McDonald’s jingle is as famous as its Chicken McNuggets, but the company might need to update its tune ahead of a new collaboration. We’re not talking about a big rewrite or anything. We’re thinking something like, “Ba da ba ba ba, I’m wearin’ it,” because the fast food chain is getting into the comfortable footwear business. The latest line from Crocs gives McDonald’s mascots their own signature shoes. And while these clogs might sound very silly (they are), they are also strangely stylish.

Crocs is about to serve up a tasty new line of McDonald’s footwear. Their latest partnership (which we first learned about at Hypebeast) transforms McDonald’s characters, foods, logos, and colors into four different pairs of clogs. Each shoe—which has no business looking as good as it does—also comes with its own custom Jibbitz charms. The four McDonald’s Crocs options include:

• McDonald’s red and yellow classic clog with Big Mac, french fries, drink, Chicken McNuggets, and Golden Arches Jibbitz
• Birdie yellow and pink classic clog with Birdie figure, lashed eyes, scarf, and yellow wrapped burger Jibbitz
• Hamburglar black-and-white striped classic clog with yellow interior and Hamburglar figure, red tie, white wrapped burger, hat, and smiling mouth Jibbitz
• Grimace purple Cozzzy Slide clogs with a lined interior and Grimace figure, shake, eyes, and smiling mouth Jibbitz

No, you aren’t wrong. Those Grimace Cozzzy Slide clogs are straight purple fire.

The collection is expected to go on sale to the public at the end of this week starting on November 2. You can grab your McDonald’s Crocs at select retailers and Crocs’ online shop. Hypebeast says they will range from $70 to $75.

I doubt they’ll be available for long. With billions of customers served and everyone in the world looking for comfortable footwear, this seems like a very happy (meal) meeting of brands. I know I’m going to try and snag the pair that celebrate my personal hero, the Hamburglar. However, unlike him, I am willing to pay for a product I love. Why? Ba da ba ba ba, I don’t feel like wearin’ an orange jumpsuit with my new McDonald’s Crocs.

The post Crocs Serving Up New Line of McDonald’s Mascot Clogs appeared first on Nerdist.

A lot has happened in the world of entertainment this week. Prime Video’s Gen V is really setting up season four of The Boys, Loki season two is making big moves with franchise level implications, and Disney released Chris Pine’s villain song. But that’s not all that’s gone down.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends that you don’t want to miss.

This Week’s Odds & Ends in News:

• EA Motive’s Iron Man Game Gets Much-Anticipated Updates
• Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings Collection Expands with Four New Scene Boxes
• NYC Transit App Becomes Pokémon Go of Rats and Informs You About the Rattiness of a Station
• Get Up to Some Mischief with BoxLunch’s Loki Collection
• Disneyland Resort Announces Pixar Place Hotel, the First Fully Pixar-Themed US Hotel
• Goldfish Elf Maple Syrup Flavored Grahams Are Swimming in for the Holidays
• Lost and Avatar: The Last Airbender Concerts Coming Soon
• Buy a Tiny Elf Home on Zillow
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Actor Wants Spidey-Pool in a Future Game

EA Motive’s Iron Man Game Gets Much-Anticipated Updates

Last September, Marvel Entertainment and EA’s Motive Studios announced they were teaming up for a brand new Iron Man game. This “all-new single-player, third-person, action-adventure” will “feature an original narrative that taps into the rich history of Iron Man, channeling the complexity, charisma, and creative genius of Tony Stark and enabling players to feel what it’s like to truly play as Iron Man.”

We haven’t heard too much about it since, but recently, the game received a few exciting updates. First, EA Motive shared that while the game was still in early pre-production, it had selected Unreal Engine 5 as its game engine. Additionally, a Community Council of Iron Man and Marvel fans has been selected to offer feedback on the game’s creation. And finally, Marvel Comics’ own Ryan North has joined the Iron Man game’s writing team, bringing his passion and expertise to the table. All of that sounds incredibly promising.

For more fun Avengers adventures, check out the trailer for LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red.

Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings Collection Expands with Four New Scene Boxes

Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings collection is really something spectacular. And now, its gorgeous offerings continue to expand with four special Tales of Middle-Earth Scene Boxes. These special sets offer fans and collectors “6 foil Borderless cards with art that combine to showcase one of the most epic scenes from The Lord of the Rings” as well as “6 Art Cards featuring the same art without any game text obscuring the view” and three booster packs which contain 12 cards each, “including 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher.”

The four scenes depicted in these special The Lord of the Rings Magic card box sets are Gandalf in Pelennor Fields, The Might of Galadriel, Flight of the Witch-King, and Aragorn at Helm’s Deep. Each set costs around $41, or all four are available for purchase for $144. All of these incredible box sets go on sale on November 3. We first saw these on GameSpot.

To explore more about Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set, check out our deep dive into the set, here.

NYC Transit App Becomes Pokémon Go of Rats and Informs You About the Rattiness of a Station

Catching a glimpse of a rat in NYC is kind of like playing Pokémon Go in real life, right? To help the vision along, an app called Transit, which we first saw on Kotaku, is helping to detect rat-levels across NYC’s many different subway stops. Transit shares, “We enlisted thousands of rodent spotters across the five boroughs to rank the rattiest stations.” And in the end, Transit created the “NYC Subway Rat Detector.” Rats, it turns out, are everywhere, but in some places more than others. Those who actually download the Transit app can get updated reports on the state of their favorite station and check-in regularly on the rat situation. No word yet on what happens if you throw a Poké Ball in the direction of an NYC rat… But we’ll have to suggest that you don’t.

Did you know that rats can play video games too? Take a look at these rats playing Doom II.

Get Up to Some Mischief with BoxLunch’s Loki Collection

Ready to embrace some extra mischief in your life? BoxLunch’s Loki collection is here to help you celebrate Loki, Sylvie, Mobius, Miss Minutes, and the TVA. Even though Loki and co. are probably going to bring down some multiversal mayhem on us all, it doesn’t mean we can’t look stylish while they do. And what could we possibly need more in our lives than an Alligator Loki plush? Ask yourselves.

Click To View Gallery

The full BoxLunch Loki collection is available here.

To catch up with Loki season two check out our latest write-up.

Disneyland Resort Announces Pixar Place Hotel, the First Fully Pixar-Themed US Hotel

Disneyland + Pixar + fully-themed hotel? Sounds like a match made in heaven to us. We honestly can’t believe the United States didn’t have a full Pixar hotel already, but we guess it didn’t. Disneyland Resort recently announced the Pixar Place Hotel, which will give you an excellent new place to stay while celebrating all things Pixar.

Click To View Gallery

A release shares, “Pixar Place Hotel will evoke the inspiration and humor that goes into every Pixar film, while celebrating the artistic process. Showcasing early sketches to finished design, the art and decor will highlight vibrant Pixar stories, revealing some never-before-seen artwork.” From the iconic Pixar Lamp to The Incredibles to Toy Story 3 and beyond this new hotel will have it all. It will even include a Finding Nemo pool complete with “Crush’s Surfin’ Slide, a 186-foot-long water slide inspired by the coolest sea turtle in the ocean.” That’s cool, dude. You can check out more facets and concepts for Pixar Place above.

As if that’s not enough, a Haunted Mansion bar is coming to Disney’s next cruise ship.

Goldfish Elf Maple Syrup Flavored Grahams Are Swimming in for the Holidays

Celebrate this holiday season with something sweet, Buddy the Elf style. In honor of Elf and everyone’s favorite elf, Goldfish is putting on their holiday best and offering us some maple syrup-flavored snacks. The official description of these treats notes, “MAPLE SYRUP FLAVORED GRAHAMS: Inspired by syrup – one of elves’ four main food groups. Enjoy delicious flavors of sweet brown sugar and butter, with the taste of caramel and vanilla. Inspired by Buddy the Elf!” Count us in. We also plan to greatly enjoy the different shapes these treats come in, which include Buddy’s hat, a maple syrup jar, and, of course, the traditional goldfish.

Elf turns 20 this year, and we couldn’t think of a finer way to welcome Buddy and the gang into double digits.

Need something else sweet in your life? Stranger Things‘ Scoops Ahoy ice cream is now available at Walmart.

Lost and Avatar: The Last Airbender Concerts Coming Soon

In need of some fun geeky outings to attend? Well, two iconic franchises are about to bring you fun in concert form. Avatar: The Last Airbender and Lost are both promising concerts that will transport you.

The official website for Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert shares, “Immerse yourself in an over two-hour show with a live orchestra bringing the show’s iconic musical score to life, in perfect harmony with highlights and favorite moments from the series. Taiko and erhu will share the spotlight with violins and clarinets, while the series’ most beloved scenes play out on screen, bringing viewers into the Avatar world to experience the series’ most memorable moments with Aang, Katara, Toph, Sokka, Zuko and more.”

Four dates have been announced across Europe and the United States. Hopefully more will follow.

Meanwhile, Lost‘s Michael Giacchino offers us a concert poster and little else. We guess it’s the Lost way to be mysterious. We do know we’ll see this Dharma Initiative concert in 2024.

If you need more Avatar: The Last Airbender in your life, check out everything we know about the live-action series.

Buy a Tiny Elf Home on Zillow

Okay, so you can’t actually buy a tiny elf home on Zillow. But who doesn’t love a miniature? And if you get in contact with your elf realtor, you might just take home this little house and $10,000 courtesy of Icelandic Provisions Skyr. All you have to do is make an offering… probably not of your soul. But watch out, the fae folk are tricky. Just keep in mind that heating is wool sweaters, this home has been available for 1,000 years, and the price per square foot is a quarter leg of lamb. Can we please get Netflix on Selling Fairyland, stat?

For more fairies and mythology, check out the Ahsoka series connecton to folklore and myth.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Actor Wants Spidey-Pool in a Future Game

Let’s face it, the people love to see Spider-Man and Deadpool interacting together in a relationship affectionately known as Spidey-Pool. Maybe someday the stars will align, and we’ll even get to see them on the big screen. But another excellent option would be for Spider-Man and Deadpool to meet up in Marvel’s Spider-Man games series.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 recently released to much praise and love. We bet a Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 will become a reality sooner rather than later. But what will it entail? Well, Peter Parker/Spider-Man’s actor Yuri Lowenthal has an idea. He’d like Peter Parker and Deadpool to meet up.

Speaking to ComicBook.com, Lowenthal shared:

I mean, there are so many ways they could go with a third game. I’m assuming, at this point nobody’s had me sign a contract for a third game, but I’m assuming there will be a third game… Look, here’s something I’ve been pitching for a long time, and I don’t know if they’re going to do it, but I love the Spidey-Pool relationship. I love Deadpool and Spider-Man. As much as I talk about Moon Knight in this universe, and Bryan Intihar is tired of me talking about that, I’ve been hard-pitching, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if Nolan North and I got to play in that?” And so I would love to see that. I’d love to see Deadpool and Spidey in this. Is it going to happen? Probably not. Do they listen to me? Mostly not. But that is a relationship I would love to see explored in games.

It would, indeed, be great.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also has its very own artbook. Check out our write-up, here.

The post IRON MAN Game Gets Update, ELF Maple Goldfish Are Here, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

“Some people see things as they are and say, ‘why?’ I dream things that never were and say, ‘why not?’”

I can’t prove it, but I believe the late Robert F. Kennedy Sr.’s famous quote was the inspiration behind an infamous 2021 Van Leeuwen flavor. That’s when the company introduced the world to Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ice cream. Sure, crediting RFK Sr. for its creation might sound absurd, but that makes as much sense as any other origin story. “Why” would anyone want a sweet treat that tastes like mac and cheese? “Why not?” Apparently enough people felt the same way, too, because Van Leeuwen is bringing the mac and cheese ice cream back this month.

Van Leeuwen is turning a toddler/tired adult dinner staple into a frozen dessert once again. In news we first heard at People, the ice cream shop has partnered with Kraft to bring their unusual culinary crossover back to your freezer. The Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ice cream is authentic, too. It’s made with the same cheese powder you add to tiny boiled pieces of elbow macaroni.

Unlike its initial run, the frozen treat won’t start as an online exclusive before heading to stores. Starting on October 23 curious customers can grab a pint of the mac and cheese ice cream at their nearby Walmart. Don’t worry if you want to give this as a holiday gift (to someone you love or hate, either works). The $5 pints will be available until December 26.

It’s one of seven limited-edition flavors the retailer—frequent home of Van Leeuwen exclusives—will have for sale. The others include another absurd flavor alongside some downright delicious sounding options. The full lineup features:

• Dill Pickle
• Peanut Butter Fudge Pretzel
• Peppermint Stick
• Caramel Sticky Bun
• Kettle Corn
• Holiday Cookies & Cream

I would very much like to eat five out of seven. (Guess which five! I bet you can! Very easily!) But I am willing to try them all. Why would I want to eat Dill Pickle and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ice cream? The answer should obvious by now.

The post Van Leeuwen’s Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Ice Cream Returning in Time for the Holidays appeared first on Nerdist.

For some Halloween means trick-or-treating, horror movies, and bobbing for apples. For others the spooky season is defined by haunted houses, costume parties, and hay rides. But, for those who will always love Chicken McNuggets more than snack-sized Snickers, Halloween is all about plastic containers you get from a fast food restaurant. That might sound weird, but not if you grew up with McDonald’s iconic Boo Buckets. Those adorable Happy Meal containers were a staple of countless childhood celebrations. Now they’re becoming a staple of adulthood, too. McDonald’s has announced it is once again bringing back Boo Buckets. Only this year the collection includes a fourth option not seen for a very long time.

McDonald’s USA Menu Spotter website revealed Boo Buckets are coming back again this year. Starting on October 17, guests hungry for spooky nostalgia can grab one of four new Halloween Happy Meal designs. The 2023 lineup includes: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire. The company says its fanged fourth bucket is the first purple option “since the OG purple Boo Bucket.” (The original featured a witch rather than a vampire.)

OG Boo Bucket lovers will also appreciate this year’s set come with lids. That hasn’t always been the case since McDonald’s first introduced them in 1986.

