Foodie News
2026 Cheeseboard Trends: A European-Inspired Guide for Holiday Hosting
2026 cheeseboard trends: European Cheese Quality’s 2026 mini-guide highlights the biggest holiday cheeseboard trends—from mini boards and brunch boards to a Gorgonzola renaissance, Pecorino trio flights, and creamy mascarpone “cream boards.”
From European Cheese Quality – the campaign promoted by Granlatte, the largest milk producers’ cooperative in Italy, that controls Granarolo S.p.A., the most important Italian dairy company, and co-financed by the European Union – comes the 2026 Guide on cheeseboard new trends, elevating holiday celebrations, and extra special moments.
From single-serve bites to creamy mascarpone spreads, the new holiday boards spotlight premium European craftsmanship and inspire Americans to elevate their festive entertaining with authentic PDO flavors.
2026 Cheeseboard Trends: A European-Inspired Guide for Holiday Hosting
The holiday season has a way of turning “come on over” into a full-on event. And in 2025–2026, one entertaining staple keeps getting bigger, prettier, and more personal: the cheeseboard.
According to a new 2026 mini-guide from European Cheese Quality, the next wave of boards is all about small-format servings, brunch-friendly spreads, bold blue moments, and a creamy mascarpone twist—with an emphasis on authentic European craftsmanship and PDO cheeses (Protected Designation of Origin).
Cheeseboards have become a global social phenomenon—millions of posts, billions of views—and in the U.S., they’ve evolved into a holiday hosting ritual: effortless, customizable, and instantly festive. The European Cheese Quality campaign (promoted by Granlatte, Italy’s largest milk producers’ cooperative, which controls Granarolo S.p.A., and co-financed by the European Union) is encouraging American hosts to blend the visual fun of modern boards with the flavor credibility of classic European cheeses.
Below are the five standout trends from the 2026 guide—plus easy ways to bring them to your next gathering.
1) Mini Cheeseboards: The Elevated Holiday Bite
Big boards aren’t going anywhere, but mini boards are having a moment—think small cones, mini trays, or single-serve bites that feel chic, tidy, and “Instagram-ready.” They’re perfect for holiday toasts with sparkling wine, cocktail parties, and open-house style hosting where guests are grazing all night.
Try these European-inspired mini pairings:
- Parmigiano Reggiano PDO + dried apricot + toasted almonds
- Grana Padano PDO + honey drizzle + thin rosemary grissini
- Pecorino Toscano PDO + pear slice + walnut crumble
Hosting tip: Keep it simple—one cheese, one sweet element, one crunch. The elegance is in the restraint.
2) Brunch Boards: Redefining the Slow Holiday Morning
Brunch is becoming a holiday ritual of its own: cozy, unhurried, and built for connection. The brunch board trend leans into storytelling and comfort—warm bread, eggs, fruit, and cheeses that play well with both sweet and savory.
European Cheese Quality highlights three cheeses to anchor the spread:
- Caciocavallo Silano PDO – fragrant and ideal with eggs and warm bread
- Grana Padano PDO – easy to flake, great with honey or avocado
- Pecorino Sardo PDO Dolce – soft, aromatic, and fruit-friendly
Build it out with:
- Warm bread
- Boiled eggs
- Avocado
- Smoked salmon
- Bacon
- Honey
Hosting tip: Brunch boards are about abundance without fuss. Use small bowls for honey and spreads, and let the cheeses do the heavy lifting.
3) The Blue Renaissance (Hello, Gorgonzola)
Blue cheese is back—especially Gorgonzola PDO, which is showing up more often in premium dining and at-home entertaining. It’s a natural “wow” element on a holiday table: bold, aromatic, and surprisingly versatile.
Choose your style:
- Gorgonzola PDO Dolce for a velvety, milder bite
- Gorgonzola PDO Piccante for deeper, more intense flavor
Pair with:
- Fresh pears
- Chestnut honey
- Figs
- Cereal bread
Hosting tip: Treat this as a mid-meal “intermezzo” moment—something guests can nibble between courses or while the main dish finishes.
4) The Great Pecorino Comeback
Sheep’s milk cheeses are returning to holiday menus thanks to their aromatic complexity and range—from sweet and soft to sharp and salty. The guide’s answer: a curated Pecorino Trio that feels like a mini tasting flight.
Build your trio with:
- Pecorino Toscano PDO – semi-aged, fragrant, balanced
- Pecorino Romano PDO – sharp, savory, intense
- Pecorino Sardo PDO – sweet, soft, rounded
Serve with:
- Bread
- Marmalade
- Roasted vegetables
- Fresh or dried fruit
Pairing idea: Enjoy with structured whites or soft reds—especially if you’re hosting a late-night countdown situation.
