Sugar drink, which features “flavorful hints” inspired by the chocolate and creme of an Oreo cookie.

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When you’re a theme park with an actual and ultra-appetizing foodstuff in your name, you’ve got to deliver on the dining front, whatever the occasion might be.

And if that occasion brims with eeks, strange sights, monstrous moments, and shivers aplenty, you can count on the cuisine to get creative while staying seriously snackable.

Knott’s Berry Farm is the boysenberry-centric bastion of coasters and cowboys we’re talking about, but come several evenings in September, October, and early November, the streets of Ghost Town are awash in apparitions and eerie figures.

That’s when Knott’s Scary Farm comes to play, as do all of the frightful and fun foods that the seasonal attraction famously spotlights.

If you’re making your way to Buena Park in the days ahead — scratch that, we mean “nights,” of course — you may want to buy some Dracula’s Bites (yep, they’re churros, yum) or a Chilling Chambers Chicken Tender Funnel Cake.

Here are just a few of the event’s tempting tastes and ensorcelled sips…

While the Halloween season around Southern California is known for its sizable and scary startles — think monsters leaping out at you in shadowy mazes and attractions teeming with terror-inducing sights — there are also quieter expressions of the holiday to savor, too.

Look to Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center, in the heart of Downtown Anaheim. The institution is known for its costume-forward, art-cool exhibits, including those shows that add a haunting note to our fall outings.

And sometimes, those fall outings include lightly eerie experiences, like the one that’s coming up on Saturday, Sept. 28: It’s a Mourning Tea, a sippable peek back at how people of the past observed funerary rituals.

Guests at the Mourning Tea — which is actually happening in the morning, so that makes it easy to remember — are invited to arrive decked out in lace, crinoline, and other sartorial details that speak to the Victorian sensibility.

Tea leaves shall be read, adding a mysterious aura to the gathering, while “music and storytelling” will add a velvety texture to the tea-themed to-do.

Other not-so-startling affairs are on the Muzeo schedule in 2024, including a Spooky Wine and Paint Night, as well as a look-back at the history of Anaheim Cemetery.

For the full schedule, and tickets, float diaphanously by this site now.

Centennials are never especially savory, nor covered with cracked pepper, nor drizzled with chocolate, nor flavored with a splash of vermouth.

But the 100th anniversary of The Musso & Frank Grill was something appetizingly amazing: It was a multi-event, decades-spanning celebration of the much-adored, get-dressy dining destination, a fabled place that is known far and wide as “Hollywood’s oldest restaurant.”

That all took tasty place in 2019 — a photo-rich book debuted in honor of the milestone — but fans are still up for celebratory moments at the Hollywood Boulevard landmark, which, truthfully, happen all of the time.

And yet?

Something special is in the works as the restaurant’s 105th anniversary approaches: People dining at the sumptuous steakhouse on Sept. 24, 25, and 26 will be treated to a complimentary and share-ready chocolate orange mousse cake.

The “share-ready” part means your table will be sharing the goodie, which will be emblazoned with “105” as a sweet salute to Musso’s big birthday. (Indeed, many mavens refer to it simply as “Musso’s,” though some prefer its more formal given name.)

For it isn’t every day that a restaurant marks a century plus a half-decade, all while keeping to the traditions and tastes that devoted regulars adore.

Those tastes run the gourmet gamut, with grilled chops, fancy salads, and those famous Flannel Cakes tempting Angelenos, and Musso’s mavens well beyond Los Angeles, back to the red booths.

Oh yes, and those homemade Chicken Pot Pies, a longtime Thursday staple.

Happy 105th, The Musso & Frank Grill! Here’s to another century, plus five years, of elegant eats and starry suppers.

This is the exact way we want to head into the first full weekend of fall: Happy and full of delicious hotcakes, the kind of famous flapjacks that are synonymous with a classic Southern California restaurant.

