These restaurant discoveries may not make the headlines, but they’re fascinating nonetheless. 

Check out this month’s unique food and drink news you probably won’t see elsewhere:

Midway madness

Fairground food is such a treat, why wouldn’t you want it year ‘round? Thus the uptick in amusement park fare on menus around town and popularity of TV shows like Carnival Eats.

While dining out for a living often appears glamourous, host of the hit Food Network series Noah Cappe faces a unique challenge. Check out just some of the extreme foods he consumes throughout Season 7, debuting tomorrow: Cookie Dough Egg Rolls, gold-infused Leprechaun Mac, Chick ‘N’ Cake funnel cake, Sausage Pizza Corn Hog, Diablo Dog, Supreme Samoa doughnut stack, Hot Wing Grilled Cheese, and Sweet Bacon Devil Burger.

One item on its own? Sure, that’s fun. But all this back-to-back? We’re talking serious food coma and then some.

Supper n’ suds

Speaking of outrageous concoctions, food-centric suds are all the rage. Brews that sounds more like food and beer pairings were showcased at last month’s Strange Brew Fest including: Mac & Cheese Habanero, Smoked Swedish Fish, Steak & Onion Kolsch, Peanut Butter Pickle Pils, Bananas Foster Barleywine, Gumbo Gose, Spicey Meatball, and Sushi, and Garlic Bread.

Bugging out

Whether it’s plant-based diets, cultured meat, or insect farming, there’s a race to find the best sustainable food system. Researchers at Tufts University say the real future of food is lab-grown insect meat. 

Home slice

Using popular singers and hit songs in commercials for food and drink brands and chain restaurants has been common practice for decades. Did you know? Alfie Zappacosta - a Juno award-winning singer/songwriter with 80s hits "When I Fall (In Love Again)," “I Think About You,” “Overload” from the ‘Dirty Dancing’ soundtrack – is also the voice behind the catchy Pizza Nova jingle, “4-3-9-oh-oh-oh-oh-Pizza Nova” that’s aired on television and radio for decades. [UPDATE Feb 06.23: The jingle just became a ringtone.]

Cortados and corgis

On the rise: Dog-friendly patios. You’ll often find an array of pooches mingling outside Contra, a striking modern cafe in the west end, boasting top notch coffee and baked goods. Even better? Their dedicated Insta for the beloved canines that frequent the cafe with their owners: @dogsofcontracafe.

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