Coke and the CIA experimented with foods to create 19 new recipes featuring a wide variety of the Coke products as key ingredients in items for appetizers, breakfast foods, dinner entrées and desserts, as well as beverages. Among the suggestions were Lemon-y Honey Glazed Pork Chops, made with Diet Lemon Coke; Oven-baked Chicken Wings with Sweet & Tangy Mustard Sauce, made with Barq's Root Beer; and Light Lime Cheesecake, made with Minute Maid Limonada.
“We are taking a look at traditional beverages and what flavors work well with different kinds of foods,” explains Ron DeSantis, director of industry solutions with the CIA. “Some chains will likely have drink specialists,” he foresees. “A lot has to do with training about flavors and the types of foods and drinks that go with them. It is not just about soda.”