5) The “Creamy Touch” Trend: Mascarpone Boards
If 2026 has a signature move, it’s this: UHT Mascarpone as the ultimate “creamy touch.” Instead of stacking everything, you’re smearing mascarpone directly onto a wooden board and letting guests scoop it onto crackers, bagels, cookies, or whatever you’re serving.
Make it savory by whipping mascarpone with:
- Fresh herbs
- Citrus zest
Then top and finish with:
- Smoked salmon
- Speck
- Dried fruits
- Confit tomatoes
- Roasted vegetables
- Black pepper, paprika, or chili pepper
Hosting tip: This is interactive, fast to assemble, and feels restaurant-level without requiring actual cooking.
The Big Takeaway: Boards Are the New Holiday Language
The 2026 trends aren’t just about making a board look good (though it will). They’re about creating a shared experience—single-serve bites for mingling, brunch boards for slow mornings, blue cheese moments for drama, Pecorino flights for discovery, and mascarpone spreads for hands-on fun.
If you’re hosting this season, consider this your permission slip to keep it simple—but make it special: pick a theme, choose a few standout European cheeses, and let the board do what it does best—bring people together.
Source: European Cheese Quality press release via PRNewswire (Dec. 12, 2025): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-european-cheese-quality-the-2026-guide-on-cheeseboard-new-trends-elevating-holiday-celebrations-and-extra-special-moments-302640218.html
Culver’s Thank You Farmers® Project Hits $8 Million Donation Milestone
Link: https://stmdailynews.com/culvers-thank-you-farmers-project-hits-8-million-donation-milestone/
(Feature Impact) Out with the ordinary, in with the weird – that’s what the Halloween season is all about. These Halloween Monster Burgers give a ghoulishly fun twist on burger night, featuring all your favorite toppings transformed into olive eyes, cheese fangs and a pickle tongue.
Whether you reach for a traditional hamburger patty or switch it up with chicken, turkey, bean or veggie options, the effect is the same: a dinner that looks like it escaped from a mad scientist’s lab. It’s a good way to get some protein and veggies into kids before the trick-or-treating sugar rush, and you can even make it interactive by inviting them to decorate their own monsters and come up with creative variations.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for some spooky hors d’oeuvres to impress at this year’s Halloween party, these burgers are easy to size down into slider form. Serve a whole tray of mini monsters ready to devour – or be devoured by – hungry guests.
Find more Halloween recipe inspiration at Culinary.net.
Halloween Monster Burgers
Recipe adapted from Happy Foods Tube
Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 18 minutes
Servings: 4
- 4 hamburger, chicken or veggie patties
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 teaspoons ketchup, plus additional, to taste, divided
- 4 hamburger buns
- 8 leaves baby romaine lettuce
- 4 slices dill pickles, sliced lengthwise
- 4 cheese slices
- 8 large green olives, pits removed
- Cook burger patties until they reach desired doneness.
- In small bowl, combine mayonnaise and 4 teaspoons ketchup. Spread each bun base with about 1 tablespoon mayo sauce then add two lettuce leaves and cooked burger patty.
- Add pickle slice as monster “tongue.” Take each cheese slice and cut triangles into one side to resemble teeth; add to burger then cover with ketchup “blood,” to taste.
- Stick olives on toothpicks and add two to each top bun as “eyeballs.”
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
Foodie News
Red Lobster Serves Up October Deals, New Shrimp Flavors and Free Kids Meals for Halloween
Red Lobster unveils October 2026 deals, new Endless Shrimp flavors and free kids meals for Halloween weekend. See dates, offers and restrictions.
STM Daily News | Food & Drink | News Brief
October 13, 2026
Red Lobster Kids Eat Free Halloween 2026
Red Lobster is bringing new seafood specials, weekday meal deals and a Halloween treat for families this October. The restaurant chain has announced a lineup of promotions that includes discounted appetizers, new Endless Shrimp flavors and free kids meals for Halloween weekend.
The promotions, announced October 9, feature several offers for Canadian customers, along with select deals available in the United States.
New Weekday Seafood Deals
Red Lobster is introducing an updated weekday Daily Deals menu at participating Canadian restaurants, featuring a different seafood combination each day.
The lineup includes:
- Monday – Endless Shrimp ($36.99 CAD): A selection of shrimp favorites served with one side.
- Tuesday – Crab Lover’s Duo ($34.99 CAD): Steamed snow crab legs paired with Crab & Shrimp Linguini Alfredo.
