In the battle of the burger chains, it’s not the golden arches Americans are longing for. For the first time ever, Five Guys, was named Burger Restaurant Brand of the Year — ousting two-time honoree In-N-Out Burger — according to The Harris Poll. The Washington D.C. based burger joint beat out In-N-Out Burger, followed by Shake Shack, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Whataburger, McDonald’s, Sonic, Smashburger, and Steak ‘n’ Shake to take the top spot. Not surprisingly, McDonald’s still hold the highest in familiarity across all brands. “The burger brand category has become less fragmented, as regional brands expand and become available in more parts of the country,” said Joan Sinopoli, vice president of brand solutions at The Harris Poll. “This is certainly the case with Five Guys, who has shed its ‘small regional player’ designation as it expands its footprint and marketing budget along with its fandom, which is a tremendous contributor…
A look at the growing artisanal salt trend
A half dozen salts sparkle in the sunlight at a stand in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. They vary wildly in texture, size, color, shape, and, of course, taste. The artisan salt trend has taken off in recent years, and with it, a deeper appreciation for the common mineral. Culinary creators are no longer limited to the taste of table salt, and health conscious consumers committed to the “farm to table” lifestyle have taken to them as a healthier alternative. Still, salt gets a bad rap among most. We’re told by doctors to avoid ingesting extra salt at all cost. But Kimarie Santiago wants to shake up that idea. The Long Valley, New Jersey woman is, of course, biased. She owns the growing artisan salt empire, Saltopia, but her passion for preaching salt’s health benefits, is infectious. And, she backs her bias with science. “I’ve dedicated my life to having my two…