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Applebee’s Has a Dirty Soda Deal for the Season 2 Premiere of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”

With a cherry on top

applebee's dirty fountain soda: three sodas topped with whipped cream and a cherry
Applebee’s

Have you had the pleasure (or displeasure, depending) of watching The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives? It was the top show on Hulu last fall after premiering in September, and I understand why. In the words of former PureWow wellness director Sarah Stiefvater’s honest review, “this show has everything: Mormons, fruity cereal (IYKYK), secret Tinder accounts and a disastrous trip to a Chippendales show in Vegas.”

As a food editor though, my main takeaway was that dirty soda is way more a thing than I realized—so much so, that one nostalgic chain restaurant is celebrating the premiere of season two with a drink special.

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If you dine at Applebee’s (or, presumably, order a bev to go), you can spruce up your standard fountain drink with a creamy swirl, whipped cream and a cherry for just $1 more. Ta-da, dirty soda.

In case you missed it, dirty soda is nothing new. Typically a mix of soda, cream (or another form of dairy; some folks use coffee creamer) and flavored syrup served over pebbled or crushed ice, this drink is a Utah staple. Back in 2023, searches were up by 40 percent after the drink went viral on TikTok, but the trend is still going super strong. Even Taco Bell just added a Dirty Baja Blast to its menu (FYI, it tastes like liquid key lime pie).

What does that have to do with Secret Lives and Mormonism, you ask? The drink rose to fame after the Mormon church tweaked its ban on caffeine in 2012, allowing for the consumption of cold caffeinated beverages. While Mormons still can’t have hot coffee, for instance, they can perk up with a zhuzhed soda of their choice instead. Nowadays, you’ll see folks—the show’s cast included—flock to soda chains like Swig to indulge, customizing their sippers to their hearts’ content.

Season two premieres on May 15. My straw will be at the ready—how about yours?



taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Spearheads PureWow's food vertical
  • Manages PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College