Once again we chew on the latest freaky food news.
LITTLE CAESARS
Your March Madness bracket busted. And now, so can your belly.
On March 23, li'l commuter college University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) defeated University of Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
A No. 16 seed had never beaten a No. 1 seed, and history was made
So was free pizza!
Because earlier that same day, Little Caesars tweeted an offer that seemed at yeast unlikely if not impossible at the time: "If a #16 BEATS a #1 in men's basketball TONIGHT, you could score a @LittleCaesars Lunch Combo!" The combo includes a free four-slice Deep!Deep! Dish pizza with pepperoni and one 20-ounce Pepsi product. Score yours from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on April 2 at participating Little Caesars.
Now the pizza chain really has to fork over the dough.
SONIC
Here's the dill on a new item at America's Drive In.
Food & Wine reports that in June, Sonic will unveil a bright green juice slush made of ...pickle juice.
Talk about cool as a cucumber.
"We tasted the drink at Sonic's headquarters in Oklahoma City, and it's surprisingly delicious (and makes a good accompaniment to burgers and/or tots and/or corn dogs)," wrote Maria Yagoda. "Sweet and tangy, the bright brine compensates for the over-savoriness you might have been worried about."
It sounds as though she actually relished it.
BACKSTREET BARBECUE
Backstreet's back, all right?
But this time, the '90s boy band has gone from the microphone to the microwave. The singers aren't putting out music, they're putting out ... meat?
According to TMZ, members of the band have filed documents to trademark the restaurant name "Backstreet Barbecue."
We'd expect that servings will be "Larger Than Life," and that items can be customized for "Everybody" who says, "I Want It That Way."
BEN & JERRY'S
Inspired by the great outdoors, Ben & Jerry's is introducing new ice cream flavors to savor.
Gimme S'More will have toasted marshmallow ice cream, chocolate chip cookie swirls, graham crackers and fudge flakes. And Glampfire Trail Mix, to be sold at Target, will feature chocolate ice cream, pretzels, marshmallow swirls and fudge-covered almonds.
It sure makes us want to go camping/glamping. On the couch. With a spoon. And ample/glample air-conditioning.
OLIVE GARDEN
The Garden continues to harvest new dish pastabilities.
Evidence: Loaded Pasta Chips.
The appetizer features lightly fried pasta noodles "layered with Italian cheeses and a hearty meat sauce. Topped with cherry peppers and an Alfredo drizzle," according to olivegarden.com.
In other words: Noodle nachos -- orzo it seems.
At $6.99, they don't really cost a pretty penne. We won't gnocchi-t until we try it.
BATH & BODY WORKS
Food-scented beauty and home products are nothing new at this store where fragrances include everything from Cucumber Melon and Island Margarita to Pineapple Crumb Cake and Warm Vanilla Sugar.
But a new candle that's available now is spicing things up.
Sriracha.
The three-wick candle, labeled "Bath & Body Works Test Lab Blend No. 027 Sriracha," was formulated to smell like the Asian condiment. According to the description at bathandbodyworks.com, it has notes of "Thai Sriracha, Crushed Coriander, Jalapeno Pepper and Red Chili." (Other foodie-ish Test Lab candle offerings: Pimento Wood, Turmeric & Tarragon and Black Pepper Kale.)
The Sriracha candle has earned mixed online reviews ranging from "Sriracha? Not so much but it's a nice spicy fragrance" to "I am not sure why anyone would want their house to smell like this. It gets one star because ... you can't give a zero."
If we wanted our pad (Thai) to smell like Asian cuisine, we'd spend the $24.50 (dim) sum on takeout. Pho real.
Curry favor, email:
jchristman@arkansasonline.com
Spin Cycle is a weekly smirk at pop culture.
Style on 03/25/2018