Starbucks won’t leave Italy alone
Coffee-loving Italians were in an uproar when mass-market caffeine giant Starbucks opened its first out post in the country, but resistance is futile. After its Milan debut, the ‘Bucks has opened two more cafes in the country, reports Quartz. The new locations, which came online last week, set up shop in the Milanese neighborhoods of Corso Garibaldi and Via Durini. The Seattle-based company has no plans to slow down its expansion in the world’s greatest coffee-drinking nation, with 15 more Italian cafes set to break ground annually.
“It’s a medium-term program, over five years,” Roberto Masi, managing director of Starbucks Coffee Italy, tells Il Sole 24 Ore. “We are prudent and humble. We know that Italy is a great challenge for Starbucks. If we do well, and are able to combine a great international brand with an offer tailored to the habits and tastes of Italians, then the program could also accelerate.”
Trump ate a country-club dinner at his country-club Thanksgiving
For those who have enjoyed some holiday time away from current events and the goings on of President Donald Trump, back to reality! The members of the Trump clan enjoyed a Turkey Day meal at their Mar-a-Largo resort, which served the ubiquitous bird, beef tenderloin, lamb, salmon, Chilean sea bass, red snapper, and ribs, according to the Hill. Sides included whipped potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and “stuffing” (note: if it’s cooked outside the Turkey, it’s actually dressing).
As for entertainment during the meal, there was a singer performing “The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera, for some reason.
And in other food news ...
- Here’s a profile of Tom Hovey, the guy who draws the lovely illustrations of baked goods featured on the Great British Baking Show. [Vulture]
- WhatsApp, the third-party text-messaging app, is bringing farmers, home cooks, and chefs together in India. [New York Times]
- It appears the founding family of Campbell’s soup will retain control of the company, and the hedge-fund manager who was contemplating a takeover bid will become a board member. [Wall Street Journal]
- Legendary French chef Alain Ducasse explains why he opened a chocolate shop in London. “I sensed that there is the beginning of a strong interest in London for what we do in terms of chocolate,” Ducasse says. “We have a unique product and a way of making chocolate. There is more and more interest in that kind of craftsmanship here. It feels like the right time. There might be challenges (because of Brexit), but we are happy to be here and we won’t change our minds about that.” [Bloomberg]
- A listeria outbreak has been linked to ready-to-eat Vietnamese-style pork rolls. So far, four people in four states have fallen ill. The pork rolls were produced by Long Phung Food Products out of Houston. [Centers for Disease Control]
- There is a cafe in Arizona called the Trumped Store and Coffee House, and as one might imagine, it is a one-stop shop for all things Donald Trump. There’s no word as to whether the coffee is any good. [NPR]
- Domino’s is really pushing digital orders. Through December 2, the pizza chain is serving half-price pies that are ordered via the company’s app or website. [QSR Magazine]
- Finally, this is your extremely gross headline of the day: Hawaii burger eatery closes after video seems to show rat cooking. [Associated Press]