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Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Booze With A View: California's Ultimate Roof Bars
Spire 73 occupies an outdoor terrace on the 73rd floor of the Wilshire Grand Center (right), tallest ... More building on the U.S. West Coast. (Photo by David McNew) San Francisco set new expectations for high-rise bars when the Top of the Mark opened in 1939 inside what had previously been the 19th-floor penthouse at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Since then, the Golden State has literally raised the bar higher and higher with skyscraper summits and outdoor cantinas with increasingly awesome city, bay, ocean, and mountain views. Here are five of the best: As you might have guessed by the name, this lofty lounge overlooks the City of the Angeles on the 73rd floor of the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Hotel — the tallest open-air bar in the western hemisphere. The view looks south towards Long Beach and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. And on clear days, you can see Catalina Island floating off the coast. Craft cocktails like the Cloud Nine, Eclipse Martini and Sundown Spritz channel the sky-high ambience, while the food menu offers a range of trans-Pacific shareables, appetizers and entrees. The bar's Sunset Sips happy hour showcases a different premium spirit each week to the sounds of a live DJ spinning tunes high above Hollywood. Vintage view from the legendary Top O' The Mark bar in San Francisco looking east toward Berkeley ... More and Oakland, with the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge on the right. (Photo by PhotoQuest) Despite a plethora of skyscrapers, many of San Francisco's rooftop bars are decidedly low rise. But not the Starlite, perched on the 21st floor of the Beacon Grand Hotel near Union Square. Originally opened in 1928 as the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, the property had a multi-million-dollar makeover in 2024 to resurrect its Roaring Twenties glory days, a restoration that includes the Starlite. The cocktails were created by esteemed local mixologist Scott Baird while the short but spectacular bites menu was conceived by Michelin-star chef Johnny Spero of the renowned Reverie restaurant in Washington DC. Besides the vinyl-spinning house DJ, the Starlite also offers occasional 'Sunday's A Drag' afternoon pride parties hosted by local drag queen legends. There's also the possibility of sipping at two renowned rooftop bars in the same evening by hopping the cable car that runs past the front of the Beacon Grand and up Nob Hill to the Top of the Mark. Super yachts and aircraft carriers are among the many watercraft that patrons might spot from the ... More Odysea bar overlooking San Diego Bay. (Photo by Kevin Carter) Odysea rides an outdoor deck at the Hilton Bayfront that overlooks San Diego Bay with views across the water to Coronado, aircraft carriers docked at North Island, and the famous blue bridge. There's also in indoor portion, an oval bar reminiscent of the cozy drinking holes sometimes found on cruise ships. Barrel-aged cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan are the house specialties, while bites like the Baja ceviche and chicharrónes reflect San Diego's proximity to Mexico. The regular Odysea Bar is open year-round, but a new Aperol suffused summer pop-bar bar called The Overlook that disappears after sundown on September 1st. The Heavenly Scenic Gondola offers incredible views of "Big Blue" as it rises from South Lake Tahoe ... More to Cafe Blue. (Photo by George Rose) It's not a roof bar per se. But Café Blue does sit on the roof of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Heavenly Ski Resort. Getting there is half the fun, a scenic gondola ride that starts in South Lake Tahoe and gradually rises to Halfway Point Station at 9,123 feet above sea level. The drink selection is limited — craft beers, Northern California wines, hard seltzers, and canned cocktails. But the view seems limitless, a panorama of 'Big Blue' and the surrounding Sierras from tables on the open-air terrace. Open year round 10 am to 2 pm. The Kimpton Rowan hotel is reflected in the rooftop swimming pool beside the High Bar. (Photo by ... More George Rose) Topping the six-story Kimpton Rowan hotel in downtown Palm Springs, the High Bar is especially cool at dusk as the sun dips behind the San Jacinto Mountains and the surrounding desert takes on a golden glow. Given the triple digit temperatures in summer, frozen cocktails are the way to go — the Teremana Margarita, Beachcomber's Daquiri or classic Piña Colada. Which you might want to share with sorbet or gelato. The rooftop swimming pool is open to guests or non-guests who hire a cabana for the day or evening, a deal that includes $200 or $150 for the rental and a $200 food and drink minimum for as many as six guests.