- Wednesday – Steak & Walt’s ($27.99 CAD): Grilled sirloin with Walt’s Favourite Shrimp and one side.
- Thursday – Salmon New Orleans ($29.99 CAD): Blackened salmon topped with shrimp in Cajun butter sauce.
- Friday – Captain’s Platter ($25.99 CAD): Garlic shrimp, popcorn shrimp and crispy battered fish with one side.
These prices and specific weekday offers apply to participating Canadian restaurants. Red Lobster’s U.S. Daily Deals are separate and may differ in price and availability.
Endless Shrimp Gets an OLD BAY Twist
Beginning October 13, Red Lobster is adding NEW OLD BAY Garlic Shrimp to its Canadian Endless Shrimp lineup.
The limited-time promotion allows guests to mix and match shrimp varieties throughout their meal, accompanied by a side and Red Lobster’s signature Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
The Canadian Endless Shrimp promotion is advertised at $34.99 CAD, with pricing and participation varying by location. Endless Shrimp is available for dine-in only at participating U.S. and Canadian restaurants.
Kids Eat Free for Halloween Weekend
Families looking for a Halloween dining treat can take advantage of Red Lobster’s Kids Eat Free promotion from October 30 through November 1, 2026, at participating restaurants in both the United States and Canada.
Children who arrive in costume can receive free kids meals when dining with an adult purchasing a full-price dinner entrée.
For dine-in customers, one qualifying adult entrée can provide up to two free kids meals, with a maximum of two per table.
Families ordering online for takeout can receive one free kids meal with a qualifying adult entrée by using promo code SPOOKY26.
The maximum discount is $9.99 per free kids meal, and additional restrictions apply.
What About the $3 Appetizers?
Red Lobster also offered $3 individually sized appetizers from October 9–12 at participating Canadian restaurants. The limited-time Thanksgiving weekend promotion included Island Coconut Shrimp, Shrimp Cocktail and Mozzarella Cheesesticks with the purchase of an entrée.
That promotion has now ended and was not advertised as a U.S. offer.
Check Before You Go
With restaurant promotions varying by country and location, customers should confirm availability, prices and restrictions before visiting.
For menus, participating restaurants and additional details, visit Red Lobster’s U.S. website or Red Lobster Canada.
More Food & Drink News from STM Daily News
Looking for the latest restaurant promotions, food trends, recipes and dining news? Explore the Food & Drink section of STM Daily News for more delicious discoveries, helpful tips and updates on what’s happening in the world of food.
Source: RL Investor Holdings LLC / Red Lobster, press release dated October 9, 2026.
Editor’s Note: Promotional offers are subject to participation, availability and restrictions. Canadian prices are listed in Canadian dollars and should not be interpreted as U.S. pricing.
Beverages
Dr Pepper Ice Cream Float Is Coming: Keurig Dr Pepper Teases 2027 Flavor Pipeline Ahead of NACS
Keurig Dr Pepper is already looking past the next season and into 2027. In a new announcement ahead of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show, the beverage giant previewed a slate of new products designed to hit the biggest pressure points in today’s drink culture: nostalgia that still feels fresh, a louder energy category, and brand updates meant to keep icons like 7UP and Sunkist relevant on shelves and fountain lines.
For Food & Drink readers, the headline is simple: the “treat soda” era isn’t slowing down—and KDP is leaning into it with flavors that borrow from desserts, frozen cocktails, and childhood staples, often with Regular and Zero Sugar versions built in from day one.
Familiar Favorites, Reimagined (and Built for Zero Sugar)
KDP’s pitch is that younger consumers are experimenting across categories, but they still want the comfort of brands they grew up with. That’s showing up in 2027 as “classic, but remixed.”
Dr Pepper Ice Cream Float (Permanent)
The biggest new reveal is Dr Pepper Ice Cream Float, a flavor that blends the brand’s signature “23 flavors” with creamy vanilla ice cream notes, plus caramel and butterscotch.
- Launch timing: February 2027
- Where you’ll see it: cans and 20 oz. bottles first
- More formats later: fountain and frozen dispensed versions expected mid-year
It’s an important detail that this one is nationwide and permanent, not a limited-time test. That signals confidence that dessert-forward sodas are now a stable lane—not just a novelty.
7UP Miami Vice (Limited-Time)
KDP is also turning 7UP into a tropical, frozen-cocktail-inspired playground with 7UP Miami Vice, combining lime-lemon with strawberry daiquiri and piña colada flavors.
