Food and Beverage

PEPSI® Dig In Culinary Residency: Exclusive Dishes Return to Las Vegas

This year’s Restaurant Royalty Residency brings eight new limited-edition menu items to The Fan Districts at both Strip resorts, with dishes from the GRAMMY-Award winner’s Atlanta restaurant and bar, fan-favorite Cranky Granny’s, Taylor’s Tacos, Blk Swan, LoLo’s on The Water, and Bridgetown Roti

Published

12 months ago

October 3, 2023

Daily News Staff

PURCHASE, N.Y. /PRNewswire/ — PEPSI^® Dig In, the brand’s platform designed to drive access, business growth, and awareness to Black-owned restaurants, returns with its Restaurant Royalty Residency program in Las Vegas on September 30 – giving restaurant goers a chance to discover every bite is Better With Pepsi and experience a new selection of exclusive dishes from Black-owned restaurants across the country. Following last year’s successful partnership with MGM Resorts International, Pepsi Dig In is bringing six new restaurants and their concepts to the company’s Fan Districts – popular go-to destinations for fans to rally before and after Allegiant Stadium events – at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and Luxor Hotel and Casino. For the first time, Esco Restaurant & Tapas from the multi-platinum, Grammy Award^®-winning MC 2 Chainz will be featured alongside other renowned concepts.

Joining Esco Restaurant & Tapas on September 30 is Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls serving their Churro Cinnamon Roll. Cranky Granny’s was named the top fan-voted Restaurant Royal in Pepsi Dig In’s search for the country’s best Black-owned restaurants.

In June, Pepsi Dig In rallied foodies to share and nominate their favorite Black-owned restaurant as Restaurant Royalty, to recognize the country’s best establishments. A spot in the MGM Resorts International residency was reserved for the winning chef and restaurateur to give them a moment in the spotlight at one of the country’s hottest culinary destinations. As the fan-voted top Restaurant Royal, Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls from Pflugerville, Texas will be joining Esco Restaurant & Tapas to kick off this year’s residency program.

Each of the six participating Restaurant Royals will have a limited-edition menu item available exclusively for a three or four-week period at Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay and Public House at Luxor. The residency will also feature two new cocktails: one inspired by 2 Chainz featuring STARRY^® and another with Pepsi^® Zero Sugar.

“No matter your background, building and running a restaurant is a constant grind but that’s what makes the rewards, like this residency, worth it. Opportunities for this kind of exposure in Vegas can be life changing for businesses. It’s great to see brands like Pepsi Dig In and MGM put the power of their platforms behind these talented Black entrepreneurs, and it’s a privilege to be among them,” said 2 Chainz.

This year’s Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency at Mandalay Bay’s Libertine Social and Luxor’s Public House will begin on September 30 and run through February 6, featuring mouthwatering dishes from Black-owned eateries across the country that include:

Esco Restaurant & Tapas, Co-Founders 2 Chainz and Mychel “Snoop” Dillard (Atlanta, GA) – Sept. 30 to Oct. 27, 2023
- With several locations across the country, this restaurant-by-day and lounge-by-night is known for its seafood and Southern dishes. Vegas foodies will get a taste of one of 2 Chainz’s favorites, the Blackened Salmon Alfredo Pasta, featuring Cajun-seasoned fish over classic alfredo. Fans can also enjoy 2 Chainz’s own cocktail creation throughout the residency.
Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls, Owner Sianni Dean (Pflugerville, TX) – Sept. 30 to Oct. 27, 2023
- Voted the number one Black-owned restaurant by fans via Pepsi Dig In’s Restaurant Royalty contest initiative, Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls is serving its Churro Cinnamon Roll with a classic cream cheese glaze, chocolate and caramel drizzle. The dessert is finished with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and a strawberry.
Taylor’s Tacos, Co-Owners Taylor and Maya Mason (Chicago, IL) – Oct. 28 to Nov. 24, 2023
- Specializing in authentic street style tacos with soul, Taylor’s Tacos will be serving their Extra-Juicy Chicken Tacos with braised chicken thigh, secret salsa, cilantro, cheese, and lime in crisped corn tortillas.
Blk Swan, Executive Chef and Co-Owner Saon Brice (Baltimore, MD) – Nov. 25 to Dec. 15, 2023
- Known for their uniquely crafted New American menu, Blk Swan will serve its top-selling seafood risotto with shrimp, scallops, Maryland jumbo lump crab, white wine and sambal, for a heated twist.
LoLo’s on The Water, Executive Chef Raymond Mohan and Co-Owner Leticia Skai Young (New York, NY) – Dec. 16, 2023 to Jan. 12, 2024
- Inspired by island flavors, LoLo’s on The Water created a new dish exclusively for the residency. The Island BBQ Beef Shank Platter features BBQ beef shank with an achiote glaze, served with Johnny Cakes and honey-rum glazed plantains.
Bridgetown Roti, Chef and Owner Rashida Holmes (Los Angeles, CA) – Jan. 13 to Feb. 6, 2024
- The James Beard Award finalist will bring one of the most popular vegan dishes from her Los Angeles Caribbean pop-up: Curry Channa Doubles – savory Trinidadian-bara bread with curry chickpeas, cucumber chutney, lime and tamarind sauce.

