National Pizza Month was established over 40 years ago by Gerry Durnell, founder of Pizza Today, to coincide with the launch of the magazine's first issue in 1984, and in 1987, the US Congress officially recognized October as National Pizza Month. Pizza Today has updated its National Pizza Month Pizzeria Tool Kit for 2026, providing pizzerias with resources to celebrate the occasion throughout October. The toolkit includes marketing ideas, social media assets and customizable media releases to help pizzerias promote their National Pizza Month campaigns.

SNA data show that most schools are encountering challenges increasing scratch cooking, with over 93% lacking the necessary equipment despite federal grants. Officials say the grants may not cover costs of kitchen upgrades, posing a significant hurdle for schools aiming to offer more scratch-made meal options.

Chef Matt McCallister is returning to the Dallas fine dining scene with River Sing, a 22-seat restaurant in Expo Park set to open in November. McCallister, known for FT33 and Homewood, has been absent from fine dining for a few years while working with Dallas-based restaurant group Local Favorite. River Sing, housed in a former car shop, will feature a fixed tasting menu at $139 per person, with scratch-made dishes and ingredients sourced from an on-site garden.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, state Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, Vernon Public Schools Chef Tom Turvil and others visited Rockville High School to celebrate CT Grown for CT Kids Week. The school is known for its farm-to-table meal program, which uses local produce to create nutritious meals. The state has invested $5.5 million in the program, which has improved the quality of school meals and supports local farmers.

Registered dietitians Amy Davis and Kristen Lorenz say chickpeas are among the most nutrient-dense beans, offering significant healthful benefits such as fiber, protein, antioxidants and essential minerals. Chickpeas are also a versatile and cost-effective addition to meals, promoting blood sugar control, weight management and gut health. "Nutritionally, canned chickpeas often have more sodium than those you cook from scratch," Lorenz points out, adding "Rinsing canned chickpeas significantly reduces sodium, and once drained and rinsed, delivers the same fiber, protein, and micronutrients as the dried beans."

The FDA has released materials from a recent public meeting on Listeria monocytogenes prevention and is inviting public comments on key questions until Nov. 2. The meeting, which included various stakeholders, covered topics such as advances in Listeria control, best prevention practices and dose-response modeling.

Tarte Tatin, a classic French dessert, is believed to have been created by accident in the late 1880s by Stéphanie Tatin, who placed the pie crust on top of apples instead of underneath. The mistake led to the caramelization of the apples, creating a unique and delicious tart. However, some historians argue that the Tatin sisters merely popularized an existing dish. Regardless of its origin, tarte Tatin remains a beloved dessert, distinct from traditional apple pie due to its use of a crumbly tart crust and the method of cooking apples beneath the pastry.

The Coachella Valley in California produces 90% of dates sold in the US, and these dates are increasingly featured on restaurant menus in the California desert. Sensei Porcupine Creek uses Medjool dates in various dishes and drinks, while Double Date at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa incorporates them into Italian-inspired dishes and cocktails. Kestrel at Indian Wells Golf Resort uses dates in cocktails and sauces, La Quinta Cliffhouse serves dates wrapped in bacon, and Bar Cecil uses locally grown dates in bread rolls and desserts.

A fun activity isn't nearly enough -- at least not on its own -- to bring meaningful change to team culture, writes team-building facilitator Sean Glaze. To make team-building lessons stick, leaders should close with a debrief that asks clear, meaningful questions that connect the experience back to real day-to-day issues faced by the team.