Food & Drink

San Francisco – September 15, 2026 -- The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco will open Bruma, a new cocktail lounge, on October 12, 2026, inside the hotel's 1909 Neoclassical building on Nob Hill.

The lounge takes its name from the Spanish word for "mist"

Bruma draws its concept from San Francisco's fog, Nob Hill's residential character, and the city's history as a Pacific port. The room is designed to shift mood throughout the day, moving from afternoon tea traditions to late-night conversation, with the cocktail menu changing alongside it.

The cocktail menu is split into four themed sections

Drinks are organized into World's Edge (citrus-forward), Open Water (globally influenced), Golden City (California seasonal, fruit-driven), and High Ground (spirit-forward Martinis and stirred classics). Signature offerings include a tableside Martini chilled with liquid nitrogen and a reimagined Nob Hill Pisco Punch topped with pineapple brûlée.

Montvale, N.J. – September 15, 2026 -- Sharp Home Electronics Company of America (SHCA) is joining the Carvana PPA Tour as Official Kitchen Appliance Sponsor for two stops this fall: the Veolia Arizona Open in Mesa, Arizona, from September 14–20, and the Rate Las Vegas Open in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 28–October 4.

Sharp builds a working kitchen inside pickleball's 'kitchen'

Starting Thursday, October 1, at the Las Vegas event, Sharp will convert the sport's non-volley zone — nicknamed "the kitchen" — into a fully functional Sharp kitchen through an activation called "Sharp In the Kitchen." Fans can watch live cooking demos, play interactive games, meet players and check out Sharp's appliance lineup, including the Celerity High-Speed Oven and Smart Microwave Drawer Oven. A courtside Sharp refrigerator will also let athletes refuel during matches.

Boston – September 15, 2026 -- Gong cha is marking its 20th anniversary with a free, limited-edition Birthday Boba Bottle for every guest who orders the brand's Birthday Drink on Sept. 15 at participating U.S. locations, while supplies last.

The Birthday Drink layers mango foam over strawberry milk tea

The limited-time drink, topped with sprinkles, is available only from Sept. 6 through Sept. 15. Guests who miss the free bottle giveaway on the 15th can still buy one for $4.99 with any purchase while supplies last, though the bottle will not be restocked once the anniversary window closes.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- A new survey from Rover finds that 45 percent of dog owners in Germany say their actual dog-related expenses turned out higher than they initially expected.

The online marketplace for pet care, which commissioned market research firm Pollfish to poll 1,000 dog owners in Germany in August, found that the early stages of dog ownership often carry the biggest financial surprise. More than half of respondents, 52 percent, reported total acquisition and start-up costs of 500 euros or more, while nearly 15 percent spent 2,000 euros or more.

Atlanta – September 14, 2026 -- ILA, a clean energy bar brand, has officially launched with two flavors: ILA Chocolate and ILA Peanut, following six years of formulation work by two practicing herbalists.

Each bar delivers 9 grams of plant-based protein from pea and hemp, alongside what the brand calls Adaptive Energy+TM, a blend of Reishi and Ashwagandha, adaptogenic herbs traditionally used to support the body's response to everyday stress.

Two flavors pair whole foods with adaptogenic herbs

The Chocolate Bar combines real cocoa and chocolate pieces for a not-too-sweet profile, while the Peanut Bar uses real peanut butter and roasted peanuts for a nutty taste with earthy depth from the herbs. Both bars are naturally sweetened with dates and coconut nectar and contain nothing artificial.

The bars are non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.

Birmingham – September 14, 2026 -- Shipt has launched Ask Shipt, an AI shopping assistant that lets customers build a complete grocery cart by typing a request or uploading a photo, available now in the Shipt app and on Shipt.com.

Users can snap a photo to build a cart instantly

Customers who see a dish on social media or at a restaurant can photograph it, upload the image to Ask Shipt, and the tool identifies the ingredients and adds them to a cart automatically. The same feature works from typed prompts, such as requests for a weeknight dinner for a family of five under $35 or a Saturday tailgate for 25 people that includes brunch items.

Every recommendation stays fully editable before checkout

Shoppers select a retailer from Shipt's marketplace, then find Ask Shipt beneath the search bar. Items generated by the assistant can be reviewed, swapped, or removed before purchase, so dietary needs and personal preferences remain intact.

Purchase, N.Y. – September 14, 2026 -- Pepsi is offering fans a free 12-pack of Pepsi Zero Sugar through September 14 as it launches its 26th season of NFL partnership with a new ad campaign starring Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis and Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson.

The free 12-pack offer runs through September 14 while supplies last.

Starting September 9, fans in the United States can redeem a digital offer for one free 12-pack of Pepsi Zero Sugar 12 oz cans at participating retailers. The promotion ends the earlier of September 14 or when 5,000 redemptions are reached. Tax and deposit are not included.

New York – September 14, 2026 -- Jameson Irish Whiskey, the Official Spirits Sponsor of the NFL, has launched America's Biggest Round, a nationwide program offering up to $5 million in bar tabs for football fans this season.

Hoboken, N.J. – September 13, 2026 -- Knorr and Hot Ones launched two new spicy meal kits on Amazon.com starting September 9, with three-packs priced at $8.99 MSRP.

The collaboration includes Knorr Mexican Rice, inspired by the tangy brightness of Hot Ones' Los Calientes Verde sauce and dialed to a medium heat level, and Knorr Cheesy Cheddar Pasta, inspired by the intensity of Hot Ones' The Last Dab and dialed up to a hot spice level.

Multipack pricing gives shoppers three ways to buy.

A three-pack of either single flavor costs $8.99 MSRP. A four-pack mixing two rice and two pasta flavors runs $9.99 MSRP, while an eight-pack of a single flavor costs $14.99 MSRP. Both products are limited-edition and sold in multipacks nationwide on Amazon.com.

Cognac – September 13, 2026 -- LOUIS XIII Cognac has launched BLACK PEARL: TRIBUTE TO THE BIRTHPLACE OF LOUIS XIII, a new limited-edition expression priced at $28,000 per decanter and capped at just 398 bottles worldwide.

The release is inspired by Le Grollet, the historic cellar where the LOUIS XIII story began. Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau selected an extraordinary eau-de-vie from the House's collection of demijohns -- the only one identified as carrying the distinct signature of Le Grollet, a trait passed down from his predecessor, Pierrette Trichet. Loiseau infused it into a single, hand-selected tierçon to create the blend.