This latest batch of Boo Buckets will be available at participating restaurants nationwide. Don’t wait to grab yours, though. And not just because they’ll only be in stores shortly before Halloween. The fast food chain says, “They’ll be gone faster than you can say ‘boo,’ so head to your local McDonald’s to get a festive pail while supplies last.”

We agree and will definitely be in line on the 17th ourselves. There are millions and millions of other kids who are now adults with jobs, too. It won’t surprise us if these boo Buckets are all sold out by the 18th.

The post McDonald’s Boo Buckets Are Back for Halloween appeared first on Nerdist.

One of our favorite creative bakeries, One House Bakery, has made yet another clever sculpture out of bread. Last time, the bakery furnished us with “Pan Solo,” a life-sized version of Han Solo frozen in carbonite made entirely out of, you guessed it, bread. And now, they’re honoring another pop-cultural phenomenon, The Last of Us. One House Bakery has taken some unassuming bread dough and turned it into a terrifying Clicker right out of Max’s adaptation of the popular game. There’s actually some irony in seeing a bread Clicker sculpture because, in The Last of Us live-action series, bread was partially responsible for creating Clickers in the first place.

Still, we’ll put this bread Clicker on our table, right next to the delicious The Last of Us Clicker cake we saw not too long ago. Now we just need a Clicker sculpted out of raisin cookies or pancakes, and we’ll truly have the full set.

All joking aside, this The Last of Us Clicker bread sculpture is incredibly impressive. Although Clickers are obviously horrifying, they represent one of the most intricate stages of being an Infected on The Last of Us. Clickers have gone full zombie enough that they have layers upon layers of fungus growing out of them and forming elaborate patterns. There’s a strange beauty and gracefulness to all those tendrils. And One House Bakery brings every facet of The Last of Us‘ Clickers to life in bread form. Not a crinkle is left uncrinkled and no tooth is left unchipped. It’s really quite a marvel.

The bakery shares more about their bread Clicker in an Instagram post detailing this The Last of Us project. The sculptor, Hannalee Pervan, notes that the bakery made the sculpture completely out of bread dough. And that she and her mom fell in love with The Last of Us and “were immediately obsessed by the beauty and the terror of the clickers and the cordyceps.” Pervan notes, “We have been working for months with dough on our creations and I hope we did the show proud! Come by and say hi to our clicker, Gus…funGus…get it???

FunGus will be available to witness in all his bread majesty throughout the month of October at One House Bakery. We just hope no one tries to eat this bread Clicker… We all saw what happened on The Last of Us.

The post THE LAST OF US Bread Clicker Gives Us Another Reason to Fear Flour appeared first on Nerdist.

Who doesn’t love Girl Scout cookies? No one, that’s who. And, even though it’s not Girl Scout cookie season right now, you can still enjoy your favorite cookies in a whole new way… now with more peanut butter. And who doesn’t love more peanut butter? Skippy P.B. Bites is introducing three new Girl Scout Cookie-inspired flavors in one excellent collaboration. The three delicious flavors each celebrate a different Girl Scout Cookie.

So what are the new flavors of P.B. Bites? They are Adventurefuls, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Coconut Caramel. I tried these three Girl Scout P.B. Bites out myself, and honestly, I cannot stop eating them. The P.B. Bites are basically gobs of non-sticky peanut butter surrounding a Girl Scout cookie center. It’s honestly a revelation.

In more official terms, here’s more about the three flavors:

Coconut Caramel, reminiscent of a favorite Girl Scout cookie variety, features a chocolatey cookie center, encased in a velvety coating of Skippy® peanut butter. This bite is perfectly flavored with notes of toasted coconut and caramel and finished with real toasted coconut flakes.

Chocolate Peanut Butter, inspired by another beloved Girl Scout cookie flavor, is a delectable treat boasting a vanilla cookie center wrapped in a heavenly coating of Skippy® peanut butter and rolled in luscious milk chocolate.

Adventurefuls™ are inspired by their namesake: the popular Adventurefuls™ cookie. This delicious flavor boasts a chocolatey cookie center enveloped in a tantalizing peanut butter coating with delightful hints of caramel and tossed with sea salt and brownie dust.

These new Skippy Girl Scout P.B. Bites will arrive in stores this October. What a great way to extend Girl Scout Cookie season. Personally, we have to wonder how a Thin Mints P.B. Bite would taste. It’s not the most obvious flavor combination, but we bet it could be delicious. For now, we’ll continue snacking on the flavors we do have in hand. More peanut butter and more Girl Scout cookies are two big yes-es for us.

The post Try Girl Scout Cookies a New Way with Skippy P.B. Bites appeared first on Nerdist.

Guys might have underestimated Theodore Lasso all his life, but that never stopped him from reaching greatness. Not just on the field or pitch, either. AFC Richmond’s manager could also bake. Now you can get a taste of what he was cooking in his kitchen with Mackenzie Limited’s exclusive new Ted Lasso Biscuits with the Boss cookies.

Rebecca Welton had all the money in the world, but for three seasons the Greyhounds owner got a special treat free of charge every morning. Her team’s head coach started off every workday by bringing Rebecca a little pink box of his very own homemade shortbread cookies. It was a brilliant way to “butter up” his superior. (Joking, joking. We all know Ted was far too kind to bring someone cookies for any malicious reason.) But it was also frustrating watching her eat them because we couldn’t.

That ends now. Ted Lasso backers can now enjoy them, too. For a price.

Mackenzie Limited has their very own official version of those cookies for sale. And the company’s Ted Lasso Biscuits with the Boss sweets (which we first learned about at /Film) sound as good as they always looked on the Apple TV+ series. Here’s the edible collectible’s official description:

These authentic English biscuits are a touch salty, a touch sweet, and always buttery and rich. One bite of these Ted Lasso shortbread cookies with their signature crumbly texture and you’ll realize why Ted believed in the power of biscuits. “They can bring people together, they can make you feel better, and they can even help you win a football game.” – Ted Lasso

Each box comes with ten large shortbread cookies equaling nine-ounces of delectable deliciousness in total. Obviously that’s not enough, which is why you can order up to three boxes at once. One box will run you (like Roy Kent) $29.95, two costs $49.95, and three boxes come in at a Zava-like $69.95.

If you have a Coach Beard in your life you’ll probably want to order 300 boxes. (It’s me. I’m the Coach Beard in peoples’ food lives.) For that amount, it’s probably best if you actually do have Rebecca Welton’s number. Either that or work with Ted Lasso.

The post Eat Biscuits Like a Boss with New Official TED LASSO Shortbread Cookies appeared first on Nerdist.

R.I.P. Scoops Ahoy. You definitely gave us our favorite Steve Harrington looks ever. And you created the Scoops Troop, a stellar combination of characters we loved to see interacting. In fact, the Scoops Troop could only have been enhanced by the presence of Eddie Munson, but what can you do? In any case, we were sad to see you go at the end of Stranger Things 3. But now, we, and many other Stranger Things fans, can bring Scoops Ahoy back to life and into our own lives. Walmart is officially selling Stranger Things Scoops Ahoy ice cream for us to enjoy in the comfort of our own homes, far away from the Upside Down. (We hope.)

Currently, Walmart has seven Scoops Ahoy flavors for you to choose from, and they are all vaguely Stranger Things themed.

Upside Down Releated Scoops Ahoy Stranger Things Ice Cream

Our favorite is definitely one called simply, The Void. That’s a Stranger Things ice cream name if we ever heard it. This particular flavor is “black vanilla ice cream, filled with strawberry ribbons and decadent vanilla cream cookie pieces.” That actually sounds delicious… And kind of gory, which we don’t mind. A little strawberry ribbon blood never hurt anyone.

The Scoops Ahoy ice cream flavors Mint Flare and Pineapple Upside Down are also inspired by Stranger Things‘ darkest realm. The former even sounds a little bit like Mind Flayer. Yum. Mint Flare is a “mint ice cream concoction, melded together with rainbow confetti particles and chocolate chunks.” Meanwhile, Pineapple Upside Down is a pineapple ice cream “with chunks of pound cake and salted caramel swirls.” Okay, that one is a need.

Ice Cream Odes to Dustin

Good ole Dusty Buns, a.k.a Dustin, has two Stranger Things Scoops Ahoy ice cream flavors devoted to him. And that’s how it should be. Chocolate Pudding and Cinnamon Bun Bytes celebrate Dustin’s favorite treat and his epic nickname. The former is a “chocolate pudding ice cream you’ve been searching for, featuring chocolate ice cream, chocolate fudge swirls, and vanilla wafers.” While Cinnamon Bun Bytes is a “cinnamon ice cream, swirled with cinnamon cream cheese and cinnamon roll dough.” Honestly, these all sound amazing.

Other Stranger Things References in Scoops Ahoy Ice Cream

The final two Scoops Ahoy ice cream flavors reference Eleven and, well, Scoops Ahoy itself. Triple Decker Extravaganza is a treat shared by Hopper and Eleven, brought to life in ice cream form. And that means “vanilla and butter ice cream, swirled with maple ribbons, chocolate peanut butter candy.” Meanwhile, USS Butterscotch references a sundae actually served in Scoops Ahoy and beloved by Erica. And we know Erica has good taste. Netflix notes, “salty-sweet caramel ribbons and chocolate swirls await you aboard this frozen butterscotch dreamboat.”

Where and When Can You Buy the Scoops Ahoy Ice Cream?

AHOY, SCOOPS TROOP! We’re embarking on a flavor voyage! pic.twitter.com/iHEjjXnkgD

— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) September 15, 2023

The Scoops Ahoy Stranger Things ice cream is now available to buy at Walmart. You can see if your local locations carry these nerdy treats, here. They retail for approximately $5.00.

Well, we’re off to enjoy The Void.

The post STRANGERS THINGS Scoops Ahoy Ice Cream Is Now Available at Walmart appeared first on Nerdist.

Pumpkin Spice reigns supreme during the September through November months. But though you can find Pumpkin Spice flavors of everything from Cup Noodles to Goldfish, Pumpkin Spice coffee does remain the gold standard of the season. But a new challenger to the throne has arrived. After all, why let coffee have all the fun? Wendy’s has officially introduced a Pumpkin Spice Frosty to its seasonal menu. And honestly, a Pumpkin Spice Frosty sounds like an inspired idea to us.

What Does Wendy’s Pumpkin Spice Frosty Taste Like?

Wendy’s shares the following about its new fall Frosty. It notes, “Joining the Chocolate Frosty on menus, the new Pumpkin Spice Frosty merges the same creamy, delectable texture Frosty fans know and love with hints of pumpkin and a blend of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for a taste of familiar fall flavors in every bite.”

When Will Wendy’s Pumpkin Spice Frosty Be Available and Where Will It Release?

Well, that sounds delicious. Ice cream isn’t necessarily known as a fall food, but through the magic of pumpkin spice, anything is possible. Happily, these Pumpkin Spice Frosties will be available in Wendy’s nationwide, so everyone can partake of the seasonal sensation. But don’t go rushing out to Wendy’s just yet. This is just a heads-up. The Pumpkin Spice Frosty will be available for purchase beginning on September 12. I know I’ve marked my fall calendar. Though a warning for Frosty lovers, this Pumpkin Spice version means the Vanilla Frosty will be temporarily unavailable.

Cold Brew Joins in the Wendy’s Fall Fun

Just in case that’s not enough Pumpkin Spice for you, Wendy’s wants you to know that in addition to the Frosty, it will also have some good old coffee available. Well, sort of. It will have the Pumpkin Spice Frosty Cream Cold Brew available. Wendy’s shares, “The Pumpkin Spice Frosty Cream Cold Brew will be available to order alongside Wendy’s core vanilla, caramel and chocolate flavors. Using the same delicious syrup from the Pumpkin Spice Frosty, the new Frosty Cream Cold Brew flavor merges smooth, cold-brewed coffee with classic Frosty creamer swirled to perfection over ice.”

Okay, sold! Pumpkin spice season truly is the best.

The post New Pumpkin Spice Frosty Brings Fall to Wendy’s appeared first on Nerdist.

Count Chocula. Franken Berry. Boo Berry. The names of the General Mills Monster Cereal mascots are iconic and have been for over 50 years now. But it’s been over 35 years since they added a new ghoul to the line-up. (And for the record, that ghoul was the often underappreciated Yummy Mummy). Now, at long last, a new Cereal Monster will arrive this spooky season. Foolish mortals, Carmella Creeper has entered the chat. She’s a zombie, and a working DJ to boot. And she’s got her own cereal coming this fall. She’ll also take part in this year’s Monster Mash Remix cereal.

Carmella Creeper is actually the long-lost cousin of Franken Berry. General Mills describes her as “a zombie DJ with an edgy sound who is always the life of the party.” She has a fierce attitude and the looks to match, and Carmella is ready to shake things up at the Monsters’ haunted mansion. Her new limited-edition cereal features caramel-apple-flavored pieces with colored monster marshmallows. She’ll also be bringing Monsters Cereal “band” merch with her beginning on October 13 and a new hit single for us Halloween fans to enjoy (a remix of “Monster Mash”).

General Mills will also include Carmella in Monster Mash Remix Cereal. Similar to the 50th anniversary Monster Cereal mash-up released in 2021, this one is a mix of all six Monsters Cereals flavors (Carmella Creeper, Frute Brute, Count Chocula, Boo Berry, Franken Berry, and Yummy Mummy).

We think it’s high time they added a new Monster Cereal to the mix. And seeing as how popular zombies are in pop culture these past two decades or so, it was high time one of them got their turn on the box. But Carmella shouldn’t be the only lady in the group. How about a Watermelon Witch? A Marshmallow Medusa? We’re just throwing it out there. Alongside Carmella and the Monster Mash Remix, General Mills is also releasing the stalwart Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry. Hopefully Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy get their turn again next year. They might not be as popular, but we still love them.

Originally published on June 8, 2023.

The post Carmella Creeper Is the First New Monster Cereal in 35 Years appeared first on Nerdist.

