The Daily Valet. - 8/23/23, Wednesday
✔️ Roll Call
Wednesday, August 23rd Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Giraffes are my all-time favorite animal. They’re so mellow and, like me, they don’t need much sleep.
Today’s Big Story
Roll Call
America’s top sushi seller likely isn't who you expect
Sushi is big in America. In fact, as of now, there are roughly 19,742 sushi restaurant businesses in the United States—up nearly 10,000 from a decade ago. But it doesn't have to be a big, fancy affair. In fact, millions of Americans agree: It's totally fine to eat sushi from the chilled case at your local supermarket. At U.S. grocery stores, sales are up more than 70% in the past four years.That explains how Kroger became the king of sushi sales in the U.S. The grocer sold over 40 million pieces last year alone. According to the Wall Street Journal, the news says as much about where and how Americans shop for food as it does about the country's evolving palate. Even my mom in suburban St. Louis—who was never much of a sushi fan until recently—regularly picks up maki rolls at her local supermarket.But this was no overnight phenomenon. Kroger sold its first sushi in 1991, the Journal notes. After noticing its early popularity, the chain leaned into sushi and added other Asian foods, like seaweed salads, poke bowls and dumplings, which also drive big sales. Most other supermarkets offer sushi as well now. Last year, grocery store sushi made up around 15% of the sushi that Americans ate.But we can expect that share to grow. Sushi sales at American eateries were up 72% over the last year, per Circana. And the ease and affordability of supermarket sushi makes it hard to resist. Americans purchased 43.7 million servings of sushi at grocery stores over the past year, mostly for quick lunches and dinners eaten soon after purchase. In addition, they bought 238.6 million servings from restaurants, including dining in and takeout.According to food historians, restaurants in Los Angeles were among the first to pioneer sushi in America in the 1920s. As trendy sushi bars made their way across the country, supermarkets began experimenting by adding a few sushi rolls next to their deli counters, and by the 1990s, grocery-store rolls were pretty common and were often a gateway to trying the real thing at a proper sushi restaurant.
Recommended:
From classic spots to high-end experimental eateries, Gotham has compiled a list of nearly two dozen of the best sushi restaurants in America.
Biden’s New Student Loan Repayment Plan Is Open
Borrowers can now apply for new, income-based repayment
Federal student loan borrowers can now officially sign up for the Biden administration's new loan repayment plan. CNBC says that the option is expected to dramatically shrink a lot of people's bills. In fact, under the new Saving on a Valuable Education plan, or SAVE, some will see their monthly obligation fall to zero dollars.According to NPR, the program does not deliver debt forgiveness in one fell swoop, as the administration initially sought to do. Instead, it will calculate monthly payments based on the borrower's income. The White House estimates that under SAVE, more than a million borrowers will qualify for debt forgiveness, while the average borrower will save about $1,000 a year. The new plan also seeks to prevent interest from exploding.What's more, as long as borrowers make their monthly payments, interest will not accumulate. With previous plans, borrowers with low or $0 payments—too low to cover their monthly interest charge—saw that interest accrue. Now, that won't happen. The Department of Education says that under the old plan, borrowers repaid, on average, $10,956 for every $10,000 they borrowed. Under the new plan, they would pay back just $6,121.
FYI:
At the end of 2022, the Federal Reserve reported that roughly 43.5 million Americans have student loan debt, which totals over $1.7 trillion.
A Rare Spotless Giraffe Born in the U.S.
A reticulated giraffe was born without spots at Brights Zoo in northeastern Tennessee
Here's some sweet humpday news: A zoo in Tennessee welcomed a rare giraffe that does not have any spots. The spotless giraffe was born at Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee last month and the zoo says experts believe she is the only solid-colored reticulated giraffe on the planet.The zoo's director David Bright told CBS News that the last recorded spotless giraffe was in 1972 in Tokyo. That giraffe, named Toshiko, was born at Ueno Zoo, according to archival photos. As of right now, this American cutie doesn't have a name, but the zoo has launched a poll to pick a name for the calf.The zoo said it hopes that the young giraffe will help draw attention to the plight of the reticulated giraffe—one of the four distinct species of this graceful African mammal. According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, a group that works to save giraffes in the wild, they are in danger of extinction if more isn't done to protect them. In 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature added it to a list of threatened species. Currently, there are only 16,000 reticulated giraffes in the wild, down from nearly 40,000 just three decades ago.
FYI:
Just like human fingerprints, no two giraffes have the same coat pattern.
Agave Spirits Are Booming
It's not tequila ... it's Agave Spirit
Maybe you've noticed it mentioned on cocktail menus or have seen bottles of agave spirits on store shelves. No, it's not technically (or perhaps, legally) tequila or mezcal, but other categories of agave spirits made outside of Mexico are gaining ground in the drinks world.So what, exactly, is an agave spirit? It's alcohol derived from the agave plant—like tequila. But due to an Appellation of Origin established in 1978, tequila must be produced in certain territories of Mexico, and the producer must follow the Official Standard for Tequila. It's a lot like how only sparkling wine produced in France's Champagne region can call itself champagne.According to Tequila Raiders, Pennsylvania's Yardley Distillery is one of several America brands to debut a tequila-like expression (Agave Spirit Blanco). And it's joining other American-made agave spirits in Colorado, Missouri and Louisiana. In fact, some industry analysts project that the North American agave spirits market will surge to an $18 billion business by 2030. We'll drink to that.
Demystifying Mezcal:
Our resident cocktail expert on understanding this smoky agave spirit and a few bottles to try right now.
In Other News
Have Justin Bieber, and Demi Lovato, and Ariana Grande all left him?
Mar-a-Lago’s IT Director Has Flipped on Trump and Retracted False Statements After Switching Lawyers, Prosecutors Say
Have you heard about ...
Maintain Your Stubble
The art and science behind some really good scruff
Here’s the thing about a good five-o’clock shadow, it’s at once classic and rebellious. It's always in style because it's universally agreed that it makes a man more handsome. Sure, a clean-shaven face always looks presentable, but the right amount of scruff never looks bad. But there's a big difference between simply stopping shaving and having the perfect stubble. It's not as easy as letting your facial hair grow.There are a few expert tips, which we've garnered from the pros, that will help you look your best. And best of all, it can all be done in about 10 minutes in your bathroom. It takes a little time to master, sure—but the juice often outweighs the squeeze.
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What We’re Buying
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The Latigo huarache moccasin from Malibu is handwoven from vegan suede leather with a firm crepe rubber outsole. These are comfortable for daily wear and airy enough to keep your feet cool and dry.
Get It:
Latigo moccasin, $170 / $102 by Malibu
Morning Motto
Don’t sweat the bumps in the road.
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