Food and Beverage
DORITOS® and EMPIRICAL Launch First-Ever Nacho Cheese Spirit
Collaboration Imbues Iconic Nacho Cheese Flavor of Doritos Into a First-of-Its-Kind Distilled Spirit
Last Updated on July 9, 2024 by Daily News Staff
PLANO, Texas /PRNewswire/ — Doritos today unveiled a collaboration with global flavor innovator Empirical: Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Cheese Spirit. This limited-release offers a multi-sensorial, delicious beverage experience that smells and tastes just like the real thing – bringing the iconic flavor of Doritos Nacho Cheese Chips into the spirits aisle.
The iconic flavor of Doritos Nacho Cheese Chips now in the spirits aisle with Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit.Tweet
“Doritos is all about disrupting culture and bringing our fans unexpected, bold experiences,” said Tina Mahal, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Frito-Lay North America. “We’re always pushing our fans to try new things, so we figure it’s time we disrupt the spirits category by offering our iconic nacho cheese flavor in a bottle.”
The partnership marks a first-of-a-kind innovation for both brands and brings fans a truly new experience. To create the flavor, the many flavor layers of Doritos Nacho Cheese are extracted through Empirical’s innovative production process, using real Doritos chips and retaining their essence through vacuum distillation. Unlike traditional distillation methods, vacuum distillation operates at lower temperatures, preserving the full spectrum of flavors derived from Doritos.
“Empirical is an ‘uncategorized’ spirits company, so it allows us the freedom to experiment with really interesting flavors and not have to be stuck in a gin box or tequila box or whiskey box,” says Lars Williams, Chef/Distiller & CEO, Empirical. “And we can take something that has a unique and amazing flavor, like Doritos, and evolve it into something completely new.”
Limited-edition bottles of Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit will be available next month for a suggested retail price of $65.00 (42% ABV, 750ml) online and in select New York and California markets. Pre-orders begin December 13, 2023 at doritos.x.empirical.co. For more information, visit empirical.co and follow along @doritos.
TASTING NOTES: Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Cheese SpiritFLAVOR Nacho Cheese, corn tostada, umami, hint of acidity ENJOY In a Margarita, Bloody Mary, Old Fashioned, neat or over ice, or any way Doritos fans like! TASTES LIKE The real thing! Experience the indulgent flavors of your favorite snack in liquid form. The spirit opens with umami and tangy aromas of nacho cheese, moving to the deeper, corn-forward flavors of the chip to finish on a soft salty note.
COCKTAILS: Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Cheese Spirit
Double Triangle Margarita
1 oz Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Cheese Spirit
1 oz blanco tequila
.75 oz fresh lime juice
.75 oz agave syrup (3:1)
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a Tajín salt rim and a lime wheel.
Mary Mary
1.5 oz Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Cheese Spirit
.5 oz tequila
3 oz tomato juice
1 barspoon lemon juice
1 barspoon Worcestershire sauce
Big pinch of celery salt
Big pinch of cracked black pepper
Tiny pinch of cayenne
Build all ingredients in a Collins glass. Add ice and pass a barspoon through the drink 3 to 4 times. Garnish with pepperoncini, seasoned celery and a pickled onion.
Doritos Bangarang
2 oz Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Cheese Spirit
1 pinch smoked sea salt
1 squeeze fresh grapefruit (or citrus of choice)
Top with Pepsi®
Fill Collins glass with ice. Add Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Chip Spirit, sea salt, grapefruit and top with Pepsi®. Stir 3 – 4 times. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.
About Empirical
Founded in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2017, Empirical is a flavor company by Lars Williams and Mark Emil Hermansen. The two deep-thinking visionaries are inspired by the role flavor plays in their ability to create and transport experiences. The company does things its own way, having custom-built machinery, developed hybrid fermentation techniques, augmented low-temperature distillation, and traveled globally to source the highest quality ingredients. Taking a flavor-first approach means that Empirical does not pay attention to the conventional categories that traditionalists often want to cast their creations into. The result is something that is uncategorized, democratic, shareable, and driven by the journey of creating unique and unexpected flavors. Empirical is writing a playbook that does not exist—one distillation, one spirit and one flavor at a time. For more information, please visit empirical.co, follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram at @empiricalcph and on YouTube. Please Drink Responsibly. Must be 21+. Vacuum Distilled Spirits, 42% Alc by Vol., Empirical.co
About Doritos
Doritos believes there’s boldness in everyone. We champion those who are true to themselves, who live life fully engaged and take bold action by stepping outside of their comfort zone and pushing the limits. Doritos is one of many Frito-Lay North America brands – the $23 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Follow Doritos on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, www.fritolay.com, and on X.
