Latest news with #Slurpee
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Phil Rosenthal on His Favorite Food Destinations, the Best In-flight Meal of His Life, and How Ray Romano Inspired 'Somebody Feed Phil'
Phil Rosenthal has built a travel career (and following) on his infectious enthusiasm for seeing the world on Somebody Feed Phil, but his first taste of wanderlust didn't come from a passport stamp or a five-star meal—it stemmed from a 7-Eleven in Atlanta. He was just nine years old, sipping on a Slurpee during a family trip, when it hit him: "Wow, I need to travel more." Rosenthal didn't grow up globe-trotting and jet-setting. Instead, his early windows to the world came through pages and screens. "We didn't have a lot of ways to see other worlds; we only saw it on TV, movies, and books," he told Travel + Leisure. Then, at the age of 23, came a life-altering courier flight to Europe. "My first stops were Paris and Florence, and that was when my life was changed forever," he recalled. The trip didn't just expand his worldview; it reshaped his priorities. "I knew this is what my extra money is for: to save up for these experiences, to save my money to travel." At the time, he had no idea travel would one day become his job, but the seed was planted, and it would grow in an unexpected place: the writer's room of Everybody Loves Raymond. During a casual conversation with actor Ray Romano, he asked where the actor was going on vacation between seasons. When Rosenthal learned Romano was going to the Jersey Shore, he asked if he had ever been to Europe. The actor hadn't, and said he wasn't interested in something "different." So Rosenthal did what writers do: he turned the moment into an episode. "I said, 'We're doing that episode. I'm going to send you in the show to Italy as you and you're going to come back as me—someone who's excited about traveling.'" It took three years to make the episodes happen, and it was the only time the series filmed abroad. "I saw what I wrote—this character who didn't want to go and is complaining the whole time, and then suddenly gets it—happen to Ray Romano, the person. When this happened 25 years ago, I thought, 'What if I could do this for other people?'" That question became the foundation for Somebody Feed Phil, but the path to turn his vision into a show wasn't a straight one, even with a hit series under his belt. He wrote other sitcoms before fully pivoting to a show that inspires people to travel. "People think I did Raymond and they just gave me a show and whatever I want. No, it took 10 years. Was it worth it? Yes."What's your go-to plane snack? there anything you won't eat on a flight? If you can eat in the lounge or before the flight, I like that better than plane the best in-flight meal you've had? Korean Airlines made a samgye-tang soup, with the whole baby chicken in a pot. I just thought that was as good as a you have a restaurant red flag? If there's a tourist menu, don't go your favorite food souvenir? Parmesan Reggiano. You can vacuum seal it. I love a food Rosenthal, travel doesn't require luxury—it just requires action. And his advice is straightforward and simple: don't wait. "Go and don't put it off. You're never going to be as young as you are right now. So go while everything still works," he told T+L. "I tell young people all the time that you don't have to have a lot of money. You just got to get there. You can stay on a friend's couch, you can stay in a youth hostel. Doesn't matter; you're there. And just being there, meaning anywhere else on Earth, is everything." His ethos is that travel isn't just a personal journey, but rather an opportunity to quietly shift the world's perspective. "You make the world a little better because you represent where you're from, and people get to see this is what, you know, a real American looks like. Forget the news. If you're a half-decent person, you're spreading a little bit more love in the world. And what you get back is invaluable, because it literally changes your perspective on life, and that's something you bring home with you." Now, Somebody Feed Phil is returning to Netflix, and the season 8 itinerary takes viewers to destinations like Amsterdam; Tbilisi, Georgia; Sydney and Adelaide in Australia; Manila, Philippines; Las Vegas; Boston; and Guatemala. The Guatemala episode, in particular, holds deeply personal value for Rosenthal. "Guatemala is one place I never thought about going, but we had a nanny from there. She would make us little dishes from there that were always delicious. So when the idea of doing Guatemala came up, I said, 'Let's bring Claudia home.' We brought her with us. That's one of my favorite episodes because she's part of the family." Beyond the personal connection, he was blown away by the food scene. "You think you know what the cuisine is