Food and Beverage
Cousins Maine Lobster visiting West Texas and New Mexico this week
Last Updated on March 15, 2025 by Daily News Staff
EL PASO, Texas, March 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cousins Maine Lobster, the renowned food truck and restaurant brand featured on Shark Tank, is excited to announce its upcoming road tour visiting El Paso, Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Santa Fe starting March 5th. The tour will be led by Cousins Maine Lobster multi-unit franchisees and 10-year veterans, Jimmy Shoshani and Ahmer & Sarah Khan, visiting from their Dallas market. They will showcase their mouthwatering Maine lobster rolls, lobster grilled cheese, chowder, and whoopie pies.
Cousins Maine Lobster was founded in 2012 as a single food truck. CML got its big break on the fourth season of Shark Tank when real-life cousins and co-founders, Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis, landed a deal with Shark Barbara Corcoran. Nearly thirteen years later, CML is one of the top three Shark Tank investments of all time! Now operating 75+ units across 30+ states, the brand has been on a mission to increase its reach across the nation through the recruitment of new franchise partners in new markets.
Sabin shared that it started with a love for Maine, “Jimmy and I were driven to start this business because it allowed us to celebrate special moments from our childhood in Maine. We’re fortunate to be able to leverage our food trucks to showcase our brand in new markets. We love connecting with new and old brand fans in each city, and value the relationships we build with customers, new venue partners, and potential franchisees.” The brand is currently seeking a franchise partner for west Texas and New Mexico. Those interested in learning more may visit Cousins Maine Lobster or contact Lindsay Herberger, Director of Franchise Development, at lherberger@cousinsmainelobster.com.
For seafood fans eager to taste wild-caught lobster or anyone curious about this rapidly growing brand, the Cousins Maine Lobster food truck will be at the following locations from March 5th to March 9th:
Wednesday, March 5th
HTeaO El Paso
11am – 8pm
12655 Rojas Dr
El Paso, TX 79928
Thursday, March 6th
HTeaO Las Cruces
11am – 8pm
2223 N Main St
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Friday, March 7th
Brew Lab 101: Beer & Cider Co.
11am – 8pm
3107 Eubank Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87111
Saturday, March 8th
Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Co
11am – 8pm
3301 Southern Blvd SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Sunday, March 9th
Nuckolls Brewing Co.
11am – 8pm
1611 Alcaldesa St
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy a franchise. Any actual offer or solicitation can only be made through a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). If you reside in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, or Wisconsin, we may not be able to offer you a franchise until the FDD has been registered in your state.
SOURCE Cousins Maine Lobster
Foodie News
illy Launches Art of Dining Series With Chef-Led Events Across Major U.S. Cities
illy has launched its Art of Dining Series, a year-long program pairing chef-led tasting menus with its signature coffee blend in major U.S. cities.

illy is bringing coffee and fine dining together with its new Art of Dining Series, a year-long program featuring chef-led dining experiences in cities including Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The series launched in March with a dinner at Boia De in Miami and will continue with curated events built around custom tasting menus inspired by illy’s signature blend. One of the upcoming stops is set for June in San Francisco at Wolfsbane, where illy Chef Ambassador Rupert Blease will create a menu inspired by his own bespoke illy blend.
The company says the program is designed to create immersive, in-person experiences that connect guests with the illy brand through flavor, atmosphere, and hospitality. The launch also builds on illy’s broader gastronomy strategy, including its Chef Ambassador program and its role as the exclusive coffee partner of World’s 50 Best Restaurants for the past four years.
Founded in Trieste, Italy, in 1933, illy is known for its 100% Arabica coffee blend and global presence in more than 140 countries.
Source: illycaffè via PR Newswire
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recipes
Sustainably Sourced Staples for Family Favorites

Sustainably Sourced Staples for Family Favorites
(Feature Impact) Living sustainably might include habits like recycling or composting, but you can go above and beyond by using food ingredients that are environmentally friendly.
As a pioneer in humane and sustainable meat, Niman Ranch recently launched a Regenerative Organic Certified beef program sourced entirely from U.S. family ranches covering 105,000 acres today and with a roadmap to reach 250,000 acres by 2028.
Simply put, “regenerative” is a soil-first approach to farming that restores the earth rather than depleting it. This program bridges the gap between environmental stewardship and steakhouse-quality flavor so you can enjoy meals like a Seared Strip Loin with Linguini or Vietnamese Caramelized Beef Bowls.
The program sets the standard for a sustainable future in several ways:
- Supporting American Ranchers: 100% U.S. grass-fed and finished, it provides a vital premium market for domestic family ranchers when over 95% of organic beef is currently imported.
- Steakhouse Quality Meets the Gold Standard: By pairing elite angus genetics with Regenerative Organic Certified’s rigorous standards, the program delivers USDA-graded Choice and Prime marbling – a flavor and tenderness rarely found in the organic market.
- Healing the Land: Through “high-frequency rotational grazing,” Niman Ranch cattle are moved across pastures in a way that restores soil health and promotes biodiversity.
Learn more by visiting NimanRanch.com.
Seared Strip Loin with Linguini
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
- 1 Niman Ranch Strip Loin Steak (6-8 ounces)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional to taste, divided
- 1 box (16 ounces) linguini
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups chopped fennel
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup chopped Castelvetrano (green) olives
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 orange, zest and juice only
- 1 goat cheese log (4 ounces)
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- pepper, to taste
- Pat steak dry and season generously with kosher salt. Heat grill pan or grill to medium-high heat. Grill steak until medium-rare (135-140 F), turning halfway through cooking, about 8 minutes total. Set aside.
- Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook linguini according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining linguini in colander.
- In same pasta pot over medium heat, heat olive oil. Cook fennel, red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon kosher salt over medium heat, stirring, until fennel is tender, 5-6 minutes. Add chopped olives, garlic and orange zest. Stir in orange juice and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Return drained linguini to pot. Crumble goat cheese on top and add reserved pasta water. Stir until pasta is evenly coated.
- Serve with slices of steak on top and garnish with fresh parsley.