Vox
13-05-2025
- Business
- Vox
The best plant-based meat products, according to a huge blind taste test
is a senior reporter for Vox's Future Perfect section, with a focus on animal welfare and the future of meat. Over the last decade, plant-based meat has gotten a lot more meaty. Dozens of startups have launched in recent years to develop more realistic-tasting burgers, nuggets, and sausages as an alternative to factory farmed meat, which causes billions of animals to suffer terribly, pollutes our air and water, and accelerates climate change. For a time, the plant-based meat sector was on a major upswing: Retail sales doubled from 2017 to 2020. But since then, sales have continually declined. Recently published data found a seven percent drop in plant-based meat retail dollar sales from 2023 to 2024 and an 11 percent drop in the number of products sold. To better understand what consumers really think about plant-based meat, a few months ago one organization conducted a huge blind taste test, which I recently covered: In December and January, Nectar — a nonprofit that conducts research on 'alternative protein,' such as plant-based meat — brought together nearly 2,700 people in a first- and largest-of-its-kind blind taste test. Without knowing which version they were tasting, the participants tried 122 plant-based meat products across 14 categories, like burgers, hot dogs, and bacon, alongside one animal meat 'benchmark' product per category. Each product was tested by at least 100 participants, who then rated them on texture, flavor, appearance, and overall enjoyment on a 7-point scale from 'dislike very much' to 'like very much.' Twenty of the plant-based products won Nectar's 'Tasty award' — meaning that half or more of the participants rated them better than or equal to the animal-based counterpart (six of the 20 came from just one company: Impossible Foods). This suggests that some of consumers' preference for animal meat — or dislike of plant-based meat — is just in their head, an idea I explored in depth in April. A chef prepares Impossible Pork at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2020. David McNew/AFP via Getty Images The products were all served as part of a dish, like they'd be eaten in regular life — vegan meatballs were served with spaghetti, for example, and deli slices in a sandwich with fixings. While some of these products don't taste identical to meat when eaten on their own, when prepared in a meal, differences in taste become much less important. If you want to give the top-performing products a try, continue on to learn where to find the 14 that are available in the US, what I think of them (at least, the ones I've tried), and a bit about the companies behind these standout plant-based meats. (The six award-winning plant-based meat products that are only available in Europe can be found at the end of the article.) Burgers US plant-based meat companies have reliably churned out meat-free burgers for decades, in part because they're a beloved American staple, but also because ground beef is easier for food scientists to replicate than, say, a steak's complex fibrous structure. You can now find plant-based burgers at the vast majority of US grocery stores, and even at a lot of restaurants. Here are the companies that made the best burgers in Nectar's blind taste test: Impossible Foods : The company was founded in 2011 by Stanford biochemistry professor Pat Brown and spent five years developing the Impossible burger before launching it in 2016. Of all the plant-based burgers on the market, I think Impossible's — made with soybeans — is the best, and it's widely available in US grocery stores and restaurants, including every US Burger King location. MorningStar Farms : Founded in the 1970s and acquired by food giant Kellogg in 1999, MorningStar Farms is a legacy plant-based meat company that appears to still be investing a lot in R&D, given that it won two Tasty awards and keeps launching new products. I haven't tried the winning 'Steakhouse Style' burger , but it's now at the top of my list to seek