Food enthusiasts have been tuning into a new show on Hulu that looks at the food culture of immigrant groups across the US. Hosted by Padma Lakshmi, "Taste the Nation" celebrates immigrant stories and looks at how they have shaped the country’s foodways. Lakshmi’s dedication to immigrant rights inspired her to do the show, she told NPR. "I wanted to reflect my point of view as a woman, as a person of color, as a mother, but also be about more than just the food. The food is really just the excuse to embed myself," she said.

Many know Lakshmi as the host and executive producer on "Top Chef," which recently finished its 17th season. In a piece for Taste, writer Danny Chau called the long-running competition "our national sport," adding that it offers a brief escape from our "pandemic-ravaged reality."

Part of that reality includes the reversal of some restaurant reopenings around the country as coronavirus cases spike in states where restrictions had been lifted.

In the wine world this week, The Court of Master Sommeliers announced that it is dropping the requirement that master sommeliers be addressed as "master." The decision came after wine professionals spoke out against the organization’s lack of consideration for people of color.

Maytag blue cheese, briny capers and a bright red wine vinaigrette bring bold flavor to this classic salad. CIA Foodies

A spicy coconut water marinade elevates sliced watermelon to an elegant summertime appetizer. Bonus: Use the strained spicy marinade in a tequila cocktail. Food & Wine

Adapted from a recipe in Susan Spungen's cookbook "Open Kitchen," these bars keep ingredient efficiency in mind, using a whole lemon vs. the juice of six for intense fruit flavor. Smitten Kitchen

This slow cooked pork belly recipe gets its amazing flavor from maple and ginger. The pork belly is sliced and paired with sweet potato waffles and maple cream. Chef Barbara Alexander from The Culinary Institute of America shows us how to brine the pork belly in ginger beer, and add even more flavor with a rub, glaze and spritz.

Some 50,000 bottles of singer Post Malone's French rose, Maison No. 9, sold in only two days in a Vivino presale, with TMZ reporting that demand was so high that it caused the Vivino app to crash. The rose hit store shelves earlier this week for $21.99 a bottle, and is available for purchase online as well.

Actor Kyle MacLachlan works side by side in Washington state with winemaker Daniel Wampfler to produce Pursued By Bear syrah and cabernet sauvignon. "I purchase all my grapes from growers, and I love learning about what's working best from vineyards in each of the AVAs in Washington," said MacLachlan, who grew up in the state and established his winery in 2008.

Here's a look at some of the most-clicked stories in SmartBrief's publications for professional chefs and sommeliers: ProChef SmartBrief and CIA Wine & Beverage Edition

Plant-based food companies have seen sales soar during the pandemic and taken proactive approaches to keeping employees safe while ramping up production to meet growing demand. Sales of plant-based meat alternatives were up 148% during the two biggest panic-buying weeks in March, according to the Plant Based Foods Association and SPINS.

Elevate your grilling game this summer by making your own condiments at home. Get free recipes and tips from CIA Foodies.

SmartBrief will not publish next Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. Look out for a special Thursday edition of The Friday Feed SmartBrief in your inbox on July 2 with all the news and recipes you'll need for the holiday weekend.