If there’s one thing Taco Bell fans can count on (besides $20 dollars getting you enough food to feed a small village) it’s that the fast food chain remains dedicated to serving you MTN DEW Baja Blast anyway it can. From hot sauces to adult-beverages, that signature flavor profile can kick up any foodstuff. It also turns them into an unusual yellowish-green treat unlike any other treat, something that really stands out. That’s certainly true of the latest Taco Bell offering currently being tested at one of its restaurants. Adventurous customers can now order up a dish of MTN DEW Baja Blast gelato.

Oh madone! Taco Bell has announced it teamed up with its long-time collaborator MTN DEW to test a first-of-its-kind option for the restaurant. The new MTN DEW Baja Blast gelato is exclusively available at the Tabo Bell in Irvine, CA (4101 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92612). It’s not there for very long, either. It’s on the menu “for two weeks or while supplies last.”

We bet it won’t last for two weeks. How could it? Because while this isn’t the first frozen Baja Blast treat, it is the strangest. The regular menu Baja Blast Freeze seems pretty normal in comparison. There’s something very different about drinking a strange-colored liquid versus eating it. Especially gelato of all things. That’s why we demand this unusual sweet treat eventually ends up on Taco Bell menus everywhere.

For now lucky customers in Irvine can grab a 3.6-ounce container for $2.99 as “a complimentary addition to any cheesy, spicy, saucy order.” Once it’s gone we have a new surprise to look forward to. Taco Bell says a different MTN DEW Baja Blast “innovation” will arrive this fall.

Of course it will. We can always count on Taco Bell to serve MTN DEW Baja Blast anyway it can.

The post Taco Bell Tests New MTN DEW Baja Blast Gelato appeared first on Nerdist.

Forget shells, coins, stars, and mushrooms; it’s Super Mario Oreos that will really help you defeat Bowser and also win at life. These limited-edition Oreos are inspired by the world of Super Mario and carry the tagline, “Collect cookies. Save the Kingdom.” That’s almost like Heroes‘ “Save the cheerleader, save the world.” But a little tastier. According to a release, Oreo is sending Mario fans on “a mission to help Mario and the other heroes stop Bowser.” That’s a lot for one pack of cookies. But we guess Oreos are up to the Super task. Let’s-a go!

A release shares more about which characters and symbols we can expect to find on these unique Oreos. It notes:

The limited-edition OREO x Super Mario cookies feature 16 unique embossments including Super Mario characters and Power-ups, such as iconic heroes Mario and Luigi, a Super Star, and enemies like a Goomba and Bowser Jr. Packs are filled randomly. Each pack offers a new adventure for fans to discover the 16 different Super Mario designs!

But how can these Oreos help to defeat Bowser you ask? Well, Oreo is challenging Super Mario fans to collect heroes and power-ups and then send him splashing into a glass of milk. Sounds like a sweet deal to us, just make sure you’re playing Jack Black a.k.a Bowser’s “Peaches” song in the background. Hopefully, the power of milk will help save Princess Peach from doom. Now all we need is an Oreo power-up in the world of Super Mario, and the circle will be complete.

Also, the release for these cookies wants to assure you that this is an all-ages adventure. So, feel free to embrace your inner child and get dunking. Defeating Bowser is fun for the whole family. Personally, we can’t wait to get a Blooper Oreo, adorable.

Notable missing from this collection of Super Mario Oreos is Princess Peach. But although initially unavailable Princess Peach will get her day in the Oreo sun, but only in limited quantities. Princess Peach is royalty after all, it makes sense for her Oreos to be limied-edition. To get a Princess Peach Oreo, you can enter Oreos’ sweepstakes here. There are 5,000 boxes of these Mario Oreos on offer. Please note the sweepstakes is only available to residents of the United States.

You can order your Super Mario Oreos today. The cookies are also available at nationwide retailers.

Originally published on June 29, 2023.

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Was it really a party if you didn’t do a shot of Fireball at some point? According to my friends no, not even a little bit. Like many others, that spicy liquor has long been a mainstay at our summer barbecues, birthday gatherings, and nights of general debauchery. But soon we’ll be able to make it a part of elegant galas and high-society soirees. That iconic cinnamon whisky is getting a fancy packaging upgrade in time for the holiday season. Fireball Dragnum is the same adult beverage you know and love, only it comes in an ornate champagne-inspired bottle.

The new Fireball Dragnum is the company’s sleek Trojan Horse for getting that cinnamon beverage into any classy event. It comes in a sophisticated glass bottle designed so it won’t look out of place sitting next to high-end spirits. It has a cork-inspired topper, classic wire cage, fancy logo, and crinkled foil wrap. But don’t expect to taste bubbles or some high-falutin flavor combo. When you open it up you’ll find the same Fireball taste you know oh so well from swigging it at 2AM with both friends and strangers alike.

The company also designed the bottle to make it a great gift and so you can spice also up holiday events that might otherwise frown on you arriving with everyone’s favorite shot. “We know Fireball turns any boring experience into a memorable one and we had a hypothesis that, if given the choice, fans would reach for a magnum of Fireball – a Dragnum, if you will – over a magnum of the same old, same old to ignite holiday festivities,” said Global Brand Director Danny Suich in a press release. “But we also wanted to up the fancy factor a bit to help make the season feel extra special. Because an epic celebration deserves something spicier than usual.”

Fireball Dragnum ($24.99) will come in 1.75 liter bottles and starts arriving in storing this month. Which means my friends will definitely have it ready to go for their next party. I just hope we can figure out how to open it when someone says it’s Fireball time.

The post Fireball’s Fancy Dragnum Bottle Will Spice Up Sophisticated Holiday Parties appeared first on Nerdist.

In 2022, Eggo teamed with Sugarlands Distilling Co. for Eggo Nog. The drink turned those iconic waffles into an adult beverage. I can personally attest (from too much taste testing) that silky holiday season liqueur was equally delicious and dangerous. Clearly others agreed with me, as it quickly sold out once it hit stores. Now the two companies are partnering once more for a second version. Only this drink seems designed for a morning meal any day of the year. They’ve turned an entire breakfast experience into an alcoholic sweet treat, with Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream.

What Is Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream, and What Does It Taste Like?

Sugarlands Distilling Co. says it’s “raising the bar for brunch” via its latest “creamy partnership between Eggo & Appalachian Sippin’ Cream.” But what is Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream actually like? Well, this newest collaboration combines the flavor of toasted Eggo waffles covered in sweet maple syrup with rich butter and “hints” of smoky bacon. It’s the type of concoction we’d expect to see at the hottest brunch location in an overcrowded hipster town. Only we won’t have to wait in long lines to try it.

Where Can You Buy This Eggo Drink?

Eggo Brunch in a Jar (80 proof) will come in 750 mL bottles that once again look like a box of Eggos. You can order yours directly online from ReserveBar. Or you can find it in select Kroger, FRYS, Total Wine, and Hy-Vee retailers. To see where/if Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream is available near you, just head to the drink’s official site and pop in your zip code in the store finder.

While this isn’t as overtly connected to the Christmas season like its Eggo Nog predecessor, it will be available in time for the holidays. Sugarlands also has a menu of cocktails you can make with Eggo Brunch in a Jar. Just like last year, I’ll definitely be trying way too many of them. Nothing beats day drinking and waffles.

The post Eggo ‘Brunch in a Jar’ Sippin’ Cream Turns Waffles, Bacon, and Butter Into a Boozy Treat appeared first on Nerdist.

Did I personally inspire Dunkin’ Donuts to create their own line of Dunkin’ Spiked beverages? No, almost certainly not. To even suggest such a thing is utter madness akin to the rantings of a man who doesn’t merely tilt at windmills… He thinks he invented them. And yet…maybe I did? Years ago, I mixed Harpoon Dunkin’ Donuts beer with a large Dunkin’ iced coffee. As I wrote in my review here at Nerdist, it was utterly delicious. (Why yes, I am from New England. How could you tell?) But whether my boozy concoction had anything to do with Dunkin’s new line of alcohol offerings doesn’t matter. All that matters is getting to try all of these hard coffees and teas as soon as possible.

Dunkin’ Spiked Hard Iced Coffees and Teas

VinePair alerted us to an upcoming line of adult beverages that could change day drinking forever. Dunkin’ Donuts already has a website for Dunkin’ Spiked, a new collection of coffee beer and hard iced tea options that might cause riots in Boston.

The hard beers/iced coffees will come in four Dunkin’ flavors. These include: Dunkin’ Spiked Original Iced Coffee, Dunkin’ Spiked Caramel Iced Coffee, Dunkin’ Spiked Mocha Iced Coffee, and Dunkin’ Spiked Vanilla Iced Coffee. Each Dunkin’ Spiked coffee beer will have an ABV of 6%. The four Dunkin’ hard iced tea flavors, meanwhile, will include: Slightly Sweet Iced Tea, Half & Half Iced Tea, Strawberry Dragonfruit Iced Tea Refresher, and Mango Pineapple Iced Tea Refresher. The Dunkin’ hard iced teas have ABVs of 5%.

More like Drunkin’ Donuts, amiritie?

Where and When Will Dunkin’ Donuts’ Alcoholic Drinks Be Available?

The Dunkin’ Spiked hard coffee and tea offerings are not on sale yet. But these Dunkin’ Donuts alcohol-filled drinks are coming soon. Dunkin’ Spiked’s beverage line-up will release in early September, according to the company. And these Dunkin’ Donuts hard drinks will be available in twelve lucky states. They are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. To find Dunkin’ Spiked drinks near you, you can use the Dunkin’s product finder tool. But please be aware, these alcoholic drinks will not be available in Dunkin’ Donuts’ restaurant locations… So don’t even try to order on the app.

When these hard Dunkin’ products do hit stores, the collection’s site lists them as coming in 12-ounce cans in either four-packs or mixed packs of 12. You’ll also be able to nab oversized single-serve 19.2-ounce cans. 

Should Dunkin’ Donuts send me every variety of these alcoholic iced coffees and teas for an early taste test because I possibly inspired their very existence? No, that would be an absurd thing for me to say.

…But I still hope they do.

Originally published on August 10, 2023.

The post Dunkin’ Donuts’ New Dunkin’ Spiked Hard Iced Coffees and Teas Will Change Day Drinking Forever appeared first on Nerdist.

The ’80s brought the world many gifts: incredible films, iconic fashion, and McDonald’s Halloween buckets. Nicknamed Boo Buckets, the first McDonald’s Halloween trick-or-treat pails arrived in 1986. The white, green, and orange plastic pails have a place in the annals of nostalgia. Boo Bucket enthusiasts got a treat last year when McDonald’s rereleased the buckets. This time around, though, fans will get the buckets in another form: bags. Loungefly has teamed with McDonald’s to make crossbody bags that look like the iconic trick-or-treat buckets.

Loungefly’s McDonald’s Halloween bags come in two colors, green and orange. If you didn’t know, the different Boo Buckets have names. So, the green bag is McGoblin and the orange bag is McPunk’n. These figural bags open from the top just like buckets. They’re made of vegan leather with applique and printed details. On top of looking absolutely adorable, both styles of the McDonald’s Halloween trick-or-treat bucket bags glow in the dark.

While a number of people have turned their plastic Boo Buckets into makeshift purses, these designs come with more comfort. These bags come lined with a print featuring the original Halloween pail trio. Yes, that means it is too nice and cute to put greasy fries or any other McDonald’s food in. Do not use it as a Happy Meal container. Since McGoblin costs $65 and McPunk’n costs $70, you’re probably likely to respect the trick-or-treat bucket bag. That said, you could use them to stash individually wrapped candies.

Both styles of bags will be available to order on Loungefly’s site soon.

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You never know who, or what, you’ll meet in Exandria. Maybe a fearsome creature. Perhaps a shady noble. Or if you’re lucky, the Shadow Baker. The Critical Role elf pastry baker, whose name is actually Ephred, is wildly charismatic and smells of baked goods. He keeps a number of pastry options tucked away in the inner pockets of his cloak. Give this strong connection to food, it was probably a given that Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role would include a Shadow Baker recipe. We have an exclusive peek at the Shadow Baker’s pocket muffins and blackberry compound butter. We’re drooling.

Introduced in Critical Role‘s third campaign, the Shadow Baker is an NPC voiced by Matthew Mercer. This recipe is just one of 60 from the book. The Official Cookbook of Critical Role is written by Liz Marsham with recipes by Jesse Szewczyk, Susan Vu, and Amanda Yee, and a foreword by Quyen Tran and Sam Riegel. In its pages you’ll find food and drinks from across Exandria.

Muffins of the Shadow Baker

The Lantern Spire is the first stop for many visitors to Jrusar, being the only way into the city on foot. Once there, you’ll find crowded streets winding up and around the spire toward the ever-burning light of the Prakash Pyre that gives the spire its name. If you ignore those streets, though, and find a way inside the spire, you could find yourself at the Elder’s Post grey market.* If you are lucky, you might come across Ephred, the master pastry chef known as the Shadow Baker. And if you are very lucky, the pockets of his cloak might still contain some delightful treats to buy.

Few among us are so lucky,** so we have attempted to re-create two of the Shadow Baker’s muffins for the home cook. Beginning with the same batter, they then diverge into savory and sweet options. The savory muffin has sausage and potato, while the sweet is topped with cinnamon sugar crumble and served with the Shadow Baker’s signature blackberry citrus butter.

*You could also find yourself extremely disoriented or extremely robbed. Proceed with caution.

**But if you are, please say hi for us! We are big Shadow Baker fans here at Exquisite Exandria.

Shadow Baker’s Pocket Muffins

MAKES 24 MUFFINS
PREP TIME: 40 minutes
COOK TIME: 25 minutes

Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Streusel Topping
½ cup / 70g flour
½ cup (1 stick) / 113g cold unsalted butter, grated
¼ cup / 50g packed light brown sugar
¼ cup / 50g granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Corn Muffin Batter
1 cup / 140g all-purpose flour
1 cup / 140g fine-grain cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup / 240ml buttermilk
2 eggs
½ cup (1 stick) / 113g unsalted butter, melted
⅓ cup / 65g granulated sugar

Savory Breakfast Muffins
4 ounces / 115g breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
8 small purple potatoes, small diced and parboiled (see Note)
1 cup / 128g shredded Cheddar cheese
Blackberry Compound Butter (recipe follows), for serving

Preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C and line two twelve-cup muffin pans with muffin liners.

