Food & Drink

Oxon Hill, Md. – – October 17, 2026 -- One Five Guys crew member will win $100,000 on May 13, when eight finalists compete at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in the 2026 Five Guys Games.

The finale is a three-event showdown called "The Gauntlet"

The eight finalists go head-to-head in all three events: the cheese stack race, the QC wrapping race and the potato race. Only one will emerge as the ultimate grill master.

Second place wins $50,000 and every finalist gets at least $10,000

First place takes home $100,000 and second place receives $50,000. All finalists receive a minimum of $10,000.

A family idea from 2013 now spans 50,000 employees

The Murrell family started the games in 2013 to reward hardworking store crew members. The competition has since grown into a global phenomenon among the chain's 50,000 employees, who are judged on speed, skill and accuracy.

Washington, D.C. – October 17, 2026 -- Five Guys has a new blackberry milkshake in stores through the middle of August, and shoppers at about 155 locations in DC, Maryland and Virginia can get a free reusable tumbler with it.

The shake is built around Marion blackberries

The seasonal shake highlights Marion and other blackberry varieties. Five Guys describes the flavor as both sweet and tart, and says each shake is hand-spun and thick.

Three mix-in combos are suggested

Customers can pair the blackberry shake with strawberry and/or Oreo for a berry-crunch effect. Banana is another option, as is peanut butter for a PB&J-style shake. Any of the chain's free mix-ins also work.

The tumbler offer has tight limits

The giveaway applies only to in-store blackberry milkshake purchases. Online orders and delivery orders, including those placed through third-party platforms, do not qualify.

Alexandria – October 17, 2026 -- Five Guys has released its first docuseries, the five-episode "On the Line: The World Burger Games," on Amazon Prime Video in North America, Europe and Australia.

The series follows crew members from local qualifying rounds around the world to the Five Guys Games championship. It was produced by Full Day Productions in collaboration with Lost Tribe Creative, and Collin Orcutt (Any Given Saturday, Omnivore) is the showrunner.

Eight crew members compete for a $100,000 check

The 2026 finale pitted eight crew members against each other, with Thursday Night Football's Charissa Thompson hosting. She interviewed competitors before and after each event. The grand prize is a $100,000 check.

Contestants took on three events: the potato race, the cheese race and the dressing/QC race. Each one pushes the skills behind every Five Guys order. Any Five Guys employee can enter.

Myrtle Beach – October 16, 2026 -- Calabash-style seafood, a light-coated fried specialty that began in a small North Carolina fishing community, is a staple of Myrtle Beach dining, according to a HelloNation article featuring seafood expert Mamie Howard Gunter of The Original Benjamin's Calabash Seafood.

A thin coating separates Calabash from other Southern fried dishes

The method uses a thin layer of seasoned flour or batter instead of thick breading. The result is a golden, crisp exterior that leaves the seafood's natural flavor and tenderness noticeable. Heavier coatings can overpower delicate seafood, the article notes, which helps explain the style's lasting popularity in coastal restaurants.

Encinitas – October 16, 2026 -- Blank Slate, the restaurant near Moonlight Beach run by chef Aron Schwartz and co-owner Pam Schwartz, now serves dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

The restaurant sits at 101 N. Coast Highway 101, next to Encinitas Surfboards. Reservations are available through the restaurant's website or by phone at 760-454-9991, and a reservation calendar shows availability and special events.

Local columnist called his dinner 'a perfect meal'

David Boylan, longtime host of Lick the Plate and a culinary columnist for The Coast News, reviewed Blank Slate in a May 20 feature titled "So much to love about Blank Slate in Encinitas." He has since named it one of the best new restaurants in Encinitas. He credited the owners' combined culinary talent, their wine pairings and the frequency of their menu updates based on fresh ingredients.