And if those hotcakes happen to be priced at 75 cents as a tasty, money-saving homage to a major milestone, the experience will surely be as sweet as a delicious drizzle of syrup.

It so happens that the final Thursday in September 2024 is National Pancake Day — or National Hotcake Day, if you prefer — and NORMS Restaurants will mark the day with a plate of 75-cent hotcakes.

What’s the deal about this deal? The restaurant chain, a stick-to-the-ribs SoCal treasure known for hearty and yummy fare, is marking its 75th anniversary.

But the customer-directed “thank yous” won’t end after National Hotcake Day concludes.

In fact, NORMS is unveiling several “throwback” items on a special anniversary menu, including Pork Chops & Eggs.

The limited-time selections will be available from Sept. 25 through Jan. 8, 2025.

A sweepstakes spotlighting the company’s 75th anniversary — an “unforgettable Las Vegas experience” is the festive focus — is happening through Sept.; get the dates and details on this site.

Happy 75th anniversary, NORMS Restaurants!

On Sept. 19, the chain dropped its latest fall-flavored drink, the Starbucks Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte, which it says is inspired by the flavors of homemade pecan pie. It has also added another foam option — Salted Pecan Cream Cold Foam — to its menu, and is serving up some new deals.

“We were really focused on what people are thinking, feeling, and doing during the holidays,” Patrick Penny, lead beverage developer for Starbucks, said in a press release. “It’s fitting to these cooler days and feels like the perfect transition from classic fall beverages into holiday beverages.”

Here is the new slate of pecan-flavored drinks and customizations customers can order for a limited time, while supplies last: 

• Starbucks Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte features Starbucks Blonde Espresso and oat milk combined with notes of pecan, brown butter and holiday baking spices, and is finished with a pecan crunch topping.
• Iced Starbucks Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte, like its hot counterpart, has oat milk combined with flavor notes of pecan, brown butter and holiday baking spices, but has the addition of nondairy Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam, and is sprinkled with a pecan crunch topping.
• Salted Pecan Cream Cold Foam, available in dairy or nondairy, is made with pecan syrup and salt.

Starbucks’ fall deals

Starbucks is also offering Starbucks Rewards members with Triple Stars every Tuesday, and two drinks for $10, or 4 drinks for $20 every Saturday until the end of September.

New Starbucks Rewards members who sign up can also score a free handcrafted drink with a qualifying purchase anytime during their first week in the club.

According to Starbucks, a handcrafted beverage is any drink handmade by a Starbucks barista, so the chain’s new Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte certainly fits the bill — along with Starbucks’ other fall drinks, like the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato and the old faithful option Pumpkin Spice Latte.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. Read more from TODAY here:

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Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and other chains, said Olive Garden will be the first of its brands to offer third-party delivery starting later this year. Individual orders will be picked up and delivered by Uber Direct, a premium delivery service. Olive Garden won’t be listed on the broader Uber Eats platform.

If the initial pilot is successful, the delivery option will expand nationwide by May 2025, Darden said.

Darden shares jumped 7% in morning trading Thursday.

The move is a reversal for Orlando, Florida-based Darden, which has long delivered large catering orders itself but has resisted third-party delivery for individual orders in the past. In 2018, Darden’s then-President and CEO Gene Lee said the company was testing third-party delivery but was skeptical.

“There continue to be significant hurdles that we need to work through, such as how do we ensure that these delivery services will enhance our brands? Can it be flawlessly executed for our guests and our team members?” Lee said during a 2018 conference call with investors.

Lee, who retired as Darden’s chairman last year, said he was also concerned about sharing the company’s data with third parties. On Thursday, Darden said it would retain “guest data and insights” as part of the partnership.

“Guests have been asking us for home delivery options and they continue to show they are willing to pay for the convenience,” Rick Cardenas, Darden’s current president and CEO, said in a statement.

In a conference call Thursday with investors, Cardenas said it was important to find a way to offer delivery without disrupting staff or restaurant patrons. Delivery orders will be treated like take-out orders are now and brought out to drivers waiting curbside. And Cardenas said Olive Garden has technology in place to help employees manage order volumes.

