Food and Beverage
Paradise Found: Atlantis Announces Star-Studded 2026 Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival
The culinary event of the year is returning to the Bahamas, and it’s bringing some serious star power with it.
Atlantis Paradise Island has just announced the fourth annual Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival, set to take over the legendary resort from March 11-15, 2026. If you’re a foodie looking for the ultimate Caribbean culinary experience, this is your moment—tickets are already on sale at npiwff.org.
A Lineup That’ll Make Your Taste Buds Dance
This year’s festival is pulling out all the stops with an impressive roster of culinary heavyweights. Making their festival debuts are celebrity chef Antonia Lofaso, acclaimed chef Ian Kittichai, Emmy Award-winning TV personality and bestselling author Rachael Ray, and James Beard Foundation and Emmy Award-winning chef Tom Colicchio.
But the new faces are just the beginning. Returning favorites include James Beard Award-winning chefs Aaron Sánchez and JJ Johnson, the legendary José Andrés (founder of World Central Kitchen), Food Network favorite Michael Symon, and Michelin-starred chef Michael White. The festival also celebrates Bahamian culinary talent, featuring local legends like Julie Lightbourn of Sip Sip, Kenneth McKenzie of McKenzie’s Fresh Conch, and Wayne Moncur of Sun & Ice.
And because great food deserves great entertainment, the festival is bringing in award-winning rock band Sugar Ray and DJ Pauly D to keep the party going.

Events You Won’t Want to Miss
NPIWFF 2026 isn’t your typical walk-around tasting event (though it has those too). The festival is designed to give culinary enthusiasts unprecedented access to some of the world’s most celebrated chefs through intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experiences:
Catch & Cook with Tom Colicchio takes a small group on a luxury fishing adventure where you’ll cast lines with the Top Chef judge himself, then transform your catch into a culinary masterpiece.
Paella on the Patio with José Andrés promises an unforgettable celebration of Spanish cuisine, with Andrés showcasing his finest paella recipes paired with exceptional wines.
Wine Dinner with Rachael Ray offers an intimate evening at the resort’s stunning Ocean’s Edge bluff—imagine sunset views, incredible food, and conversation with one of America’s most beloved food personalities.
Jerk Jam with JJ Johnson & Antonia Lofaso celebrates the iconic Caribbean flavor with a performance by Sugar Ray to keep the energy high.
Tacos & Tequila with Michael Symon & Aaron Sanchez brings Mexican flavors and premium tequila together for a fiesta featuring DJ Pauly D.
Other standout events include the Island Food Tour with Michael Symon (which sold out quickly last year), Carmine’s Sunday Supper celebrating the restaurant’s 20-year journey at Atlantis, and R&B Brunch with JJ Johnson featuring a live performance by a legendary R&B artist.
More Than Just Great Food
What sets this festival apart is its commitment to giving back. Proceeds support the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving marine wildlife and endangered habitats throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean seas. Since 2005, the foundation has worked tirelessly on conservation efforts for coral reefs, sea turtles, sharks, manatees, and cetaceans.
So while you’re indulging in world-class cuisine and rubbing elbows with celebrity chefs, you’re also contributing to vital conservation work in one of the world’s most beautiful marine environments.
The Ultimate Culinary Destination
It’s no accident that Atlantis Paradise Island was chosen to host this festival. The resort has established itself as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, boasting more globally recognized, Michelin-starred, and James Beard-winning chefs than any other destination in the region. With over 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges—including Fish by José Andrés, Nobu by Nobu Matsuhisa, and Paranza by Michael White—the resort is a year-round destination for serious food lovers.
Add in Aquaventure (one of the world’s largest waterparks), the world’s largest open-air marine habitat with over 65,000 aquatic animals, five miles of white sand beaches, and the newly opened tennis and pickleball center, and you’ve got the perfect backdrop for a food festival that’s as much about the experience as it is about the cuisine.
How to Get Your Tickets
Festival passes are available now at npiwff.org and atlantisbahamas.com. You can purchase all-access Festival Passes (including entry to the three signature events: Jerk Jam, Tacos & Tequila, and Taste of Paradise) or Wine Dinner Passes (access to three intimate wine dinners). Bundle your tickets with room packages and save up to 15% on festival tickets.
For the latest updates, follow @NPIWFF and @AtlantisBahamas for the most up-to-date festival details. For additional restaurant information, visit atlantisbahamas.com and follow @ParanzaAtlantis and @ShakeShackAtlantis.
Whether you’re a dedicated foodie, a fan of celebrity chefs, or simply someone who appreciates the finer things in life, the 2026 Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival promises an unforgettable week of culinary excellence, Caribbean hospitality, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Paradise is calling. Will you answer?
SOURCE Atlantis, Paradise Island
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Food and Beverage
Red Bull Reveals the New Red Bull® Spring Edition Cherry Sakura
Red Bull has launched the limited-time Spring Edition Cherry Sakura, a seasonal flavor available nationwide in both sugar and sugar-free options. This new variant features a bright profile of cherry, cherry blossom, and a hint of almond. With 80mg of caffeine per 8.4 fl oz can, it aims to capture spring’s vibrant energy.
Last Updated on March 29, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Red Bull is leaning into spring vibes in a big way.
In a Feb. 23, 2026 announcement out of Santa Monica, the brand revealed Red Bull Spring Edition Cherry Sakura—a limited-time flavor designed to match the season’s “let’s get outside” energy. The release is available nationwide now, and it’s coming in two options: with sugar and sugar-free.
What it tastes like
Red Bull describes the new Spring Edition as a layered flavor built for people who want something bright, floral, and a little unexpected.
Here’s the profile the company shared:
- Cherry
- Cherry blossom (sakura)
- A touch of almond flavor
The result sounds like a spring-forward twist—sweet and fruit-led up front, with a floral note and a light, nutty finish.
What to look for on shelves
If you’re scanning the cooler, Red Bull says the Spring Edition Cherry Sakura will be easy to spot.
The cans are packaged in:
- White-colored 8.4 fl oz and 12 fl oz individual cans
- Cherry-red lettering accents
Like other seasonal drops, this one is expected to move quickly. Red Bull notes it will be sold at retailers nationwide “while supplies last.”
Same functional ingredients, new seasonal flavor
Red Bull also emphasized that Spring Edition Cherry Sakura contains the same functional ingredients as Red Bull Energy Drink, with the difference being the limited-time taste.
For caffeine context, the company says one 8.4 fl oz can contains 80mg of caffeine, which it compares to about the same amount as a home-brewed cup of coffee.
The bigger picture: Red Bull’s scale keeps growing
Seasonal flavors have become a reliable way for major beverage brands to keep things fresh, and Red Bull’s numbers show why these launches matter.
According to the company, Red Bull Energy Drink is available in 178 countries, and more than 13.9 billion cans were consumed in 2025 alone.
Bottom line
If spring flavors are your thing—or you’re just ready for something new in the energy drink lineup—Red Bull Spring Edition Cherry Sakura is officially in the wild. It’s nationwide, it’s limited, and it’s available with sugar or sugar-free, so you can pick your lane and stock up before it disappears.
For more information, visit RedBull.com.
Source: Red Bull (PRNewswire press release, Feb 23, 2026, 07:07 ET)
Link to source: https://www.prnewswire.com/
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Food and Beverage
Survey Finds Cooking Oil Now Influences Where Many Americans Choose to Eat
A new survey suggests cooking oil is no longer just a kitchen detail. Coast Packing found that 43% of Americans say a restaurant’s cooking oil influences where they choose to eat.