To make the cinnamon and brown sugar streusel topping: In a medium bowl, add the flour, grated butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Using your hands, scrunch the ingredients together until crumbles form. Do not scrunch too long, or the butter will melt. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Prepare the corn muffin batter: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and granulated sugar until well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add the dry ingredients and stir until a thick batter forms.

Scoop half of the batter evenly into 12 of the muffin liners and top with the streusel.

To make the Savory Breakfast Muffins: Mix the sausage, potatoes, and ½ cup of the shredded cheese into the remaining corn batter and scoop into the remaining 12 muffin liners. Top these savory muffins with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the batter is completely cooked and the cheese is brown and bubbly around the edges of the savory muffins. Serve the muffins with the Blackberry Compound Butter alongside.

NOTE: To parboil potatoes, boil them in salted water until they are no longer crunchy, but still a bit firm in the center, 5 to 6 minutes.

Blackberry Compound Butter
MAKES ½ CUP
½ cup (1 stick) / 113g unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoons blackberry jam
Zest of 1 small orange

To make the blackberry compound butter: While the muffins are cooking, add the butter, blackberry jam, and orange zest to a small bowl. Using an electric or handheld mixer, mix on low until well incorporated and the butter takes on a purplish hue, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a small serving dish and serve with the streusel muffins.

Reprinted from Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role. © 2023 by Gilmore’s Glorious Goods LLC. Published by Random House Worlds, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Illustration by Adrián Ibarra Lugo.

Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role arrives on shelves on August 29. You can place a preorder now.

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Recently, Burger King Thailand made our stomachs hurt with its cheese-only cheeseburger. A bun with nothing but a pile of American cheese slices is truly a nightmare. Why would you do that to your precious tummy?! But it cannot be worse than a Burger King “Real Meat Burger,” which is a burger with nothing but beef patties on it. There are no condiments, no veggies, and apparently no sense of shame. 

The meat-only burger starts off with three patties and a bun for 339 baht, which is around $9.84. But, for those who want a “Real Meat Burger” with more beef patties, they can pay 100 baht for each additional piece of meat. Some people want to stack that burger up high. But how high is too high? The sky is not the limit but it does get pretty high.

According to Today, one adventurous blogger put 100 patties on a single burger for a gut-busting meal that was 10,039 baht, which is nearly $300. Of course, he didn’t eat all of the burger because that is physically impossible. But he did use the leftovers to make (a lot of?) stir fry. Yummy.

This meat-only burger takes the company’s “Have It Your Way” slogan to new heights, literally and figuratively. It is not clear how long this monstrosity will be around but this is certainly not the way to go if you care about your arteries. Burger King had some additional fun with photos of other potential burgers, which are not real at this time.

Burgers with just tomatoes, onions, sesame seeds, or even pickles were a part of the post. I hate to admit it, but something about the all bread one really speaks to me. Like Oprah, I love bread. All of this weirdness should stay in the company’s imagination only. Let’s see what Burger King Thailand cooks up next.

The post Burger King’s Meat-Only Burger Can Stack 100 Patties High for $300 appeared first on Nerdist.

I do not know, nor do I presume to know, what a rainbow tastes like. However, I am pretty confident an optical phenomenon consisting of light reflection, dispersion, and refraction does NOT taste like mustard. I’m no chemist, but it just doesn’t feel like the science lines up, you know? That’s not stopping Skittles from adding that flavor to its collection of rainbow-inspired offerings, though. The company has partnered with French’s Mustard to celebrate National Mustard Day with a special release, a sweet treat that will go better with a hot dog than it will other candy.

Once again French’s Mustard is getting weird for its big holiday on August 5. This time it has teamed with Skittles for a strange confectionary it calls “this summer’s tangiest yellow candy.” (No argument from us on that.) French’s Mustard Skittles look like normal pieces of that beloved sweet, but inside contains a pungent concoction.

Obviously I must have this. If you feel the same way here’s how you can try and nab some of this limited-release candy. You can win free fun-sized packs of French’s Mustard Skittles via online sweepstakes. (Follow French’s and Skittles on social media for details.) There will also be three in-person pop up events:

• July 31: Atlanta – Ponce City Market (675 North Avenue NE)
• August 2: Washington D.C. – City Center from (825 10th St NW)
• August 5: New York City – Hudson River Park (12th Ave)

All three pop-ups will run from 11 am to 3 pm. If you miss out on those or the online giveaways you can also keep an eye out for French’s Mustard Skittles—and branded swag—along the East Coast when the “Mustard Mobile” sets out on a multi-stop tour.

It won’t be hard to miss. Just look for a bright yellow custom-designed vintage bus driving around with a giant Mustard Skittle on the roof. French’s will also post a map so you can see where its headed. Whether mustard Skittles tastes like the rainbow will likely remain a mystery, though.

The post Skittles Adds French’s Mustard to Its Rainbow with Special Release appeared first on Nerdist.

There’s nothing quite like a delicious cheeseburger. That combination of grilled hamburger, a slice of melted cheese, a brioche (and maybe toasted) bun, and an assortment of toppings is perfect for any time of the day. It can be the meal to ease a hangover or your first bite of the day at brunch. Lunchtime, dinnertime, and in-between time are all perfect for a cheeseburger. But Burger King Thailand has taken the beautiful concept of a cheeseburger and turned it into something horrific by making a burger with only cheese on it. It is a cheeseburger in the most literal sense of the word and I hate it. (We first heard about this terrible burger with only cheese on it via CNN.)

It is simply a bun with up to 20 slices of American cheese. What a tragic creation. The new Burger King Thailand item recently launched and a few brave souls went to try the cheeseburger with only cheese on it, which costs 109 Thai baht ($3.10). Apparently, several people said what we already know to be true: it is too much cheese at once. I am a cheese lover but I am not a fan of American cheese. However, I wouldn’t want a burger with any of my favorite cheeses stacked between two buns. This is just as bad as the Burger King chocolate Whopper that hit Taiwan a while back. Thankfully, it will only be around for a limited time and maybe we won’t have to see this nightmare ever again.

The post Burger King’s New Cheeseburger Is Just 20 Slices of Cheese and Only Cheese appeared first on Nerdist.

Peanuts and a bag of Cracker Jack are great baseball game snacks. But there’s nothing quite like a hot dog with ketchup and a cold soda while you root for the home team. They are a perfect match like peanut butter and jelly. Pepsi knows you love this combination so much that they are combining these tastes with Colachup, ketchup infused with Pepsi. (Thanks to Food & Wine for bringing this to our attention!)

This condiment will hit several baseball stadiums across America on July 4. Here’s where you can find that (maybe delicious) Pepsi infused ketchup: 

• Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ; Section 130/131
• Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY; Pepsi Lounge (Pepsi Lounge Ticket Required)
• Target Field, Minneapolis, MN; Section 113
• Comerica Park, Detroit, MI; Section 139

Sadly, Pepsi’s Colachup won’t be in stores but perhaps that will change in the future. We want to try it but it is hard to imagine what it will taste like. Surely it is better than breakfast flavored ramen noodles. Thankfully, Pepsi worked with the Culinary Institute of America Consulting and the institute’s director gave us insight into its flavors.

“The concept is both simple and creative,” said David Kamen. “The distinctive flavors and vibrant citrus blend of Pepsi enhances the bright and tangy characteristics of ketchup, offsetting the smokiness of the hot dog,” David Kamen, director of client experience for Culinary Institute of America Consulting, was quoted as saying in the announcement. “It’s a whole new way to enjoy two American classics!” Interesting. 

Get ready to have a great time at the ole ball game with your hot dog smothered in Pepsi Colachup.

The post Pepsi’s ‘Colachup’ Combines Ketchup and Soda for a Culinary Delight appeared first on Nerdist.

We’ve reached a new evolution in food delivery thanks to Domino’s Pizza—and it’s one that makes sense. It’s not quite the instant replicator of our Star Trek dreams, but we have come a step closer to getting food to come to us wherever we are. Hopefully, a sci-fi machine is next, but in the meanwhile, Domino’s has taken the next logical step of the food delivery system. Now, thanks to its new “Pinpoint Delivery” system, Domino’s can deliver pizza to locations that don’t have real addresses, think the beach, the park, or the concert line. Here’s more about how this new Domino’s food delivery system works.

According to a release, customers can just “drop a pin on the map and get pizza delivered virtually anywhere.” Additionally:

With Domino’s Pinpoint Delivery, customers can receive their order at a countless number of dynamically created hyper-local spots without a typical address. Domino’s Pinpoint Delivery allows customers to track their order with Domino’s Tracker^®, see their driver’s GPS location, view an estimated time of arrival and receive text alerts about their delivery. Domino’s will also alert customers when their delivery expert arrives at the pickup spot, at which time they can activate a visual signal on their phone, which will help the driver spot them.

With our phones broadcasting our locations at nearly all times, this seems like the obvious next innovation in food delivery. We can’t always be home when we’re hungry. Of course, we assume the caveat is that a Domino’s location still needs to be in range in order for us to get our pizzas at ephemeral spots. Of course, we’ll also have to have steady phone service in the place we’re ordering from. And obviously, in crowded locations, this could create something of a difficulty at the point of hand-off. Hopefully, those ordering from the beach will think ahead and communicate their locations well. Additionally, cash payments do not function for Pinpoint Delivery, and you cannot change your location once you’ve input it.

Ultimately, this form of food delivery, where food is delivered to a specific point instead of a specific address, will likely need to be iterated. However, it does seem like it’s the natural direction for food delivery to go. Domino’s is pretty good at staying at the forefront of delivery innovation. And we feel certain we’ll see it used as a plot point in a movie sometime soon. Food can often take a leading role, after all.

Domino’s Pinpoint delivery system is now available at “nearly all” locations.

The post Domino’s Will Now Deliver a Pizza to You Anywhere, No Address Required appeared first on Nerdist.

Coca-Cola Creations is the soft drink company’s line of innovative limited-edition flavors. But it doesn’t focus on normal flavor crossovers. It has let us drink computer pixels, the stars, and even dreams. Surprisingly most of them tastes like soda mixed with a hard-to-identify fruit. But we have no idea what to expect from the experimental platform’s newest release. Because when you partner with League of Legends the only things we expect to taste is either a sweet victory or a bitter defeat.

The world’s most famous soda brand wants you to enjoy “the XP.” You might have no idea what that even means, or you’ve won enough experience points in your life to totally get it. Either way it’s not exactly clear what this Coca-Cola Ultimate concoction (that we first heard about at DesignTAXI) will deliver in terms of flavor. All we can go on is past releases. And most Creations sodas range from decent to genuinely excellent.

We do know the black and gold bottles and cans take their inspiration directly from Riot Games’ League of Legends. They fittingly feature a blue crystal based that’s based on a magical in-game technology known as Hextech. It makes it possible to combine both elemental and spirit magic together to make items everyone can use, not just those with arcane.

Again, you either know exactly what that all means or you don’t. But as far as inspirations for a video game/soda crossover go, that’s as good as you’ll find. Plus, you can drink a soda even if you’ve never played a video game in your life. No one can stop you. Not even Cassiopeia.

The limited release comes in both regular and Zero Sugar. Meanwhile League of Legends fans will also be able to get in on the fun by completing in-game missions where they can earn limited edition emotes. Those will be available starting July 18. Maybe by then we’ll have figured out what XP actually tastes like.

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It’s summertime. And that puts us in mind of beaches, boardwalks, and sweet treats. And now, at least for the summer, you can enjoy the sweet taste of cotton candy and its perfect pastel presence without all the mess of sugar staining your fingers. Cotton Candy Oreos are back to celebrate the hot weather. And honestly, they must be good because they’ve remained fan favorites even though they’ve been gone for almost a decade.

Some Oreo flavors and ideas come and go. But Cotton Candy-flavored Oreoes arrived on shelves in April 2015, and fans haven’t stopped asking for them since. Literally, some Cotton Candy Oreo fans say they’ve been thinking about these cookies every day for the last eight years.

Well, we can’t argue with that. And neither can Oreo because the cotton candy flavor is back, baby!

The official description of this Oreos shares:

Nostalgia, commence! OREO Cotton Candy sandwich cookies are officially returning to shelves for the first time in nearly a decade, available this June wherever OREO is sold while supplies last. Inspired by the iconic carnival treat, this limited-edition cookie features a delicious golden OREO basecake double-stufed with side-by-side pink and blue cotton candy flavor creme.

These pink and blue cookies will be available for purchase beginning on June 5. And we have to say, of all the Oreo flavors we’ve seen out there, these are also definitely the prettiest of the bunch. So we’re glad to have them back. And with such a following, we’re really hoping these Oreos also taste good. But there’s only one way to find that out for certain.

In addition to cotton candy, Oreo has also brought back its S’moreo Sandwich Cookies for the summer. S’more’s flavored, or is that themed, Oreos also make good sense. We’ll be glad to take a bite out of both of these.

The post Cotton Candy Oreos Are Back This Summer After Almost a Decade Away appeared first on Nerdist.

Chicken McNuggets are not a reason to travel to other countries. At least that’s what my wife says. She told me I was being “ridiculous” when I wanted to fly Japan. Apparently it wasn’t okay to fly around the world because McDonald’s there started selling my favorite fast food by the literal bucket. But I’m optimistic I can persuade her on the merits of a China trip. Not to eat, though. It would be to get a custom handheld game honoring a food that always provides a happy meal. Because hungry Chinese customers can now dine while also playing an officially licensed McNugget-shaped Tetris device.

McDonald’s in China found a fun way to honor Chicken McNuggets 40th anniversary. The restaurant chain combined its iconic foodstuff with another pop culture legend.

The McDonald’s Chicken Nugget Handheld device (which we first learned about at Retro Dodo) lets you play a tasty-looking version of Tetris. This unique system comes in the shape of a giant McNugget. And while totally new (it has a McDonald’s logo onscreen) the whole thing looks and plays like classic GameBoy Tetris. That gives the whole thing a retro ’80s feel.

Even the packaging it comes in is part of the fun. The device arrives in custom McNugget-style packaging. And it also includes a fun colorful bag for protection along with stickers.

