McDonald's plans to open two small-format CosMc's locations in Texas this year while closing three larger ones, citing the effectiveness of smaller stores for the beverage-led concept. CosMc's, which debuted in 2023, has expanded to seven locations, with popular items including the Island Pick Me Up Punch and Savory Hashbrown Bites. The smaller formats include features like order-ahead lanes and food and beverage conveyors, streamlining operations and enhancing the digital ordering experience.

Chuck E. Cheese has completed a $350 million renovation of its stores and technology, replacing outdated features like animatronics and SkyTube tunnels with modern attractions such as trampolines and JumboTrons. The transformation is designed to appeal to a new generation of children and their parents. The company also introduced Fun Passes to boost customer visits and sales, and has reported positive same-store sales in eight of the past nine months.

Restaurants and bars added 29,800 jobs in December, accounting for 12% of all jobs created, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite challenges such as chain bankruptcies and unit closures, the industry remains a strong job creator. However, job growth in leisure and hospitality slowed last year, with wages in the sector rising 3.2% year over year.

Wildfires in Los Angeles have hit the restaurant industry hard, with establishments burned down or damaged. Many organizations are offering opportunities to support those affected by fires, including The American Red Cross, California Community Foundation and CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation. Additionally, GoFundMe campaigns have been set up for individual chefs and restaurants such as chef Dean Yasharian and The Reel Inn Malibu to help them rebuild and support their staff.

Doughnut makers such as Krispy Kreme and Shipley Do-Nuts are exploring new growth channels after strong performances last year. Krispy Kreme reported $1.23 billion in sales for the first nine months of 2024 and grew its delivered-fresh-daily business, and it has set a goal of reaching upwards of 15,000 points of access by next year. Shipley opened four stores in the third quarter, added about 110 units to the pipeline and introduced limited-edition products.

Connectedness in our society has suffered in a way it has not been before, and going out to eat is one of the best ways for people to get back in touch with each other, writes Matt Jennings, a chef, author and consultant. It's not just that people need to connect with one another, writes Jennings, but our local economies and the general lifeblood of our communities depend on the economic, cultural and culinary benefits of restaurants of all kinds.

Leaders should embrace agile optimism, which is more open-minded than fragile optimism that hinges on positive outcomes, writes Nick Tasler, an organizational psychologist. "Believing that you or your team can accurately predict all the details on the road to your desired outcome without making any missteps ensures that it's only a matter of time before your fragile optimism shatters into a thousand little pieces," Tasler writes.

Duck is often served medium rare because the bird's muscle fibers are tighter and darker due to more frequent use, particularly in flying. Cooking duck to medium rare ensures the meat remains tender and the skin becomes crisp, similar to steak preparation. However, the USDA advises cooking duck to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Andreas Gugumuck is reviving Vienna's tradition of snail farming, highlighting snails as a sustainable protein source. Snails require less maintenance than beef, feeding on organic scraps and producing compost, and have a smaller carbon footprint. Gugumuck's farm produces 300,000 snails annually.