Latest news with #Ube
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘I visited Orlando's newest theme park and one new thing blew everyone away'
Universal Orlando Resort's Epic Universe in Florida has opened its doors – with five new worlds to explore within – so naturally I went along to sample the magical delights Universal Orlando Resort's newest theme park, Epic Universe, has changed the face of the landscape and what it means to enjoy a holiday full of thrills and spills. The £7 billion theme park is an immersive, multisensory experience with storytelling at its core. The resort's fourth theme park and the first to open in 25 years, it invites guests to 'explore vibrant worlds filled with extraordinary adventures that go beyond their wildest imaginations" – and it really is magical. With 50 awe-inspiring attractions,entertainment, dining and shopping experiences in its new park, the Universal parks make up a 700-acre resort space. But it's not just the stunning scenery, experiences and rides that blew me away - my entire group were wowed by the culinary experiences inside the park. Forget burgers, hotdogs and popcorn - although readily available if you fancy - I dined on exquisite seafood from scallops to King Oysters at Atlantic and freshly made Dim Sum and Ramen noodles at The Blue Dragon, both in Celestial Park. I also found the best purple pizza called Pizza Lunare in Pizza Moon, complete with an Ube crust - the chunks of roasted garlic were to die for - and melt-in-the-mouth beef brisket at The Oak & Star Tavern. Let's explore the worlds a little closer for when you plan your first visit... Celestial Park Step through the Chronos – the impressive first portal tower and entrance to the park that when 'powered' will align to open up five magical portals for visitors to explore. I first enjoyed Celestial Park – the cosmic heart of Epic Universe and so much more than just a starting point. Local 'Celestians' who inhabit here tend to the lush, tree-lined walkways and I found myself whisked into a whimsical world of greenery, tropical flowers, fountains and ponds. Everything here is connected heavily to astrology, from the first sight of Luna, goddess of the moon, who oversees the night's luminescence by her Neptune Pools, to the far side of the park where Apollo, god of the sun, rests. Even the rides are well themed – I enjoyed a gentle sway on the Constellation Carousel and zipped at 62mph on Stardust Racers, a dual racing rollercoaster across 5,000ft of track, which is the park's top thrill ride for speed and height. Celestial Park interweaves the other worlds and acts as a calming decompression from the extremities of themes and music in each world. Grab a cocktail at Bar Zenith, watch the fountain show and marvel in the sheer beauty. MUST DO Visit North Star Wintry Wonders, an all-year Christmas store where it really snows outside – even under the hot Florida sun. Dark Universe The storytelling continues as you move through this spooky portal and into monstrous Darkmoor Village. It makes sense – Universal is the pioneer of horror, after all. Dr Victoria Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein's great great-granddaughter, is the proud owner of this world's central focus – Frankenstein Manor – and she has captured all the monsters but she's having some trouble with Dracula. Ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment as you navigate the catacombs of the manor to 'help' Victoria (you won't help – but you will scream). The ride's technology is phenomenal and the animatronics are creative masterpieces. Fear not, it's suitable for all ages. Take time to explore the details. Look out for a little girl statue of Maria (a character from the 1931 Frankenstein film, who accidentally drowns), listen to sounds from beneath the vampire well and head to the Blazing Blade Tavern for a fiery sight to behold. MUST DO Grab a bite to eat at Das Stakehouse. The theming is almost better than the food – and the food is delicious. Super Nintendo World Everything moves, spins, jumps and wobbles in Super Nintendo World. It's a gaming world for everyone – even the big kids who are young at heart. Providing one of the coolest portals (the walkway into each world), I entered via a Super Mario Warp Pipe and arrived inside Princess Peach's Castle before exiting into a world of jaw-dropping colour and musical joy. Glistening golden coins, stomping Koombas, sliding 1-Up mushrooms and snapping Piranha Plants were everywhere as I looked across to Bowser's Castle. This is where I gave Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge a go and my dismal points