Chick-fil-A: ‘Please don’t call us anti-gay’

Chick-fil-A has responded to officials at Rider University, who nixed the fast-food chain as a potential on-campus dining options because of its anti-gay history. “Rider University’s survey was recently brought to our attention, and while we respect the University’s decision, this news story represents a good opportunity to clarify misperceptions about our brand,” says a company attorney in a statement provided to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Chick-fil-A is a restaurant company focused on food, service and hospitality, and our restaurants and licensed locations on college campuses welcome everyone. We have no policy of discrimination against any group, and we do not have a political or social agenda. More than 120,000 people from different backgrounds and beliefs represent the Chick-fil-A brand.”

That may be true, but it does not change chief executive officer Dan Cathy’s 2012 comments on the subject or Chick-fil-A’s numerous charitable donations to organizations with anti-LGBTQ+ policies in the years since. That could be a problem for the chain as it continues to expand into new markets.

People aren’t loving Starbucks’s new juniper latte

Starbucks has a new seasonal beverage available, a juniper latte that comes with “a light, pine-like flavor with delightful citrus undertones.” That sounds like a nice candle, but it might not be so good as a potable. ’Bucks fans are casting decidedly mixed reviews, according to the Washington Post. It seems that in the best-case scenario, one might be hit with the taste of gin upon sipping the concoction. Those who really hate it think the juniper latte tastes like a pine-scented car air freshener or maybe a tree.

The juniper latte just tastes like a pine cone and not in a good way — emily (@_emilyteddie) November 27, 2018

And in other food news ...

Seeking a gift for that special someone this holiday season? How about a fabulous Ina Garten enamel pin? [@amateurgourmet on Instagram]

Rest in peace, Patricia Quintana. The chef, who was a champion of Mexican cuisine, died Monday at the age of 72. [El Economista]

Iconic French chef Alain Ducasse has officially opened his latest restaurant, which sits on a riverboat below the Eiffel Tower in Paris. [Michelin Guide]

Humans are gross: A recent investigative report on McDonald’s touchscreen kiosks in the United Kingdom found that every kiosk studied was laced with traces of feces. [Metro]

Kate Wagner, the McMansion blogger with an acoustics degree, explains why restaurants have become so loud. Minimalism is the hot trend, and the hot trend makes money. [The Atlantic]

A bit of dining advice from the New York Post: “If you want a great table, tip the maitre d’ ... Put a nice, crisp $20 in your hand and shake the [host’s] hand ... be direct.” [New York Post]

Amazon is halting its United Kingdom-based restaurant delivery service. So far, the company’s U.S. delivery service is still up and running. [Restaurant Business Online]

Finally, Scandinavian furniture emporium Ikea has introduced a new menu item at the restaurants inside its United States stores: salmon balls. The meatball alternatives, which are available across America as of today, are described as “healthy for both people and planet, capturing the fresh taste of the Nordic sea in one delicious ball.” Ikea first tested the salmon balls in Portugal earlier this year. [Official]