Food & Drink

Austin, Minn. – September 17, 2026 -- SPAM Hot Honey has officially joined Hormel Foods' lineup of more than 10 canned meat varieties, hitting grocery store shelves nationwide starting today.

Win Son Bakery serves exclusive SPAM Hot Honey menu items through Sept. 20

To mark the launch, the SPAM brand partnered with Win Son Bakery, the Taiwanese-American cafe with locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan's East Village. From Sept. 14 to 20, 2026, customers at both locations can order a SPAM Hot Honey breakfast sandwich, layering the new flavor with egg and cheese atop a scallion pancake. A limited-edition SPAM Hot Honey Fan Tuan, a Taiwanese sticky rice roll, is also on the menu for the same window.

Those who can't visit either location can find the breakfast sandwich recipe posted on SPAM's website.

New York – September 16, 2026 -- GORGIE has launched Berry Burst, a new flavor available exclusively at Target locations nationwide starting September 13th.

Each can packs 150mg of green tea caffeine with zero sugar

Berry Burst contains 150mg of green tea caffeine alongside Biotin, B Vitamins, and L-Theanine. The drink has zero grams of sugar, five calories, and no artificial sweeteners.

The purple-toned can was designed to match fall fashion trends

GORGIE styled the launch campaign on the streets of New York City, pairing the can with leather jackets and seasonal looks tied to Fashion Week. Founder and CEO Michelle Cordeiro Grant said the flavor was built around the idea that "your drink can double as your best accessory," adding that Berry Burst was made to bring energy to everything from meetings to workouts to late-night plans.

Atlanta – September 16, 2026 -- Eleven Tennessee distilleries have joined forces to release The 2026 Tennessee Collective American Whiskey, a single bottle built from the craft of Big Machine Distillery, Gate 11 Distillery, Jack Daniel's Distillery, Leiper's Fork Distillery, Nelson's Green Brier Distillery, Old Dominick Distillery, Old Glory Distilling Co., Peg Leg Porker Distillery, Short Mountain Distillery, Sugarlands Distilling Co. and Tennessee Legend Distillery.

The whiskey is sold at each participating distillery's tasting room and available for pre-order online at the Tennessee Whiskey Trail's website, with release beginning September 1, 2026.

Los Angeles – September 16, 2026 -- Jardins d'Arménie, a family-owned Armenian brandy house, has been selected to join an exclusive Pre-Emmys Celebrity Gifting Lounge in Los Angeles running September 11-12, 2026, marking its official launch into the United States market.

The invitation places the brand among a curated selection of products presented to Emmy nominees, presenters and other VIP guests ahead of the awards ceremony. Armen Pogossian, co-owner of Jardins d'Arménie, said the occasion gives the brand a chance to share its heritage and craftsmanship with a new audience as it enters the U.S. market.

McKinney, Texas – September 16, 2026 -- A new HelloNation feature breaks down how barrel aging shapes the flavor, aroma, and longevity of red and white wines, drawing on insights from Bob Landon, winery expert at Landon Winery in McKinney, Texas.

Oak interacts with wine in ways stainless steel cannot

Barrel aging introduces flavors, tannins, and micro-oxygenation that guide how a wine develops over time. According to the article, choices about oak type and barrel age become part of a winemaker's signature, affecting everything from aroma to long-term stability.

French and American oak deliver different results

French oak has a fine grain that adds subtle spice and delicate tannins without overpowering the fruit, making it suited to preserving a wine's natural character. American oak, with its looser grain, delivers stronger flavor notes of vanilla, coconut, and baking spice, pairing well with bolder wines.

Philadelphia – September 16, 2026 -- Guests who show up at any Insomnia Cookies bakery in the U.S. or Canada wearing pajamas on Tuesday, Sept. 15, can score one free Classic cookie, no purchase or Insomnia Rewards membership required.

The offer runs from 8 p.m. until close at most bakeries, with the Dayton, Ohio location celebrating from 6 to 10 p.m. instead. Limited-time and Deluxe cookies are excluded from the deal.

The tradition dates back to 2019 and has grown into a September fixture

Insomnia Cookies first held PJ Party in 2019, and the company declared it National PJ Party Night in 2024. Last year's event gave away approximately 67,000 free cookies across the brand's bakery network.

Grapevine, Texas – September 16, 2026 -- A musty, sharp, or oddly muted glass of wine may not be a matter of taste but a sign of an actual flaw in the bottle. Bob Landon, known as "Mr. Wine of Texas" and affiliated with Landon Winery and Red Dirt Cellars, breaks down the most common wine faults so drinkers can tell a flawed bottle from simple personal preference.

Cork taint leaves a musty, wet-cardboard smell that never improves

The compound TCA, which affects natural cork, is the most familiar wine fault. It produces an aroma similar to a damp basement, suppressing fruit and leaving the wine feeling flat. Landon notes that once this scent appears, it typically does not fade with time in the glass, even though the wine remains safe to drink.

Gainesville, Texas – September 16, 2026 -- A new HelloNation feature breaks down why acidity, not sweetness or alcohol, is the trait most likely to determine whether a wine feels crisp or heavy on the palate. The article draws on insights from Bob Landon of Landon Winery, known as "Mr. Wine of Texas," who explains how acid levels shape brightness, mouthfeel, and food compatibility for everyday drinkers.

Acidity gives wine its lift and keeps aromas vibrant

According to Landon, healthy acidity creates the mouthwatering sensation that keeps flavors feeling crisp and focused from first sip to finish. This trait shows up in both reds and whites but plays a bigger structural role in white wines, where freshness is central to their character.

Saint Paul – September 15, 2026 -- Minnesota PBS's food series Relish will premiere its seventh season in Spring 2027 with two co-hosts for the first time, chef Karyn Tomlinson and food storyteller Tiffany Alexandria.

Two Minnesota food voices join forces on screen

Tomlinson, chef and owner of Myriel in St. Paul, blends Midwestern ingredients with French technique and the food traditions of her Minnesota upbringing. Alexandria, based in Rochester, founded the Rochester Night Market and runs pop-up dinners, dumpling classes, and photography projects rooted in her Taiwanese heritage.

Cocoa Beach – September 15, 2026 -- Florida's Space Coast has kicked off its third annual Fall Is for Foodies culinary program, running through Oct. 25 with prix fixe menus and dining specials at more than 30 restaurants across the region.

Tasting menus range from $15 to $95 per person

Koko in Cocoa Beach, the first Michelin-recommended restaurant in Brevard County, is offering a nine-course tasting menu with kaiseki and kappo influences for $95 per person. At the other end of the price scale, Wild Ocean in Titusville serves a half-pound of local-caught rock shrimp with garlic lemon butter, corn on the cob and fresh-brewed tea for $15.