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New York Post
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
A Barbecue Revival: National BBQ Festival Finds New Life in Nassau County
Barbecue fans, mark your calendars. After more than a decade on ice, the National BBQ Festival is firing back up—this time, with Nassau County, Long Island, as its home base. From June 13 to 15, Eisenhower Park in East Meadow will host the long-awaited return of one of the country's boldest BBQ events. With dozens of competitive teams, a $100,000 purse, and enough smoked meat to satisfy an army, the revived National BBQ Festival is aiming to become Long Island's newest summertime tradition. If you've never heard of it, you're not alone. But in barbecue circles, this festival is legendary. From 2002 to 2011, it ran in Douglas and Waycross, Georgia, where it drew tens of thousands and quickly outgrew its space. Fourteen years later, it's back—new location, new format, same commitment to smoke, fire, and fierce competition. Advertisement Varunee – From Small-Town Georgia to Suburban New York The move from Georgia to Nassau County is a big shift—but a strategic one. Long Island's food scene has grown more ambitious over the past decade. There's space, proximity to the city, and a crowd that loves great food. Eisenhower Park, with over 900 acres of public space, offers a rare combo: open land, built-in infrastructure, and easy access for millions. At the heart of the festival is the competition, where top BBQ teams from across the country will go head-to-head in categories like brisket, ribs, pork, chicken, and whole hog. Adding a local twist, the event will also feature a meatball cook-off and a Long Island Iced Tea competition—two uniquely Long Island favorites. And it's not just about flavor. Judges will be scoring entries based on timing, texture, technique, and presentation. A Full-On Weekend Experience Advertisement While the competition fires up the pitmasters, the real draw for attendees is the unlimited BBQ samples included with admission. Guests can feast their way through the Live Fire Experience, sampling signature dishes from top pitmasters across the country. Beyond the bites, the weekend also features craft beer and wine tastings, live fire cooking demos, chef appearances, and family-friendly programming. And the flavor doesn't stop at the grill—live music runs all weekend, including a Saturday night performance by West Coast rap legend Warren G, who'll also be competing with his own BBQ team. Thryon Mathews Beth Petsche The Live Fire Experience will showcase bites from top pitmasters, including 'Captain' Ron Dimpflmaier and 16-time Grand Champion Thyron Mathews. Expect everything from oxtail and tomahawk steak to Texas-style brisket and 'mop sauce' ribs. What to Expect Yes, there will be smoke. Yes, there will be rows of custom smokers. And yes, you'll leave smelling like brisket. But that's the point. Between demos, tastings, and live music, this is one of the most satisfying weekends of the year. Advertisement There's also a Kids Zone with carnival games, giveaways, and family-friendly demos. Oyster Bay Brewing Company will debut a custom 'Smoke & Tide' beer on-site. General Admission and VIP ticket options are available, with perks like reserved seating and exclusive tastings. Final Thoughts In a crowded calendar of food events, the National BBQ Festival stands out for its heritage, and its heart. This is real-deal barbecue, built on craft, culture, and community. Just don't wear white.
Time Out
16-05-2025
- General
- Time Out
The Rochester Hotel
Melbourne's pub landscape is now awash with elevated offerings, harking back to the kitsch of old-school iterations – with cleaner plating and higher price tags. While there's certainly a time and place for ironic white tablecloths and fancy parmas, The Rochey is your spot if you're after a solid, no-frills pub experience. Since opening in the '70s, the venue has undergone several transformations – it's now operated by Castle Group, the team behind Arcadia, Green Man's Arms, Añada, and Brewsmith – yet it's always stayed true to its roots as a reliable spot for drinks and live music. Not much has changed, and that's the point. You'll still find music upstairs, trivia on Wednesdays, and a daily selection of specials. The $22 steaks and $25 Sunday roasts were tempting, but I went for the Monday night parma deal – $25 for a parma and a pot of house beer – because a) it's great value and b) who else is open on a Monday? 'Had one parma, had 'em all,' I usually think, but this one stood out with its thick, buttermilk-brined, panko-crusted chicken; high-quality ham; and the unexpected salty bits of what I think was pancetta mixed into the sauce. The new owners pride themselves on their meat-free options, so the veggie burger was another natural choice. The smoky grilled mock meat patty won't fool you for beef, but it's a solid stand-in. And while the burger was a bit plain as served, some mustard and a bit of jalapeno jam swiped from the parma plate made it just right. Plus, my request to sub sweet potato chips for standard was granted – and at no extra charge. Throw some in the burger and you've got the perfect bite. On the flip side, If you opt for a beef or chicken burger, consider upgrading to a 'dipper' for an extra $5. Because nothing takes a pub meal to the next level like dunking it in a bowl of gravy or Japanese curry sauce. I know it's likely assumed that everyone understands the pub format (order