Darden isn’t the only chain that has given in to third-party delivery. Domino’s Pizza also resisted working with third parties until last year, when it signed a deal with Uber Eats.

MUSH IT, SPOON IT, dice it, slice it, slather all over a piece of toast, topped only by olive oil, a dash of hot sauce, and flaky salt: It’s the avocado, that green, goes-with-everything goodie. Just how good is this goodie? It has a way of making a creamy cameo on countless menus around the Golden State, even when the cuisine doesn’t, at first glance, seem particularly avocado-forward. We’re just utterly attached to the alligator pear, is all, and that appetizing attachment only grows when the first part of October arrives. For that’s when the California Avocado Festival rolls back into Downtown Carpinteria, with live music, craft-cool browsing, and avocado treats in tow.

OCT. 4-6… are the 2024 dates, and while you don’t have to attend all three days, some fans do, all to soak up the succulent spirit of “Peace, Love & Guacamole” (that’s the festival’s memorable slogan, of course). Over a dozen food vendors will be there — 15 in all — and some 60 bands. Linden Avenue is where all of the luscious, scoopable, and snackable action is taking place; a map on the festival site reveals just where you’ll want to go. There are plenty of good vibes swirling around the started-in-1986 fest, including the fact that it raises funds for the Carpinteria Education Foundation and the Future Farmers of America. Check out all the bands now and plan your Carp-cool getaway faster than it takes to devour a bowl of perfectly piquant guac. By the by, the Guacamole Contest is a longtime favorite; get the info on entering now.

Updated Sept. 18

The company plans to continue operating and will seek court approval for a sale, it said just before midnight on Tuesday.

The company is seeking bankruptcy protection amid growing struggles to revitalize its business. Tupperware sales growth improved during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but overall sales have been in steady decline since 2018 due to rising competition. And financial troubles have continued to pile up for the Orlando, Florida, company.

Food & Drink Sep 18

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Doubts around Tupperware’s future have floated around for some time. Last year, the company sought additional financing as it warned investors about its ability to stay in business and its risk of being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

Shares have fallen 75% this year and closed Tuesday at about 50 cents apiece.

Tupperware experienced explosive growth in the mid 20th century with the rise of Tupperware parties, first held in 1948. Tupperware parties gave many women a chance to run their own businesses out of their homes, selling the products within social circles.

The system worked so well Tupperware removed its products from stores three years later. Social changes, namely fewer dinners made from scratch and more nights spent dining out, took a toll Tupperware sales.

On Sept. 18, burger lovers will celebrate National Cheeseburger Day, and many restaurants are firing up the grill and giving customers some juicy deals to bite into. Ready to join in on the celebration? Here are a plethora of discounts and freebies to choose from.

Dog Haus 

Dog Haus will run a buy one, get one free cheeseburger offer for rewards members on Sept. 18. The offer is available in the chain’s app.

Eddie Merlot’s

On Sept. 18, Eddie Merlot’s customers can order Eddie’s Prime Cheeseburger for $15 between 4 — 6:30 p.m. Pricing and participation can vary based on location.

Farm Burger

Grass-fed burger chain Farm Burger is running a build-your-own cheeseburger deal starting at $5 on National Cheeseburger Day.

Farmer Boys

Farmer Boys customers can order the chain’s Big Cheese cheeseburger for just $4 on National Cheeseburger Day between 2 p.m. and close at participating locations while supplies last. The offer can’t be combined with other deals, is limited to two burgers per customer and is available in restaurant or in the drive-thru.

Very Important Farmer (VIF) loyalty members can also get an extra surprise when they scan their receipt.

Friendly’s

Friendly’s Fan Club members can save $2 on cheeseburgers between Sept. 18 — 20.

Hat Creek

Hat Creek customers who order the Little Hat Burger in the chain’s app will score the menu item for just $2 on Sept. 18.