Vietnamese Caramelized Beef Bowls
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
- 1 package (8 ounces) rice vermicelli noodles
Beef:
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 thumb ginger, peeled and grated
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 4 teaspoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 pound Niman Ranch ground beef
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Dressing:
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons lemongrass paste
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons sriracha or hot sauce (optional)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salad:
- 8 ounces butter lettuce leaves
- 8 ounces carrots, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
- 1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly crosswise into half-moons
- 1 bunch fresh mint
- 1 bunch cilantro
- chopped roasted and unsalted peanuts
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- Cook vermicelli noodles according to package directions. Set aside.
- To prepare beef: In medium bowl, whisk garlic, ginger, fish sauce, brown sugar, lemongrass paste and lime juice until blended. Add beef and mix until well blended. Marinate 15 minutes.
- In large skillet over medium-high heat, heat vegetable oil. Add beef and cook, breaking up using wooden spoon and stirring occasionally, until beef is dark and caramelized, 10-12 minutes.
- To make dressing: In small bowl, combine soy sauce, lime juice, lemongrass paste, brown sugar and sriracha, if desired. Whisk until sugar dissolves. Slowly stream in vegetable oil, whisking, until dressing is thickened.
- To prepare salads: Divide noodles between four shallow bowls. Arrange caramelized beef, lettuce, carrots, cucumber, mint and cilantro in bowls then drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with peanuts. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing on top.

SOURCE:
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recipes
Say ‘Yes, Please’ to The Grilled Cheese of the Year: Gooey Goodness with a Protein Punch
Tne Grilled Cheese of the Year: A grilled cheese sandwich isn’t just a lunchtime staple; it’s a beloved cultural icon. There is a universal magic in the combination of ooey-gooey cheese, golden bread and a little butter – but in 2026, this comfort food classic is getting a functional upgrade in recipes like The Protein Powerhouse and The Classic.

Say ‘Yes, Please’ to The Grilled Cheese of the Year: Gooey Goodness with a Protein Punch
(Feature Impact) A grilled cheese sandwich isn’t just a lunchtime staple; it’s a beloved cultural icon. There is a universal magic in the combination of ooey-gooey cheese, golden bread and a little butter – but in 2026, this comfort food classic is getting a functional upgrade.
It’s also safe to say nostalgia is delicious and addicting, which is why Borden Cheese is sharing not one, but two, prize-worthy recipes, one of which packs a protein punch and another that’s a pure classic, perfect for spreading smiles and happy bellies.
Protein, Please: The Protein Powerhouse is the Grilled Cheese of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a protein-packed masterpiece designed for the modern appetite. Featuring a creamy, dual-cheese combo of mild cheddar and Borden Mozzarella Cheese Melts, the sandwich is melted over 5 ounces of tender sliced chicken breast and delivers more than 40 grams of protein and about 8 grams of fiber when paired with the right bread. Served with a tangy Greek yogurt and Dijon mustard “powerhouse sauce” and pressed between golden, crispy bread, this grilled cheese isn’t your ordinary melt. It has been transformed into a massive protein boost.
Tried n’ True: While modern flavors and trends are delicious, nostalgia is too. In fact, a whopping 20,000 fans cast their votes for America’s Favorite Grilled Cheese, asserting a fervor that’s unmatched when it comes to their perfect melt, and awarded The Classic the title of “America’s Favorite.” This comforting recipe pairs extra sharp melts with American singles on sliced white bread for a perfect, ooey-gooey bite that reminds you the cheese truly “makes” the sandwich.
VisitBordenCheese.com/grilled-cheese-day for other ooey-gooey grilled cheese recipes created for 2026.
The Protein Powerhouse
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 2 slices bread fortified with protein and fiber
- 2 Borden Mild Cheddar Slices
- 1 slice Borden Mozzarella Melts
- 5 ounces sliced chicken breast (deli-shaved or thinly carved)
“Powerhouse” Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons non-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Heat griddle to medium heat. Butter bread. Layer cheeses and chicken on top of bread.
- Place bread on griddle and cook until lightly toasted. Flip and cook other side.
- Remove sandwich from skillet or griddle.
- To make powerhouse sauce: Mix Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, garlic powder and smoked paprika until well blended. Slice sandwich in half and drizzle with Powerhouse sauce.

The Classic
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 2 slices white bread
- 2 slices Borden Extra Sharp Melts
- 2 slices Borden American Singles
- Heat skillet or griddle over medium heat.
- Spread butter on one side of each slice bread.
- Place cheese slices on unbuttered side of bread. Top with other slice of bread with butter facing upward.
- Place sandwich on skillet or griddle and cook 3-4 minutes on each side. Using spatula, lightly press sandwich down gently while cooking to melt cheese better.
- Remove from skillet or griddle and slice in half.

SOURCE:
Borden
At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.
Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/
