Current Events & Food Trends


Alternatives to Plastic Straws in the Foodservice Industry Icon
Alternatives to Plastic Straws in the Foodservice Industry

For such a small piece of plastic, single-use plastic straws can cause a lot of trouble. Some restaurants are finding reusable alternatives.

8 of America's Coolest Food Halls Icon
8 of America's Coolest Food Halls

Food halls are a must-have culinary trend in America. Explore some of our favorite food halls across the country, from Alabama to Wisconsin.

Holiday Gingerbread & the Foodservice Industry Icon
Holiday Gingerbread & the Foodservice Industry

Gingerbread houses help restaurants, hotels, and retailers build holiday spirit in communities with festive displays and competitions.

Comfort in Crisis: The Giving Kitchen Icon
Comfort in Crisis: The Giving Kitchen

When foodservice employees in Georgia experience a crisis that hinders their work, The Giving Kitchen steps in to help make ends meet.

Pasta 101: Different Types of Pasta, Explained Icon
Pasta 101: Different Types of Pasta, Explained

How many types of pasta can you name? Learn more about the differences between pasta and noodles, their names, and how to use them.

Types of Tea: A Beginner's Guide Icon
Types of Tea: A Beginner's Guide

Want to know the differences between the types of tea? Our beginner's guide explains tea varieties, steeping recommendations, and more.

Trend Meets Altruism in America's Cat Cafes Icon
Trend Meets Altruism in America's Cat Cafes

The owners of America's early cat cafes are here to tell you why cats and coffee shops are the purrfect combination for kitties and customers.

Restaurants, Foodservice, and Olympic Marketing Icon
Restaurants, Foodservice, and Olympic Marketing

Olympic advertising restrictions make it difficult for restaurants to capitalize on the games but events and social media can help.

Chill a Mountain of Beer in Minutes, the Bartender’s Way Icon
Chill a Mountain of Beer in Minutes, the Bartender’s Way

Need a how-to for quickly chilling hundreds of bottles of beer for your next event? KaTom has you covered with this handy guide.

America's Giant Drinks Trend Icon
America's Giant Drinks Trend

Shareable cocktails are making a comeback in the social drinking sphere. See where the trend started and where it's going now.

If It’s Autumn, It Must Be Oyster Season Icon
If It’s Autumn, It Must Be Oyster Season

Welcome Autumn with the beginning of oyster season. Guest author Janet S. Moore discusses oysters with The Lobster Trap (Asheville, NC).

San Francisco's Legacy Businesses Icon
San Francisco's Legacy Businesses

Established in 2015, the San Francisco Legacy Business Program aims to support historic local businesses and protect them from displacement.

'Tis the Season for Weird Candy Cane Flavors Icon
'Tis the Season for Weird Candy Cane Flavors

This holiday season, join KaTom and hundreds of others in sampling funky candy cane flavors like pickle, bacon, wasabi, and gravy.

Binging with Babish is Your Pop Culture Foodie Fix Icon
Binging with Babish is Your Pop Culture Foodie Fix

Andrew Rea started the Binging with Babish YouTube channel in 2016. Now, making cooking videos is his career.

Upscale Restaurants & Dining Room Dress Codes Icon
Upscale Restaurants & Dining Room Dress Codes

Joshua Miller, the general manager of fine-dining restaurant Spiaggia in Chicago, discusses the realities of implementing a dress code.

Activated Charcoal & Instagram-worthy Food Icon
Activated Charcoal & Instagram-worthy Food

Jet-black foods have taken over social media, but the activated charcoal that gives these items their color should be served with caution.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail's Official Tasting Glass Icon
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail's Official Tasting Glass

Thanks to Libbey and the Kentucky Distillers' Association, you can now enjoy your American spirit in an official bourbon tasting glass.

Enjoy Authentic Poutine from the American Poutine Co. Icon
Enjoy Authentic Poutine from the American Poutine Co.

The American Poutine Co. (Arizona) lets Americans and Canadian transplants enjoy authentic fries, cheese curds, and gravy, with a twist.

Exploring Asheville's French Broad Chocolate Lounge Icon
Exploring Asheville's French Broad Chocolate Lounge

Browse the library of Asheville's French Broad Chocolate Lounge and brew a Liquid Truffle with their recipe.

Biltmore Estate: Raising the Culinary Bar Since 1895 Icon
Biltmore Estate: Raising the Culinary Bar Since 1895

Enjoy a foodie's view of Biltmore Estate, the nation's largest privately owned home in the beautiful foothills of Asheville, North Carolina.

Iconic Food Mascots & Their Origin Stories Icon
Iconic Food Mascots & Their Origin Stories

Many of the brand mascots we love today are iconic characters with interesting histories. Can you name your favorites?

Cinema's Worst Diners Icon
Cinema's Worst Diners

The scenes may be great, but these movie characters are bad customers. See which on-screen diners have the worst restaurant etiquette.

Alcohol To-go During COVID-19 Icon
Alcohol To-go During COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many states are loosening restrictions and allowing restaurants to deliver alcohol or sell it to-go.

Pop into Christmas with Holiday Pop-up Bars Icon
Pop into Christmas with Holiday Pop-up Bars

Familiar spaces are transformed into a Winter Wonderland during the holiday season with KaTom's roundup of Christmas pop-up bars in 2019.