“Las Vegas provides a valuable culinary stage and unparalleled business opportunity for restaurateurs. In partnership with MGM Resorts International, the Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency Program is putting Black-owned restaurants and chefs in front of foodies from around the world,” said Scott Finlow, CMO of PepsiCo Global Foodservice.

The residency, now in its sophomore year, ladders back to the larger Pepsi Dig In platform. Pepsi Dig In helps diners discover and visit Black-owned restaurants while providing resources, mentorship, and training to Black restaurateurs made possible by PepsiCo. The residency was created in alignment with MGM Resorts’ commitments to greater inclusion in building a diverse culture for employees, guests, community partners and stakeholders.

Tony Gladney, MGM Resorts International Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, added, “MGM Resorts continues to deepen our commitment to social impact by focusing on the intersection of culinary excellence and diverse representation. Together with Pepsi, we’re proving that delicious food can drive meaningful change, and we look forward to another year of extraordinary culinary experiences that celebrate diversity and spark meaningful conversations.”

For further information on Pepsi Dig In, fans can visit PepsiDigIn.com and follow @PepsiDigIn on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for the latest updates.

About Pepsi Dig In
Pepsi Dig In is a platform designed to drive access, business growth, and awareness to Black-owned restaurants. Pepsi Dig In helps diners discover, dine at, or order from Black-owned restaurants while providing resources, mentorship, and training to Black restaurateurs. Utilizing the scale and reach of PepsiCo and its partners, Pepsi Dig In aims to create opportunities for Black-owned restaurants to thrive.

Launched in 2020 as part of PepsiCo’s Racial Equality Journey (REJ), the company committed $50 million to support Black-owned businesses over five years, part of PepsiCo’s larger REJ initiative totaling more than $400 million to increase representation within the company, support Black-owned businesses, and help to create economic opportunities in the communities it serves.

For more information, visit pepsidigin.com and follow @pepsidigin on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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 $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complimentary 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 pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). 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 the planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500^® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations globally, including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The Company’s 50/50 venture, BetMGM, LLC, offers sports betting and online gaming in North America through market-leading brands, including BetMGM and partypoker, and the Company’s subsidiary LeoVegas AB offers sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands in several jurisdictions throughout Europe. The Company is currently pursuing targeted expansion in Asia through the integrated resort opportunity in Japan. Through its “Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet” philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests, and in the communities where it operates. The global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE^® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies^®. For more information, please visit us at www.mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us @MGMResortsIntl on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE PepsiCo Beverages North America

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Daily News Staff

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recipes

5 Steps to Grill Vegetables

Published

2 days ago

September 15, 2024

Daily News Staff

(Culinary.net) Burgers, brats, steak, chicken, pork chops and all the flavors of fresh meat get all the love on the grill, but a well-rounded meal calls for sides and veggies.

Grill Vegetables

Before you plan your next backyard barbecue, incorporate tasty vegetables – peppers, asparagus, onions, tomatoes, zucchini and more – for an all-out blitz of fresh-grilled flavor. Consider these simple steps to properly grill your crispy veggies:

Light the grill. Step one, of course, is to prep a hot grill. For the best cooking experience, you’ll want medium-high heat or even high heat for quick, direct grilling. By lighting the grill ahead of veggie prep, you’ll allow plenty of heating time to complete your other tasks.
Prepare vegetables. Depending on what you plan to cook, there’ll likely be some preparation to undertake, such as cutting off stems and blemishes or removing pits and seeds. In addition to cleaning up your ingredients, you may want to chop, dice or slice based on the recipe.
Coat vegetables with olive oil. Drizzling just a small amount of olive oil over your vegetables and tossing to coat adds a couple benefits. First, it helps the outer layer crisp rather than dry out, plus it aids in seasonings – like salt and pepper – sticking to the vegetable instead of falling off while on the grill or in a pan.
Consider using foil packets or skewers. If char marks aren’t your thing, tossing chopped or diced veggies into a foil packet before hitting the grill steams them for a bit of a softer texture. Alternately, wooden skewers soaked in water (to prevent burning) can help keep smaller chunks of veggies from slipping through the grill grates while still achieving a crispy exterior.
Pay attention to grill times. Different types of vegetables and preparation methods call for different cook times, but 5-10 minutes over direct heat generally gets the job done. The smaller you chunk, chop, slice or dice, the less time it’ll take.