out. Beyond Meat : The company has played an instrumental role in upping the quality of plant-based meats over the last decade, thanks in large part to its award-winning Beyond Burger, made with peas, a protein-rich legume. Last year, the company reformulated the burger by reducing saturated fat and sodium, switching to avocado oil, and increasing protein. Chicken nuggets I'll be honest: I've tried a lot of plant-based chicken nuggets, and I can't tell much of a difference between them (they all taste like, well, chicken). They're among the easiest foods to make plant-based because chicken nuggets are already highly processed and bear little resemblance to whole chicken meat. You can't go wrong with meat-free nuggs from the two Tasty award winners — Impossible Foods and MorningStar Farms — but I also recommend chicken nuggets from Beyond Meat and chicken tenders from Gardein. Chicken fillets Processing Meat A newsletter analyzing how the meat and dairy industries impact everything around us. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Breakfast sausage patties Plant-based breakfast sausage patties, like plant-based nuggets, all kind of taste the same to me. But blind taste testers have a preference for two companies' products: Impossible Foods and Gardein, a Canadian company that's launched a number of delicious plant-based meat products over the years, which are widely available in the US. I also like Impossible's ground sausage, which comes in a roll, giving you flexibility in how to use it. Turkey deli slices Tofurky : Tofurky has been around since 1995, and it's perhaps best known for its turkey slices, along with its Thanksgiving roast. The deli slices are perfect for sandwiches, rich in protein, and come in a variety of flavors. While their classic roasted turkey variety won the Tasty award, I prefer their smoked ham, roast beef, and bologna slices. Prime Roots : Most plant-based meat is made with soy, wheat, or peas as the protein source, but Prime Roots' deli slices are made with koji , a fermentation agent used to make miso and soy sauce. I tried Prime Roots' deli slices over three years ago and wasn't a fan; to me, they had an off-putting aftertaste that Tofurky's doesn't. But blind taste participants were fans, and three years is an eternity in the startup world, so it's very likely Prime Roots has improved its products. I'm excited to give them another try — you can too, since they're available at nearly 300 stores and restaurants across the US. Meatballs and hot dogs The only plant-based meatballs and hot dogs to win a Tasty award are made by — you guessed it — Impossible Foods. Its hot dogs are even good enough for Joey Chestnut, the world's top-ranking competitive eater, who signed an endorsement deal with the company in 2024. Other plant-based meat products worth your money The list above only includes products available in the US, but a number of Nectar's winners appear to only be available in Europe: While a blind taste test is the best measurement of a plant-based meat's quality, I also want to share some of my personal favorites — and those from friends and fellow Vox colleagues — that didn't win a Tasty award but deserve the limelight just as much: If you can't find a product near you, or want to try something not widely available in the US, there are a number of online food retailers, like Vegan Essentials and Thrive Market, that carry specialty plant-based products. Nectar's blind taste test demonstrated that, overall, plant-based meat still has a long way to go to compete with animal meat on flavor, texture, price, and other attributes. But that so many of the plant-based products were rated just as good or better than their animal meat equivalents shows how far the industry has come in recent decades. In the years ahead, as the problems of our food system — animal cruelty, climate emissions, water pollution, and more — grow and worsen, its alternatives will improve. If we're lucky, they'll come to be seen less as substitutes and more as ethical, and tasty, options to satisfy humanity's desire for meat.
