food drink

Fast-food drive-thrus may not be getting much faster, but they’re getting smarter, and friendlier staff might still matter more than artificial intelligence, a new report found. The 25th Annual Drive-Thru Study, conducted by Intouch Insight and QSR magazine, examined 13 fast-food brands across three categories: classic, chicken and beverage. The …

If your digestive system’s been a bit sluggish, scientists have found some new solutions — including a fruit you might already have at home. Researchers in the United Kingdom recently published new guidelines in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics about the foods that can relieve constipation. In an …

A new investigation has found that many popular protein powders and shakes may contain potentially dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, including lead, though not all experts agree on how much risk they actually pose. Consumer Reports tested 23 popular protein products and found more than two-thirds contained more lead …

If walls could talk, dive bars would surely have the best stories to tell. Unlike trendy cocktail bars that specialize in fancy drinks, you go to dive bars for what Derek Brown, veteran mixologist and Washington, D.C.-based hospitality expert, calls “time, grime and dime” — how long it’s been there, …

A viral coffee trend is gaining steam, and it could make your morning brew smoother without sugar or cream. The internet’s latest coffee craze doesn’t involve fancy syrups or expensive beans. It just involves a pinch of salt. Users say the simple addition can cut bitterness, enhance natural sweetness and …

As the market for protein alternatives evolves, scientists are testing hybrid approaches that blend traditional and novel sources — but not everyone’s convinced it’s the recipe for the future. A new research review from Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that combining plant proteins — often soy, …

Would you pay $95 for water? Fine-dining restaurants are betting you will. At some high-end restaurants, diners are ordering water like it’s wine, complete with tasting notes, pairing suggestions and “no ice” rules. Hot spots from Los Angeles to Spain now offer elaborate “water menus” and sommeliers to advise on …

An excavation in Turkey has yielded not just artifacts — it’s yielded millennia-old recipes that are bringing the flavors of Ancient Rome back to life. Archaeologists in Turkey recently completed digs in the ancient city of Dülük in the Gaziantep Province of south-central Turkey, according to Anadolu Agency (AA). The …

You’ve ordered drinks at the bar, and now it’s time to pay. Before you even see the total, the bartender hands you a tablet with a digital tip screen. The typical options are 18%, 20%, 25% — or “custom.” Welcome to one of America’s latest cultural dilemmas: How much should …

A man fed up by his roommate’s 5:30 a.m. smoothie habit garnered overwhelming support on the internet from people sympathetic to his dilemma — and his clever way of trying to deal with it. The man, who shared in a Reddit post that he’s 30 years old and from Melbourne, …