Chick-fil-A Has Dethroned Starbucks as the Teens’ Favorite Restaurant

Teens turn their back on the ‘Bucks

Sorry, Starbucks, the teens have spoken, and you are no longer their favorite chain. Insert that Drake meme or the distracted boyfriend here. A new survey reveals the chicken-sandwich chain has become the number one fast-food destination for youths of both upper and average income groups for the first time ever, reports Nation’s Restaurant News. Starbucks shouldn’t feel too bad. It’s still the most popular publicly-traded company among kids these days.

Chick-fil-A is strengthening its position with mac-and-cheese

And here’s some news that might strengthen Chick-fil-A’s position with teenagers: The chain is testing a new mac-and-cheese side, per Delish. Some restaurants in North Carolina, Texas, and Maryland are getting a taste of CFA’s take on the classic comfort food side, and so far, it seems to be a hit. There’s no word on if and when this new dish will be in line for a national rollout.

Starbucks opens its first U.S. “sign language store”

Meanwhile, in other Starbucks news, the company has opened its “sign language store” in Washington, D.C. This location, which was first announced back in July, is staffed entirely by people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and allies. “Don’t see me as a risk, see me as an opportunity,” an employee named Kylie Garcia says in Starbucks’s official announcement. “Starbucks has overcome this. Here there are no barriers. I love being able to sign and communicate freely. I love the vibe, the energy and the opportunity to expose others to Deaf culture.”

And in other food news ...

• World Central Kitchen, hero chef José Andrés’s non-profit that provides aid to victims of natural disasters, just announced it has served 100,000 meals in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Michael.
• McDonald’s Japanese operation has come up with a wild fast-food innovation that, if executed properly, sounds amazing. The chain is serving french fries smothered in carbonara sauce, per Food Beast.
• The Washington Post has a nice profile of Dolchester Miles, the pastry chef at Birmingham, Alabama’s Highlands Bar & Grill, who took home a James Beard award this year. Miles is self taught and slings desserts at the Beard Foundation’s pick for America’s Outstanding Restaurant in 2018.
• And, finally, the writers of The Good Place snuck in a reference to Mario Batali’s bizarre sexual misconduct apology letter in last week’s episode, “Jeremy Bearimy.” After completing a manifesto about their afterlife experiments, Janet (played by D’Arcy Carden) tells Michael (Ted Danson), “I added all the data we’ve gathered here on earth in chart and graph form, and I added a pretty tasty little recipe for cinnamon rolls made out of pizza dough.”