Vox
13-05-2025
- Business
- Vox
The 14 best plant-based meat products, according to a huge blind taste test
is a senior reporter for Vox's Future Perfect section, with a focus on animal welfare and the future of meat. Over the last decade, plant-based meat has gotten a lot more meaty. Dozens of startups have launched in recent years to develop more realistic-tasting burgers, nuggets, and sausages as an alternative to factory farmed meat, which causes billions of animals to suffer terribly, pollutes our air and water, and accelerates climate change. For a time, the plant-based meat sector was on a major upswing: Retail sales doubled from 2017 to 2020. But since then, sales have continually declined. Recently published data found a seven percent drop in plant-based meat retail dollar sales from 2023 to 2024 and an 11 percent drop in the number of products sold. To better understand what consumers really think about plant-based meat, a few months ago one organization conducted a huge blind taste test, which I recently covered: In December and January, Nectar — a nonprofit that conducts research on 'alternative protein,' such as plant-based meat — brought together nearly 2,700 people in a first- and largest-of-its-kind blind taste test. Without knowing which version they were tasting, the participants tried 122 plant-based meat products across 14 categories, like burgers, hot dogs, and bacon, alongside one animal meat 'benchmark' product per category. Each product was tested by at least 100 participants, who then rated them on texture, flavor, appearance, and overall enjoyment on a 7-point scale from 'dislike very much' to 'like very much.' Twenty of the plant-based products won Nectar's 'Tasty award' — meaning that half or more of the participants rated them better than or equal to the animal-based counterpart (six of the 20 came from just one company: Impossible Foods). This suggests that some of consumers' preference for animal meat — or dislike of plant-based meat — is just in their head, an idea I explored in depth in April. A chef prepares Impossible Pork at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2020. David McNew/AFP via Getty Images The products were all served as part of a dish, like they'd be eaten in regular life — vegan meatballs were served with spaghetti, for example, and deli slices in a sandwich with fixings. While some of these products don't taste identical to meat when eaten on their own, when prepared in a meal, differences in taste become much less important. If you want to give the top-performing products a try, continue on to learn where to find the 14 that are available in the US, what I think of them (at least, the ones I've tried), and a bit about the companies behind these standout plant-based meats. (The six award-winning plant-based meat products that are only available in Europe can be found at the end of the article.) Burgers US plant-based meat companies have reliably churned out meat-free burgers for decades, in part because they're a beloved American staple, but also because ground beef is easier for food scientists to replicate than, say, a steak's complex fibrous structure. You can now find plant-based burgers at the vast majority of US grocery stores, and even at a lot of restaurants. Here are the companies that made the best burgers in Nectar's blind taste test: Impossible Foods : The company was founded in 2011 by Stanford biochemistry professor Pat Brown and spent five years developing the Impossible burger before launching it in 2016. Of all the plant-based burgers on the market, I think Impossible's — made with soybeans — is the best, and it's widely available in US grocery stores and restaurants, including every US Burger King location. MorningStar Farms : Founded in the 1970s and acquired by food giant Kellogg in 1999, MorningStar Farms is a legacy plant-based meat company that appears to still be investing a lot in R&D, given that it won two Tasty awards and keeps launching new products. I haven't tried the winning 'Steakhouse Style' burger , but it's now at the top of my list to seek out. Beyond Meat : The company has played an instrumental role in upping the quality of plant-based meats over the last decade, thanks in large part to its award-winning Beyond Burger, made with peas, a protein-rich legume. Last year, the company reformulated the burger by reducing saturated fat and sodium, switching to avocado oil, and increasing protein. Chicken nuggets I'll be honest: I've tried a lot of plant-based chicken nuggets, and I can't tell much of a difference between them (they all taste like, well, chicken). They're among the easiest foods to make plant-based because chicken nuggets are already highly processed and bear little resemblance to whole chicken meat. You can't go wrong with meat-free nuggs from the two Tasty award winners — Impossible Foods and MorningStar Farms — but I also recommend chicken nuggets from Beyond Meat and chicken tenders from Gardein. Chicken fillets Processing Meat A newsletter analyzing how the meat and dairy industries impact everything around us. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Breakfast sausage patties Plant-based breakfast sausage patties, like plant-based nuggets, all kind of taste the same to me. But blind taste testers have a preference for two companies' products: Impossible Foods and Gardein, a Canadian company that's launched a number of delicious plant-based meat products over the years, which are widely available in the US. I also like Impossible's ground sausage, which comes in a roll, giving you flexibility in how to use it. Turkey deli slices Tofurky : Tofurky has been around since 1995, and it's perhaps best known for its turkey slices, along with its Thanksgiving roast. The deli slices are perfect for sandwiches, rich in protein, and come in a variety of flavors. While their classic roasted turkey variety won the Tasty award, I prefer their smoked ham, roast beef, and bologna slices. Prime Roots : Most plant-based meat is made with soy, wheat, or peas as the protein