Seal Beach, Calif. – October 16, 2026 -- Bala Enzyme Hydration + Recovery Turmeric Drink Mix is now on sale at Target.com, offering a zero-sugar hydration powder built around turmeric and plant-based enzymes. The stick packs come in Pineapple, Lime and Berry flavors.

The launch is a step in the brand's national retail expansion and follows its growing Amazon business.

Turmeric and enzymes replace the usual electrolyte-only formula

Bala Enzyme's patent-pending ENZYMX RECOVERY ACCELERATORTM puts turmeric and the plant-based enzymes bromelain and papain at the center of the formula. The company says the blend is meant to help support a healthy inflammatory response. Amino acids and the electrolytes sodium, potassium and magnesium are included to support hydration.

Each serving has zero sugar, 15 calories when mixed with water and no artificial coloring.

Seattle – October 16, 2026 -- Holland America Line is adding Bar 1873 to Oosterdam, a two-story atrium bar with cocktails, live piano and a three-meter illuminated tulip sculpture, and bookings are now open for cruises aboard the transformed ship.

The bar debuts as part of Holland America Evolution, the cruise line's fleet update. Oosterdam also gets a reimagined Crow's Nest with expanded live music.

A glowing tulip anchors the Deck 2 atrium

London-based design firm SMC built Bar 1873 around Oosterdam's central atrium on Deck 2. The three-meter tulip sculpture, inspired by the Netherlands' national flower and the line's signature orange tulip, is visible from several vantage points and casts patterns of light across the space.

More than 200 heritage and repurposed objects, bespoke artwork and a visual timeline of the company's history surround it. Vintage-style maps and custom artwork add Dutch cultural and maritime touches.

Hong Kong – October 16, 2026 -- Coffee drinkers in Hong Kong can now order a Buffalo Milk Latte, hot or iced, at all five local Lavazza stores, and a Liquid Tiramisu drink is on the way. Lavazza says it is the first chain coffee brand in the city to serve buffalo milk drinks.

Five stores in under a year, around 10 planned

Lavazza opened its first Hong Kong store in Central last November. It has since grown to five locations, mostly in premium office towers and shopping destinations in Central and Causeway Bay. The company plans to double that to around 10 stores in the coming months.

The newest store, at Cheung Kong Center II, features an installation of the Lavazza Carmencita moka pot. Italian designer Marco Zanuso created the pot for Lavazza in 1979, and it is known for its conical shape and heat-resistant handle.

Phoenix – October 15, 2026 -- Families can get two extra-large pizzas for $29.99 at Peter Piper Pizza this October, alongside a pumpkin-shaped Halloween pizza from $16.48 and a bonus on digital gift cards. The deals mark National Pizza Month.

Two XL pizzas add up to 24 slices for $29.99

The Double Up XL deal covers two extra-large, one-topping pizzas totaling 24 slices. It is available for dine-in, delivery and carryout at participating locations.

Jack-O'-Lantern Pizza returns from $16.48

The fan-favorite large pepperoni pizza comes with a crust shaped like a jack-o'-lantern. It is offered for dine-in, carryout and delivery at participating locations, starting at $16.48.

Buy $50 in digital gift cards, get $10 extra

Guests who purchase $50 in digital gift cards during October receive an additional $10. The offer applies to digital cards only, at participating locations.

Denver – October 15, 2026 -- Households across the U.S. are dropping whole potatoes into their Halloween candy bowls, and Potatoes USA is backing the trend with three new "spooky spud" recipes for October.

The trend is called Trick-or-Tater. Some families have handed out potatoes for more than a decade, and more join each year. The Wall Street Journal said it "started as a lark has gained steam in recent years," and NBC Nightly News called potatoes "the new star of spooky season."

Kids are asking for the potato house

Maren from Virginia offers trick-or-treaters a choice of a full-size candy bar, a small toy, or a potato. She ran out of potatoes in her second year after word spread. Last year she went through about 25 pounds, up from 16 the year before, and she is planning for a lot of "tater-or-treaters" with Halloween falling on a Saturday this year.