At a price of just 30 Yuan (roughly $4.25 U.S.) it’s not a surprise to learn they sold out instantly when they became available this week. Considering both Tetris and McNuggets have four decades of fandom, the cost of grabbing one on the secondary market is only going to climb as more people learn about them.

That will probably still be cheaper than a round-trip ticket to China. That won’t help me convince my wife I should still fly there just in case. But if she lets me I’ll definitely make sure to bring her one back, too.

What if mine breaks?

The post This McDonald’s Chicken McNugget-Shaped TETRIS Device is a Tasty Collectible appeared first on Nerdist.

Like many ’90s kids, one of the great joys of my childhood was mixing all of the sodas at Taco Bell. That rudimentary mishmash is still one of the best drinks I ever had, but it now seems quaint. Coca-Cola Freestyle machines let us customize our selections with a seemingly infinite number of combinations. However, that hyper flavor specificity is coming to the world of condiments with Kraft Heinz’s new Heinz Remix machine. It’s a first-of-its-kind customizable dispenser that will allow customers craft the exact dipping sauce they desire.

The Kraft Heinz Company has announced (in news we first saw at CNN) the next big innovation in condiments. (Please don’t ask us what the last one was.) The free-standing, touchscreen machine took only six months to develop from concept to product.

Here’s how it works. The Heinz Remix comes with a handful of base sauce options. They include ketchup, Ranch, 57 Sauce, and BBQ Sauce. The fun and personalization comes from what the company refers to as “enhancers.” As of now they are: Jalapeño, Smoky Chipotle, Buffalo, and Mango. But even those come with some variety. Users can select their “preferred intensity level” of either low, medium, or high.

This machine is a big leap from the company’s relatively new line of Heinz Remix combo condiments.

“As a company, we’re transforming through innovation by making bigger, more intentional bets to fuel our growth and create new experiences for consumers,” said Alan Kleinerman, Vice President of Disruption, Kraft Heinz, in a statement. “Heinz Remix is a great example of this consumer-first approach to innovation. We’re changing the game for foodservice operators and sauce lovers – dipping will never be the same. With Heinz Remix, it’s more than a sauce dispenser; it’s an insights engine and business model enabler that will help Kraft Heinz understand and respond to consumer trends and flavor preferences in real-time. Who knows – maybe our next new sauce combination will come from a superfan using Heinz Remix!”

The machine will make its public debut this weekend at the 2023 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago (May 20-23, 2023). Kraft Heinz says its current plan is to start getting them to restaurant operators in late 2023 to early 2024.

I volunteer as tribute. I am a ’90s kids, after all. We were customizable dispenser innovators.

The post Kraft’s Heinz Remix Machine Will Let You Create Custom Condiments appeared first on Nerdist.

“There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask ‘Why?’
I dream of things that never were, and ask, ‘Why not?’” —George Bernard Shaw

A beautiful sentiment, but one I’m starting to think I don’t fully understand. His words didn’t inspire me to greatness like they did the Kennedy family. They inspired me to do the single most ridiculous thing I could think of with Miller High Life’s new collection of beer and food-infused truffles. I took the candy’s creator, chocolatier Phillip Ashley, literally when he said he designed each chocolate to pair with beer and ate the whole box of chocolate—which includes grilled cheese and lemon pepper chicken wing selections—while drinking a six-pack. But because that wasn’t silly enough, I did so while also eating the many foods that inspired it.

Why? Why not? So in that spirit I kept a running diary of my calorific evening of beer, food, and candy. It didn’t go as I expected in most ways. However, it did in the only way that counts: there’s a reason no one else looked at these chocolates and dreamed of eating them like this.

I made or bought the matching food to eat before each individual chocolate. The only difference between the two menus is the Pretzel Praline portion. Because my beer nuts mix had pretzels I opted for Turtle candies; they had everything else that went into Phillip Ashley’s chocolate.

Here’s the menu with official descriptions for the six chocolates.

Here is my slow descent on a Friday night into delirious exhaustion and a tummy ache.

7:01 – I’ve begun making my grilled cheese but I regret everything about this already. I regret pitching it and I regret the fact I’m still doing it even though literally none of my editors would be mad if I backed out. Mistakes were made. More mistakes are coming.

7:04 – The key to a great grilled cheese is putting the butter in the pan, not on the bread. Then you remove it from the pan, add more butter and lower the heat before flipping it over. Take this information with you into life so at least something good comes out of this evening. [Editor’s note: The key to unparalleled grilled cheese greatness is using mayonnaise instead of butter.]

7:16 – Early strategic audible: only eating half the grilled cheese because I’m already starting to feel full.

7:17 – First beer down/first candy up.

7:19 – The grilled cheese chocolate isn’t savory and didn’t really remind me of grilled cheese. But it is very, very cheesy. It has a super sweet cream cheese-flavored cream in the middle that tastes like cream cheese concentrate. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s super intense and I definitely could not eat a second one.

I wish it were way better or way worse. It did pair nicely with the beer.

7:24 – I put way too much lemon pepper seasoning on my wings. The thought of adding chocolate to these flavors has me considering some pretty dark things I’d rather do instead.

7:25 – I just realized you’re probably thinking, “How old is this kid? 23? 24? I mean this is pretty stupid.”

I’m middle-aged man and the last thing I did before starting was read my young son two books and put him to bed.

7:27 – I have got to slow down. My belly is not going to hold up if I don’t pace myself.

7:39 – I’d rather drink the “Champagne of Beers” over actual champagne every time.

7:43 – Remember when I mentioned middle age? Well I’m already getting tired and I’m only just finishing my second beer.

7:47 – Done, but too tired to get up and go to the other room to eat the chocolate.

7:58 – This lemon pepper chicken wing chocolate is one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten. It’s grainy and it tastes like pepper chocolate. It’s really hard to describe and even harder to swallow. I actually think some people would like this, but I’m definitely not one of them.

I’m going to drink beer number three very quickly because I want to get this flavor out of my mouth.

8:01 – This is the best Miller High Life I’ve ever had in my life. It’s also a really good mouthwash.

8:17 – Just remembered I need to eat sweet potato fries while drinking this third beer. They are ice cold. I clearly needed to plan better. Both for this six-pack challenge and for life.

8:19 – Finishing beer three and taking a bite of the sweet potato candy.

It completely disintegrated because it’s currently 80 degrees here today and everything’s melting, but I got to tell you: this is awesome. It’s creamy in the best way. The chocolate is the forward flavor, but there’s a nice little sweet potato element halfway through the bite. Delicious.

8:22 – Just remembered refrigerators exist and I can keep the other chocolates and beers in there until I’m ready for them. Keep in mind I am still very sober and this never occurred to me before.

8:24 – Forgot beer four in the other room. Disaster.

8:32 – The standoff between me and my legs continues.

8:36 – We’re looking at the end of the standoff but only because I have to use the bathroom.

8:40 – Figuring out how to get paid to drink beer and eat chocolate while watching sports is probably the apex of my professional career. I’m more than fine with that. Anyway, finally getting up. Beer nuts mix up next. I plan to actually enjoy snacking on these before I get to the candy.

8:42 – Never mind. Eating the other half of my grilled cheese first. It’s room temperature and I’m not even hungry but who cares at this point?

Just ate it like a rabid wolverine. Didn’t even have to update the time on this entry because it took less than 30 seconds. I told you I’m a fast eater keep your thoughts to yourself!

Okay, beer nuts time.

8:45 – Hell yeah. Salty goodness. The sweating is less good.

8:53 – In terms of drinking I feel much better than I did at the start. Just couldn’t hit a groove at the beginning, but now the High Lifes are going down real good. I’m just very sleepy. Who would have thought eating way too much food and drinking way too much beer would make one want to go to bed?

9:08 – This is the first candy where I really taste the beer. This tastes like chocolate, peanuts, and Miller High Life blended together. Which I guess is also technically exactly what it is? Whatever, if you expected nuance this far into the game you haven’t been paying attention.

I kind of like this even though I usually like my chocolate much sweeter. However, I would not eat a second.

9:10 – This chocolate lingers, but not in the way that makes me want to chop off my tongue like the lemon pepper chicken wing one did. Anyway, beer four down and I imagine this is what marathon runners feel like when they hit the 20th mile. Only much worse.

9:13 – Okay, Michael, let’s eat these boring normie Turtle chocolates and drink this fifth beer. Then let’s consider a nap. At 9 at night.

9:16 – Turtles good I owe Turtles an apology for calling them basic.

9:18 – Beer good too.

I honestly think I could pass every sobriety test you’d give me right now despite how this running diary is going, I am just that tired. Stupid food gags are a young man’s game.

9:21 – Me and Phillip Ashley are friends now. Can someone tell him we’re friends? Also tell him I really like macadamia nuts.

9:23 – …Why didn’t I put the fan on before?

9:25 – Two thoughts. 1) I don’t drink a lot anymore, so I figured even with Miller High Life’s relatively low ABV (4.6%) I would get drunk. But clearly I underestimated how much food I would be eating which is making that very difficult.

2) I am currently singing “Fhqwhgads” from Homestar Runner, so I would like to use this running diary as an excuse to remind people that Strong Bad once answered one of my emails. I am the Mike W from “Gimmicks.” This is my greatest achievement in life. Oh, uh, second, after being a dad. (Nailed it.)

9:29 – The wall? I have hit it.

9: 35 – I’m going to have to run through this wall full speed using my head.

9:38 – Totally going to start running any second here. Any second.

9:45 – Eating the pretzel praline chocolate. I was really excited about this one but it’s not doing much for me. It’s way more salty than sweet, which is not my preference. Might also be that eating the overly sweet, non-gourmet Turtles beforehand sort of overstimulated those taste buds, impacting my enjoyment of this more nuanced chocolate? I don’t know. I’m surprised I’m even capable of this kind of analysis right now.

9:46 – Beer five down. Time to make some popcorn

9:50 – Starting to wonder if this wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had… If 40 million people read my post I’ll reconsider. Hit those share and like buttons!

9:54 – My wife came home a few minutes ago and she’s going to make me a bag of movie popcorn. I’m glad she wasn’t here 10 minutes ago to see me eat a leftover chicken wing above the sink like a polar bear who hasn’t had a meal in two months.

10:09 – I’m still here. Eating popcorn and drinking beer, but mostly trying to stay awake.

10:15 – I found a way to ruin a beer I’ve always liked. All you got to do is fill your stomach with an obscene amount of weird food while drinking it. Alert Mr. Pulitzer.

10:23 – I’ve got less than half a beer and one piece of chocolate left. Just going to pretend Phillip Ashley himself is rooting me on and eat this final, buttery popcorn beer chocolate.

10:26 – Holy s***. This is AMAZING. It’s sweet but perfectly balanced. I feel like it’s giving my mouth a hug. It’s so good I’m like 97% sure I would feel this exact same way if I were totally sober. I’m glad I already finished my six pack of beer because I don’t want this flavor to leave my mouth.

Someone tell my new best friend Phillip I want a whole box of just these. Although I wouldn’t complain if he threw in a few of those sweet potato ones either. Man this is so good.

10:35 – I’m absolutely, 100% exhausted but I’m also sort of vibrating because I’m so full of beer and chocolate. I feel like I could do a triathlon right now, but only in my sleep. Do not recommend this feeling half a star.

10:57 – Can’t move still on couch.

11:33 – I finally dragged myself to bed. I know everyone will want to know how my stomach responded to this so I will update tomorrow.

Saturday 6:47 am – Took forever to fall asleep and woke up constantly. Horrible night. Total disaster. Should have just eaten the chocolates like a normal person with a normal brain.

As for my stomach :file not found:.

Reading back through all my notes I realize I come across like a man slowly losing his mind. That sounds about right. But days later I’m still thinking about that butter popcorn chocolate, so it wasn’t all bad.

I am fairly certain even George Bernard Shaw himself would look at what I did and ask, “Why?”

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist and still full. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post We Turned Miller High Life’s Chocolate Beer Truffles Into Six-Pack Feast (And Kept a Running Diary To Prove It) appeared first on Nerdist.

The iconic. The fan-favorite. Those are just some of the ways Hard MTN Dew’s official page describes its drinks. And these descriptions speak the truth about these alcoholic sodas. Hard MTN Dew’s offerings roared to life in 2022, and they’ve only gotten more exciting. Since the release of the O.G. delightfully green and deliciously sweet flavor, Hard MTN Dew released three more alcoholic flavors for our enjoyment, four in total. And that, of course, includes the beloved Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast. And this summer, we’ll get even more ways to delight in a boozy Baja Blast. A brand new Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast variety pack is coming for our coolers, and now we can enjoy the drink in Pineapple, Mango, and Punch.

Those new hard Baja Blast flavors certainly say summer to us. We definitely feel ready to sip them on a beach. And delightfully, as always, these bubbly offerings contain no sugar and also no caffeine. But they do contain “the hard kick of alcohol.” Fair enough. This spin on the classic has 5% ABV. We’re delighted to have these three new Baja Blast varieties bring the total of Hard MTN Dew flavors to seven. One for whatever color we’re feeling most at any moment.

Of course, the four previously released flavors of this drink are still available for our enjoyment. Hard MTN Dew flavors already in existence include, of course, Baja Blast, but also Mountain Dew (all vowels included), Watermelon, and Livewire (orange). As mentioned above, all contain no sugar and have the same level of strength when it comes to their alcohol by volume.

Hopefully, we can find time to try them all… MTN Dew is already promising there will be another line-up next summer. Hard MTN Dew is currently available in a variety of shops.

The post Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Variety Pack Features 3 New Flavors appeared first on Nerdist.

Season one of The Bear brought the stress and reality of working in a restaurant into the spotlight. People who have worked in Michelin-starred kitchens called the depiction of trauma in that setting painfully real. The first season of the FX on Hulu series ended with Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy closing his brother’s restaurant, The Original Beef of Chicagoland. He plans to get back to his finer dining roots. Carmy worked at places like NOMA and The French Laundry before returning to Chicago to make beef subs. With Ayo Edebiri’s Sydney and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Richie at his side, Carmy will open this new joint. The Bear season two trailer makes it look like everything will go fine, just fine.