source, but Prime Roots' deli slices are made with koji , a fermentation agent used to make miso and soy sauce. I tried Prime Roots' deli slices over three years ago and wasn't a fan; to me, they had an off-putting aftertaste that Tofurky's doesn't. But blind taste participants were fans, and three years is an eternity in the startup world, so it's very likely Prime Roots has improved its products. I'm excited to give them another try — you can too, since they're available at nearly 300 stores and restaurants across the US. Meatballs and hot dogs The only plant-based meatballs and hot dogs to win a Tasty award are made by — you guessed it — Impossible Foods. Its hot dogs are even good enough for Joey Chestnut, the world's top-ranking competitive eater, who signed an endorsement deal with the company in 2024. Other plant-based meat products worth your money The list above only includes products available in the US, but a number of Nectar's winners appear to only be available in Europe: While a blind taste test is the best measurement of a plant-based meat's quality, I also want to share some of my personal favorites — and those from friends and fellow Vox colleagues — that didn't win a Tasty award but deserve the limelight just as much: If you can't find a product near you, or want to try something not widely available in the US, there are a number of online food retailers, like Vegan Essentials and Thrive Market, that carry specialty plant-based products. Nectar's blind taste test demonstrated that, overall, plant-based meat still has a long way to go to compete with animal meat on flavor, texture, price, and other attributes. But that so many of the plant-based products were rated just as good or better than their animal meat equivalents shows how far the industry has come in recent decades. In the years ahead, as the problems of our food system — animal cruelty, climate emissions, water pollution, and more — grow and worsen, its alternatives will improve. If we're lucky, they'll come to be seen less as substitutes and more as ethical, and tasty, options to satisfy humanity's desire for meat.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Southern California Reservoirs May Get a Boost
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A late-season winter storm could give Southern California a boost in snowpack that will benefit the region's water supply following below-average snow levels during the winter. Newsweek reached out to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) via email for comment on Friday. Why It Matters After an underwhelming early winter season, concerns grew that California's reservoirs—key to managing drought and water supply for millions—would struggle to meet demands. However, recent storms helped change the outlook. The April snow survey of the year was conducted on March 28 by the DWR, and snowpack was measured at 90 percent of average statewide. But Northern and Central California received more snow than Southern California, which remained "exceptionally dry," according to DWR officials. Despite this, reservoir levels across California, including Southern California facilities, are trending above historical norms for this time of year. What To Know Typically, significant winter storms end before April 1, but this year's unusual weather pattern is bringing additional snow to areas that had been trailing their seasonal averages. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Southern California mountains, forecasting up to 7 inches of new snow accumulation in higher elevations through the weekend. The late April snowfall, combined with an already near-average Sierra Nevada snowpack, signals encouraging prospects for the state's water supplies. In an aerial view, very low water levels are seen at Castaic Lake reservoir during a drought on July 8, 2022, near Castaic, California. In an aerial view, very low water levels are seen at Castaic Lake reservoir during a drought on July 8, 2022, near Castaic, California. David McNew/Getty Although the Sierra Nevada, which supplies about one-third of California's water, did not exceed record highs this year, officials emphasized the significance of reaching near-normal levels after a dry start to the season. Despite being near average, this year's snowpack is much below snowpack levels in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, California snowpack peaked at 241 percent of average. The impressive snowfall alleviated California's drought throughout the year. Snowfall peaked at 113 percent of average in 2024. Even though this year didn't perform as well as the past two years, the DWR reported on March 25 that State Water Project allocations were increased to 40 percent—up from 30 percent in December—thanks to a wet winter and improved hydrologic outlooks. While conditions are significantly better than in recent drought years, officials caution that one good season doesn't fix long-term water supply issues. Still, the replenishment is a welcome reprieve for a state where water security is a constant concern. What People Are Saying A DWR spokesperson previously told Newsweek: "The April 1 snowpack is an important benchmark for water managers who rely on snowpack and snowmelt runoff forecast data to plan for the amount of water that will flow into California's rivers and reservoirs in the spring. The State Water Project and water districts use this data to plan for how much water will be available for urban and agricultural water users during the drier summer and fall months." The NWS office in Los Angeles, in its Winter Weather Advisory: "Be prepared for slippery roads. Slow down and use caution while driving. If you are going outside, watch your first few steps taken on stairs, sidewalks, and driveways. These surfaces could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury." What Happens Next The advisory will remain in place until Sunday morning. It remains unclear if more late-season winter storms will move through Southern California before the arrival of warmer temperatures.