were made up for by the fun and laughter I had hurtling turtle shells and banana peels at my friends (virtually, of course – the race car game, where we're up against all the usual Super Mario bad guys, is played via a headset). The character meet and greets here are sweet for youngsters – Toad is a rotund delight for toddlers, Mario and Luigi are cool for pre-teens and even the too-cool-for-school teenagers won't be able to resist Donkey Kong. Don't miss the fabulous rollercoaster Minecart Madness – it's a bumpy ride but the jumps over 'missing' sections of the track are thrilling. MUST DO Buy a $45 Power-Up wristband. It's vital for playing the in-world mini games, collecting coins and banking some exclusive park stamps and badges, which connects to an app on your mobile phone and creates family friendly competition. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic This world makes the Wizarding Worlds at Universal Orlando Resort a trio – also made up of Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade in Islands Of Adventure. Step inside the magical streets of 1920s Paris, where the likes of Newt Scamander hangs out. Known as Place Cachée, this world is a fan delight, merging the magic of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them in Paris, with the wonders of Harry Potter. I hopped on the Métro-Floo to the British Ministry Of Magic for Dolores Umbridge's trial for her crimes against magic on the mesmerising dark ride, Battle At The Ministry. Expect magical creatures and spells galore – and make time for the show, Le Cirque Arcanus. The puppetry will leave you speechless. MUST DO Try a Gigglewater in Le Gobelet Noir – a bar owned by Nicolas Flamel, the alchemist who created the Philosopher's Stone. How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk The largest of all the worlds at Epic Universe,the Viking village of Berk is breathtaking. On entry, I was faced with two 40ft carved wooden statues, guarding the village. This world is set after the second film, where there's peace and harmony between man and dragon. Look out for The Untrainable Dragon live show, which has the most beautiful score, with singers and actors akin to the talent of a West End show. And be sure to try the mac and cheese cone at Hooligan's Grog & Gruel – it's the novelty dish I never knew I needed. MUST DO Look to the skies. Here you'll find actual flying dragons – drones to us adults (don't tell the kids), but they are very realistic. HOW TO BOOK Universal Orlando Resort All Parks tickets are available through British Airways Holidays from £439 per person. British Airways Holidays offers seven nights at Universal Stella Nova Resort from £829 per person, travelling on selected dates in January 2026. Book by 9 June. For reservations visit
Time Out
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Dominique Ansel and Kith Treats are debuting a collab Mystery Cronut this weekend
Two NYC heavyweights—one in streetwear, the other in sugar—are teaming up to drop a treat that's as stylish as it is flaky. Pastry king Dominique Ansel and Kith Treats are launching a limited-edition Cronut, and here's the twist: the flavor is a total mystery until the day before launch. Dubbed "The Metropolitan," the collaborative Cronut is inspired by Kith's global tagline, 'New York to the World,' and lands just in time to toast Dominique Ansel Bakery's 14th anniversary and Kith Treats' 10th. It's the first-ever crossover between the two brands, both known for remixing tradition with high-impact creativity—and in this case, butter. The mystery flavor will finally be revealed via @dominiqueansel and @kithtreats on Thursday, May 15. Until then, speculation is fair game—Ube? Baklava? Pizza Rat Praline Swirl? Okay, maybe not that last one. Starting Friday, May 16, through Sunday, May 18, the Cronut will be available exclusively at Dominique Ansel Bakery in SoHo (189 Spring Street). Meanwhile, all U.S. Kith Treats shops, including the newly reopened SoHo flagship (337 Lafayette Street), will serve up a soft-serve swirl infused with the same secret Cronut flavor, because what's a celebration without an ice cream sidekick? Ansel, famously the creator of the Cronut in 2013, has a reputation for keeping New Yorkers on their toes and in lines that wrap around the block. Add Kith's design-savvy fanbase to the mix, and it's safe to say this collab will draw sneakerheads and sweet tooths alike. So whether you're a downtown fashion devotee, a pastry purist, or just in it for the Instagram, mark your calendars. This one's got 'future collector's item' written all over it—if you can get your hands on one.