If keeping a restaurant going was stressful, getting The Bear (the restaurant) off the ground is on the next level. Stress radiates from the trailer, and we kind of can’t get enough of it? There’s something to be said for watching stress that is in no way yours. Carmy and Sydney have to figure out the menu. Along with Carmy’s sister, they have to ask for additional money. The crew has to gut the restaurant and remodel. And the cooking staff? Culinary school.

The Bear season two trailer description states:

FX’s new original series The Bear is about food, family, the insanity of the grind, the beauty of Sense of Urgency and the steep slippery downsides. As the young chef Carmy fights to transform both The Original Beef of Chicagoland and himself, he works alongside a rough-around-the-edges kitchen crew that ultimately reveal themselves as his chosen family.

Okay, we’re hungry.

The Bear season two will premiere on FX on Hulu on June 22.

The post THE BEAR Season 2 Trailer Gives Us the Best Kind of Stress appeared first on Nerdist.

The Matrix is either completely broken or a rogue program is having some fun at our expense. That’s the only logical explanation we can come up with for what is currently happening the world of candy. On the heels of Miller High Life’s curious collection of gourmet beer and food-flavored chocolate truffles comes another bizarre sweet and savory combo treat. Compartés has partnered with Velveeta to give the world TruffVels, a candy that is exactly what it sound likes.

Los Angeles’s gourmet chocolate company has created what it calls “the first-ever chocolate cheese truffle.” (The first!? Wow, can you believe no one thought of that before! …Yeah. Yeah we can, too.) Compartés and Velveeta have formed an unlikely, possibly unholy, union that has resulted in TruffVels. Here’s how the confectionary shop describes their latest handmade product, the work of chocolatier Jonathan Grahm:

The Velveeta infused white chocolate shell-shaped truffle is made for those who go all in for the things they love. Compartes Chocolate Cheese TruffVels consist of Compartés sweet white chocolate paired with the creamy delicious bite of Velveeta for a unique sensation unlike any other.

You know, that description makes the TruffVel sound….super weird. Still really weird. They look great uneaten, though. The individual chocolates come in a “custom shell-shape” designed “to mirror Velveeta Shells and Cheese.” The problem starts when you break one apart. Then it looks like melting cheese. Only it’s a truffle. Yum.

The whole collection also comes in an elegant Special Edition Gift Box that hols five pieces. You can order yours—most likely at three a.m. after you’ve been out all night and this seems like a fun thing to try—for $24.95.

Free shipping kicks in at $99, so get four boxes! In fact, get 400 and use them to make the world’s most ridiculous bowl of Velveeta mac and cheese with chocolate. Just get really wild with it, you know? What’s the difference anyway? Either the Matrix gets a reboot and you forget what you did or we’ll only be eating savory truffles soon enough.

The post Velveeta Chocolate Truffles Are a Real Thing, Unfortunately appeared first on Nerdist.

Few things bring up childhood nostalgia for summers gone by more than the memory of the ice cream truck. Most of us remember those hot days playing outside with our neighborhood friends and immediately going into a frenzy upon hearing the jingle signifying approaching frozen treats. Well, this summer, PepsiCo is bringing some of that retro ice cream truck energy back. All thanks to a new flavor of MTN Dew, called MTN Dew Summer Freeze. The taste of Summer Freeze will mimic that of the striped ice cream popsicle of your youth. You can read the official description right here:

Nothing screams summer like everyone’s favorite iced cold treat: a classic red, white, and blue ice pop. To tap into this nostalgia, MTN DEW is combining its iconic citrus flavor with bold notes of cherry, lemon, and raspberry ice pop flavor to roll out the ultimate taste of summer: introducing the first-ever MTN DEW Summer Freeze! With a blast of summer in every sip, this taste will take you back to fond memories of running to the ice cream truck and is even more refreshing than a summer ice pop itself. DEW Nation can get their hands on this all-new flavor on shelves nationwide beginning this month and through the summer while supplies last. This new flavor will be available in both original and zero-sugar offerings, and can be purchased in 20 oz. Bottles, 12 oz. 12-pack cans, and 16.9 oz. 6-pack bottles (regular only).

MTN Dew Summer Freeze is a limited-time-only beverage. So you might want to get your hands on them as soon as you see them at the grocery store. Unfortunately, these do not come with the whimsical (and also super creepy?) sounds of the ice cream truck. You are just going to have to provide that on your own. Luckily, you can find such things easily online easily these days. We live in an age of wonders.

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Benjamin Franklin never actually said “beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” But the sentiment is certainly true. Whatever forces control the universe can’t hate us entirely when they gave us grain, hops, yeast, and water. That’s also true of chocolate, one of life’s great pleasures. But are there limits to what those delights can do? Specifically is there a limit to what they can do together? We’re about to find out, because Miller High Life has created a collection of gourmet beer-infused chocolates that feature some strange flavors. Because while we can’t wait to try a beer-flavored buttery popcorn chocolate, we’re not sure how a grilled cheese or lemon pepper chicken wing truffle will taste.

The new Miller High Life Bar Snack Truffles collection is the result of the beer company’s partnership with chocolatier Phillip Ashley. Miller says the box of six sweet treats is “inspired” by Ashley’s favorite bar snacks and are designed to pair with a High Life six-pack.

On top of all of them looking incredible (these are truly some gorgeous candies), some sound genuinely delectable. Others sounds…less so. But it’ll depend on your own culinary preferences which ones you think sound tastiest and which ones sound like the result of a night out gone awry.

Here’s each chocolate with its official description:

•  Grilled Cheese – Chef’s favorite to pair with a smooth High Life! Decadent triple cream cheese white chocolate ganache in a blond chocolate shell. A toasted toast to the everyday celebrations like a perfect cheese pull enjoyed on a bar stool
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Wing –  An innovative fried chicken ganache infused with lemon pepper seasoning. A lemon, pepper twist on your average chicken wing (and with less grease on your High Life bottle)
• Pretzel Praline– Salted pretzel and roasted pecans combined with handcrafted caramel and blond chocolate to make the ultimate sweet and salty bite. Sweet, salty and timeless, just like the pretzel bag you enjoyed at the jukebox
• Beernut – Freshly roasted peanuts soaked in the Champagne of Beers then ground into our fragrant beernut butter and enrobed in a milk chocolate shell. Why don’t you build me up, beernut cup, while we finish this awesome karaoke set
• Buttery Popcorn – White chocolate ganache infused with movie theatre style popcorn. An ode to the buttery, salty goodness of the popcorn machine at your favorite local dive
• Sweet Potato Fry – Garnett sweet potato mash blended with blond chocolate for a sweet and savory bon bon. Everything’s better with fries, including your 2am food run. 

To me four of those sound amazing. The other two are grilled cheese and lemon pepper chicken wings. However, those are the two I most want to try. What if they’re amazing?! What if they’re terrible?! I MUST KNOW.

We’ll all be able to find out for ourselves when they go on sale on National Truffle Day, May 2. That will be when you can order your box of beer-infused chocolate ($35) at Phillip Ashley’s site. Benjamin Franklin would want you to, even if he never actually said so.

The post Miller High Life’s Beer-Infused Chocolate Truffles Include Wacky Flavors Like Grilled Cheese appeared first on Nerdist.

There have been some weird video game/food product crossovers over the years. We live in a world where there were once Dragon Quest slime pork buns after all. And does anyone remember the Metal Gear energy drink? Going even further back in time, there was Pac-Man Pasta. But today, we’re bringing you news of a game/food cross-promotion that you may actually want to eat. Via PRNewswire, we’ve learned that Pringles is coming out with a special Minecraft edition. You can see what the new Minecraft Pringles can looks like down below.

This brand new Pringles meets Minecraft flavor collaboration brings the in-game suspicious stew ingredients into reality. For those unfamiliar with Minecraft out there, suspicious stew is a virtual in-game edible item that provides players with a status effect. Things like Jump Boost, Night Vision, among others. Each effect depends on the flower used to craft it. Actually, flowers and mushrooms make up the stew ingredients. But are these actual mushroom-flavored potato chips? After all, mushrooms and cream Pringles already exist, so anything is possible.

According to the folks at Kellogg’s, the new Minecraft Pringles results in “a burst of rich, hearty, and savory flavor.” Believe it or not, this is not the first Minecraft food item that has come from the folks at the Kellogg’s company. Not all that long ago, there was an actual Minecraft Creeper Crunch breakfast cereal. And there’s even been Minecraft ice cream. But Pringles makes the most sense, if only because they’re stacked in those darn cans like, well, actual bricks.

Even more enticing to all Minecraft devotees looking to get these Pringles, starting now until July 31, when anyone purchases a Pringles can or other participating Kellogg’s products, they can upload their receipts to their website. Once they do that, they’ll receive 350 Minecoins to use in-game. For more information, head on over to KelloggMinecraftPromo.com.

The post MINECRAFT Pringles Is the Latest Game/Food Mash-up appeared first on Nerdist.

I’ve never subscribed to the old adage “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” I’m not saying it doesn’t matter. But how can it be the most important when you never see ramen on a breakfast menu? How vital can anything be when one of mankind’s tastiest creations isn’t part of it? But I do believe in another adage: “be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” And in this case “it” is a very weird foodstuff. Nissin Foods USA has launched Cup Noodles Breakfast, an instant ramen that tastes like pancakes, maple syrup, sausage, and eggs.

Yes, we swear this is a real thing you can buy. Why you might want to, though, we can’t answer.

The new limited-edition Cup Noodles Breakfast flavor ($1.18) is now available exclusively at Walmart. You can grab your 2.25-ounce serving in stores nationwide or at Walmart.com. That’s a lot easier than mixing pancakes, eggs, sausage, and ramen noodles together at four a.m. after a night of drinking.

Despite the strange flavor profile, Nissin doesn’t want customers to limit themselves to only eating this in the morning, though. “We know our products are a go-to meal any time of the day,” said Priscila Stanton, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Nissin Foods USA, in a press release. “Saucy, soup-based, spicy, sweet or savory, we even added rice to some, so by adding Cup Noodles Breakfast to our line-up we are truly feeding cravings around the clock – morning, noon, night or late night.”

They’re feeding something, alright. We’re just not sure what that is.

We shouldn’t be too surprised by this weird culinary concoction. Nissin’s first limited-edition special brought pumpkin spice to instant ramen.

Will this one be better or worse? Does it even matter? Probably not. What matters is that the so-called most important meal of the day finally has ramen on the menu. Yay?

The post Cup Noodles Breakfast Shouldn’t Be the Most Important Meal of Any Day appeared first on Nerdist.

Easter is a holy day for many. But it’s one of the best candy holidays for everyone. Along with Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day, it’s one of the sweetest times of the years. There’s no better way to celebrate a special occasion than by stuffing your face with sugar. Spring’s tasty treat lineup isn’t as deep as that of some other seasons, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. (For the most part.) Not every traditional offering is worth looking forward to. Here are the nine big Easter candies, ranked from Jordan Almonds to best.

Jordan Almonds

Almonds “are one of nature’s all-time greatest conduits of other flavors.” However, there is one major exception to that rule. They do not work as a conduit for a bitter-infused candy that comes encased in a concrete-like sugar coating. I imagine an evil group of dentists eager for business invented these popular pastel nightmares, which are also common wedding favors. They are quite literally a pain to eat. And even if you manage to avoid cracking a tooth, all you get is a different kind of disappointment. Ninety percent of all couples that give these out at their wedding get divorced, probably.

Peeps

We’ve all heard the old adage, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” I wish Peeps had kept this saying in mind before they became a year-round treat. For most of my life, I could only eat those sugar-cased soft marshmallows at Easter. You either got bunnies or chicks in your Easter basket, and you were happy to get them. (So long as they came in your preferred color, because you were a silly child who thought the color corresponded with the flavor.) But the more you eat Peeps, the more you realize they are too sweet. Turns out coating marshmallow in pure sugar is… a lot. All that said, Peeps do get a bum rap. They’re mediocre, but not bad.

Jelly Beans

Remember that scene in Wayne’s World, when Wayne and Garth stood in front of a blue screen and pretended to visit exciting places? They got all amped up to “go” to New York, Hawaii, and Texas. Then the bit ended with them being “magically whisked away” to Delaware. To which a dead-eyed Wayne says, “Hi. I’m in Delaware.” Jelly beans are the Delaware of Easter candy. (For the record, I have been to Delaware. I wasn’t there long, but I thought it was delightful. I enjoyed a wonderful oceanside lunch of Maryland-style crabs…that were actually from Texas. So, you know, Delaware!)

Solid Chocolate Easter Bunnies

Usually there’s no such thing as “too much candy,” because you can always eat some later. And, almost always, more chocolate is preferable to less chocolate. However, eating candy should be a pleasant experience. And there’s nothing pleasant about gnawing at a thick piece of chocolate like a leopard trying to get the marrow out of a giant bone. There’s a reason Hershey’s Bars aren’t three inches thick. I’m never going to turn down a solid chocolate Easter bunny, but when I need a knife or a lobster cracker to avoid developing lockjaw, that hurts your ranking.

Hollow Chocolate Easter Bunnies

When I was but a wee lad, I hated hollow chocolate Easter bunnies. Receiving one was like opening a giant bag of potato chips and finding out it was 60 percent air. Only a gazillion times worse. I wanted retribution. Promises had been made, only for the rug to be pulled out from under me when I bit into my chocolate rabbit. But you know what I always did despite my frustration? I always ate the whole damn thing, because it was still chocolate.

I now realize it was more than that. Hollow chocolate bunnies have a totally different texture and feel from normally chocolate. They tend to be thinner and curved, so they are unlike traditional chocolates. And some parts allow you to get a double bite, like if you bit through both ears at once. They’re a special seasonal treat that don’t come with the risk of an emergency trip to the dentist. Nor are they a chore to finish. Hollow bunnies deserve to be ranked above their solid counterparts!

