Food and Beverage
The Ultimate Guide to Game Day Hosting: 6 tips to host a game day gathering like a pro
Game Day Treats
(Family Features) From kickoff to the final whistle, game day is all about spending time with friends and family while rooting for your favorite team. When it’s your turn to host, you can bring all the fun of a tailgate party to the comfort of your couch with the proper plan for hosting.
Show Your Team Spirit
Make your guests feel excited from the moment they walk through the door – or as soon as they pull in the driveway – by decking out your space in team colors and memorabilia. Use football- or team-themed banners, flags, balloons, coasters and tablecloths to set the mood.
Wear your favorite jersey and create a stadium-like atmosphere with fun props like foam fingers or pom-poms for guests to use and cheer on their team.
Prep Ahead of Time to Score Big
Avoid a rush before kickoff by making a checklist of everything you’ll need. Ensure your TV and sound systems are working correctly and that you have access to the right channel or streaming platform.
Make a store run at least a day in advance to grab everything you’ll need for your watch party: dishes, snacks, drinks, tablecloths, trash bags and some household essentials like Finish Ultimate Dishwasher Detergent. Finish Ultimate tackles dish cleanup in the kitchen like a pro, so hosts can enjoy all the fun parts of game day without the worry.
If possible, pack your coolers the night before – just as you would for tailgating at the stadium – and prep and cook any dishes you can ahead of time, so you can enjoy the action with minimal interruptions.
Feed the Fans
Football fans are often foodies, too. A buffet-style food setup allows guests to help themselves to their favorite snacks and dishes throughout all four quarters.
Review your game plan ahead of kickoff to make sure your game day menu offers a variety of finger foods, such as wings, sliders and nachos. Then, take your menu to the next level with unique eats like this new saucy, cheesy creation – the TRUFF Hot Honey Bacon Cheddar Dip with Pretzel Bites – to add a spicy twist.
To complete the roster of game day eats, include a veggie tray or charcuterie board and a variety of beverages, including water, soda and juice. To stay on theme, consider serving cake or brownies in the shape of a football for dessert or topping cupcakes with icing in the team’s colors.
Tackle Cleanup
All those delicious snacks your guests are enjoying are sure to make a mess. For hosts tackling cleanup during the game, don’t miss out on all the on-screen action–turn to the star player to make cleanup a breeze: Finish Ultimate Dishwasher Detergent.
Finish Ultimate tackles tough game day messes, even without pre-rinsing, leaving hosts more time to cheer on their team and less time in the kitchen cleaning up.
Create the Perfect Viewing Environment
Ensure everyone has an unobstructed view by arranging your seating strategically. Use a combination of couches, chairs and floor cushions to accommodate your guests. Scatter small tables throughout the area within easy reach for guests to place their drinks and snacks while the action is live.
To ensure fans never miss a moment of the action, turn the TVs in other rooms to the game as well; just ensure the sound is down in case the main screen is ahead or behind of the secondary viewing options.
Consider Downtime Entertainment to Keep the Energy High
While the main event is watching the action, you can keep the excitement going during halftime and commercial breaks with fun activities like cornhole, football trivia, bingo, mascot matching or an old-fashioned game of catch. Also have some board games, card games or video games on hand for those who might want to take a break from watching or children who aren’t as engaged in the on-screen action.
For the ultimate game day recipe and to find more ways to tackle dish cleanup in the kitchen on game day, visit finishdishwashing.com/truff-hot-honey-bacon-cheddar-dip.
Hot Honey Bacon Cheddar Dip with Pretzel Bites
Recipe courtesy of Finish
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Servings: 12
- 5 slices bacon
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons TRUFF Original Hot Sauce
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup lager-style beer
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 24 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup fresh scallions, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 24 ounces frozen pretzel bites, baked according to package instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Evenly space bacon in 13-by-9-inch dishwasher-safe ceramic or glass baking dish.
- Bake bacon 10 minutes.
- Microwave honey 15-20 seconds. Add hot sauce and whisk to combine.
- Remove bacon from oven and carefully pat dry with paper towels.
- Brush bacon with hot honey and return to oven. Set aside any remaining hot honey for later use.
- Bake bacon 10-15 minutes until brown and crisp. Set bacon aside to cool.
- Chop bacon into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Pour bacon pan drippings into bowl and discard once cool.
- In bowl, whisk softened cream cheese, beer and mustard to combine.
- Add grated cheddar cheese, chopped scallions, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Spread mixture evenly in 13-by-9-inch dishwasher-safe ceramic or glass baking dish.
- Bake 20-25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and rest 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle top of dip with chopped bacon and drizzle with remaining hot honey.
- Serve dip alongside baked pretzel bites.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (football fans)
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Finish
recipes
Lighten Up: Fresh Spring Meals That Won’t Weigh You Down
Prepare your fresh spring menu with light, flavorful dishes like shrimp pearl couscous salad and chickpea couscous—perfect for easy, satisfying meals without the heaviness.
Lighten Up: Fresh Spring Meals That Won’t Weigh You Down
(Feature Impact) Put away the heavy coats and break out the rain jackets and rubber boots – spring is here, and with it comes more than just pop-up showers and sunshine. After months of comfort foods and curling up indoors, you may be ready for lighter meals that won’t weigh you down before splashing in the puddles.
Fresh produce may first come to mind, but spring bites can also mean swapping out ingredients like regular pasta for a solution such as pearl couscous. If you’re looking to complement greens, veggies, fish or meats with light yet filling flavor, consider Success Boil-in-Bag Pearl Couscous, a small, mediterranean-style pasta that always cooks right and is ready to eat in under 7 minutes once the water boils. The BPA-free boil-in-bag simplicity makes cooking easy and foolproof: no measure, no mess, no stress.