About Frito-Lay North America
Frito-Lay North America is the $23 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Frito-Lay snacks include Lay’s and Ruffles potato chips, Doritos and Tostitos tortilla chips and branded dips, Cheetos snacks, Stacy’s pita chips, PopCorners popped-corn snack, SunChips multigrain snacks and Fritos corn chips. The company operates 30+ manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada, more than 200 distribution centers and services 315,000 retail customers per week through its direct-store-delivery model. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, www.fritolay.com, on X (@fritolay), on Instagram (@fritolay) and on Facebook (Frito-Lay).
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Cheese Spirit, 42% ALC./VOL, developed by Empirical Inc.. ©2023 Empirical Inc., Barrel Brothers Brewing Company, Windsor, CA.
SOURCE Frito-Lay
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.
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Recipe of the Week
Simple, Satisfying Meals for the New Year
Meals for the New Year: While you’re easing your family back into routines in the new year, simple, wholesome meals can help you stretch your grocery dollars further and find your rhythm in the kitchen again. This Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl satisfies both eyes and stomachs through a combination of black beans, eggs and sauteed vegetables.
Simple, Satisfying Meals for the New Year
(Family Features) While you’re easing your family back into routines in the new year, simple, wholesome meals can help you stretch your grocery dollars further and find your rhythm in the kitchen again. Satisfying and approachable recipes that come together quickly using a dependable base ingredient like beans are resonating with home cooks, helping take the pressure out of cooking. Grown, cooked and canned in America, Bush’s Recipe Beans add plant-based protein and fiber to any dish, making it easy to achieve new year’s goals while bringing flavorful meals with high-quality ingredients to the table. For a warm, colorful way to start your morning without spending extra time in the kitchen, consider this Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl, which satisfies both eyes and stomachs through a combination of black beans, eggs and sauteed vegetables. Or put a Mediterranean twist on lunch and dinner with this Greek Dense Bean Salad, a bright, fresh dish that includes chick peas and cannellini beans. Visit bushbeans.com for more meal ideas that help you cook more, spend less and gather with loved ones.
Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl
Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 2- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 cups cooked sweet potatoes
- 1 can (15 ounces) Bush’s Black Beans, drained
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 fried eggs
- 1 avocado, sliced
- cotija cheese, crumbled
- lime wedges, for serving
- In large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add onions and bell pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until peppers are softened, 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add sweet potatoes, black beans and chili powder; stir to combine. Cook until potatoes and beans are warmed through, 4-5 minutes.
- Divide bean mixture between two bowls. Top each bowl with fried egg, avocado slices and crumbled cotija cheese. Serve with lime wedges.
Greek Dense Bean Salad
Prep time: 15 minutes Servings: 6-8 Dressing:- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1/4 cucumber, grated, excess water drained
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 can (16 ounces) Bush’s Chick Peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 1/2 ounces) Bush’s Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1 cucumber, seeded and diced
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Greek dressing (directions below)
- 1 cup tzatziki sauce (directions below)
- chicken skewers (optional), for serving
- To make dressing: In food processor or blender, blend olive oil; red wine vinegar; lemon juice; Dijon mustard; garlic; oregano; and salt and pepper, to taste, until well combined. Set aside.
- To make tzatziki sauce: In bowl, stir yogurt; cucumber; lemon juice; olive oil; garlic; dill; and salt and pepper, to taste, until well combined. Set aside.
- To make salad: In large bowl, combine chick peas, cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, olives, feta cheese and parsley; toss with dressing.
- Top with tzatziki sauce and serve with chicken skewers, if desired.
- Chef’s tip: Store leftover tzatziki sauce separate from salad.
