Welcome to Scrumptious or Distressing, the place we charge latest meals memes, movies, and different leisure information. Final week we mentioned the large Doritos pyramid on the Vegas Strip.
It was solely a matter of time. Ben Affleck—actor, husband of Jennifer Lopez, Bostonian, intrepid Dunkin’ loyalist—lastly has a drink to his identify at his favourite New England espresso chain. Ben’s “DunKings Espresso” is, in response to Dunkin’, a “traditional iced espresso with notes of vanilla mixed with cream, topped with Candy Chilly Foam and a dusting of cinnamon sugar.”
Additionally this week, a TikToker was so taken by Pizza Hut’s melodic maintain music that she referred to as a second time, simply so she might request to be placed on maintain as soon as extra. A model of the Choco Taco is again, because of Taco Bell and ice cream purveyor Salt & Straw. Lastly, a lady ordered an expensive ash tray from Saks Fifth Avenue, solely to obtain within the mail a can of albacore tuna.
Learn extra beneath on this week’s meals information across the web.
Ben Affleck is turning into ever extra synonymous with the Dunkin’ Donuts model. In a Tremendous Bowl business this 12 months, he featured in a boy band referred to as the DunKings, alongside friends Matt Damon and Tom Brady. Affleck was apparently paid near $10 million {dollars} for final 12 months’s Dunkin’ business, so one can solely assume he pocketed a equally exorbitant fee this 12 months. The most important boon for somebody of Affleck’s monetary standing, nevertheless, may be that his favourite bev is now an entire lot simpler to order. The DunKings Iced Espresso—with “vanilla vibes,” cream, Candy Chilly Foam, and cinnamon sugar—now has an official, albeit restricted time, spot on the menu.
Dunkin’ hasn’t disclosed gross sales figures because the advert aired, however movie star endorsements are a time honored custom within the quick meals house. What’s completely different this time? Affleck’s love affair with Dunkin’ began as a meme, and now Dunkin’ is leaning into the web of all of it an increasing number of. Comparable methods involving celebrity-backed menus have confirmed profitable for different fast-food manufacturers clamoring to win over the youths. Previously few years, Burger King featured a Lil Huddy meal, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen launched “hottie sauce” in collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, and McDonald’s has partnered with Saweetie, BTS, and Travis Scott to create signature meals. I suppose I’d most likely do absolutely anything for $10 million. However already-rich celebs donning neon-colored sweatsuits to promote quick meals to youngsters feels only a tad out of contact. —Ali Francis, workers author
Think about: You’re angrily calling Pizza Hut a couple of pizza emergency. The beleaguered customer support rep places you on maintain, and also you’re able to fume. All of a sudden you hear: “Rooster wings, rooster wiiiiings…it’s one of the best factor that’s not pizza.” That is presumably what occurred to TikTok person @noraeinhellll, who grew to become so dumbfounded and delighted that they referred to as the pizza chain once more simply so they may hear the maintain music once more. In a video with practically two million views, they inform somebody by way of their cellphone, presumably a rep for Pizza Hut, “While you put me on maintain, I heard genuinely one of the best music ever.” A tinny, baffled voice replies on speaker: “Okay?! I imply I hope it performs the music for you?!” Shortly after, a easy baritone voice passionately belts out about rooster wings from the cellphone. “Rooster WIIIIIIINGS!” It screams in a last crescendo. (Commenters recommend it belongs to the actor and comic Craig Robinson, who has featured in a number of Pizza Hut commercials.) Pizza Hut’s maintain music is one among many transferring examples of how humanity can come collectively by way of music and music, even within the darkest, hangriest of instances. Thanks, Pizza Hut, for making the most of buyer misery to upsell them an extra menu merchandise so efficiently that they make a viral video about it. —Karen Yuan, tradition editor