going to be like. And then it's really surprising. The young people are doing kind of modern takes on the authentic Indigenous foods. It's like nothing I ever had; it's really great." Another standout this season? Spain's culinary gem: San Sebastián in the Basque Country. "It's so gorgeous, and the food culture seems to have everything." As for his all-time favorite episode, Rosenthal doesn't hesitate to mention the challenge and fulfillment of filming in his hometown, New York City. "I was very nervous to do New York because everyone's done it. It's been more represented than maybe every other city in the world, because it's in every TV show and every movie. So how do I do the definitive New York? I realized I can't. But I can do my New York—and that turns out to be the key, always, you do what means the most to you." The episode includes one of his favorite scenes: going to his parents' apartment. When the cameras aren't rolling, Rosenthal finds himself returning to tried-and-true destinations (London, Paris, Japan, and Spain, to name a few), though the age-old travel dilemma remains. "The more I travel, the more I fall in love with places. So you want to revisit the places you love, but you also realize, 'I gotta see the rest of the world.' Who knows what I'm missing? So what I usually try to do is—if it's my own vacation—a place I love with another place I haven't been." When asked about standout food cities, Rosenthal is quick to spotlight Bangkok. "The city has some of the best food I've ever had in my life. Some of the best things I ever ate were in Thailand." Among those unforgettable bites is a $1 bowl of khao soi, the meal he said he still thinks about from his travels in Chiang Mai. The Northern Thai curry noodle soup is typically made with a coconut-based broth, a protein like chicken or beef, and topped with crispy noodles and pickled mustard greens. As for food cities that don't get the culinary credit they deserve, Rosenthal offered up two surprising answers: Orlando and Las Vegas. "They're similar in that they both have these giant tourist attractions—The Strip and Disney World—that were built and maintained by immigrants over many decades. These immigrants came and set up their communities around the big tourist attraction on the outskirts. So they have a fabulous Chinatown, Thai towns, and Indian restaurants—these are microcosms of America, which is made up by immigrants. So yes, there are great restaurants on The Strip and some fun places to eat in Disney World but the real Magic Kingdom is the real world outside. No one thinks of these cities as great food destinations, but they are." Rosenthal's golden rule for travel is not to overplan. He credits these unscripted moments, whether chance encounters or local recommendations, as the key to unforgettable travel experiences. "Leave some room in your schedule, as we do when we make the show, for serendipity, for stuff to happen," he said. Of course, a little research still goes a long way. When looking for restaurants, Rosenthal keeps it simple. "I Google 'best restaurants in Chiang Mai,' and then I don't go by just one review. I look at all the reviews, I start cross-referencing and note the same places start popping up in all the lists. And we have such resources now, like people who blog and Instagram. Instagram is a little dangerous because sometimes you're thinking that the most photographed thing is the best, and it's not. So you can't just go by that." (For the show, though, he credits his production company in New York and their team of fixers around the globe.) And as for the bottomless meals Rosenthal appears to devour on screen, it's not quite what it looks like. "A lot of people think that I ate all that stuff in one day, and it looks like, 'Oh, my God, he eats so much.' But we film for a week and that scene is probably all I ate that day. And if I looked excited, it's because it's the only meal I've had." The show's popularity has taken Rosenthal on the road with his live show, where he gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at his global adventures. And he's doing exactly what he set out to do as a nine-year-old with a Slurpee: see the world—and bring the rest of us along for the ride. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
T-Mobile gives members free stuff AT&T, Verizon customers don't get
