Side Dish, the Let's F*&ing Go Edition

Hello and welcome to Side Dish, our weekly round-up of industry news, hot goss and things you might have missed. Now, let’s get to it...

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• Just in time for Halloween, Zotter Chocolates has introduced a Brains & Eggs Bar made with caramelized pork brains, homemade eggnog and hazelnut praline. Boo!

• We’ll take our Thanksgiving sides shaken, not stirred.

• These are America’s croissants.

• Since all things old are new again, the NY Times checks out Wolfgang Puck’s Spago. Verdict: it’s 43 years old, which in L.A. means it’s sadly past its prime.

• In other L.A. news, restaurants are trying to make a water menu happen. Glug.

• The vibes – and the chicken – are immaculate at Johnny’s according to the New Yorker.

• Vogue asks, “Qu’est-ce qui se passe?” with all the French restaurants taking over New York?

• Jimmy John’s Picklewich is back with Pickle Ranch dipping sauce, Pickle Jimmy Chips and a bundled Triple Pickle Meal. That’s quite a dill.

• Eater takes us into the dark underbelly of savory croissants. Just kidding, it’s not dark and there’s no underbelly. But there is a hot dog croissant. Discuss.

• Savory caramel also gets a moment in the spotlight. Lacto-fermented cèpe mushroom salted caramel anyone?

• Get this bread. No, literally, CNN shares the 50 best breads in the world.

• Food & Wine just dropped its Best New Chefs guide, your shortcut to the country’s hottest tables.

• Move over Melbourne, Shanghai has usurped your throne as world’s best coffee city.

• Matcha is crashing happy hour, one Martini at a time.

• Do not click this link if you’re hungry. You’ve been warned.

• Welp, you’re going to have to travel for the world’s best burger. Hint – it’s not in the U.S.

• The Lychee Martini is making a splash—sweet, sleek and suddenly everywhere at cocktail hour again.

• Budget bites in the Big Apple. NYC tops the list for affordable eats.

• Brisket or pulled pork? Buc-ee’s new mac & cheese lineup is causing a delicious dilemma.

• Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report says travel’s new status symbol isn’t where you go, it’s why you go.

• Hotels Above Par drops its 2025 STAR Awards with ‘Hotels that Rewired Our Brain Chemistry.’ Casual.

• Nat Geo just revealed its ‘Best of the World’ list for 2026. Safaris, souks and skiing. BRB booking our tix now.

• Expedia also gets in the mix with ‘Unpack ‘26, The Trends in Travel.’ Farm charm,