at the bar), but you know what they say about assumptions. Nothing was explained when I was seated for my booking, so a little briefing on how things run would go a long way for non-regulars. That said, the staff were warm and accommodating to my quirks, like when I asked for a Long Island Iced Tea ($14 during happy hour) with Coke Zero instead of the usual. Was I being a difficult customer? Hopefully, not too much. But the beauty of a pub like The Rochey is that it's a step back from more rigid dining environments – a place where you can settle in, feel at home and make the experience your own. What's a pub menu without sliders? Here they're made with a sweet bread traditional to Goa and filled with chorizo, prawns or chilli potato. Vegetarians don't miss out, with soft strips of cabbage flavoured with coconut and translucent curry leaves; and green papaya with chilli gravy. Don't know where to start? There's a $55 'shut up and feed me' menu, which can be made vegetarian or vegan on request. With the new kitchen the Rochey now walks a fine line between rowdy pub and destination restaurant. It's still a pub for the people and the dimly lit bar serves your usual range of booze and fancy G&Ts, plus a few Indian-style cocktails to boot – hello rum-spiked mango lassi. While this corner pub in Fitzroy has food definitely worth going back for, leave grandma home on Saturday night unless she's square with raucous weekend debriefs bouncing off the bare brick walls. You come here for curry, or to party. Or both, if that's your idea of the perfect night out.
New York Post
23-04-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Number of TGI Fridays has significantly shrunk across the US as chain battles bankruptcy
TGI Fridays' footprint in the U.S. has been significantly diminished. The chain's website listed 85 restaurants across the country, less than a third of the number that operated in the U.S. at the start of 2024, when there were some 270, CNN reported Tuesday. Advertisement In November, as TGI Fridays Inc. entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, over 160 were scattered across America, according to the outlet. There have been closures and sales of TGI Fridays restaurants since then. TGI Fridays Inc. entered bankruptcy 'to allow the Company to explore strategic alternatives in order to ensure the long-term viability of the brand,' it said at the time. Locations franchised to 56 franchisees in 41 countries were not included in the Chapter 11 process, according to its November press release announcing the bankruptcy. 'The story about TGI Fridays – the iconic restaurant-bar chain that invented casual dining, the singles bar concept, and the Long Island Iced Tea – is not the closures but the new structure and new strategy,' a representative for TGI Fridays told FOX Business. Advertisement Franchisee Ray Blanchette was chosen to lead TGI Fridays and created Sugarloaf TGIF Management. He was previously the chain's CEO from 2018 to 2023. 3 TGI Fridays Inc. entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November of last year. cineberg – 'The brand, distinct from the entity that filed for bankruptcy, is now led by franchisees, with a franchisee advisory board empowering and shaping brand-wide decisions,' the TGI Fridays representative said. 'The bankruptcy impacted less than 10% of the system.' TGI Fridays' footprint currently includes 391 restaurants across 41 countries, according to the company. Advertisement 3 TGI Fridays CEO Ray Blanchette as he explains how the company is making a comeback after filing for bankruptcy in 2024. foxbusiness 3 TGI Fridays' footprint currently includes 391 restaurants across 41 countries, according to the company. VICTOR ALCORN Blanchette, who is leading TGI Fridays' comeback efforts, recently told FOX Business that within his first 100 days back, the company had already upgraded 80% of its menu, with a new food and cocktail menu launching nationwide on May 13. TGI Fridays is also looking to attract a younger audience and 'changing the brand voice and freshening it up' with more emphasis on social media, he said in the interview.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Beloved restaurant chain that brought cocktails to the masses now has just 85 locations left in the US
A happy hour hot spot is hanging by a thread. TGI Fridays, the fast-casual drinks and burger restaurant that helped define suburban mall culture, has shut hundreds of stores since the 2020 pandemic. Founded in 1965 in New York City, the iconic brand grew into a $2 billion business. The restaurant chain used to own and franchise 600 US locations at its peak in 2008. From the 80s through the mid 2010s, middle class shoppers flocked to the mall-adjacent restaurants for burgers, ribs, steaks, and cheap cocktails. The chain is often credited as the Long Island Iced Tea's inventor. But the cocktail-producing icon has faded. In January 2024, the company boasted around 240 restaurants across the US. Now, its website only lists 85 storefronts. The dwindling number of stores isn't a huge surprise: TGI Fridays' parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November after a deal to sell with a UK restaurant brand fell through. Since then, closures have accelerated, with roughly 30 restaurants permanently shutting their doors in just the last month. Most of the stores left in the US are run by franchise owners. Business operations at those locations have not been impacted by the parent company's bankruptcy filing. In fact, the brand has spent the last few months selling off locations to its franchisees — including Ray Blanchette, a former CEO who returned to the company in January. Blanchette has remained bullish on the iconic brand's future, claiming that his investments — including an updated menu and restaurant redesigns — will spark new life into the chain. 