Erin Metz

With all the different fast food restaurants available for consumers to choose from nowadays, a company must look for anything it can to set itself apart from competitors. From mascots to unique slogans and even the shape of the food it serves, a fast food restaurant's branding is almost as important as the quality of its food. Take Wendy's, for example. Whether you think Wendy's is serving up the best or worst fast food burger on the market, there is no denying that the patties are distinctly different from most other burger joints.

No Thanksgiving feast is complete without a good wine — but with all the different dishes on the table, it can be difficult to choose the drink that will best complement each one. To get an expert eye on all things vino this holiday season, Food Republic spoke to wine expert Gabriel Corbett. He is a sommelier at JÔNT, a two-time Michelin-starred restaurant located in Washington, D.C.

The argument about which fast food chain serves up the best fries has been hotly contested for some time, but there is no denying that McDonald's has been a front runner since it arrived on the scene in 1940. One of the best parts about enjoying a meal from McDonald's is discovering the rogue french fries that have found their way to the bottom of your bag, waiting for you as a surprise post-meal treat. Their winning crispness is due in part to the oil the chain uses to double-fry them.

The United States may not be the country that consumes the most alcohol in the world, but residents across the nation do enjoy a boozy beverage. However, the prevalence of drinking in general depends on where you live, as liquor laws vary drastically from state to state — as does the drinking culture. While there are some places where cracking a cold open beer after a long day is the standard, there are other areas where a large majority abstain from alcohol. Take Utah, one of the states that make up the "Four Corners" region, along with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

If you aren't adding crumbled bacon to your ice cream sundaes and cupcake batter, you are surely missing out. Understandably, you might not be on board with the idea of adding meaty flavors to your sweet treat right away. Let this be your reminder that bacon goes with everything — and yes, we mean everything. To get the inside scoop — pun intended — about all things savory desserts, Food Republic turned to Tyler Malek, the co-founder and head chef at Salt & Straw.

For those nights when you want to warm up and stay awake at the same time, Irish coffee is the drink you want to be sipping on. While you might assume that any cup of coffee can quickly get an Irish makeover with a shot and a stir, the best Irish coffee actually requires a few extra steps and some top-quality ingredients — including an extra-strong brew. To dive into the art of Irish coffee, Food Republic spoke to Chris Cusack, a Level 1 sommelier and cicerone. Cusack is also the owner of

On November 16, 2024, Grimmway Farms issued a massive recall on organic whole carrot and organic baby carrot products, due to the potential of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination. According to a recall announcement by the FDA, the carrot products in question were distributed across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada, and sold by popular grocers including Trader Joe's, Target, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Wegmans, Walmart, Publix, and Kroger.

Hard seltzers have surged in popularity in recent years. A 2024 study by CivicScience reported a steady rise in hard seltzer interest among drinkers in the United States since 2020. The study also revealed that 46% of adults over the age of 21 have tried hard seltzer, with another 11% planning to try it. While a hard seltzer can certainly bring on a buzz, the type of alcohol in these drinks isn't always clear.

No matter how many times you count and re-count each guest coming to your Thanksgiving table, you will almost always end up with leftovers, which you can enjoy in various ways in the days to come. Crafting the perfect Thanksgiving sandwich is a post-holiday tradition that many of us enjoy... but not all of us. Stacking turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and veggies between two slices of bread can result in a dry bite, even with the addition of gravy or basil cranberry sauce. According to an expert, there is an even better way to enjoy Turkey Day leftovers.

Restaurant staff across the United States should double-check the ground beef in their fridges, following news of yet another E. coli outbreak for 2024. On November 20, the Food Safety and Inspection Service(FSIS) announced a recall on 167,277 pounds of ground beef from Wolverine Packing Company. Both fresh and frozen ground beef products packaged and distributed by the Detroit, Michigan-based facility could be potentially contaminated. These products were shipped to restaurants nationwide, and can be identified by the establishment number "EST. 2574B." The full list of products including best-by dates, product labels, and item codes can be found on the FSIS announcement on the USDA website.