Conor McGregor 🥃, LATRYGUY 🧆, and Babish 🐻

ENTERTAINMENT

Conor McGregor made $130M from Whiskey

Conor McGregor has been mandated by the Irish High Court to reveal the profits earned from selling his stake in the Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey brand, amidst a lawsuit with his former friend, Artem Lobov.

Lobov claims the whiskey brand was his idea, leading to legal action seeking 5% of the sale proceeds. McGregor, who reportedly made $130 million from the $600 million sale to Proximo Spirits in 2021, has been involved in this legal dispute since Lobov's allegations surfaced in 2022.

The court's decision requires McGregor to disclose financial details related to the sale and his continued involvement with the brand, as well as any connections with Paradigm Sports Management, within the next twelve weeks.

This development is part of the broader legal proceedings aimed at resolving the dispute between McGregor and Lobov over the origins and profits of the Proper No. Twelve brand.

FOODIE SOPTLIGHT

LATRYGUY has his best meal at Tev’s Kitchen

In this engaging video, the host shares his experience visiting Tev's Kitchen, a popular eatery renowned for its oxtail, chicken wing, salmon, and more.

The day is beautiful in LA, and despite not having a haircut or shave, the host is eager to try the food at Tev's Kitchen after seeing numerous recommendations. Arriving at the location, he interacts warmly with the community, including a 98-year-old man, emphasizing the friendly atmosphere.

Tev, the owner, shares his journey from starting in his house to opening the restaurant, highlighting his motivation to break generational curses and provide opportunities. The host then dives into trying the food, praising the quality, especially the wings and short ribs, and noting the exceptional customer service.

Tev's story of turning his passion into a profitable business and his advice to just "do it" and work hard resonates. The video captures the essence of community, hard work, and the delicious results of pursuing one’s passion, encouraging others to support local businesses and follow their dreams.

RECIPES

Babish and The Bear

Babish is creating a cola-braised short rib dish from the show “The Bear”.

1. The focus is on making cola-braised short ribs, starting with preparing a veal stock using roasted veal bones, aromatics, wine, and water, cooked at a simmer for 12 hours to maximize flavor.

2. The veal stock is then used as the braising liquid for English cut short ribs, which are browned along with onions and carrots, deglazed with white wine, and combined with cola, herbs, and the veal stock before being oven-braised until tender.

3. After refrigeration, the accumulated fat is removed, and the cooking liquid is reduced to a syrupy demi-glace, enhancing the ribs' flavor.

4. Accompanying the short ribs is a classic risotto made with the remaining veal stock, finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano, butter, and parsley, seasoned to taste.

5. The final dish is served with the glazed short rib atop the creamy risotto, garnished with parsley and drizzled with the reduced beef-cola sauce, delivering a blend of tender meat and rich flavors.

6. The episode emphasizes the meticulous process and the rewarding outcome of creating a complex dish with depth and character, showcasing the host's culinary skills and dedication to quality.

FOOD DOLLAR

Key Performance Indicator

USDA Economic Research Service

• Retail food prices are influenced more by processing and retailing costs than farm-level commodity prices, leading to modest yearly increases in food prices despite monthly swings.

• In 2022, $2.39 trillion was spent on food and beverages in the U.S., with food-at-home prices rising 5% in 2023 compared to 2022, marking a slowdown from the 11.4% increase in 2022. Fats and oils saw the highest price rise in 2023.

• From 2019 to 2023, food prices in the U.S. increased by 25%, outpacing the all-items CPI growth of 19.2%, with food price increases primarily driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical events.

• Over one-third of the U.S. food dollar in 2022 was spent on eating-out services, with spending on food-away-from-home accounting for 56% of total food expenditures.

• U.S. retail food prices are less volatile than farm prices, with an 83% increase in the production-weighted price of top crops in 2022 leading to only a 10% increase in food prices.

• Food prices are generally less volatile than fuel prices, with food prices growing by 5.8% in 2023 compared to a 10.6% decline in motor fuel prices.

• In 2022, food-away-from-home spending was 16% higher than in 2021, contributing to a total food spending of $2.39 trillion, with the budget share for total food increasing by 13%.

• The share of income spent on food decreases as income rises, with households in the lowest income quintile spending 31.2% of their income on food, compared to 8.0% for those in the highest income quintile.

• There is an inverse relationship between calorie availability and the importance of food in household spending, with high-income countries like the U.S. having low at-home food expenditure shares and high per capita calorie availability, contrasted with low-income countries.

FOOD SAFETY

Outbreaks and Recalls

Active Outbreaks:

• E. coli Outbreak Linked to Raw Cheddar Cheese

  • Illnesses 11, Hospitalizations 5, Deaths 0, States CA, UT, CO, TX, NJ

• Listeria Outbreak Linked to Cheese, Yogurt, and Sour Cream made by Rizo-López Foods (1/6/24)

  • Illnesses 26, Hospitalizations 23, Deaths 2, States 11

• Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Charcuterie Meats (start 1/5/24)

  • Illnesses 87 (40 new), Hospitalizations 18 (8 new), Deaths 0, States 30 (8 new)

• Lead and Chromium Poisoning Outbreak Linked to Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches (start 10/17/23)

  1. Total Cases 468, States 44

Recently Closed Outbreak:

• Listeria Outbreak Linked to Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums (11/20/23-1/30/24)

  • Illnesses 11, Hospitalizations 10, Deaths 1, States 7

• Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cantaloupes  (11/17/23-1/19/24)

  • Illnesses 407, Hospitalizations 158, Deaths 6, 44 states

Recall Link:

• 2024 Recall Count 38

AGRICULTURE, SCIENCE, AND TECH

3-D Printed Meat

In the rapidly evolving food technology sector, startups are pushing the boundaries of traditional food production methods to offer sustainable and health-conscious alternatives. Among these innovations, 3D-printed food and meatless meat stand out for their potential to transform the food industry. Cocuus, a Spanish technology company, is leading the charge by developing plant-based meat substitutes and other mimetic foods using advanced 2D/3D laser printing, bioprinting, and mechatronics. This approach not only caters to vegans and vegetarians but also addresses environmental sustainability concerns.

Key Points:

• Cocuus specializes in creating realistic plant-based meat substitutes, utilizing 3D printing technology on an industrial scale.

• The startup's approach benefits consumers' health and environmental sustainability by offering nutritious alternatives to traditional food options.

• Other startups like Redefining Meat, byFlow, BeeHex, and Shiyin Technology are also contributing to the food tech revolution across Europe, America, and China.

• 3D printing technology allows for intricate designs and customized meals, addressing dietary needs and reducing food waste.

• Cocuus aims to produce up to 1,000 tonnes of plant-based bacon by 2024 at its new facility in Northern Spain, with products already available in supermarkets.

• Despite its potential, 3D-printed food faces challenges such as high costs, taste and texture differences, and food safety concerns.

The future of food tech, led by companies like Cocuus, promises a shift towards more personalized, sustainable, and innovative food production methods, signaling a significant step forward in how we think about and consume food.