Cadbury Mini Eggs

Explain to me like I’m five exactly why there’s a giant, creamier, tastier version of M&Ms, but they are only sold during the spring? Actually, don’t bother, because the whole thing is malarky. There are many delicious versions of these types of mini eggs (though Cadbury is the most famous). The best feature a perfect ratio of chocolate to candy-coated shell. They’re just thick enough to give a satisfying chew without making you feel like your teeth are going to crumble. The only downside is that it’s way too easy to eat an entire bag. A problem I assume others deal with every Easter.

Chocolate Marshmallow Eggs

There are many varieties of chocolate Easter eggs with fillings, like coconut or strawberry creme. Every year I’m ashamed at how many different types of Russell Stover eggs I buy the nanosecond Walgreens puts them on sale. (It’s genuinely mortifying how many I buy every year. I know because my wife is always, indeed, mortified.) But only one style is so good it’s sold by the carton. And that variety is the chocolate marshmallow egg. These eggs are soft and delicious—so good you eat them 12 at a time. (Or so I would like you to pretend for my benefit.) There’s nothing complicated about marshmallow and chocolate, an ideal combination that always delivers no matter the brand.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs

Like Peeps, you can essentially get these year round now. Hershey’s sells peanut butter-filled chocolates in all sorts of shapes for different holidays. But unlike with Peeps, there’s no getting sick of Reese’s Peanut Butter anything. And they are, without question, at their absolute best in egg-form. I don’t understand the science behind why; it’s simply the ideal shape. If someone tells me they prefer a Reese’s Peanut Butter Christmas Tree, I’ll assume they’re doing reconnaissance for a planetary invasion and they just blew their cover.

Cadbury Creme Eggs

Cadbury Creme Eggs in the UK are different than the ones sold in America. The British ones have less sugar, but a higher fat content in the chocolate. Both are perfect in their own way though. They each feature a pillowy fondant inside a delicious chocolate egg that is just thick enough to provide a solid bite without being impenetrable. No matter which side of the Atlantic you are on, a Cadbury Creme Egg is the unquestioned best Easter candy.

Originally published March 31, 2023.

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Easter is an important holiday to me, but for a very different reason than most. Easter means Easter candy. And that means eating the best the season has to offer: Cadbury Creme Eggs. They are perfect in every way, a truly impeachable sweet treat. Or at least I thought they were. Subway in the UK is set to test that theory by turning spring’s greatest delight into an unholy concoction. For one day only, Subway is giving away a limited amount of Cadbury Creme Egg Easter SubMelt sandwiches. It’s a sub that will truly put the power of Cadbury’s most wonderful creation to the culinary test.

Look at that thing. (Or maybe don’t?) That is Subway UK’s new Cadbury Creme Egg Easter SubMelt in all its glory/shame. The sandwich (which we first learned about at The New York Post) features the Easter chocolate melted on Subway’s own Italian White Bread.

Why do that? Because it tastes good? Almost certainly not. This six-inch sub is the latest weird foodstuff promotion we’ve told you about, like we always do and always will! We can’t look away and neither can you! These bizarre culinary crossovers are like driving by a proverbial train wreck. But with the knowledge no one seriously got hurt or injured. Well, minus a few upset stomachs.

In this case it will be “only” 500 stomachs. The sugary sandwich will be available—entirely for free—across four stores in the UK on April 7. First come, first serve, first regret.

Ah, who am I kidding? I’d eat one of this without much pause. (Notice I didn’t say “zero pause.”) I’m obsessed with Cadbury Creme Eggs. If any candy can pull this off it’s this one. I just pray on this holy weekend it’s not actually good. I’m not sure how many more Easters I’ll be around for if I start eating bread with all of my Cadbury Creme Eggs.

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Mmmm, clicker for dessert. We’ve seen some drastic survival measures in The Last of Us. But to date, we don’t think anyone has tried to take a bite out of a clicker or any of The Last of Us‘ infected. Probably because they’d most likely get infected if they did. But even if you could consume infected growths… We doubt the results would taste as good as this incredible clicker cake. TheBakeKing took to TikTok to perfectly recreate The Last of Us‘ clickers using frosting, chocolate, and many cake layers. And, we have to say whatever sugary confection he used to add the bloody spittle onto the clicker’s teeth… it is very effective.

Check out this The Last of Us confection as it comes to life.

The Last of Us seems like a bit of a dour theme for a birthday party. But if you had your heart set on it, this cake would absolutely become the centerpiece. Honestly, by the end of the decorating, it’s hard to tell the cake clicker apart from the real clickers that menace our heroes on the show. Looking at it, we feel it will pounce to life at any minute. All that’s missing is for a set of creepy, crawly cake tentacles to emerge from the clicker’s mouth, itching to turn you into a desert version of yourself. And, of course, if this The Last of Us cake starts to make clicking noises… run.

Ironically, flour had a large hand in spreading The Last of Us‘ infection. It was a major source of the fungus which infected so many people at the start of the series—before any clickers were running around at all. So technically, a clicker cake harkens back to the truest infected of all. How is that for some deeply rooted meta-sweetness?

But, even still, we’d probably take a bite out of this The Last of Us clicker cake if we could… Delicious!

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Nostalgic reboots of beloved childhood treats and alcoholic seltzers have popped up everywhere. And we really thought we’d seen all possible variations of these two things… separately and in combination. But get ready to unleash the power of SunnyD in a whole new way. The beloved self-proclaimed “orange drink,” with at least 5% juice, is evolving, just like the kids that once drank it. And now you can partake in an alcoholic SunnyD Vodka Seltzer and relive your youth. As the official website notes, it’s “your two favorite things.”

SunnyD further shares of its Vodka Seltzer, “We crafted SUNNYD Vodka Seltzer to have the same great orange taste as the SUNNYD our fans know and love.” We suppose SunnyD is like orange juice, in a way. And that’s a pretty popular mixer. But then the seltzer portion is where things get a little confusing. Is the SunnyD Vodka Seltzer a clear liquid or an orange one? We guess we’ll have to crack one open to find out.

SunnyD Vodka Seltzer will be available starting on Saturday, March 11 at Walmart and other major retailers. And although it’s currently the only variety on the shelves, SunnyD’s Instagram “SunnyDCocktails” indicates there may be more alcoholic beverages joining the SunnyD seltzer soon.

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If AMC can’t bring you to the theaters, it wants to bring the theaters to you. The scent of melted “butter” and popcorn is a key part of the movie-going experience. But with streaming becoming a more and more popular choice, audiences everywhere might be missing that critical experience. And AMC wants to make sure no one has to miss out.

A release shares, “With this new AMC Theatres popcorn product launch, AMC brings its Perfectly Popcorn movie theatre popcorn taste and aroma to the comfort of home.” AMC claims this is the same snack that in previous was served only in its theaters. This microwave and ready-to-eat movie popcorn will come in three flavors: Classic Butter, Extra Butter, and Lightly Salted. In addition, “the microwave Extra Butter variety comes with buttery topping packets, allowing consumers to replicate that ultimate movie theatre experience of adding even more butter flavor to their popcorn.”

Who doesn’t love extra buttery topping? We certainly love it more than news of AMC’s plans to charge more for movie tickets based on seat location. But will AMC‘s at-home popcorn really replicate the movie popcorn experience? Will it taste any different than any other microwave popcorn out there? We guess we’ll have to wait for the reviews to come in. This cinematic popcorn will be available at Walmart.

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Pepsi and Peeps are back at it. These two tastes evidently taste great together because the originally “one-of-a-kind collaboration” has returned for a second round. And this time, it will be more available to everyone who wants a taste of the glorious Peeps Pepsi. This marshmallow-flavored cola soda will hit retail shelves on its second outing. And it’s the perfect bizarre combination to celebrate spring.

Last time around, only 3,000 fans got to experience the delight of finding out what a Peeps Pepsi soda really tastes like. But the sky is the limit this time. Marshmallow soda for all.

A release shares more about the flavor, noting:

PEPSI^® x PEEPS^® is a surprisingly delicious beverage combining the refreshing taste of Pepsi cola with the classic sweet PEEPS^® Marshmallow flavor consumers know and love. The pillowy-soft marshmallow cola flavor – paired with the instantly recognizable PEEPS^®– inspired design in vibrant yellow packaging – is a true celebration of the approaching spring season.

And the packaging really is adorable. The Pepsi comes in 7.5 oz Pepsi mini-can multipacks and 20 oz. bottles this time around. And both versions have dressed in bright yellow for spring. Of course, the Pepsi cans are also decorated with little Peeps bunnies and ducks to delight the drinker. How could we throw something so cute away? It’s the perfect drink to go along with our Dr. Pepper Peeps sweets. Peeps and soda really is a match made in heaven. We guess, something about all that sugary goodness and carbonation really seems to make sense.

As mentioned, this Peeps Pepsi is for the people. Excited fans of either brand can now find the product on shelves nationwide. Although it is still a limited-edition flavor, so we suggest you move quickly if you want your cans. Happy hunting for Easter… Peeps Pepsi.

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Dr Pepper has been around so long (1885!) it probably deserves a more prestigious moniker. I don’t know what that would look like, though. General Dr Pepper? Doctorest Pepper? Something tells me those names won’t help sell soda. But the company’s newest product will, because Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream is a delicious drink for those seeking a liquid dessert.

Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream is not a limited-edition drink. It’s the latest product to earn a “permanent” spot in the soda’s lineup. The company says it’s also the only cola on the market offering this flavor combo. The soft drink features the “original 23 flavors of Dr Pepper swirled with layers of refreshing strawberry flavor and a smooth, creamy finish.” And I can attest that’s exactly what it tastes like since Dr. Pepper provided Nerdist with a sneak peek taste.

As a diet soda drinker I opted for the can of Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream Zero Sugar. To get the full experience I poured mine into a large glass with ice. There was nothing especially noteworthy about the color, but the aroma was instantly recognizable. As was the taste. Unlike many flavored colas, whose unique elements come alive at the end of a sip, this is a flavor-forward drink. You get the strawberries and cream immediately. (The finish leans more towards a typical Dr Pepper taste.)

I expected this soda to mostly taste like a strawberry Dr Pepper, but that prediction was way off. You really get the cream. In fact, it’s the the more dominant element. That’s exactly why this is so good. It tastes like a dessert soda, but it’s not cloying. The cream and strawberry combo keeps everything from being too sweet. You can enjoy an entire can without feeling like you just ate an entire cake.

However, I likely wouldn’t drink one with a meal (or even dessert). This soda works best alone. I enjoyed it much more by itself than when I tried it between bites of lunch. And despite being a new product in 2023, the drink feels like a throwback. I’m guessing it wouldn’t be out of place in a ’50s soda shoppe. It’s just really enjoyable and a pretty great option if you’re looking for something sweet to drink.

And despite my best attempts at a promotion, the fact this tastes good is a much better selling point than a new moniker for Dr Pepper ever could.

Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream Regular arrives in stores nationwide this month in 12-ounce 12 packs and 20-ounce bottles. Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream Zero Sugar will come in 12-ounce 12 packs.

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Loungefly is well known for bringing fashion and fandom together in fun ways. Those backpacks, wallets, keychains, pins, and more are so satisfying for the fan who loves to collect stylish items. But, we have never seen a collaboration quite like this one. The lifestyle brand is teaming up with McDonald’s for a slate of delicious accessories that fans of this fast food franchise will adore. Or, should we say, they will be lovin’ it. The Loungefly x McDonald’s collection is a trip down memory lane, indeed. 

So, what do you get? There are a few backpacks and crossbody bags, including one with Hamburglar, Grimace, a Happy Meal box, a box of McDonald’s perfectly crispy fries, and even Ronald McDonald’s jumpsuit. (Unlike the others, the Hamburglar one is a web-exclusive.) All of them retail for between $60-$90. If you’re more of a wallet person, you can score one shaped like those infamous fries or a wallet with Ronald and his pals on it. Imagine using a fry wallet to pay for Mickey D’s fries. Very trippy. Those wallets go for $25 and $40, respectively. Check out more photos of this fun Loungefly x McDonald’s collection below.

Click To View Gallery

It really makes sense to have this collection come out right now. McDonald’s is all about tapping into sweet nostalgia to help us ease the pain of daily adulting. In 2022, the chain made adult happy meals complete with throwback toys to give us all delight. And now, this Loungefly x McDonald’s collaboration will let us proudly display our love for Ronald and friends every single day.

The collection is coming this February but, in the meantime, you can grab some McDonald’s Funko Pop! figures right now. A select few are available and strangely adorable. Then, you can put your Funko into your backpack because… why not have a little McDonald’s fun?

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Do you suffer from scary nightmares? Does restless sleep trouble your mind when you lay your head on the pillow? Well, it might have to do with that piece of cheese you snuck out of the fridge before bedtime. According to a report in the NY Post, the organization known as Sleep Junkie is looking for five American testers to eat many different types of cheeses every week and then record their dreams and nightmares. They believe there may be a connection between cheese and your nightly brain activity. And they’re willing to pay $1,000 to willing cheese sleep study participants.

According to the official job description from Sleep Junkie, they cover all the cheese costs. Their “dairy dreamers” will become official cheese testers, providing honest feedback on how eating various kinds of cheese before bed impacts sleep. If chosen, one will have to log their sleep quality via a sleep tracker, but also provide a written evaluation of sleep quality, energy levels throughout the week, and any feedback on dreams and nightmares. This strange yet intriguing cheese sleep study starts in March and continues for three months.

Only five “Dairy Dreamers” will make the cut for this real-world Hunger Game. So what will push your application to the top of the pile? They are looking for “people who enjoy sleeping and eating.” Ok, that’s most people. That doesn’t narrow it down at all, does it? They are also looking for folks with no lactose intolerance (duh), and no sleep disorders. Also, testers will need to own a smartwatch or fitness tracker that tracks their sleep. Plus, maintain a consistent sleep schedule, and be able to sleep alone during the trials. Ok, all these requirements leave maybe five people in North America who qualify. If you think you are one of those five, head on over to Sleep Junkie for more information.

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Original Oreos are, with no hyperbole, literally perfect. But that iconic sweet is also perfectly adaptable. You can double stuff them, make them thin, and change the flavor of both the creme and the cookies. No matter what you do you’re going to end up with something delicious. But now the cookie company has found a way to pack even more goodness into a new product. And all they had to do was add even more Oreo to an Oreo. For a limited-time you’ll be able to grab The Most OREO OREO. It’s a meta cookie that features ground-up pieces of other Oreos in it.

