The Biggest Viral Food Moments of 2015
Photo: Thinkstock
Coffee cups, pizza rats, cereal, sweet-potato pies, and guacamole all made big news in 2015. While not as complex an issue as the threat of ISIS or the upcoming presidential election, who knew something as trivial as whether or not to add peas to your guacamole would spur commentary from President Barack Obama? (OK, it’s actually not a trivial topic — it’s a hotly debated issue of culinary standard. And the answer is no. Period.) When a New York City rat pushed a slice of pizza down a few stairs, the Internet went wild. And let’s not forget about Ryan Gosling and his cereal. No idea what that is? Read on to find out.
Some of the biggest social media moments of the year happened around what we ate, and herewith, we take a look back at the food-related stories that left everyone hungry for more:
James Wright sings over Patti LaBelle’s sweet-potato pie. (YouTube: James Wright)
Patti LaBelle’s sweet-potato pie for Walmart was the most talked-about dessert of 2015 after a man bought one, recorded a video, and became an Internet legend. Chicago singer James Wright Chanel recorded a video review of the pie in which he belted out high notes just like the legendary soul singer after one bite. The video reverberated across the Internet, drawing more than 4 million views on YouTube. People flocked to the big-box retailer to buy their own Patti pie, and in one weekend, Walmart sold more than $1 million worth of pies. Since the video went viral, LaBelle is in talks to launch more products at Walmart, as she told us in this exclusive interview in November. The singer also invited Chanel to her house in Philadelphia for Thanksgiving to tape a holiday special of LaBelle’s Cooking Channel show.
Food holidays
Why did every type of food and drink seem to have a national holiday in its honor in 2015? National Doughnut Day. National Guacamole Day. National Tequila Day. National Ice Cream Day. National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. Not even Hallmark could keep up! How best to celebrate in 2016? Take advantage of free offers or discounts for your favorite foods, such as these for National Coffee Day. Use this calendar and mark the holidays you want to celebrate next year.
Ryan Gosling finally eats his cereal. (Photo: vine.co/ryangosling)
The actor’s steely stares in his movies comprised a popular 2013 meme, “Ryan Gosling Won’t Eat His Cereal,” created by Scottish filmmaker Ryan McHenry. In the short clips, McHenry pretended to repeatedly feed a spoonful of cereal to still images of Gosling, who seemed to be rejecting the sugary breakfast in each shot. But after McHenry died of cancer in May, Gosling posted a tribute video on Vine of himself finally eating a bowl of cereal in homage to the filmmaker. The video, the only one on Gosling’s Vine feed, has about 600,000 likes to date. “My heart goes out to all of Ryan McHenry’s family and friends,” Gosling posted on Twitter. “Feel very lucky to have been apart of his life in some small way.”
“Pizza Rat” on the move. (YouTube: Matt Little)
One of the biggest You Tube stars of 2015 was a small New York rodent just trying to enjoy a slice of pizza. A video of a determined rat shuffling a slice of cheese pizza twice its size down the stairs of a Big Apple subway station went viral this fall. Not only was it slightly gross, the rat’s struggles to carry the slice down a few subway steps is what New York magazine called “an inspiring demonstration of the grit and determination one needs to make it in New York City.” Pizza Rat’s video, shot by comic Matt Little, has more than 8 million views to date and spawned a Twitter account and a line of Halloween costumes.
A regular at Blue 44 leaves a $2,000 tip on a $93 bill. (Photo: Mashable.com)
Tipping as a social statement
Waiting tables is challenging enough — long hours on your feet, low pay, and having to remember who asked for no mayo and who wanted extra cheese on their burger. It’s even more challenging when customers play a game of chance with a server’s hard-earned gratuity. Several stories of customers’ outrageous tipping, both generous and stingy, went viral this year. Take the case of Jessica Morris, who was denied a tip and accused of hitting on another woman’s husband by a patron at TGI Friday’s. There was also Jess Jones, a 20-year-old waitress at a Belmar, N.J., diner who called out in a Facebook post a group of eight diners for leaving no tip. But not all servers suffered in 2015 — one waitress received a $1,000 tip on an $85 bill at the Irma Hotel in Cody, Wyo., as part of the viral movement #TipsForJesus. In Florida, a college student and mother of a young child earned a $1,000 tip on a $29 bill at her job at Winghouse of Largo, which the waitress used to move her family to a new apartment. One lucky 19-year-old server at a Frankfort, Ill., barbecue joint received a $1,000 tip on a $20.31 check, which was put toward his college tuition. In Washington, D.C., a gumbo-loving patron at restaurant Blue 44 left a $2,000 tip on a $93 bill. And one lucky server at a Long Island clam bar earned a 1,000 percent tip from one very funny — and very generous — patron: comedian Amy Schumer. Now that’s feel-good comedy at its best.
Photo: Starbucks
Starbucks holiday-cup controversy
The holidays are here when Starbucks starts serving coffee in its red holiday cups. But the company was called the Grinch that stole Christmas after it removed symbols such as reindeer or snowmen from its seasonal cups this fall. While Starbucks defended the move as a way of being more inclusive, customers responded in outrage on social media. Some called the cups a “war on Christmas,” and called for a boycott. Memes of homemade versions of the holiday cups popped up too, including this rainbow-colored cup to celebrate gay pride. And others took their business to Dunkin’ Donuts, whose arguably more festive holiday cups were decorated with holly sprigs and the word “joy.”
Guacamole and peas???
The Internet turned green with anger after the New York Times suggested adding peas to guacamole. “Trust us,” it tweeted. Well, no one — not even President Obama — did. Common responses to the Times’ tweet included “No,” “GTFO,” and the poignant, “wrong, wrong, wrong. So much wrong.” Sorry, New York Times, your green-pea guacamole recipe was news that was not fit to print.
Photo: Anthony Sulla-Heffinger
Fast food taste tests
Everyone has an opinion when it comes to food, particularly preferences for fast food offerings. Yahoo Food last year worked hard to determine the best burgers, pizza, breakfast menu, and other goodies from your favorite major chain restaurants this year. Our findings might be different from your preferences, but that’s the fun of taste tests! Go out and try your own!
Want more hot topics of 2015? Check out these stories:
Why Ryan Gosling Is Finally Eating His Cereal
People Are Obsessing Over This Watermelon Carving on Reddit
What Your Favorite Chefs Look Like as Pancakes