Instacart

Instacart customers can get $10 off their $20 purchase from the National Cheeseburger Day product collection, which features meat, cheese, buns, condiments and more. The offer is valid at select retailers via Instacart. 

Krystal

Krystal is currently running a limited-time offer for 12 cheese Krystals for just $15.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s customers who order in the chain’s app can enjoy a 50-cent double cheeseburger on Sept. 18.

Omaha Steaks

Omaha Steaks is offering the following deals in honor of National Cheeseburger Day:

• Perfect Burger Pack for $99.99
• Custom Burger Experience With Free Brioche Buns for $129.99
• Deluxe Burger Experience for $131.46
• Butcher’s Burger Assortment for $188.46

Red Robin

Between Sept. 17 — 19, Red Robin customers can get a Gourmet Cheeseburger, bottomless side and drink for just $10 (regularly $14.99 or more) while dining in at participating restaurants.

Sonic

For a limited time, Sonic customers can order a quarter pound double cheeseburger for just $1.99.

Smashburger

Smashburger customers can score $5 Classic Singles on National Cheeseburger Day in store, online and in the restaurant’s app using the code CLASSIC24. The offer includes Classic Singles, Classic Single Turkey Burgers and Classic Single Black Bean Burgers.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Between 3 — 6 p.m. on Sept. 18, Sullivan’s Steakhouse customers can order the restaurant’s signature beef burger sliders for just $10. Pricing and participation can vary by location.

Wahlburgers

Wahlburgers adult burgers will be 50% off on Sept. 18 at participating locations. The offer is valid in-store and online, and excludes doubles, triples, sandwiches and Smahlburgers. It’s limited to one per customer and can’t be combined with other offers.

Wayback Burgers

Wayback Burgers is running a buy one, get one free deal on its classic burgers on Sept. 18.

Wendy’s

Between Sept. 18 — 22, Wendy’s customers can get a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for $0.1 with any purchase while placing an app order at participating restaurants.

Whataburger

On National Cheeseburger Day, Whataburger rewards members who place an app or online order for a patty melt, Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger or a Whataburger with cheese will be entered for the chance to win free Whataburger for a year. Winners will receive their prize in the form of 52 coupons, which can be redeemed at participating locations.

White Castle

White Castle is running a buy one cheese slider, get one free deal on National Cheeseburger Day. To score the deal, simply use the code SAYCHEESE in the restaurant’s app.

In addition, customers can buy a sack of 10 cheese sliders for $7.99 ($8.99 in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Arizona) through November 10.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. Read more from TODAY here:

• The healthiest lunch for weight loss includes these 5 components, according to a dietitian
• Wendy’s is selling Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers for 1 cent for 5 days
• McDonald’s is selling double cheeseburgers for 50 cents — but only for 1 day

On Sept. 17, Taco Bell and the team at National Day Calendar announced their joint decision to move National Taco Day from Oct. 4 to the first Tuesday in October … annually.

Before the shift, the holiday only fell on a Tuesday roughly once every five or six years, a representative from Taco Bell tells TODAY.com. And that seemed anything but festive.

Even fans on social media have complained about the clear oversight.

“To right this wrong, Taco Bell has worked tirelessly with the powers that be, in this case National Day Calendar, to move the National Taco Day recognition to fall solely on Tuesdays henceforth,” the chain said in a press release.

In honor of the occasion, the fast-food giant is dropping deals each Tuesday throughout October. Representatives from Taco Bell say fans can stay up to date on the drops by signing up for the chain’s rewards program and keeping a close eye on its social media pages.

According to journalist Gustavo Arellano, National Taco Day has a much richer history than just showing up one day among other deal- and discount-centric food holidays.

The columnist and author of “Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America” traced the day back to San Antonio, Texas, in the 1960s. While the initial celebratory season was reportedly in early May, fans saw it shift into October in the late 2000s, the chain wrote in a press release.