New national survey data suggests cooking oil is becoming a visible factor in restaurant selection, with younger diners showing the strongest preferences.
A new national survey suggests that cooking oil is no longer just a back-of-house decision for restaurants. It is increasingly becoming part of how consumers decide where to eat.
According to new data released by Coast Packing Company, 43% of Americans say a restaurant’s cooking oil influences their dining choice. The survey, based on responses from 1,005 U.S. consumers, points to a clear shift in how ingredient decisions are perceived by the public.
The strongest signal comes from younger diners. Among adults ages 18 to 34, 52% say knowing whether a restaurant uses Beef Tallow or seed oils affects where they choose to eat. Among consumers 55 and older, that number falls to 33%.
The preference gap also shows up when diners are asked to choose between two otherwise identical restaurants. In that scenario, 31% of adults ages 18 to 34 say they would choose the restaurant using Beef Tallow, compared with 19% of adults 55 and older.
The survey also found that 24.7% of diners prefer restaurants to use traditional animal fats such as butter or Beef Tallow, while 15.6% prefer seed or vegetable oils. That suggests ingredient choices once treated mainly as operational decisions may now be influencing brand perception, menu appeal, and customer loyalty.
For restaurant operators, the findings point to a broader change in consumer behavior. Diners, especially younger ones, appear increasingly interested in how food is prepared and what ingredients are used behind the scenes. That shift aligns with wider food industry trends that emphasize transparency, flavor, and traditional preparation methods.
Coast Packing says the data builds on years of tracking consumer attitudes toward animal fats. Earlier research showed growing openness to ingredients such as Lard and Beef Tallow, particularly among younger consumers who associate them with flavor and old-school cooking. This latest survey goes a step further by suggesting those views are now influencing actual dining behavior.
The findings also match broader market signals. Whole Foods Market’s 2026 food trend forecast identified Beef Tallow as an emerging ingredient gaining visibility, while analysts continue to project growth in the global tallow sector through 2030.
Restaurants are unlikely to overhaul kitchen practices overnight. Still, the survey suggests cooking oil is becoming more than a technical ingredient choice. For a growing share of consumers, it is part of the dining experience itself.
For more information, visit Coast Packing Company.
External Links
- Back to Flavor, Back to Tallow white paper
- Email to request the full survey results
- Coast Packing Company official website
- Coast Packing TasteMap
- Healthy Fats Coalition
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Food
CropX Launches CropX Vision, an AI Tool for Vineyard Water Stress Monitoring

CropX Technologies has launched CropX Vision, a new AI-powered vineyard monitoring solution designed to help growers measure vine water stress using a single canopy image.
The new tool uses computer vision and agronomic modeling to estimate leaf water potential from a smartphone photo, giving growers and agronomists a faster and more scalable way to assess plant stress across entire vineyard blocks. The company says the goal is to support better irrigation decisions throughout the growing season.
CropX Vision is available globally on both iOS and Android. The platform is also integrated into the broader CropX application, allowing users to combine canopy-based stress insights with other agronomic data in one place.
According to CropX, the technology offers an in-season alternative to traditional pressure chamber measurements, which can be more time-consuming and limited in sampling range. Instead of relying on specialized equipment, growers can capture a single image in the field and receive plant-level water stress insights.
The product builds on technology originally developed by Tule Technologies, a California-based precision irrigation company acquired by CropX in 2023. Tule’s canopy sensing technology has already been used in California vineyards, and CropX is now expanding that capability to growers worldwide.
CropX says the global release reflects its continued focus on data-driven tools that help growers improve productivity while managing water more efficiently.
CropX Vision is now available for download via the app stores:
- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/cropx-vision/id6756921607?l=en-GB
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cropx.cropx_vision&pcampaignid=web_share
For more information, visit CropX Vision.
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