- Launch timing: June 2027
- Status: limited-time offering
7UP Shirley Temple (Holiday Return)
One of 7UP’s most successful recent platforms is coming back: 7UP Shirley Temple, featuring cherry and pomegranate.
- Launch timing: holiday season 2027
- What’s new: expanded immediate-consumption availability via a new 20 oz. package
Canada Dry Raspberry Lemonade (Seasonal Twist)
For spring, KDP is adding Canada Dry Raspberry Lemonade, mixing raspberry and lemonade flavors with the brand’s crisp profile.
- Launch timing: Spring 2027
Energy Gets Bigger (and More Collaborative)
KDP’s other major bet is energy. The company says innovation and limited-time drops are driving a large share of category growth, and it plans to distribute more than 25 new energy items in 2027 across owned brands and partners.
GHOST Energy: 7UP and A&W Become Permanent
GHOST—now positioned by KDP as a $1 billion retail brand—is making two 2026 limited releases permanent in 2027:
- GHOST Energy x 7UP
- GHOST Energy x A&W
New additions include:
- GHOST Energy Sour Strips Appleberry (green apple + strawberry), launching January
- GHOST Energy Blueberry Cream (blueberry + vanilla, “nostalgic yogurt-inspired”), as a limited-time release later in 2027
Bloom Energy: “Iconic Treats” Lineup
Bloom is going straight for the ice-cream-truck memory bank:
- Strawberry Shortie (October 2026)
- Cotton Candy (January 2027)
- Lemon Freezie (January 2027)
C4 Energy: Cereal’s Most Wanted Expands
C4 is expanding its zero-sugar Cereal’s Most Wanted lineup:
- Cocoa Loco in 16 oz cans (January 2027)
- New 8.4 oz mini cans for select flavors
The subtext here is clear: energy is increasingly behaving like soda—flavor-first, collectible, and built for repeat discovery.
Icon Brands Get Refreshed (7UP and Sunkist)
Not every innovation is a new flavor. KDP is also investing in renovations that keep legacy brands competitive.
- 7UP recently rolled out its biggest evolution in more than 15 years, including a more lime-forward formula and refreshed visual identity.
- Sunkist is slated for updated graphics and a refreshed recipe in Q1 2027, aiming for a more fruit-forward orange taste.
For convenience retailers—and for anyone watching the beverage aisle—these updates matter because they’re designed to improve “shelf pop” and keep familiar brands from feeling dated next to trendier newcomers.
What to Watch For (Food & Drink Angle)
If you’re tracking where mainstream beverage culture is going, KDP’s 2027 preview points to three big themes:
- Dessert and “treat” flavors are becoming everyday drinksFloat, cream, caramel, butterscotch—these are no longer seasonal one-offs.
- Zero Sugar is now the default, not the alternativeMany of these launches are planned in both Regular and Zero Sugar formats, which changes how quickly they can scale.
- Energy is turning into a flavor labCollaborations, limited-time drops, and nostalgic concepts are making energy behave like the most experimental part of the aisle.
Bottom Line
Keurig Dr Pepper’s early look at 2027 innovation reads like a map of where beverage demand is headed: familiar brands with a twist, more energy variety, and strategic refreshes that keep icons in the conversation. If Dr Pepper Ice Cream Float lands the way KDP expects, don’t be surprised if “dessert soda” becomes a year-round staple—especially in convenience stores where discovery drives the impulse buy.
Quick Launch Timeline (At a Glance)
- Oct 2026: Bloom Energy Strawberry Shortie
- Jan 2027: GHOST Energy Sour Strips Appleberry; Bloom Cotton Candy + Lemon Freezie; C4 Cereal’s Most Wanted expansion
- Feb 2027: Dr Pepper Ice Cream Float (permanent)
- Spring 2027: Canada Dry Raspberry Lemonade
- Mid-2027: Dr Pepper Ice Cream Float fountain + frozen formats
- June 2027: 7UP Miami Vice (limited-time)
- Holiday 2027: 7UP Shirley Temple return (with expanded 20 oz availability)
- Q1 2027: Sunkist refreshed graphics + recipe
Source (Press Release)
- Keurig Dr Pepper — “Keurig Dr Pepper Reveals 2027 Beverage Innovation Ahead of NACS Show” (PRNewswire, Oct. 5, 2026)
Related Links
- Keurig Dr Pepper corporate site: https://www.keurigdrpepper.com
- Keurig Dr Pepper on LinkedIn (for brand updates/announcements): https://www.linkedin.com/company/keurig-dr-pepper-inc-/
- NACS Show (event context): https://www.nacsshow.com
- Circana (referenced for data in the release): https://www.circana.com