When it comes to fast food restaurants and convenience stores, everyone has their favorite delights. The Whopper is Burger King's signature dish, of course, while it is hard to pass by a 7-Eleven and not pick up one of their refreshing Slurpees, especially while the store is currently offering some fun limited-time flavors, including a Coca-Cola Oreo mashup with zero sugar. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter While discussion of these tasty treats may be enough to get you licking your lips and grabbing your car keys, there's actually one thing better than just dining on a flame-grilled patty or sipping on an ice-cold Slupree: Enjoying these food and drink offerings after paying $0 for them. Fortunately, it's entirely possible to do that starting on Tuesday, June 3, if you are a T-Mobile customer and take advantage of the cell phone carrier's latest great deals. T-Mobile has announced that it will be offering a long list of special deals this week, with the free Whopper and Slurpee just the beginning. Specifically, you can score: A free large 7-Eleven SlurpeeA Free Whopper Jr if you purchase at least a $1 item at Burger KingA buy-one-get-one-free 10-piece wing order at WingstopBuy-one-get-one-free baked goods at Cinnabon$0.25 off per gallon on fuel at Shell's Gas through the Fuel Rewards Program$5 movie tickets to go see Ballerina, a John Wick spinoff, or F1 The Movie All of these deals are going to be on offer starting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, because T-Mobile is kicking off a special "Thankiversary" celebration. The company is celebrating nine years of offering customers special deals through its T-Mobile Tuesdays program. Related: T-Mobile's Tuesday deal is impossibly great T-Mobile Tuesdays was first launched back in 2016 to offer rewards and perks to customers. While some of the deals aren't always great, the cell phone provider is kicking things into high gear now in honor of the nine-year anniversary of the deal program, and is making these free food offers available for eligible customers. If you are interested in taking advantage of the Slurpee and Whopper Jr. deals, or claiming any of the other T-Mobile Tuesday deals that the company has announced, like the discounted movie tickets, Wingstop, gas, or Cinnabon bargains, you'll need to take a few key steps: Make sure you have downloaded the T-Life app if you are a T-Mobile customer or the Metro App if you are a Metro by T-Mobile customer. The apps are available on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Sign in to your account by providing your telephone number in the appOpen the app on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, so you can see all of this week's special dealsSelect the offers that you want to redeem and follow the in-app instructions for claiming your free or discounted items Related: Some T-Mobile customers get massive new discount The T-Mobile Tuesday deals are available starting on Tuesday at 5:00 AM ET and they run until early on Wednesday morning. So, if you want to get any of the great deals that are on offer this week, be sure to get your app installed and be ready when tomorrow arrives. More Retail: Costco quietly plans to offer a convenient service for customersT-Mobile pulls the plug on generous offer, angering customersKellogg sounds alarm on unexpected shift in customer behavior Then, all that's left to do is enjoy your Slurpee, Whopper Jr., wings, baked goods, or movie while knowing that you kept more money in your pocket by taking advantage of the bargains. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Miami Herald
02-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
T-Mobile offers customers free Slurpee, Whopper and much more
When it comes to fast food restaurants and convenience stores, everyone has their favorite delights. The Whopper is Burger King's signature dish, of course, while it is hard to pass by a 7-Eleven and not pick up one of their refreshing Slurpees, especially while the store is currently offering some fun limited-time flavors, including a Coca-Cola Oreo mashup with zero sugar. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter While discussion of these tasty treats may be enough to get you licking your lips and grabbing your car keys, there's actually one thing better than just dining on a flame-grilled patty or sipping on an ice-cold Slupree: Enjoying these food and drink offerings after paying $0 for them. Fortunately, it's entirely possible to do that starting on Tuesday, June 3, if you are a T-Mobile customer and take advantage of the cell phone carrier's latest great deals. T-Mobile has announced that it will be offering a long list of special deals this week, with the free Whopper and Slurpee just the beginning. Specifically, you can score: A free large 7-Eleven SlurpeeA Free Whopper Jr if you purchase at least a $1 item at Burger KingA buy-one-get-one-free 10-piece wing order at WingstopBuy-one-get-one-free baked goods at Cinnabon$0.25 off per gallon on fuel at Shell's Gas through the Fuel Rewards Program$5 movie tickets to go see Ballerina, a John Wick spinoff, or F1 The Movie All of these deals are going to be on offer starting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, because T-Mobile is kicking off a special "Thankiversary" celebration. The