And yes, it’s launching a new Meta OREOVERSE.

Oreo has announced what it is calling its “most playful cookie” ever. The Most OREO OREO boasts two chocolate-flavored “basecakes” and the ‘Most Stuf’ levels of creme. That’s a lot of Oreo, for sure. But what makes this extra Oreo-y is that the creme also comes with ground-up Oreos mixed in.

….Yes. Yes, yes, yes. We plan on eating so many we technically classify as an Oreo ourself.

The cookie is helping to launch Oreo’s new interactive Meta OREOVERSE experience. There, fans can “play multiple levels of cookie-themed games and get the chance to win deliciously unexpected prizes, including a $50,000 grand prize.” They might even run into official OREOVERSE endorser Martha Stewart, who will be sharing her own playthrough of the digital experience.

You can see what’s happening in the digital cookie realm at Meta Horizon Worlds or OREOVERSE.OREO.com. As for this world (where our stomachs exist), The Most OREO OREO is now available for pre-sale at OREO.com ($5.29). It arrives in stores starting on January 30, but only for a limited time.

After that, we’ll have to go back to eating normal Oreos and their normal amount of Oreo-ness in them. Good thing those are still perfect.

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MTN DEW has never suffered from a lack of flavor. That was true even when we all knew it as Mountain Dew. All those extra vowels and consonants never detracted from its signature taste. But the soft drink company keeps finding new ways to bring its unique flavor profile to your mouth. And now it’s doing so by kicking things up even more. MTN DEW is getting into the condiment game with a new limited-edition Baja Blast hot sauce.

For this fiery treat, MTN DEW has partnered with iBurn and “Hot Sauce Boss” James B. They’ve teamed up for a Baja Blast Hot Sauce. (Which we first learned about at Thrillist). It’s a special—and spicy—way to celebrate National Hot Sauce Day on January 22. There’s not much mystery as to what customers can expect from this union. The bottle says it’s a “hot sauce with the flavor of Baja Blast.”*

(*No, we will not be making a joke about how it must taste like a gamer’s room after eating Taco Bell. We just won’t. Grow up.)

You won’t be able to just snag a bottle at your local grocer, though. Only 750 fans will be lucky enough to snag a 5-ounce bottle through MTN DEW’s online contest. If you want to enter head to the hot sauce’s official site for rules on how. (It’s really easy.) We expect a whole lot of people to enter, so it’ll be tough to win. It’ll also be worth it. But in addition to a bottle, those lucky few will also get a Baja Blast taco holder.

As unlikely as this seems, it isn’t the first hot sauce from MTN DEW. The company released a Hot Habanero hot sauce in 2020 with Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.

For a company that has never needed to worry about flavor, MTN DEW sure does find a lot of ways to add even more to its products. Good luck getting your Baja Blast Hot Sauce.

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Chief among the many questions that this new Peeps flavor raises is the simple one of, “Why?” Soda-flavored versions of none soda things are always a bit of a contentious offering. Love a coke flavored slushy or hate it, you definitely feel a certain way about it. It’s never just going to be fine. And these Dr Pepper-flavored Peeps feel like they’ll go in that direction. But above all, we feel we really must ask, why are these Dr Pepper Peeps an Easter item? We’ll have to ponder that one for a minute. Dr Pepper has always felt much more agnostic to me.

But hey, who are we to pass judgment? We’ve experienced all kind of bizarre combinations of food flavors. We’ll just put Easter Dr Pepper Peeps right next to Thanksgiving candy corn. It’s a feast for the five-year-old within us all. What do these sodalicious Peeps actually taste like, though? Their description sadly doesn’t make it too clear. So you’ll have to try them yourself. But we’re imagining something of a sugary onslaught.

Here’s what the official Peeps description has to say about this Dr Pepper variety:

These delicious, one-of-a-kind Chicks combine sweet marshmallow with the unique and refreshing flavors of DR PEPPER^®.

As we said, that’s not much to go off of. Do they evoke cherry? Are they more licorice heavy? We guess you’ll have to take the plunge and commit to Dr Pepper Peeps this Easter. Who knows, they may become a whole new family tradition. We suppose while you’re at it, you could sip some of the soda and compare notes. Who knows, Dr Pepper may very well soon come out with a Peeps flavor to come full circle. Now that would make sense as an Easter treat. And hey, their chocolate version of the soda was actually good!

Dr Pepper peeps are available exclusively at Wal-Mart. Happy hunting for these chicks.

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Cookies and creme Halo armor may not have been on anyone’s 2023 mashup bingo card, but here we go. The cookie maker and video game company teamed up to offer Xbox-themed Oreo cookies packs for sale in Europe. The promotion comes with a chance to unlock the sweet speckled Spartan armor for Halo Infinite. Or you can pick up a cookies and creme racecar for the game Forza Horizon 5 or a pirate ship for Sea of Thieves if that’s more your speed. The tasty treats themselves have six styles printed into the classic cookie. There’s the classic A, B, X, and Y buttons of course, plus the Xbox logo. Lastly, there’s a directional arrow, which can rotate to represent up, down, left, or right. Have a cheat day and enter in your cheat code to download the Oreo armor.

We heard about this new and delicious promotion thanks to GameSpot. The cookies are on sale only in 22 European countries for now. In addition to eating the entire box and upping your game in the virtual world, you can also enter to win real world prizes like Oreo-themed Xbox consoles and other hardware. This may be the latest Oreo cookie mashup we’ve come across, but it certainly isn’t the only one. The cookies have previously been embossed to celebrate Game of Thrones, The Batman, and Pokémon.

If you’re looking for other unique Oreo cookies, there’s wasabi and hot chicken flavors in China and matcha and peach oolong in Japan. Plus Cadbury creme egg mashups and even an Oreo-flavored wine. You can also get customizable Oreos with your name and face on them! When it comes to cookie science, Oreo has been part of experiments to determine the best way to open them. In this case, there’s no wrong way to eat an Oreo.

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.

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Some foods, like popcorn, are inextricably tied to American culture. We love our precious popcorn with salt, butter, cheese, caramel, and a litany of other flavors. It has its own national holiday, museums, and a permanent place at sporting events, amusement parks, and fall festivals. Sometimes we use it as festive decoration. But it’s always best with a good film.

One of life’s purest joys is settling into a theater chair (or couch) with a massive bucket of goodness to munch on. Popcorn and a movie are a classic pair in the vein of peanut butter and jelly; however, most people don’t know much about how this duo became an entertainment staple. The history behind popcorn’s rise to become the ultimate movie theater snack is full of fun surprises.

The Origin Story of Popcorn Kernels

We tend to think of popcorn as a relatively modern food, but its origins go back for thousands of years. In Smithsonian Magazine’s interview with Popped Culture: A Social History of Popcorn, writer Andrew Smith reveals that the earliest variation of the maize that led to popcorn appeared around 8,000 years ago in Central America.

In recent years, traces of popcorn were found in 1,000-year-old Peruvian tombs. On pre-colonized United States land, the Iroquois would pop corn kernels in pottery jars, using hot sand as their ancient microwave. Of course, it’s not clear how long the Iroquois Nation had been consuming popcorn before white settlers came in to confiscate their land and recipes. The Iroquois’ location in the Great Lakes area suggests that upstate New Yorkers, Vermonters, and Quebec settlers were among the first to pick up this snack from tribes in the 1600s.

European people found the kernel popping experience to be a thrill. The tasty food gained prevalence by the mid 1800s, leading to a mobile steam powered popcorn machine by Charles Cretors. The creation allowed users to produce the salty snack quickly for serving people at outdoor and public events like fairs and sports gatherings. Vendors began to purchase machines and quickly produce popcorn to satisfy popular demand around town. Popcorn became a winning treat with its aromatic smell, low cost, and relatively widespread availability.

No Popcorn at the Movies, Please!

Interestingly, popcorn was the last thing that movie theaters wanted within their walls as they began to open in the early 1900s. Motion picture theaters wanted to mimic the prestigious vibe of existing performance art theaters. At the time, theater productions were primarily for affluent white people wearing their finest clothing to match the theater’s lush décor. Small movie theaters soon led to plush “movie palaces” with fine carpets and furniture (two things that popcorn does not belong on). The audiences were literate (due to all movies having no sound and title cards) with some level of affluence.

The eventual introduction of movies with sound in 1927 expanded movie theaters’ target audience past those who were literate; but food and drink were still not a part of the viewing experience. This began to change during the Great Depression’s financial pinch. People could enjoy the simple luxury of popcorn (which cost five to ten cents) without breaking the bank. A vital part of the moviegoing experience is sneaking in bits of food and fun, which is exactly what patrons did despite signs forbidding popcorn. Candies like Baby Ruth, Milk Duds, and Goobers made their debuts but popcorn remained a standout snack.

Theater owners began to take notice of how much people loved popcorn. They hadn’t figured out the logistics of making it themselves but, in classic American fashion, they wanted to capitalize on it. So, theaters began to allow vendors to sell directly in front of their buildings for a fee. Eventually, the code for producing popcorn indoors was cracked and some theaters got into the concessions business.

Owners soon came to a few realizations: 1) cutting out a middle man leads to more money, 2) theaters without popcorn machines have lower profits leading to shutdowns, 3) popcorn doesn’t rely on materials from exporters. The final point hit especially hard due to World War II, when items like sugar were harder to obtain. By the mid 1940s, popcorn and movie theaters became official entertainment besties, giving way to the birth of concession advertisements. This likely paved the way for the movie trailers we see today.

The rise of television caused a temporary dip in moviegoing; however, popcorn makers got smart with home options like EZ Pop and Jiffy Pop. Microwaves hit the scene, drive-in movies became popular, theaters rebounded, and the tradition of watching a movie with a tub of buttery goodness became an American staple.

The Future of Popcorn at the Movies

Today, movie theater popcorn has become a source of both jokes and ire with its astronomical pricing. A bag of popcorn can run most viewers anywhere for $6 to $20+ for refillable bucket specials! This hasn’t kept people from snapping up bags so they can toss a few kernels into their mouths.

The relationship between popcorn and traditional movie theaters perhaps came to its most dire point at the height of the COVID-19 crisis. Many theaters were shut down for months or open at very small capacities. Concession stands (those that were open, anyway) no longer had super long lines and large batches of popcorn.

Now, things are on the rebound as COVID-19 has become a part of our unfortunate new normal. However, other options like drive-in theaters are beginning to rise again after social distancing put them back in the spotlight. Vendors can come out and sell movie snacks, allowing people to still have their popcorn while also feeling safe.

It took a while for the masses to return to movie theaters with popcorn in hand. This proves that no matter what happens, the love of popcorn and movies will still never truly die. There is nothing (not even a pandemic) that can keep this classic duo apart.

Originally published on January 19, 2021.

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It’s an early Christmas for lovers of Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza. (And we know there are many of you out there.) Because Taco Bell is officially testing two new versions of its Mexican Pizza. That’s right, new variations on the beloved dish could soon make it onto Taco Bell menus. But only if lucky taste testers sign off on these new visions of what Mexican Pizza could mean. On the table? Jalapeno Mexican Pizza and Triple Crunch Mexican Pizza. Sounds promising to us.

Food & Wine Magazine shed a bit more light on what these new Mexican Pizza titles. Here’s what they mean for our mouths. Jalapeno Mexican Pizza, a.k.a Spicy Mexican Pizza, will offer a flavor feast. The publication shares that Jalapeno Mexican Pizza will have a nacho cheese sauce topping and, you guessed it, sliced jalapenos. Meanwhile, the new Triple Crunch Mexican Pizza has not two, as is traditional, but three layers of beef-and-bean filling. Hence the triple. Nothing like some clever wordplay with Mexican Pizzas.

I know what you’re asking. How do we taste these two new versions of Mexican Pizza? That’s a great question. And for some, it has a great answer. Taco Bell stores in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, will be testing the Jalapeno Mexican Pizza with customers. Meanwhile, Taco Bells in Omaha, Nebraska, will receive the gift of Triple Crunch Mexican Pizza. Both new Mexican Pizzas will arrive in their respective locations on December 22 and remain on sale for a “limited time.”

Personally, I feel more excited about the Jalapeno Mexican Pizza. So I guess I better start changing my travel plans, stat. Oklahoma, here I come. For the rest of us, the timeline for alternate Mexican Pizza versions remains unknown. We guess we’ll have to console ourselves somehow.

Perhaps with a delicious OG Mexican Pizza and a nice side of Baja Blast.

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There are lots of embarrassing things about me. Which one might others consider the most shameful? Maybe that I like Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern movie? But a close second is probably that I also genuinely look forward to eating fruitcake during the holidays. That’s why I’m definitely the target consumer for Mountain Dew‘s newest Christmas crossover concoction. Because MTN DEW Fruit Quake combines the neon green soda with the season’s much-maligned sweet treat.

Featuring what it calls “a blast of artificial fruitcake flavor,” MTN DEW Fruit Quake (which we first heard about at Food & Wine) will certainly shakeup any holiday gathering. The beverage combines the tastes of Mountain Dew with the notorious December confection.

What exactly does that mean for the taste? We haven’t found any of the limited-time beverage in stores yet, but fruitcake features dried fruit, nuts, and seasonal spices. While it doesn’t appear the soda has actual nuts in it, it seems as though your enjoyment will come down to how much you like cola blended with Christmas flavors. Reviews for the drink are all over the place.

I guess it’s only fitting that a mixture like this is getting mixed reactions. Don’t care. I must have it. Fortunately I can buy it in stores. The drink’s official webpage lists chains where you can nab some yourself. You can also opt to buy both cans or bottles. But regardless of the one you choose, if you serve it as your own holiday party maybe pour it into one of those big crystal bowls. You know, get really fancy. Fancy with MTN DEW Fruit Quake.

As for me, I’m just going to drink it on my own. I like both Mountain Dew and fruitcake that much and I don’t care who knows. I am a little embarrassed I admitted liking Green Lantern, though.

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