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recipes
Easy Bites for the Big Game
Easy Bites: Whether you’re tailgating with friends or hosting a watch party at home, every football fan needs a game plan to crunch, dip and cheer their way through opening kickoff, halftime and right down to the final play of the game. These Burger Bowls feature all the classic ingredients of a great burger, just without the bun. Pulled pork, another tailgating treasure, gets an instant upgrade with the crunch of a fresh coleslaw topper and zesty pickled celery and jalapenos on the side.
Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Easy Bites for the Big Game
(Family Features) Whether you’re tailgating with friends or hosting a watch party at home, every football fan needs a game plan to crunch, dip and cheer their way through opening kickoff, halftime and right down to the final play of the game. Some of the best game day grub is hearty and savory but adding layers of flavor and texture can take recipes to the next level. For example, these Burger Bowls feature all the classic ingredients of a great burger, just without the bun. A tasty option for gluten-free guests or those who are cutting carbs, the bowls are made with Dandy Iceberg Lettuce from Duda Farm Fresh Foods, which boasts a legacy of quality, innovation and consistency in fresh produce cultivation since 1926. Pulled pork, another tailgating treasure, gets an instant upgrade with the crunch of a fresh coleslaw topper and zesty pickled celery and jalapenos on the side. The winning play is to use crisp, fresh celery for the best flavors and a satisfying crunch with every bite. Since celery is 95% water and high in fiber, it leaves fans feeling comfortably full and ready to root for their favorite team. This season, keep your snacks fresh and healthy while winning prizes like product coupons and gift cards to stock up for the next game through the Dip It to Win It Sweepstakes. Visit dudafresh.com to learn more and find additional game day recipes.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Pickled Celery and Jalapenos
Recipe courtesy of The Adventure Bite Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 hours Servings: 9-10- 4 1/2 pounds pork shoulder or Boston butt
- 26 ounces sweet and spicy barbecue sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh cracked black pepper
- fresh sandwich buns
- Dandy Celery, cut and pickled
- jalapenos
- coleslaw (optional)
- potato salad (optional)
- baked beans (optional)
- Place pork in slow cooker.
- Mix barbecue sauce, garlic and pepper. Pour over pork shoulder.
- Cook on low 8 1/2-10 hours or high 6-7 hours.
- Shred meat and serve on buns with pickled celery and jalapenos. Top with coleslaw, if desired. Serve with potato salad or baked beans, if desired.
Burger Bowls
Recipe courtesy of Casa de Crews Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 4 Burger Bowls:- 2 cups French fries, homemade or frozen
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Dandy Iceberg Lettuce, shredded
- 2-3 Roma tomatoes, diced
- pickle chips or spears, chopped
- cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- To make burger bowls: Cook French fries according to package directions.
- In medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add onion and saute until translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add ground beef to skillet, breaking up meat with spatula. Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper; brown until cooked through. Drain and discard excess liquid and grease.
- To make burger sauce: In jar, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika well to combine.
- Assemble bowls with layer of shredded lettuce, 3-4 ounces ground beef, diced tomatoes, pickles, cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup fries.
- Drizzle with burger sauce and mix well.
- Tip: Burger sauce can be made in advance and stored in refrigerator in jar with airtight lid.
Easy Bites for the Big Game
SOURCE: Duda Farm Fresh Foods
Culver’s Thank You Farmers® Project Hits $8 Million Donation MilestoneLink: https://stmdailynews.com/culvers-thank-you-farmers-project-hits-8-million-donation-milestone/
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Food and Beverage
Papa Johns and Google Cloud Reimagine the Future of Food Ordering to Better Serve Customers
Papa Johns is partnering with Google Cloud to roll out an AI-powered omnichannel ordering system using Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience, bringing voice and text ordering to apps, web, phone, kiosks and in-car systems.
american pepperoni pizza with chilli pepper and parmesan cheese
Papa Johns and Google Cloud Reimagine the Future of Food Ordering to Better Serve Customers
Papa Johns is betting big on AI-powered convenience.