'We're bringing the fun back to Fridays, giving people more reasons to gather and celebrate,' Blanchette said in an interview with Restaurant Dive. 'Over the past decade, our business, and the category-at-large, has faced challenges.' TGI Fridays' longtime competitors have also filed for bankruptcy as Americans turn away from fast casual brands. For years, low and middle class Americans have tightened their budgets while dealing with higher inflation. TGI Fridays' menus relied on Americana-inspired foods: chicken fingers, Long Island iced teas, and ribs The restaurant has been shuttering stores in droves Shoppers have been avoiding fast casual chains as they look for more food value Cutting back on restaurant visits has become a common way for people to save money, contributing to an economic slowdown for competing restaurants. And, the restaurants have been dealing with inflationary pressures on their offerings. The toxic mix of higher cost and lower traffic has plunged multiple brands: On The Border, Hooters, Buca di Beppo, Red Lobster, and Roti have all filed for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, other restuarant staples, like Denny's, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse, and Cracker Barrel have all reported shrinking sales estimates. Still, some chains have been able to balance their financial spreadsheets and lure more customers with bargain options. Both Olive Garden and Texas Roadhouse, which both owned by the same parent company, Darden Restaurants, have both reported growing customer interest in their stores. The chains have a huge footprint of locations across the US and feature value-packed menus.
Miami Herald
06-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Bankrupt restaurant chain offers new deal, stiff drink
Founded in 1965 in New York City, TGI Fridays won the hearts of millions of customers worldwide thanks to its classic American bar food and happy hour beverage deals, which make every day feel like a Friday. Although this restaurant chain had always portrayed itself as a lively sanctuary where people could let loose and enjoy delicious food and a nice drink, for years it had secretly struggled with continuous declines so steep the company could no longer sustain its finances. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter A new year is supposed to signal new beginnings, yet 2024 was nothing but turbulent for TGI Fridays. It suffered financial troubles, faced bankruptcy, and lost about half its national footprint. Source: Getty Images At the beginning of 2024, TGI Fridays quietly began closing dozens of locations nationwide, claiming it was a strategic move to boost growth by shedding underperforming restaurants. However, the shutdowns were ongoing, reaching around 50 before the company finally made a huge announcement that it had been dreading. TGI Fridays filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November of last year, as it was $37 million in debt. The restaurant chain stated that its demise was caused by the Covid pandemic, which forced the company to temporarily close locations for multiple months and suffer the aftermath of consumers' cautious spending. Related: Chick-fil-A spin-offs launch exclusive menu items for 2025 Although the bankruptcy only affected the TGI Fridays company and not its franchisees, it managed to secure financing, which allowed all restaurants to proceed with regular operations. At the time of the filing, the restaurant chain owned less than 40 company restaurants, over 120 franchises, and 316 international locations. In celebration of TGI Fridays' 60th anniversary, the restaurant chain is offering customers two entrées from a wide selection of eight different dishes, including burgers, salads, wings, pasta, ribs, and even chicken and shrimp, for only $19.65. It also launched a special Long Island Iced Tea to enjoy alongside this value meal. This is an amazing price, since most of its regular entrées range from between $16 and $24 per dish. It is also an unbelievable deal, considering the company's tumultuous financial status for the last few years. Although the deal was only supposed to last until the end of May, it is still available on the TGI Fridays website and can be ordered online or at participating locations. More Food and Beverage News: Reese's finally offers the 'cup' candy lovers dreamed ofCoca-Cola and Pepsi face an unlikely new big-name soda rivalChipotle responds to bankruptcy, store closure reports Additionally, to toast to another year of staying open, TGI Fridays is introducing the new $5 Happy Hour to its drink menu. Customers who dine in exclusively can enjoy this promotion any day and at any time at all participating locations. As if those money-saving deals weren't enough, the restaurant chain is also encouraging guests to dine at their nearest TGI Fridays location by offering a basket of wings for only 50 cents every Monday. So, whether you're partial to Frank's RedHot Buffalo, Apple Butter BBQ, Nashville Hot, Dragon-Glaze, or Garlic Parmesan, all flavors can be enjoyed for only half a dollar from 5 p.m. until close. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
