Guy Fieri has nothing on our queen of Flavortown.

That sweet, sugary crown goes to Julia Melucci, beverage innovation manager at Monin's flavor syrup plant in Clearwater.

State of play: The facility is like Tampa Bay's version of Willy Wonka's factory, with delicious smells wafting throughout the building and bottles filled with colorful syrups taking mesmerizing conveyor-belt rides.

• Just outside where the bottles are filled, you'll find a luxurious test kitchen: Melucci's office and playground.

Her job: Creating cocktails, coffees and other beverages and treats with Monin flavors, which companies that use the products can then put on their menus.

• "I'm working on an assignment for lemonades right now, along with holiday drinks, snow cones, winter coffees," Melucci told Axios earlier this week. "Everything's different every day. That's what makes it so great."

Each month, she and Monin's other beverage innovators are challenged to create recipes around a seasonal flavor.

• July's flavor of the month was watermelon. "So essentially I came up with four cocktails that month, and my teammates were assigned a different category like milkshakes, coffee (it's hard to do a watermelon coffee but it worked!) and mocktails."

What does it take to be a beverage innovator? Melucci bartended for almost 30 years around Tampa Bay, most recently at Sea-Guini at the Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater.

• When she's not in the test kitchen, she's researching food and drink trends in industry publications like Chilled and Imbibe.

Her favorite flavor combo: A s'mores latte, with toasted marshmallow flavor and dark chocolate sauce.

The downside: You've heard of the freshman 15? After Melucci started at the company in February, she said she gained "the Monin 20," "because I chose to taste everything every day."

👋 Selene here. I know we're supposed to be objective, but, God, I love Tampa International Airport.

• I can leave my car in economy parking for a weekend for a quarter of the price that Ubers would cost round-trip, the trams are supereasy to navigate, and, most of the time, there are only a few people ahead of me when I arrive at the security line.

I'm always grateful for good ol' TPA when I fly to raggedy other airports, but I didn't realize just how good we had it until now.

Driving the news: TPA ranked the highest in customer satisfaction among large airports in JD Power's recently released North America Airport Satisfaction Study.

Yes, but: Overall customer satisfaction with North American airports fell 25 points this year, for a score of 777 out of 1,000, as passenger volume returned nearly to pre-pandemic levels.

• Our nation's airports can't seem to overcome overcrowding, Axios' Joann Muller writes.

The big picture: Even new conveniences like pre-scheduled TSA check-in or self-tagging baggage kiosks can't make up for the overwhelming crowds, sky-high cost of food and beverages, and lack of parking.

• And it looks like those problems won't be solved any time soon.

Go deeper

🍺 A portion of I-175 in Hernando County was shut down yesterday after an accident involving four semi-trucks and one pickup left Coors Light cans scattered all over the road. (Creative Loafing)

🗣 University of South Florida Health is partnering with medical institutions across the U.S. on a project that could help diagnose depression and certain cancers through the sound of a patient's voice. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

🗳 Nikki Fried is launching a political committee to get a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights on the ballot in 2024. (Florida Politics)

🧑‍🎤 A University of South Florida student is trying to win the USA Mullet Championships, vying against 99 other 'dos. (Fox 13)

After 10 years of its classic white-brick exterior, Oxford Exchange has a new look.

🎨 State of paint: Australian artist Elliott Routledge recently enveloped the building in a pastel blue, pink and purple mural, commissioned by CASS Contemporary.

🌳 Branch out with our Job Board.

1. Profit Growth Management Business Partner at Coca Cola Florida.
2. Director, Walk to End Alzheimer's at Alzheimer's Association.
3. Licensing Coordinator at PMA Companies.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Well, you tried. Several of you sent in good guesses, but the etching pictured here is on the seawall on the Tampa side of the Courtney Campbell Trail, the bike/pedestrian path that crosses Old Tampa Bay beside the causeway.

• You've probably walked right by it without even noticing.

Yes, but: Who knows the story here?