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Pret a Manger fans race to buy 2 new colourful dessert-inspired drinks
Two new unique and colourful latte drinks have been launched at Pret A Manger recently and are said to offer a 'fresh twist' - coffee lovers have been rushing out to try them Fans are rushing to get their hands on two brand new, unique drinks launched at Pret a Manger that come in fun colours and are inspired by desserts. It is the first time we have seen such a wacky but interesting flavoured drinks in the line-up from the high street coffee shop. As temperatures warm up, many of us are swapping our hot cups of coffee for iced delights. Coffee giants are selling a range of matcha flavours and iced lattes with delicious, sweet flavours. Pret A Manger has created a unique twist on the classic iced latte - and launched a purple latte and a blue one. Inspired by wellness flavours and social media trends, the new lattes are as delicious as they are Instagrammable - and they are available now for a limited time across UK shops. You can now order the Ube Brûlée and Spirulina Macaron lattes, both priced at £4.70. The new Ube Brûlée Iced Latte features the subtly sweet, nutty flavour of purple yam blended with caramel syrup combined with Pret's signature organic espresso served with milk and over ice. Meanwhile, the new Spirulina Macaron Iced Latte combines blue spirulina with sweet macaron syrup over Pret's organic espresso, milk and ice, giving a bold new twist in a striking blue hue. This is not the first Spirulina product to hit Pret's shelves. Following customer interest in Pret's Blueberry Balance Bowl which first launched in January, the new Spirulina Iced Latte builds on the success of that product but now with a refreshing twist. Briony Raven, Chief Customer & Product Offer at Pret A Manger said: "Iced coffee continues to boom in the UK, and at Pret we've been investing to make sure our customers can enjoy even more choice — especially when the sun's out. "We've invested heavily in making sure more than 90% of our shops have ice machines to give customers the opportunity to enjoy more Barista-made iced drinks and we're proud to launch Ube and Spirulina iced lattes, bringing bold new flavours and colours to our menu. These new drinks are a fun, fresh twist for customers this summer and sit alongside favourites like our Iced Matcha Latte and Iced Americano." Viral food reviewer Emily Jade, recently rushed out to try the new lattes. The content creator, who boasts over 459,000 followers on TikTok, first tucked into the Ube Brûlée Iced Latte. Emily said: "It's literally purple, it looks so my god that's good. I love the colour but honestly I'm not really getting the Ube flavour I'm just getting a sweet kind of flavour. I definitely get the crème brulee vibe." Moving onto the Spirulina Macaron latte, Emily said: "I think the colours are so cool. It tastes really good, but it does just taste really strong of coffee like I'm not getting any other flavour with this. It's good but I definitely prefer the other one." Meanwhile vegan food viewer Mairead, from Manchester, also rushed out to try the treats - and approves of the the Spirulina Macaron. She said: "It's not super just got a nice, subtle macaron flavour to it." She also noted she could taste hints of vanilla and coconut.
Irish Daily Star
24-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Star
Costco fans going crazy over viral sweet treat that debuted at Coachella
A super viral sweet treat is sweeping the nation, and Costco is getting on board to bring the product to the masses. Last year, Dubai chocolate exploded on TikTok. The Middle Eastern dessert comprises a chocolate bar with a filling of kadayif and pistachio. Fix Dessert Chocolatier was first created in Dubai, but it has been adapted by companies worldwide in different ways. Last year, Costco brought out its version of Dubai chocolate in truffles, priced at $17.99 for a box of 41. But now, according to Food & Wine, Afters Ice Cream, a Southern California ice cream brand, has concocted an ice cream bar version of Dubai chocolate exclusively for Costco. Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'disgusting' as he honors Pope Francis in 'baffling' way Read More Related Articles 'Hideous' Trump hangs new self-portrait in White House next to his greatest political rival The wholesale retailer is rolling out the frozen dessert in stores. It consists of pistachio ice cream with a kataifi chocolate coating, where the phyllo shards are melted into the chocolate. Afters Ice Cream debuted the new dessert at the Coachella music festival earlier this month. The brand, which launched in 2014, is known for its unique flavors, such as Ube and Saigon. According to customers on social media, a carton of 10 ice creams costs around $18 at Costco - not an affordable box of ice creams for most, but considering the amount you get and the typical price of Dubai chocolate, it is on the cheaper side. Costco has produced many popular sweet treats over the years. Recently, fans have been loving the sprinkled sugar cookies . Last year, the viral Tiramisu cold brew cheesecake had everyone talking. However, the fear among loyal shoppers is that the Dubai chocolate ice creams will sell out before they can grab a box. On Reddit, shoppers discussed the new product. One user wrote: 'Of course it's from Afters! I trust their brand. Try it and let us know how it is! I doubt my tiny podunk Costco will get these.' Another replied, 'I've tried this ice cream at their scoop shop and it's really good!' Lazalove wrote: 'Oh good lord. I'm gonna have to stay away from the ice cream area on my next trip, I don't trust myself.' For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
