The Daily Dish: March 16, 2016

Today's first course?

Danny Meyer Says 'No-Tipping' Policy Made One of His Restaurants More Profitable Than Ever

With a growing wave of restaurants implementing new no-tipping policies, most industry insiders are questioning whether it's the most beneficial choice for employees and customers. But what about the restaurant itself? In an interview with the Freakonomics podcast, restaurateur Danny Meyer explained that the month after implementing his no-tipping policy at The Modern in the Museum of Modern Art has been the most profitable month ever for the restaurant. The Modern was the first of Meyer's restaurants to adopt the "Hospitality Included" policy. Even though the restaurant had to make up for funds lost from tipping by giving managers and servers raises, it still came out on top. Why? According to Meyer, the profitable month is thanks to the buzz surrounding his new policy, which has received mostly favorable reviews.

New Flavors From Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto

Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto has unveiled six new flavors for 2016, all of which are on their way to a grocery store near you. The lineup includes five gelato flavors and one sorbetto flavor. Josh Hochschuler, who is the founder of Talenti, says, "We're always finding ways to innovate our flavor lineup, and we're really proud of these inventive twists and fresh flavor combinations. This year's flavors are made with real ingredients you can see — like coconut shreds, layers of graham crackers and ribbons of peanut butter — and we're excited for our fans to discover these latest creations." The new Talenti flavors are available at retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $4.99-$5.99. To see the complete list of the new flavors, check out this story in the News in Brief section.

EXCLUSIVE: Mountain Dew Pitch Black Is Back After a Five Year Hiatus

In 2004, Mountain Dew introduced a new, limited-edition Halloween flavor to its soda lineup: Mountain Dew Pitch Black, a deep-purple, black grape-flavored soda. The drink disappeared soon after and returned briefly in summer 2011. After a sweepstakes that gave away cases of the stuff, Mountain Dew Pitch Black is now officially back by popular fan demand and hundreds of online petition signatures. But there's a catch. You'll only be able to get your Dark Dew on for a limited time, and you'll have to head to a Speedway to stock up. 

That's today's Daily Dish, thanks for watching. Stop back tomorrow for another helping.