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Dire Wolf Returns—And Gets Ridiculed
San Bernardino County Museum paleontologist Carrie Lambert uncovers 30,000-year-old fossils near a ... More leg bone of the second largest mastodon ever found. (Photo by David McNew) Did Jurassic Park teach us nothing? After TIME reported on scientists who supposedly brought back dire wolves from extinction, parts of the online world acted somewhat unexpectedly. Rather than being excited, many people were mocking and ridiculing the return of the dire wolf. Negativity reigned. And while not everyone online reacted this way, it's enough of a movement to be interesting — because the reaction shows how social media helps us handle societal change. Let's dive a little deeper into the story. Earlier this week, a biotechnology company called Colossal Biosciences announced they had genetically engineered white wolves, creating a trio of animals that were named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. This is where things get interesting. Despite the fact many publications reported this advancement as the 'return' of the dire wolf, many are disputing this claim. Some publications, such as Slate, point out the lack of a peer-reviewed research paper from Colossal Biosciences. And, as the writer of the piece states, 'What we're really looking at, it seems, are gray wolves modified to be dire wolves of George R.R. Martin's books rather than living, breathing replicas of the actual prehistoric carnivores that hunted bison, horses, camels, and baby mammoths in packs during the Pleistocene.' To rephrase that, what we've been shown is a little bit of a charade. Impressive, sure, but not exactly bringing back the dire wolf from extinction. On the surface, it would be easy to expect many of the reactions to dire wolves 'returning' from extinction to be glowing and excited about modern technology, yet there are broad subsections of people reacting in quite the opposite way. Rather than being hyped or excited, some have turned to social media to express their discontent and make jokes about this situation. The question, of course, is what's driving this. The first and most obvious answer is about the gap in reporting. Many publications who covered the news led with headlines which were variants on 'The Dire Wolf Is Back,' yet, as mentioned, this is a rather murkier claim than at first seems. Of course, this is part of any sort of long-form content, especially online. Publications want to get people to read their pieces, so a slightly sensationalized headline that could be broadly, if not entirely correct, achieves that goal. This has been part of the news cycle since news was invented. Social media, though, is new, and can present information in an entirely different way. You can look at Twitter as basically an entire platform built around long headlines. There's space to discuss a thought a bit more. So when people read an article and discover the headline wasn't entirely accurate, they take to the platforms to ridicule the reporting and the news. Yet this isn't the full story. To me, the most interesting part of this reaction is around the jokes and mockery of the science. This might be a response to the out-of-balance state of the world. We live in times of increasing advancement, but not in every single direction equally. As some of the social posts point out, it seems bizarre that scientists can bring dire wolves back from extinction, but there are still many diseases that are yet to be cured. While there are explanations from this that range from the complexity of the task to monetary concerns, the biggest point is it forms a sense of cognitive dissonance. Really, if we can bring extinct animals like the dire wolf back, we should be able to have a functioning, futuristic society where we've solved most of the other problems. Yet this doesn't happen and, on some level, that feels wrong. What social media allows here is a way of blowing off steam. Research shows that digital humor can reduce stress, so it can be argued that going online and posting or making jokes about news like this can help people regain a sense of control. Ultimately, we live in strange times, where contradictory things continually happen. This can cause people to experience stress, anger, and discomfort, yet social media can operate as a pressure release valve. By making a joke out of a serious situation, memes and the online world can help people feel more balanced. The dire wolf is back from extinction. Let's just hope it goes a little better than Jurassic Park did.