At NRF 2026 in New York, the pizza chain announced a major transformation of its digital ordering experience—aimed at delivering faster ordering, improved accuracy, and real-time personalization for its 150 million-plus customers worldwide. The update is powered by Google Cloud’s newly expanded AI solution, the Food Ordering agent, part of Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience. The key takeaway: Papa Johns is the first restaurant brand to bring these new omnichannel ordering capabilities to market—moving beyond basic chatbots and into what Google Cloud calls the era of agentic commerce, where AI doesn’t just answer questions, it actively completes tasks and improves outcomes.From chatbot to “agentic” ordering
Food Ordering agent is designed to unify voice and text ordering across the places customers already interact with the brand—without forcing them to repeat themselves or start over when they switch channels. Instead of treating app ordering, phone ordering, kiosks, and in-car systems as separate experiences, the platform supports high-quality voice AI agents across:- Mobile apps
- Websites
- Telephones
- Kiosks
- In-car systems
What Papa Johns is building with Google Cloud
Papa Johns says the new system is designed to make ordering “faster, smarter, and more seamless than ever before.” The company’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Kevin Vasconi, framed it as more than a product refresh.“Papa Johns is a digitally-driven business and, as such, one of our strategic priorities is investing in our technology to deliver a more seamless experience across our assets and owned channels, better connect with our customers, and support greater efficiency across our operations by leveraging data and AI,” Vasconi said. “We’re using Google Cloud’s Food Ordering agent to reimagine what’s possible for our customers. This isn’t just an app update; it’s a fundamental shift in how our customers interact with our brand digitally, making it faster, smarter, and more seamless than ever before.”The new capabilities focus on three areas that tend to create the most friction in food ordering: deals, complex orders, and repeat purchases.
Intelligent Deal Wizard: fewer abandoned carts, more confidence
One of the most common reasons customers abandon carts is uncertainty—Did I pick the best deal? Is there a better promo code? Papa Johns’ Intelligent Deal Wizard is positioned as a personal concierge that automatically applies the best value combinations. The benefit is twofold:- Customers spend less time hunting for discounts
- Papa Johns reduces cart abandonment and builds loyalty through instant value
Advanced Voice & Group Ordering: making complex orders easier
Group orders are where ordering systems often break down: multiple people, multiple changes, special instructions, and constant edits. Papa Johns’ Advanced Voice & Group Ordering is built to capture that revenue without requiring human intervention. By handling natural language nuances and real-time modifications, the system aims to improve order accuracy even when the request is complicated—exactly the kind of scenario where mistakes can lead to refunds, remakes, and lost customers.No-tap reordering for Papa Rewards customers
Pizza ordering is often habitual. Many customers reorder the same items, especially loyal customers. With the new experience, the agent can identify returning Papa Rewards members and proactively ask if they want to reorder their most recent purchase. That no-tap flow matters because it shortens the distance between intent and checkout—turning a routine craving into a completed order in seconds.Why it matters: omnichannel is now the expectation
Google Cloud’s Carrie Tharp, vice president of global solutions and industries, described the shift as a move beyond the chatbot era.“The retail industry is entering the era of agentic commerce, where AI is an engine for business value,” Tharp said. “By being the first to deploy our omnichannel Food Ordering agent, Papa Johns is moving beyond the chatbot era to create a fluid, intelligent experience that meets hungry customers wherever they are, whether they are in their car, on an app, or at a kiosk.”That’s the core point: customers don’t think in channels. They think in outcomes.
- Ordering hands-free while driving
- Reordering in one step from the couch
- Using a kiosk quickly while picking up
What’s next
Papa Johns will showcase the technology at the Google Cloud booth 5507 at NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in NYC, offering live demos to attendees. The company expects to roll out these capabilities to customers nationwide by the end of 2026.About Papa Johns
Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) opened in 1984 with one goal: BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA. Papa Johns says it uses high-quality ingredients, including fresh, never frozen original dough made with six ingredients, real mozzarella cheese, and vine-ripened tomato sauce. The company operates more than 6,000 restaurants across approximately 50 countries and territories.About Google Cloud
Google Cloud provides AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools, offering an integrated AI stack built on planet-scale infrastructure and custom-built chips. Organizations in more than 200 countries and territories use Google Cloud as a technology partner.Resources
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