It’s Barely August, and Pumpkin Spice Is Early To the Party Once Again

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Anthony Bourdain had many spicy food takes, often savagely taking down food trends. He was judgmental of adding chicken to a Caesar salad, calling it “uninspired” and a sign that a restaurant isn’t “legit.” Essentially, they’re trying to be everything to everyone by adding “sad, overcooked, characterless strips of chicken cutlet” on top of the classic dish.

Likewise, he spared no vitriol for the pumpkin spice latte. In a Reddit “Ask Me Anything,” when questioned what food trends he wanted to see die quickly, Chef Tony replied, “I would like to see the pumpkin spice craze drowned in its own blood.”

Unfortunately, chicken Caesar salads remain as popular as ever, and pumpkin spice as a flavor has thrived unabated. Far from being drowned in its own blood, pumpkin spice soldiers on, a bulwark of autumnal promotions for everyone from coffee chains like Dunkin’ and Starbucks, baked goods brands like Hostess, and even pet food companies like The Honest Kitchen.