This is just the latest update in Taco Bell’s crusade to spread the tastiness of Taco Tuesday.

On Oct. 24, 2023, the day-of-the-week phrase officially became free to use after the chain had worked to petition the reversal of trademarks held by two restaurants — the trademarks made its use a violation for participants across all 50 states.

“When we set out to free Taco Tuesday, we did it for all who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos,” Taco Bell’s then-incoming CEO, Sean Tresvant, said in a press release at the time.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. Read more from TODAY here:

• The healthiest lunch for weight loss includes these 5 components, according to a dietitian
• Wendy’s is selling Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers for 1 cent for 5 days
• McDonald’s is selling double cheeseburgers for 50 cents — but only for 1 day

Coca-Cola just ordered another round in the booming canned cocktail market. It is going with another classic, launching a canned rum and coke in collaboration with Bacardi Limited.

The two brands on Tuesday announced plans to release the ready-to-drink cocktail in several international markets, starting with an initial launch in Mexico and select European markets in 2025. The company is also evaluating a U.S. launch of the drink for 2025, a spokesperson confirmed with CNBC.

The Coca-Cola Company‘s latest move reflects continued explosive growth in the canned cocktails market. Premixed cocktails were the fastest-growing spirit category in the U.S. in 2023, growing 26.7% to $2.8 billion in revenue, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.‘ annual economic report.

Spirit sales in the U.S. have remained at the top of the alcoholic market, beating out wine and beer for the second straight year in 2023, according to the Spirits Council report. Vodka brought in the most revenue out of all spirits with about $7.2 billion.

The new drink is not Coke’s first entry into the premixed cocktail market. The company joined with beer giant Molson Coors to debut Topo Chico Hard Seltzer in 2021, and joined with Brown-Forman‘s Jack Daniels whiskey to can another popular bar drink, Jack and Coke. Those cans hit the U.S. market in 2023. Later that same year, Coca-Cola brand Sprite partnered with Pernod Ricard‘s Absolut Vodka for two versions of a premixed cocktail, one with Sprite and the other with Sprite Zero Sugar.

“We are continuing to develop our portfolio as a total beverage company, including in the growing alcohol ready-to-drink market,” said James Quincey, CEO of Coca-Cola, in a press release.

The entire ready-to-drink alcohol market is showing heady signs for the future. Hard seltzers, which often contain malt-based alcohol, showed signs of falling off in 2022 as category-wide sales lagged, leading Boston Beer to throw away excess supply of its hard seltzer brand Truly. But the U.S. hard seltzer market grew from $13.2 billion to $18.97 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow steadily into 2030, according to Grand View Research.

This is one of them: Drinking several cups of caffeinated coffee or tea a day may protect against Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke, NBC reports.

The findings, published Tuesday in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, add to existing research suggesting that daily coffee drinkers have better heart health than nondrinkers — provided they don’t drink too much caffeine.

“Caffeine intake at different doses could have different health effects,” the study’s co-lead author Chaofu Ke, an associate professor in the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at Soochow University in China, wrote in an email. 

Ke and a group of researchers in China and Sweden analyzed the coffee and tea drinking habits of 188,000 people ages 37 to 73 from the U.K. Biobank, a large database that contains anonymous health information, who had completed questionnaires about their beverage intake over the past 24 hours. They also looked at responses from about 172,000 people who specified that they drank caffeinated coffee or tea. None of them had a history of cardiometabolic disease — defined by a diagnosis of at least two of the three conditions: Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease or stroke — when the study began. 

The researchers followed up with the participants after about 12 years.

Drinking two to three cups of coffee or up to three cups of tea a day was the sweet spot, the researchers found.  

People who consumed about 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine daily had a lower risk of cardiometabolic disease, compared to people who drank less than 100 mg a day. Coffee drinkers, in particular, had the lowest risk — a nearly 50% reduction — while people who got the 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine from tea or a mix of both beverages were about 40% less likely to develop cardiometabolic disease. For tea drinkers, cardiometabolic risk decreased the most for those who drank up to three cups daily, but the benefits tapered off after that. 

