What Are Comfort Foods—and Why Do We Crave Them?

Food & Beverage | The Knowledge Comfort foods are more than just meals—they are emotional touchstones. From a bowl of chicken noodle soup to a plate of mac and cheese, comfort foods provide familiarity, warmth, and reassurance during moments of stress, illness, or nostalgia. While comfort foods vary by culture and personal experience, their purpose is universal: they make us feel grounded, safe, and connected.

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What Defines Comfort Food?

Although comfort foods differ from person to person, they often share common characteristics:

• Familiar and nostalgic – Foods tied to childhood or family traditions
• Warm and filling – Soups, casseroles, stews, and baked dishes
• Emotionally satisfying – Comforting beyond physical hunger
• Rich in carbohydrates or fats – Which can influence mood-regulating chemicals in the brain

These foods are rarely chosen for convenience alone—they’re chosen because they feel like home.

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The Science Behind Comfort Foods

There is real science behind why comfort foods make us feel better. Carbohydrate-rich foods can increase the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and promote a sense of calm. Warm foods also play a role. Studies suggest that warmth can enhance feelings of safety and emotional comfort, which may explain why soups, stews, and hot meals are commonly craved during stressful times or colder seasons. In short, comfort foods don’t just satisfy hunger—they support emotional well-being.

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Comfort Foods Are Cultural

Every culture has its own version of comfort food, shaped by tradition, availability, and shared history:

• United States: Mac and cheese, meatloaf, mashed potatoes
• Mexico: Tamales, pozole
• Italy: Pasta, lasagna
• Japan: Ramen, curry rice
• India: Dal with rice

What makes these foods comforting isn’t the recipe—it’s the memory and meaning attached to them.

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Why We Turn to Comfort Foods

People often crave comfort foods during moments of emotional or physical vulnerability, including:

• Stress or anxiety
• Illness or fatigue
• Homesickness
• Major life changes
• Celebrations and family gatherings

In uncertain moments, familiar flavors help restore a sense of normalcy and emotional balance.

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More Than a Meal

Comfort food isn’t about indulgence or nutrition alone—it’s about connection. These dishes link us to people, places, and moments that shaped us. That’s why comfort foods endure across generations, cultures, and changing trends. Comfort food doesn’t just feed the body. It feeds the moment.

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Related Reading

• Why We Crave Comfort Foods – Smithsonian Magazine
• Why Comfort Foods Comfort – Psychology Today
• Why Comfort Foods Make Us Feel Better – Harvard Health
• Comfort Food and Cultural Identity – National Geographic
• The Science Behind Comfort Foods – BBC Future

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The Viral Backlash: How a Chef, a TikTok Influencer, and One Moment Changed a San Francisco Restaurant

In mid-2025, a San Francisco restaurant found itself at the center of a viral controversy—not because of its food, but because of an interaction between a well-known chef and a TikTok food influencer. The incident sparked a broader conversation about power, professionalism, and the growing influence of social media in the hospitality industry.

What Happened at Kis Cafe

The incident involved Chef Luke Sung, a respected name in the Bay Area culinary scene, and a TikTok micro-influencer known online as @itskarlabb. The influencer had been invited to Kis Cafe for a planned promotional collaboration. According to the influencer, during her visit the chef questioned her follower count—around 15,000 at the time—and allegedly implied that her audience was not the “type of people” who would dine at his restaurant. She later described the exchange as humiliating and dismissive. After leaving the restaurant, she shared her experience in a TikTok video. The post quickly went viral, gaining millions of views and triggering a wave of online backlash.

The Internet Reacts

Although the influencer initially did not name the restaurant or the chef, internet users quickly identified Kis Cafe. The restaurant’s review pages were flooded with criticism, and the incident became a flashpoint in online discussions about elitism, influencer culture, and accountability. Within days, Kis Cafe issued a public apology and announced that Luke Sung was no longer affiliated with the restaurant in any capacity.

Chef Luke Sung Responds

Chef Sung later released a public apology, acknowledging that his behavior was condescending and inappropriate. He stated that there were no excuses for the way he treated the influencer and accepted responsibility for the incident. The apology, however, did little to slow the momentum of public reaction.

The Restaurant Closes — and Reopens

Not long after the controversy, Kis Cafe announced it would close. In the months that followed, the space reopened under a new name, Bosque, with new leadership and no involvement from Sung. The rebrand was seen as a clear attempt to move forward and distance the business from the viral episode.

The Influencer Effect

Meanwhile, the influencer at the center of the controversy saw her follower count surge dramatically, growing from a modest audience into hundreds of thousands of followers almost overnight. The incident highlighted the real-world impact that even “micro-influencers” can have—and how a single moment, captured and shared, can reshape careers and businesses.

Why This Story Matters

This controversy underscored a major cultural shift: social media is no longer separate from real-world industries like dining and hospitality. Online platforms can amplify personal experiences into powerful narratives with lasting consequences. As of early 2026, the restaurant operates under a new identity, the chef has stepped away from the project entirely, and the influencer continues to grow her platform. The episode remains a cautionary tale about professionalism, respect, and the power of digital voices. Get The Knowledge. More stories like this are available at STM Daily News.

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JonnyPops Launches Refreshing New “No Sugar Added with Electrolytes” Mini Frozen Pops

A better-for-you frozen treat meets hydration support in a grab-and-go mini format. If you’ve ever reached for something cold after a workout, a long day outside, or when you’re just not feeling 100%, you’re not alone — and JonnyPops says its fans have been telling that story for a while. The Minnesota-based frozen treat brand announced it’s expanding its No Sugar Added Minis lineup with a new option designed to be both refreshing and functional: JonnyPops “No Sugar Added with Electrolytes” mini frozen pops.

Fans asked for hydration-friendly pops — JonnyPops listened

According to the company, the new product was inspired by emails and social media comments from customers who were already using JonnyPops as a simple way to cool down and feel a little more hydrated. JonnyPops says consumers shared stories about playing sports in the heat, spending time outdoors, or recovering from an illness — and how a frozen treat with hydration support would be the perfect pop for those moments. That feedback led the brand to add electrolytes to its popular No Sugar Added Minis.

What’s inside the new minis

JonnyPops says the new “No Sugar Added with Electrolytes” minis are built around the same standards fans expect from the brand, including:

• Organic ingredients
• No artificial dyes
• No added sugar
• Electrolytes for hydration support
• Layered flavors designed for a fun, refreshing bite

“Consumers often share with us how JonnyPops is part of their everyday moments,” said Erik Brust, Co-Founder of JonnyPops. “We hope that these new frozen pops will be loved by our fans and enjoyed in all moments that need a refreshing treat.”

When you can find them

JonnyPops says the new minis are expected to hit stores in April 2026. For updates on availability and additional product news, visit www.jonnypops.com and follow JonnyPops on social media.

About JonnyPops

JonnyPops’ tagline is “A Better Pop for a Better World!™” and the company says its mission is to make “delicious, magical products” while helping make the world a kinder place. The brand notes its pops are free from artificial dyes, made in a peanut-free facility, and include a kind deed printed on every pop stick. JonnyPops was founded in a St. Olaf College dorm room and sold its first pops at Twin Cities farmers’ markets and local cafes in 2012. Today, the company employs 200+ people, produces its frozen pops in-house, and is sold through major retailers across all 50 states. Learn more at jonnypops.com or follow @jonnypops on Instagram.

Media contact

JonnyPops@dkcnews.com

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