THEME PARKIllumination’s Minion Cafe
Located within Minion Land at Universal Studios Florida, the new eatery serves a despicably cute menu. Try to resist Otto’s noodle bowl (above) with udon, porchetta, tare egg and roasted corn or a melty grilled pimento cheese with Minion-shaped tater tots.
VIRAL FOODCottage Cheese
The obsession is real. With nearly 1 billion views on TikTok and new recipes popping up every day, the once-humble cottage cheese has become the most in-demand ingredient on the Internet. The protein powerhouse is spread on avocado toast, mixed into scrambled eggs and even churned into ice cream.
Available in eight colors, the pod-based machine can brew five sizes of coffee, hot or with ice. $130, target.com
It not only produces light, bubbly seltzer, but it can also carbonate other liquids, like juice, iced tea and wine. $120, amazon.com
Use it to easily blend soups, dressings and smoothies—it’s powerful enough to pulverize ice. $30, walmart.com
Made of stainless steel, they’re narrow enough to fit inside any container, including small spice jars. $22, surlatable.com
RESTAURANT CHEF
Pinky Cole
“When you come to the restaurant, you see old people, young people, White, Black—and I’m like, ‘Damn, this is beautiful,’ †says the founder of Slutty Vegan, the plant-based fast-food chain that attracts lines of diners waiting for a taste of her meat- and dairy-free meals—like this at-home version of her popular “Chik’N Head†sandwich.
2 1/2 cups shredded tricolor coleslaw mix (from 1 [16-oz.] pkg.)1 small mango, finely chopped6 Tbsp. vegan mayonnaise1 Tbsp. hot mustard1 1/2 tsp. garlic salt1 1/2 tsp. onion powder2 tsp. apple cider vinegar3 Tbsp. light agave syrup, divided1/2 cup hot sauce1/4 cup unsalted vegan butter4 plant-based chicken patties1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce4 tomato slices16 dill pickle slices4 vegan Hawaiian buns, toasted
1. Place coleslaw, mango, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic salt, onion powder, vinegar and 1 tablespoon agave in a medium bowl; toss to coat. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Place hot sauce, butter and 2 tablespoons agave in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium low, stirring often, until combined, about 10 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.
3. Cook “chicken†patties according to package directions. Transfer to a large heatproof bowl, and toss with hot sauce mixture until well-coated.
4. Divide lettuce, tomato and pickles among bun bottoms; top with patties, slaw and bun tops. Serve immediately.
Makes: 4Active time: 20 minutesTotal time: 40 minutes
Brown rice typically takes 45 minutes to cook, but these grains steam in the microwave in 90 seconds. $3, bibigousa.com
Available with pork or plant-based meat, the springy noodles tossed in a sesame-based sauce are restaurant quality. $36 for 4, eatmila.com
Simmer meat, veggies or tofu in this Mexican-style sauce, made with chipotle, guajillo and arbol chile peppers. $3, target.com
Skip the chopping! It comes with crisp lettuce, creamy dressing, roasted pumpkin seeds and tortilla strips. $5.50, bowery.com
The macaroni stays gooey while the cornbread crumbs keep their crunch. $11, tillamook.com
The fiery spice blend, sourced from small farms in Jamaica, gets its kick from ground Scotch bonnet peppers. $13.50, scotchboyz.com
HOTEL & RESORTWildflower Farms
This nature-focused retreat in New York’s Hudson Valley serves fresh, indulgent dishes using eggs gathered from their chicken coops and ingredients picked from the on-site farm. Relax with a glass of wine on the patio, feed the animals (they also have donkeys and sheep!), and learn new skills at the cooking school. aubergeresorts.com
COOKBOOKThe World Central Kitchen
Chef José Andrés shares stories from people affected by natural disasters and wars, as well as recipes from WCK supporters. Try Meghan Markle’s lemon olive oil cake and Michelle Obama’s breakfast tacos.
ACCESSORYStanley Travel Tumbler
The colorful, insulated cup has become the must-have accessory for keeping hydrated on the go. The 40-oz. Quencher keeps drinks cold for hours (ice even stays frozen!) and features a no-spill lid and tapered base to fit into cup holders. $45, stanley1913.com
DESSERTDoan’s Coconut Cake
It’s become the gift of legend. Every December, Tom Cruise sends his friends—including Angela Bassett and Miles Teller—a white chocolate and coconut Bundt cake from Doan’s Bakery in Woodland Hills, Calif. The coveted confection is now available on goldbelly.com, so everyone can get a taste of the sweet treat.
FOOD STYLIST: MARGARET MONROE DICKEYY; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINA DALEY; (MINION LAND) UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT.(2); (COLE) WILL STERLING PHOTOGRAPHY; (COTTAGE CHEESE) ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES; (ICON) ANTON ANUCHIN/THE NOUN PROJECT
(SEEDS) ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES; (WILDFLOWER FARMS) MURPHY O’BRIEN(3); (ANDRÉS) FRANCOIS NEL/GETTY IMAGES; (CRUISE) MIKE COPPOLA/WIREIMAGE; (CAKE) COURTESY GOLDBELLY; (ICON) ANTON ANUCHIN/THE NOUN PROJECT