Even for people who consumed more than 400 mg of caffeine a day — just 4% of the study’s caffeine drinkers — the stimulant didn’t appear to have negative consequences for their cardiometabolic health. 

And among those who did eventually develop cardiometabolic disease, drinking moderate amounts of coffee every day was still associated with lower risk of developing another cardiometabolic disease. 

Moderate caffeine intake was also associated with certain metabolites — compounds produced when the body digests foods and drinks — that are linked to better heart health.

“Moderate caffeine intake may regulate levels of these metabolites,” Ke said. 

Dr. Luke Laffin, co-director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders at Cleveland Clinic, said that the findings need to be taken in context.

“It can give us an idea, but we can’t draw any conclusions,” said Laffin, who wasn’t involved with the research. “Everything in moderation is probably the best way to do it. If someone is having a couple cups of coffee a day, this suggests that dose might be protective.”

However, some types of heart disease can make caffeine intake more dangerous, he said. 

“Too many cups of coffee can raise blood pressure in someone who already has hypertension,” Laffin said. 

Studies have also shown a link between high caffeine intake and a greater risk of dementia and stroke. Other studies have shown positive links between caffeine and kidney health, Type 2 diabetes and heart failure. 

Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a preventative cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said that, in addition to a person’s underlying health issues, the way a person consumes caffeine likely makes a big difference in how it affects their health. 

“The message I don’t want to get out there is that caffeine is good, so let’s take more of it. We have never found that taking what is good in the diet and putting it in a pill is equally beneficial,” Kopecky said. 

An important caveat of the study is that it only included people who regularly drank coffee or green or black tea, all of which contain hundreds or thousands of chemical compounds, only one of them being caffeine. 

“It’s likely all of these components that have an impact, but they have to be together,” Kopecky said.

Although the researchers did adjust for some heart disease factors, such as smoking, obesity, exercise and diet, a lot remains unknown about what other habits they may have in addition to drinking caffeine, which could affect their risk. 

“It’s hard to do a study that controls for everything,” Laffin said, adding that a daily cup of coffee is just fine for most people. 

Kopecky agreed, adding that consuming caffeine in energy drinks, which often have added sugar, artificial sweeteners and other additives, or caffeine shots, is definitely something to avoid. 

And when it comes to tea and coffee, keep it simple. 

“People need to be scrupulous about what else is in their coffee aside from caffeine,” Laffin said. 

“If you are going to your favorite coffee shop and ordering a coffee with whipped cream and sugary syrup, you’re consuming a lot of calories, which can contribute to cardiometabolic disease.”

The story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

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Stouffer’s is exiting the freezer aisle and taking on Kraft Heinz with its new shelf-stable mac and cheese.

The Nestle brand, which celebrated its centennial in June, has spent the past 70 years focused on frozen entrees, such as pizzas, lasagna and macaroni and cheese. But with its strong brand recognition, Stouffer’s sees an opportunity to capitalize on the two-thirds of shoppers who buy both its frozen mac and cheese and boxed versions from its rivals, said Tom Moe, president of Nestle Meals Division.

The average American consumer eats mac and cheese 22 times a year, trailing only pizza in its frequency, according to Moe.

Out of those 22 occasions, the mac and cheese comes from a box about 70% of the time. Shelf-stable mac and cheese is a $2.9 billion category, dominated by Kraft.

Mac and cheese represents a roughly $1.7 billion business for Kraft Heinz, the company’s Chief Financial Officer Andre Maciel said at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference on Sept. 5. It isn’t bulletproof — changes to SNAP food assistance benefits hurt Kraft’s mac and cheese sales in the fourth quarter. The food giant responded quickly with a slate of new mac and cheese variety packs and flavors, showing that it is willing to invest to maintain its leadership in the category.

