Review: Sonic - Butterfinger Sonic Blast

Sonic's Butterfinger Sonic Blast is simply their vanilla ice cream blended with crushed pieces of Butterfinger candy. A 14-ounce "regular" cost me $2.99. Besides blending in crushed pieces, they also provide a sprinkle of pieces on top; a nice aesthetic touch.

News: The Coffee Bean - Free Ice Blended or Latte on September 14th

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is kicking off their fall seasonal drinks by hosting an open house on Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 offering a free 12-ounce Cinnamon Toast or Classic Pumpkin Latte or Ice Blended to visitors.

When: Tuesday, September 14th, 2010, from 4pm to 7pm.
Where: Participating Coffee Bean locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas.
Why: Free 12-ounce Cinnamon Toast or Classic Pumpkin Latte or Ice Blended (One per person).

Details: "Only valid at participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® store locations in AZ, CA, NV, TX. Excludes all Ralphs stores, military base, casinos, campus or airport locations. Valid only on September 14, 2010, from 4pm to 7pm. Offer applies to 12oz. Cinnamon French Toast or Classic Pumpkin latte or Ice Blended® drinks. No substitutions. Limit one complimentary drink per customer. Cannot be combined with other offers."

News: Jack in the Box Testing Focaccia Sandwiches

Looks like Jack in the Box is testing more premium sandwiches. This time though, instead of being grilled on artisan bread, Jack is testing Focaccia sandwiches (they're already used Ciabatta bread so why not?) in two varieties: Bruschetta Chicken and the Deli Deluxe.

Both sandwiches are being tested in out in Austin. The Bruschetta Chicken features bruschetta (duh), a chicken breast, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and mayo on toasted Focaccia bread. The Deli Deluxe appears to contain a trio of deli meats (ham, turkey, salami), cheese, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, red onions, and creamy Italian sauce on toasted Focaccia bread.

Nutritional info not available for test items at Jack in the Box.

Frozen Friday: Stouffer's - Baked Chicken Dinner

For those preferring something slightly healthier than the normal frozen dinner, there's Stouffer's Baked Chicken Dinner which features a boneless baked chicken breast with gravy and mashed potatoes topped with paprika. I usually find it on sale for between $1.50 and $2.00.

News: Jamba Juice - New Organic Coffee and Hot Blends

Jamba Juice is boosting its breakfast offerings with new coffee drinks in the form of Organic Coffee and Coffee Hot Blends.

The Organic House Blend Coffee is brewed fresh by the cup and features a blend of Central and South American arabica coffee beans. It is also available in decaf. Prices are $1.80 for 12 ounces and $1.95 for 16 ounces.

The Coffee Hot Blends come in two flavors: Mocha Marvel and Vanilla Coffee Whirl. Mocha Marvel features organic cocoa, organic vanilla, organic cane sugar and organic milk powder (soy, nonfat, or 2%) blended with organic coffee. Vanilla Coffee Whirl is the same sans the cocoa. Pricing stands at $2.80 for 12 ounces and $3.40 for 16 ounces.

Nutritional info after the jump.

Review: McDonald's - Mushroom & Swiss Angus Snack Wrap

McDonald's Mushroom & Swiss Angus Snack Wrap features half a third pound Angus beef patty, sauteed mushrooms, Swiss cheese and mayonnaise wrapped in a flour tortilla for $1.99.

News: El Pollo Loco - A Coupon a Day All September

El Pollo Loco is celebrating their 30th Anniversary by giving customers a different coupon for 30 days i.e. everyday for the month of September. Each coupon is only good for one day exactly.

Highlights include:
-A free leg or thigh plus tortillas and salsa on 9/15;
-a 30 cent churro on 9/17 and 9/22 and;
-a 30 cent chicken taquito on 9/19 and 9/28

You can see the whole calendar here: http://www.elpolloloco.com/30thAnniversary/index.html. You can view and print the coupons by clicking on the days of the calendar.

News: Burger King - Nine New Breakfast Items

As promised, Burger King expands their BK Breakfast Menu this fall with nine new breakfast items. The "nine" is a bit misleading as four of the items are Seattle's Best coffee. Breakfast at BK is served until 10:30am.

Count with me as I list the items:

1. BK Breakfast Ciabatta - featuring scrambled eggs, tomatoes, ham, bacon, American cheese, and a smoky tomato sauce for $2.89.
2. Mini Blueberry Biscuits - the item I'm most excited about: biscuits with blueberries baked in! Yum! Four mini biscuits served with a side of icing for a retail price of $1.

3. K Ultimate Breakfast Platter - mirrors McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast except with a biscuit instead of an English muffin. It contains scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, a biscuit and pancakes for a suggested retail price of $4.29. The Deluxe Breakfast sells for $3.59 in Los Angeles.
4. Pancake and Sausage Platter - pancakes and sausage for $2.89.
5. Pancake Platter - just pancakes for a suggested price of $2.29.
6. Seattle's Best Coffee (hot) - in small, medium, and large at suggested prices of $1, $1.19, and $1.39, respectively.
7. Iced Seattle's Best Coffee - available for a suggested retail of $1.89.
8. Iced Mocha Seattle's Best Coffee - ditto!
9. Iced Vanilla Seattle's Best Coffee - same!

Nutritional info not yet available.

News: Starbucks - New Reusable Cup Sleeve

If a reusuable tumbler is too much for you to lug around, but you still want to help the environment a little, Starbucks now has a Reusable Cup Sleeve you can buy! Or if you're a manly man like me, you just endure the searing heat through the paper cut because, you know, it's the manly thing to do. What about explaining the burns on your hand you say? Like refusing to ask for directions, manly men don't explain things!

If you don't mind looking like you knit a leg warmer or head band for your paper cup, the Starbucks Reusuable Cup Sleeve is made of soft, washable felt, fits all Starbucks cup sizes, and even has a pocket for money, a credit card, and perhaps a little bit of your pride. Pricing is $3.95 (Also available in Canada for $4.45).

Review: McDonald's - Sausage McMuffin

McDonald's Sausage McMuffin is a staple underpinning their Breakfast Dollar menu. It is simply a toasted English muffin, with a sausage patty, and cheese for $1. There's also a bit of liquid margarine in there somewhere (I just learned that now).

Review: Sonic - Chicken Strip Sandwich

Sonic's Chicken Strip Sandwich is basically your typical fastfood value chicken sandwich, but with two strips of battered and fried all-white meat chicken instead of a chicken patty. It's priced a little more than the normal dollar at $1.19.

Review: Taco Bell - Chicken Flatbread Sandwich

Taco Bell's latest menu item, the Chicken Flatbread Sandwich is reminiscent of the Grande Quesadilla they had about a year or so ago, except cheaper and better tasting. The Chicken Flatbread Sandwich features white meat chicken, a blend of melted Cheddar, mozzarella, and pepper jack cheeses, and a creamy chipotle sauce folded inside a square of pillowy flatbread for an easy 99 cents.