Latest news with #Franck
Miami Herald
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Shh! 4 secret menu drinks at Universal Epic Universe
The bartenders in the Burning Blade Tavern love it when patrons drop by the pub tucked in the back of the Dark Universe-themed land at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, and say "Dr. Jekyll sent me." The cryptic introduction is a subtle nod to the bartenders that the patron is about to order one of four drinks from the Burning Blade secret menu. Universal Beverage Program Manager Joshua Franck refused to acknowledge the existence of a Burning Blade secret menu during media previews for Universal Epic Universe. "Unfortunately, as far as I know, there is no secret menu," Franck said during an interview in Dark Universe. Burning Blade Tavern and Dark Universe opened in late May as part of the 750-acre theme park featuring more than 50 rides, attractions, shows and experiences. The Burning Blade is hard to miss in Dark Universe - with the windmill atop the restaurant bursting into flames every 15 minutes. Inside, the old mill restaurant is themed as a hangout for monster hunters with their trophies covering the walls. The Burning Blade menu features classic pub grub - hamburgers, wings, bratwursts, pretzels, beer, wine and cocktails. The Burning Blade secret menu drinks all fall into the $14 to $19 price range. Universal Creative planted Easter Eggs all over the park for fans to find and the Dark Universe is full of them. You have to listen carefully to the audio soundtracks playing in Dark Universe if you want to discover the secret drinks on the Burning Blade menu. The best place to discover secrets about the Universal Monsters-themed land is at the window of the Dr. Jekyll Apotheker next door to the Das Stakehaus restaurant. Every 30 minutes, visitors can hear Dr. Jekyll loudly arguing inside his apothecary - and he might just tell you what to order at the Burning Blade Tavern. Epic Universe visitors are always coming into the Burning Blade Tavern and suggesting new cocktails for the bartenders to make, according to Franck. "We love the fact that our guests have so many ideas and they're so passionate," Franck said. "If we hear that people are requesting things, we take a look at them. We may add things to the menu." Here are the four secret menu drinks available at the Burning Blade Tavern. Crossbow The Crossbow combines Strongbow Gold Apple Cider and Darkthorne Mead. It's like a Snakebite beer cocktail without the beer. The mead replaces the stout or lager in the traditional half-and-half recipe. The Crossbow was the first secret menu drink discovered by Epic fans and has proved so popular that the Burning Blade has already added it to the menu. "It is a recent add," Franck said. "It is something that guests came in and wanted to construct themselves. We took a look at it and we said, 'We really like this idea.'" The Disney Food Blog ordered the Crossbow when it was still a secret menu item and found the cocktail to be the perfect blend of sweet and tart. "It's pretty sweet, but that combination of the cider and the mead helps cut through some of the sweetness of the cider and the tartness of the mead," according to the Disney Food Blog. "It's honestly the perfect balance in our opinion, and it offers a nice option for people who don't want sugary, syrupy drinks or beer." The once-secret Crossbow now shows up on the Burning Blade online menu but is still not available for mobile order. Smoking Jacket Smoking Jacket is another beer cocktail - this time with the beer remaining in the mix. Darkthorne Mead is still the star here, combined with a Reaper's Reserve caramel-spice brown ale from Florida's Crooked Can Brewing. The drink is named after the Invisible Man's jacket - which is a close color match to the cocktail, according to theme park junkie and foodie Paige Bryant. "You can definitely taste the cinnamon, nutmeg and clove in this drink," Bryant wrote on Instagram. "The mead adds a nice sweetness to it and kind of gives it more of a fall flavor." Jekyll's Remedy Jekyll's Remedy remains a secret menu item in part because the drink's test tube souvenir shot glasses did not arrive in time for the grand opening of Epic Universe. Jekyll's Remedy includes a mix of vodka, peach schnapps, sour mixer, cardamon and clove extracts. Hyde's Reagent Hyde's Reagent is the companion drink to Jekyll's Remedy - intended to be sipped side by side by drinking companions. Mr. Hyde's cocktail includes a mix of tequila, orange liqueur, creme de cassis, sour mixer, simple syrup and chipotle essence. The Jekyll and Hyde drinks still can't be found on the Burning Blade online menu, but they can be mobile ordered through the Universal Orlando app. Franck declined to discuss the Jekyll and Hyde secret menu cocktails. "What I can tell you is that we're always working on new ideas and we have new things that will be coming in all the time," Franck said. "We'll be refreshing these programs continually and will always have something new and exciting." _____ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Spectator
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Finding spiritual treasure in César Franck
The Belgian composer César Franck – unfairly associated with kitsch and sentimentality by certain cultural sophisticates – wrote some of the most spiritually inspiring music of the late 19th century. In this episode of Holy Smoke, Damian Thompson talks to the British-Israeli pianist Ariel Lanyi, who has just recorded Franck's late masterpiece Prélude, Aria et Final on the Linn label. Ariel discusses the influence of Catholicism and the anti-Catholic Richard Wagner on the devout Franck, who was organist of a church in Paris for 30 years – but reserved his most profound thoughts for ostensibly secular works. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Damian Thompson.
South China Morning Post
03-03-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Letters from readers: Learning carpentry, animal cruelty and the Great Wall of China
Do you have something to share? Send us your letters using this form Gabriel Ling (aged 9), French International School I had an exciting opportunity at school to build an eco-friendly wooden lamp. Our teacher, Franck, a professional carpenter, introduced us to different types of wood and tools such as knives, pincers and electric screwdrivers. In the following lessons, we polished sharp corners of wood until they were round. It felt calming and therapeutic. With Franck's guidance, what seemed like an insurmountable task was not so difficult. As I held my completed lamp, I was proud of myself. This was my favourite class of the entire year. Gabriel Ling made an eco-friendly lamp at school. Photo: Handout Keerthana Karthik (aged 10), Kowloon Junior School We are grateful for our health, thanks to medicine. However, the production of these medicines often involves the suffering of animals in laboratories. Animal testing can be a suitable method to test new medicines. However, it does not always show how the body responds to medical treatments. I think animal testing is unethical, and it violates animal rights because it can cause them suffering. Instead, we can use technology or donate human tissues from surgery for testing. We should find ways to protect animals from pain. Keerthana Karthik is against animal testing for medicines. Photo: Handout Jack Yuen Chun-kit (aged 9), Creative Primary School During the Christmas holiday, my family planned a trip to Beijing. I was most excited to see the Great Wall of China. It has a length of 21,196km or 13,171 miles. It is the longest man-made structure. The construction of the Great Wall of China first began in the 7th century BC. I hope people will like going there too and have a great time. Jack Yuen thoroughly enjoyed his trip to Beijing. Photo: Handout