company is celebrating nine years of offering customers special deals through its T-Mobile Tuesdays program. Related: T-Mobile's Tuesday deal is impossibly great T-Mobile Tuesdays was first launched back in 2016 to offer rewards and perks to customers. While some of the deals aren't always great, the cell phone provider is kicking things into high gear now in honor of the nine-year anniversary of the deal program, and is making these free food offers available for eligible customers. If you are interested in taking advantage of the Slurpee and Whopper Jr. deals, or claiming any of the other T-Mobile Tuesday deals that the company has announced, like the discounted movie tickets, Wingstop, gas, or Cinnabon bargains, you'll need to take a few key steps: Make sure you have downloaded the T-Life app if you are a T-Mobile customer or the Metro App if you are a Metro by T-Mobile customer. The apps are available on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Sign in to your account by providing your telephone number in the appOpen the app on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, so you can see all of this week's special dealsSelect the offers that you want to redeem and follow the in-app instructions for claiming your free or discounted items Related: Some T-Mobile customers get massive new discount The T-Mobile Tuesday deals are available starting on Tuesday at 5:00 AM ET and they run until early on Wednesday morning. So, if you want to get any of the great deals that are on offer this week, be sure to get your app installed and be ready when tomorrow arrives. More Retail: Costco quietly plans to offer a convenient service for customersT-Mobile pulls the plug on generous offer, angering customersKellogg sounds alarm on unexpected shift in customer behavior Then, all that's left to do is enjoy your Slurpee, Whopper Jr., wings, baked goods, or movie while knowing that you kept more money in your pocket by taking advantage of the bargains. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UM Named Media Agency of Record for 7-Eleven, Inc.
NEW YORK, May 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UM, a global media agency within IPG Mediabrands, today announced it has been named media Agency of Record (AOR) for 7-Eleven, Inc., the world's largest convenience retailer. In this capacity, UM will drive the full funnel, cross-channel media strategy and handle digital media activation for 7-Eleven® and Speedway® stores, as well as the 7NOW® Delivery app. UM introduced 7-Eleven to its newly launched Full Color Media (FCM) approach—an inventive and immersive way to bring brands to life with vibrancy, distinction, and cultural relevance. Built on IPG's end-to-end marketing engine, Interact, and fueled by best-in-class data from Acxiom, FCM unlocks richer insights, precision targeting, and creative personalization at scale. This seamlessly connected ecosystem enables 7-Eleven to reach broader audiences while creating deeper, more resonant connections across every channel. "Like entire generations of 7-Eleven customers, I grew up grabbing Slurpee and Big Gulp drinks with my family, so having the opportunity to work with the most recognizable name in convenience is exciting," said Erin Quintana, US CEO, UM. "With Acxiom's industry-leading data capabilities and our Full Color Media model at the forefront of our planning efforts, we look forward to helping 7-Eleven propel their business forward." "At 7-Eleven, our customers look to us as their 'ingenious accomplice' – a trusty companion they can count on to take on the unpredictability of life – and as we continue to grow, it's crucial that our marketing strategies deepen this authentic connection," said Marissa Jarratt, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing & Sustainability Officer, 7-Eleven, Inc. "By leveraging UM's unique data-enabled approach, we are poised to unlock new opportunities to bring more people to our stores and ensure 7-Eleven remains an essential part of their daily lives." UM introduced its new Full Color Media global omnichannel media planning proposition and proprietary Brand Pattern Growth Model earlier this year. Built upon several years of research into 10,000+ brands marketing in the era of AI, the agency's approach works with brands to identify the complexity, nuances, and differentiators unique to every brand in order to optimize marketing efforts, elevate them within their categories, and drive sustained growth. About UM The home of Full Color Media, UM is a global media agency committed to empowering brands to their full potential of growth by leveraging the power of brand patterns. As the leading global media network in IPG Mediabrands, UM operates in over 100 countries, with more than 6,000 people serving a roster of global clients including American Express, General Mills, Emirates, Kenvue, Levi Strauss & Co, Dyson, Enterprise holdings, Upfield, Just Eat and Mattel. For more information, please visit About 7-Eleven, Inc. 7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the U.S. convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven® stores, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates and franchises Speedway®, Stripes®, Laredo Taco Company® and Raise the Roost® Chicken and Biscuits locations. