Passionfruit is gaining popularity among menu developers for its sweet-tart flavor, vibrant appearance and versatility. The fruit's acidity complements rich ingredients, and its tropical profile pairs well with flavors such as dark chocolate and coconut. Passionfruit is particularly popular in beverages, with the Pornstar Martini boosting its visibility, and its nutritional benefits, including fiber-rich pulp and seeds, add to its appeal.

Taco Bell is reviving its Decades Menu for the third year, this time featuring popular items from 2016. The menu, available nationwide starting Thursday, includes the Naked Chicken Chalupa, Beefy Crunch Burrito, Meximelt and Caramel Apple Empanada. The initiative taps into nostalgia among Generation Z and younger millennials, who view 2016 as "the last normal year," and the chain is leveraging the cultural resurgence of that era to create buzz and emotional resonance. Taco Bell is teaming with brands like Anti-Social Social Club and Camp Snap, and offering early access to the Vine-inspired Divine Video app, to capture the spirit of 2016.

Cris Massana's vegan pastry philosophy is rooted in ethical considerations while remaining deeply committed to the enjoyment and aesthetics of traditional French pastry. She aims to create desserts that are chosen for their flavor and beauty, rather than their vegan status, emphasizing that pleasure and quality are more convincing than rhetoric. Massana focuses on understanding ingredients and exploring alternatives to conventional techniques, believing that demonstrating the possibilities of plant-based pastry through taste and presentation can drive greater acceptance and appreciation.

Lehigh University transformed the retail area in the Clayton University Center into an all-you-care-to-eat dining facility while Rathbone Dining Hall was closed for HVAC installation. The Sodexo team moved essential equipment, including a flat top grill and self-order kiosks, to maintain menu offerings.

Food companies are grappling with the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which suppress appetite and alter taste, leading to reduced food consumption. Major food companies, including Conagra, Kraft Heinz and General Mills, are rethinking product development to appeal to GLP-1 users by increasing protein content and offering smaller portions of familiar foods. Companies are also leveraging consumer data, AI personas and word-association research to refine their offerings while also targeting not just GLP-1 users but their household members.

Nurtured Nuts has developed a hypoallergenic peanut using CRISPR gene editing technology by removing three proteins that cause allergic reactions. The peanuts were grown outdoors commercially for the first time in partnership with AgriNetica. The first crop is expected in September, with full commercial sales planned for 2027, and the company aims to reintroduce peanuts into schools, airlines and hospitals.

President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Heidi Overton, a White House aide, to lead the Food and Drug Administration, succeeding Dr. Marty Makary. Overton has a background in medicine and policy. Her confirmation process will require approval from a narrowly Republican-led Senate.

Chefs are finding creative ways to use corn silk and husks, often discarded parts of the vegetable. Crystal Wahpepah of Wahpepah's Kitchen in Oakland, Calif., makes corn silk tea while Brandon Ting of Nōksu in New York City incorporates roasted corn silk and husks into desserts. "Corn silk tea reminds me of that relationship," says Wahpepah. "It's a simple cup of tea, but it carries generations of knowledge about gratitude, sustainability, and caring for what feeds us."

That formerly highly engaged team member who has suddenly gone quiet may already have one foot out the door, writes team-building facilitator Sean Glaze, who recommends sitting down with them for a private conversation to pinpoint their issue. "Not a performance conversation. A human one. And ask how they are doing before you ask how the work is going," Glaze advises.