But Nestle is confident that shoppers trust Stouffer’s enough to give the brand a chance.

“When you want something that’s got a rich, supremely cheesy taste, then you’ll turn to us,” Moe said.

To start, under the name Stouffer’s Supreme, the brand will offer two variations on boxed mac and cheese: a classic cheddar and a three-cheese version made with cheddar, gouda and parmesan. Moe said the cheddar is a “sibling, not identical twin” of its frozen mac and cheese, while the three-cheese option is a “cousin.”

The pasta is made to be cooked on a stovetop and then mixed with its cheese sauce. Stouffer’s says its version has 10% more cheese sauce compared to Kraft’s Velveeta.

Stouffer’s foray into the pantry aisles is not the only innovation that Nestle is ready to unveil. Moe said his division has a “full suite” of new products hitting the freezer aisle this fall, too.

Sept. 18 marks National Cheeseburger Day, where people far and wide will enjoy a melty bit of beefy goodness. 

Burger King will be offering members of its loyalty program, Royal Perks, a free cheeseburger deal to celebrate the occasion. While the deal is happening on the holiday itself, the chain is also launching a full week of other yummy freebies that are all valid with a purchase of $1 or more:

• Sept. 16: Customers can score a free Whopper Jr.
• Sept. 17: Poultry fans can secure a free Original Chicken Sandwich
• Sept. 18: On National Cheeseburger Day, burger lovers can get a free flame-grilled cheeseburger
• Sept. 19: Customers can score a free four-piece Mozzarella Fries
• Sept. 20: Early birds can get a free Croissan’wich
• Sept. 21: Customers can enjoy a free four-piece Chicken Fries
• Sept. 22: Quench your thirst for freebies with a free, soft drink (any size)

Additionally, Burger King is celebrating National Coffee Day on Sept. 29 by offering Royal Perks members a $1 hot coffee (in any size) all day long.

Burger King is clearly a fan of giving out free Whoppers and other bunderful deals — it shared the goods the chain’s 70th birthday in May as well as for the solar eclipse in April.

In an Aug. 8 Q4 earnings call, executives at the chain announced its $5 Your Way Meal had been so profitable that they chose to extended it through October.

This article first appeared on TODAY.com. Read more from TODAY here:

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It’s not uncommon for a devoted gourmand to speak about a meal as if it were an accolade-garnering film, the sort of major movie that’s splashed across billboards during awards season.

The meal experience has a distinct beginning, middle, and end, like a film.

There are highlights, surprise twists, and likely a main character to the dining experience.

And hoping for a savory sequel? If the dish is especially delectable, a foodie will want, nay, demand Parts 2 through 10 in the near future.

The LA Times Food Bowl is one of our city’s most cinematic supping experience and mounting an argument otherwise is an errand best left undone.

But “Paramounting” this appetizing argument, rather than simply mounting it, is whole other matter: The annual weekend of snacking, sipping, and learning is cinematically associated with the Paramount Pictures Studio backlot, giving food fans the chance to dine near some dazzling, seen-on-screen structures.

You won’t have to wait long for the credits to roll on this one: The 2024 LA Times Food Bowl will be back at the Hollywood movie lot from Sept. 20 through 22.

The feasty festival will feature “unlimited” bites created by a host of lauded chefs.

Choosing what to chow down upon, though, is a lovely challenge: Over 40 restaurants will visit the backlot each day of the food bowl, ensuring that guests have a full gourmet gamut to explore.

Among the participants, and you’ll want to double-check the day you’re attending to make sure your foodie favorites are there, are several stars and starry spots: Budonoki x Mini Kabob, Anajak Thai, Stella, and OyBar are all on the Saturday, Sept. 21 list.

The cooking demos are also popular, as are the book signings. The demo line-up is luminous, with lauded chefs covering a host of cooking styles, approaches, and flavors.

It’s a Paramount palate pleaser, a bountiful bridge from summer to autumn, and it only happens once a year; get your ticket now.