Find more grilling tips at Culinary.net.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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.

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Food and Drink

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Lifestyle

Mac and Cheese Recall: Potential Spoilage Concerns Affect Products at Major Retailers

Published

3 days ago

September 14, 2024

Rod Washington

Mac and Cheese Recall

In a recent announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), two types of macaroni and cheese products sold at major retailers have been recalled due to concerns over potential spoilage. The recall affects Reser’s American Classics Macaroni & Cheese and Reser’s American Classics Macaroni & Cheese White Cheddar, as part of a broader recall of Reser’s Fine Foods deli salads and refrigerated items.

Scope of the Recall

The affected macaroni and cheese varieties were distributed across five states: California, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The specific “use by” dates for the recalled products are as follows:

Reser’s American Classics Macaroni & Cheese: Use by dates of September 14 and September 16, 2024.
Reser’s American Classics Macaroni & Cheese White Cheddar: Use by date of September 11, 2024.

In addition to the macaroni and cheese products, the recall includes a variety of other items such as potato salad, scalloped potatoes, pasta salad, corn, egg salad, spinach dip, gravy, and various desserts.

Cause of the Recall

According to the FDA, the potential spoilage was linked to “temperature abuse” during transportation, specifically due to a malfunctioning refrigeration unit on a trailer. A representative from Reser’s Fine Foods confirmed to FOX Business that the issue was isolated to a single truckload of product delivered to only one distributor location.

“The recall was initiated on July 29, 2024, and no affected products ever made it to the store shelves,” the representative stated. They further reassured consumers that any items purchased from stores are safe to consume.

Retailer Responses

Major retailers, including Safeway, Stop & Shop, and Walmart, which stock Reser’s macaroni and cheese products, have stated that their stores were not impacted by the recall. However, Target, another retailer selling the products, did not provide a comment when contacted by FOX Business.

Consumer Safety First

The FDA and Reser’s Fine Foods have stressed the importance of consumer safety in this situation. While the affected products have not reached store shelves, customers who may have purchased any items from the recalled batch are encouraged to check the packaging for the specified “use by” dates.

As always, consumers are advised to be vigilant about food safety and to report any concerns to their local health department or the FDA. For those who may have questions or require further information regarding this recall, contacting Reser’s Fine Foods directly or checking the FDA’s website can provide additional clarity.

In conclusion, while the recent recall raises concerns over food safety, companies and regulatory agencies are working diligently to ensure that consumers remain informed and protected. As the situation develops, staying updated through reliable sources is essential for maintaining food safety standards in your household.

Read the story on Fox Business.com: https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/mac-cheese-sold-major-retailers-recalled-potential-spoiling

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.

Food and Drink

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Author

Rod Washington

Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art. View all posts

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Food and Beverage

Find Comfort in Food with Crispy Chicken Strips

Published

3 days ago

September 14, 2024

Daily News Staff

(Family Features) Cooler weather brings the joy of comfort food, and it’s hard to find a dish more comforting than fried chicken. This Fried Chicken Tenders recipe makes it easy to cook tasty strips to golden perfection – just pair with your favorite dipping sauce (or none at all) for a classic weeknight meal.

Find more fall meal ideas at Culinary.net.

Fried Chicken Tenders

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

Oil of choice, for frying
1/2 stick butter
2 eggs
2 cups milk
3 pounds chicken breast, cut into strips
2 cups flour
1/4 cup barbecue seasoning of choice
1/4 cup mesquite seasoning
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
dipping sauce of choice (optional)

Fill Dutch oven or large frying pan halfway with oil and butter; heat over medium heat.
In large bowl, mix eggs and milk then place chicken strips in mixture.
In separate bowl, mix flour, barbecue seasoning and mesquite seasoning. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
Remove 4-6 chicken strips from milk mixture and cover completely in flour mixture.
Drop pinch of flour in hot oil; if it crackles, it’s hot enough. Once hot, fry battered chicken 4 minutes then, using tongs or fork, turn over and fry 4 minutes. When done, chicken will be golden and almost float. Remove from frying pan and repeat with remaining chicken.
Serve with dipping sauce of choice, if desired.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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.