Made with high-quality semolina wheat, it features a slightly nutty flavor on its own while absorbing the flavors of salads while retaining its density and chewy texture. It’s distinguished from traditional Moroccan couscous by its slightly larger, rounder shape and less dense, firmer consistency.
Try it with your next meal in this protein-forward Shrimp Pearl Couscous Salad, made using fresh herbs, citrus, seasoned shrimp and chickpeas for a jam-packed salad that screams spring. Never boring, the tender, seasoned couscous and shrimp, veggies and aromatic herbs can bring your family running to the kitchen after a day of play.
Or, for an even simpler dish that requires just 15 minutes in the kitchen, this Pearl Couscous and Chickpea Salad is light, bright and bursting with flavor. It brings together tender pearl couscous, crisp veggies and za’atar in every bite.
To find more light spring recipe ideas, visit SuccessRice.com.
Shrimp Pearl Couscous Salad
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
- 1 bag Success Pearl Couscous
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 can (14 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 English cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onions, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup feta, crumbled
- Prepare pearl couscous according to package directions.
- In medium bowl, toss shrimp with seasoned salt.
- In large saucepan over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add shrimp and cook 5 minutes. If necessary, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding pan.
- In another large pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add chickpeas and cook 8 minutes until crispy and golden, tossing often. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and salt. Toss to fully coat and cook 2 minutes.
- In large bowl, combine pearl couscous, shrimp, chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, red onion, dill, lemon juice and remaining olive oil. Toss to combine. Garnish with feta.
Pearl Couscous and Chickpea Salad
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
- 1 bag Success Pearl Couscous
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon za’atar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Prepare pearl couscous according to package directions.
- In large bowl, combine couscous, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and za’atar.
- Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Toss until well combined.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
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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.
Last Updated on April 2, 2026 by Daily News Staff
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
Visit the Food and Drink section on STM Daily News for the latest food news, beverage trends, restaurant stories, seasonal recipes, culinary events, and community-driven lifestyle coverage.
Food and Beverage
Purely Elizabeth Launches Purely Glow Granola, Its First Beauty-Inspired Limited Edition
Purely Elizabeth debuts Purely Glow Salted Vanilla Pistachio Granola, a limited-edition, beauty-inspired blend with collagen peptides and biotin, timed to New York Fashion Week.
Last Updated on April 1, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Purely Elizabeth is stepping beyond the breakfast bowl and into the “glow-from-within” conversation.
The Boulder-based natural foods brand announced the launch of Purely Glow Salted Vanilla Pistachio Granola, a limited-edition flavor that blends its signature crunchy clusters with beauty-inspired functional ingredients—including collagen peptides and biotin. The drop is timed to New York Fashion Week, signaling how quickly wellness brands are borrowing cues from beauty culture: trend-driven, ritual-focused, and built for social.
Why a “beauty granola” now?
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you’ve seen the shift: wellness content is increasingly framed like skincare—daily routines, “non-negotiables,” and ingredients people swear by.
Purely Elizabeth points to that momentum in the announcement, noting that TikTok posts featuring collagen increased by 70% over the past year compared to the previous two years. At the same time, pistachio has had its own breakout moment, with 55,000 pistachio-related TikTok posts in the most recent year—a 104% increase over the prior 24 months.
Translation: consumers aren’t just shopping for flavor anymore. They’re shopping for function, aesthetic, and ritual.
What’s inside Purely Glow Salted Vanilla Pistachio Granola
On the flavor side, Purely Glow is positioned as an elevated, dessert-leaning blend built around a salty-sweet profile:
- Organic oats
- Roasted pistachios
- Real vanilla bean
- A hint of sea salt
From a nutrition and formulation standpoint, the granola is:
- Gluten-free
- Sweetened with coconut sugar
- Baked with coconut oil
- A good source of fiber
- Enriched with collagen peptides, coconut water powder, and biotin
Founder and CEO Elizabeth Stein says the concept comes from a personal place—bringing together “nourishing food and daily beauty rituals,” and leaning into the idea that what you eat can be part of how you care for yourself.
A collab that takes it beyond the grocery aisle
To push the launch into lifestyle territory, Purely Elizabeth is partnering with Cha Cha Matcha for a limited-time “Purely Glow” menu at all locations.
The menu includes:
- Pistachio Matcha Lattes (hot or iced)
- A Purely Glow Yogurt Parfait layered with coconut yogurt, matcha chia pudding, and topped with Purely Glow Granola
The brand is also hosting “Glow Up” pop-up events to bring the product to life:
- Cha Cha Matcha Flatiron (NYC): February 12, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., plus the weekend
- Cha Cha Matcha Beverly Hills: February 20–22
Availability and price
Purely Glow Granola launches February 12 for $7.99 and will be sold until it sells out. It’s available exclusively via:
- PurelyElizabeth.com
- TikTok Shop
- Cha Cha Matcha locations
A brand move that fits the moment
Purely Elizabeth has been around for 16 years and says it has remained the #1 granola brand in the natural channel for more than eight consecutive years—so this isn’t a reinvention as much as a strategic expansion.
The bigger takeaway: food brands are increasingly marketing like beauty brands. Limited editions. Ingredient storytelling. Collabs. Pop-ups. Social-first launches.
Purely Glow is a clean example of that playbook—built around a trending flavor (pistachio), a trending function (collagen/biotin), and a cultural moment (NYFW) that makes the product feel like more than breakfast.
For more details, visit purelyelizabeth.com.
