Famous Flavors

Falstaff Beer – The St. Louis Giant That Fell Falstaff Beer – The St. Louis Giant That Fell (image credits: By Nolabob, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17773978) Falstaff has quite a storied past, with this discontinued beer that we’re not getting back having changed hands numerous times since it was created by St. Louis-based Western Brewery in 1840. The brand name was sold off to the Griesedieck Beverage Company in 1921 (later renamed the Falstaff Brewing Corporation), and it grew in popularity, reaching top three heights in the United States market by 1960. In the 1960s, Falstaff was the third-largest beer … Read more

Understanding Hair Loss and Weak Nails Understanding Hair Loss and Weak Nails (image credits: unsplash) Millions of people are troubled by hair loss and weak nails every year, and the numbers are only rising. According to updated 2024 data from the American Academy of Dermatology, about 53 million men and 32 million women in the United States now suffer from some form of hair loss. Weak nails, characterized by splitting, peeling, and slow growth, are also reported by nearly 17% of adults in recent national health surveys. Researchers have found that one of the most overlooked causes is nutritional deficiency, … Read more

The Nostalgic Taste Revolution That’s Changing Morning Routines The Nostalgic Taste Revolution That’s Changing Morning Routines (image credits: unsplash) Sometimes the most brilliant ideas come from the simplest moments. Picture this: you’re enjoying your favorite childhood cereal, and that sweet, creamy milk left at the bottom of the bowl tastes better than anything else on earth. Launching nationwide today, the all-new Cereal N’ Milk Latte transforms that memory into a sweet, nostalgic sip, blended with cereal milk and espresso. This isn’t just another seasonal drink – it’s a complete departure from the usual coffee shop offerings. The Cereal N’ Milk … Read more

Understanding Vitamin D’s Role in Hair Health Understanding Vitamin D’s Role in Hair Health (image credits: unsplash) Vitamin D is not just essential for bone strength—it is deeply involved in how your hair grows and thrives. According to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, vitamin D receptors are found in hair follicles, directly influencing the hair growth cycle. When vitamin D binds to these receptors, it helps regulate the anagen (growth) phase, crucial for maintaining healthy hair. In 2024, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition released data showing people with low vitamin D had a 50% higher chance of experiencing hair … Read more

Cousins Subs: Wisconsin’s Best-Kept Secret Deserves National Recognition Cousins Subs: Wisconsin’s Best-Kept Secret Deserves National Recognition (image credits: flickr) Think you’ve tried every great submarine sandwich? You might want to reconsider that claim if you haven’t experienced Cousins Subs. This Wisconsin-born chain has nearly 100 locations as of December 2024, founded in 1972 by cousins Bill Specht and Jim Sheppard, yet remains virtually unknown outside the Midwest. What sets Cousins apart isn’t just their family legacy but their unwavering commitment to made-to-order quality. The chain has close to 100 restaurants across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana, with Indianapolis becoming the hottest … Read more

Paprika’s Dramatic Decline From Vibrant to Lifeless Paprika’s Dramatic Decline From Vibrant to Lifeless (image credits: rawpixel) The bright red powder sitting in your spice rack right now might be nothing more than decorative dust. Most home cooks don’t realize that paprika loses up to 70% of its flavor compounds within just six months of opening, according to research published by the American Spice Trade Association in 2024. The transformation isn’t subtle either. The bright red powder that once added smoky sweetness to your dishes becomes little more than colored dust after this timeframe. Heat, light, and air exposure break … Read more

Mighty Quinn’s: The East Coast’s Biggest Hidden Barbecue Gem Mighty Quinn’s: The East Coast’s Biggest Hidden Barbecue Gem (image credits: Mighty Quinns brisket (phone), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111020212) Have you ever heard of Mighty Quinn’s? If not, you’re in for a treat. This New York-based chain with locations up and down the East Coast – and, umm, Dubai, has been quietly making waves among barbecue experts who short-list it as the best barbecue chain in the nation. Started in 2011 near Baltimore, it’s been dubbed the “fastest-growing chain you might not know about” with locations as far and wide as … Read more

The Scientific Scale Behind Inflammatory Rankings The Scientific Scale Behind Inflammatory Rankings (image credits: unsplash) Nearly sixty percent of American adults follow diets that actively promote inflammation, according to groundbreaking research from Ohio State University’s College of Public Health involving over 34,500 adults. The research team used the dietary inflammatory index, a tool developed a decade ago that includes 45 dietary components to examine the diets, assigning inflammation values ranging from −9 to 8, where 0 represents a neutral diet. This powerful scoring system has become the gold standard for understanding how our food choices directly impact our body’s inflammatory … Read more

Crystal Pepsi: The Clear Cola That Confused Consumers Crystal Pepsi: The Clear Cola That Confused Consumers (image credits: wikimedia) Picture this: You’re in 1992, and suddenly Pepsi releases a completely transparent cola that looks like water but tastes like regular Pepsi. Crystal Pepsi was launched in 1992 with a huge marketing campaign and to great success, capturing a 1% soft drink market share worth US$474 million in its first year. The concept seemed brilliant at first – ride the wave of the early ’90s “clear” product trend and appeal to health-conscious consumers. But here’s the twist that sounds like corporate … Read more

The Time-Consuming Mojito The Time-Consuming Mojito (image credits: unsplash) When you see a bartender’s face drop at the mention of a mojito, it’s not about the taste. Actually, a lot of bartenders will tell you that they hate making mojitos and other labor intensive drinks that require a lot of muddling. These orders slow down their workflow. The problem lies in the muddle. Picture this: you’re behind the bar with fifteen people waiting for drinks, and someone orders a mojito. To make a mojito properly, a bartender needs superfine sugar, loads of fresh limes, and fresh mint. They also need … Read more