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee®, Big Bite® and Big Gulp®, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products at outstanding value. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards® and Speedy Rewards® loyalty programs with more than 80 million members, place an order in the 7NOW® delivery app in over 95% of the convenience retailer's footprint, or rely on 7-Eleven for other convenient services. Find out more online at View source version on Contacts Press Contact:Isabelle Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
Business Wire
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
UM Named Media Agency of Record for 7-Eleven, Inc.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UM, a global media agency within IPG Mediabrands, today announced it has been named media Agency of Record (AOR) for 7-Eleven, Inc., the world's largest convenience retailer. In this capacity, UM will drive the full funnel, cross-channel media strategy and handle digital media activation for 7-Eleven ® and Speedway ® stores, as well as the 7NOW ® Delivery app. UM introduced 7-Eleven to its newly launched Full Color Media (FCM) approach—an inventive and immersive way to bring brands to life with vibrancy, distinction, and cultural relevance. Built on IPG's end-to-end marketing engine, Interact, and fueled by best-in-class data from Acxiom, FCM unlocks richer insights, precision targeting, and creative personalization at scale. This seamlessly connected ecosystem enables 7-Eleven to reach broader audiences while creating deeper, more resonant connections across every channel. 'Like entire generations of 7-Eleven customers, I grew up grabbing Slurpee and Big Gulp drinks with my family, so having the opportunity to work with the most recognizable name in convenience is exciting,' said Erin Quintana, US CEO, UM. 'With Acxiom's industry-leading data capabilities and our Full Color Media model at the forefront of our planning efforts, we look forward to helping 7-Eleven propel their business forward.' 'At 7-Eleven, our customers look to us as their 'ingenious accomplice' – a trusty companion they can count on to take on the unpredictability of life – and as we continue to grow, it's crucial that our marketing strategies deepen this authentic connection,' said Marissa Jarratt, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing & Sustainability Officer, 7-Eleven, Inc. "By leveraging UM's unique data-enabled approach, we are poised to unlock new opportunities to bring more people to our stores and ensure 7-Eleven remains an essential part of their daily lives.' UM introduced its new Full Color Media global omnichannel media planning proposition and proprietary Brand Pattern Growth Model earlier this year. Built upon several years of research into 10,000+ brands marketing in the era of AI, the agency's approach works with brands to identify the complexity, nuances, and differentiators unique to every brand in order to optimize marketing efforts, elevate them within their categories, and drive sustained growth. About UM The home of Full Color Media, UM is a global media agency committed to empowering brands to their full potential of growth by leveraging the power of brand patterns. As the leading global media network in IPG Mediabrands, UM operates in over 100 countries, with more than 6,000 people serving a roster of global clients including American Express, General Mills, Emirates, Kenvue, Levi Strauss & Co, Dyson, Enterprise holdings, Upfield, Just Eat and Mattel. For more information, please visit About 7-Eleven, Inc. 7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the U.S. convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven ® stores, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates and franchises Speedway ®, Stripes ®, Laredo Taco Company ® and Raise the Roost ® Chicken and Biscuits locations. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee ®, Big Bite ® and Big Gulp ®, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products at outstanding value. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards ® and Speedy Rewards ® loyalty programs with more than 80 million members, place an order in the 7NOW ® delivery app in over 95% of the convenience retailer's footprint, or rely on 7-Eleven for other convenient services. Find out more online at
