The Daily Dish: Universal Orlando's Chocolate Factory Is Hit With A $40 Million Lawsuit

 

Universal Orlando's highly anticipated Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen has hit an unexpected legal snag prior to opening: They've been slapped with a hefty $40 million lawsuit. An Ohio resident claims that the Willy Wonka-esque attraction was his idea and that he had met with Universal executives for months to discuss the concept. The project, announced earlier this year, includes a real working chocolate factory, a full-service restaurant, and, of course, a gift shop selling chocolate-themed trinkets. Universal has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

 

 

A random act of kindness paid off in more ways than one for Kasey Simmons, an Applebee's server in Little Elm, Texas. Simmons received a $500 tip on a 37-cent check, according to WFAA, the ABC-TV station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. "They ordered the cheapest thing on the menu of flavored water — it was 37 cents," Simmons said, "but my tip was about 50,000 percent." (Actually, a 50,000 percent tip would have been $18,500 — but we get the idea.) The only explanation was a handwritten note, left behind on an Applebee's napkin, thanking Simmons for his kindness. It seems that earlier that day, while at the supermarket, Simmons saw a woman who looked upset. He approached her and offered to pay for her groceries. She reluctantly agreed, and ended up with a smile on her fact. The extravagant tip and the note were from the woman's daughter, thanking the man who had shown her mother kindness on the day she was mourning the anniversary of her husband's death.

 

 

A new alarm clock from Japan wakes its users with not only sound, but smell as well.  The Jikkalarm (jikka = "home") is designed to mimic the sounds and smells of mom's cooking (assuming mom's specialty is miso soup). There are two settings for the alarm: mom mode and newlywed mode. For mom mode, the knife hits the cutting board "at a fast and practiced pace," while newlywed mode "is a bit clumsier." Hilarious.

 

 

A doughnut shop in California has combined two of our favorite fried indulgences to make the ultimate indulgent, Insta-worthy treat: doughnut fries. The doughnut fries offered at California Donuts, the 24-hour retro-style bakery located in Los Angeles' Koreatown, are available in two flavors — powdered sugar and Nutella-dipped with sprinkles — and come in a fry container with about six pieces to an order.

 

 

American chefs will have the opportunity to face off for one of the 12 coveted finalist slots to compete in the finals of the World Championship of Pâté-Croûte (pâté encased in a pastry crust). For the first time, the semifinals of this annual competition will be held on U.S. soil. The Pâté Croûte American Finale is set to take place Oct. 24 at the Consulate General of France in New York City. Those interested in competing must complete an application form by Sept. 30. As part of the application, chefs must submit a recipe and photos of their pâté-croûte.