News: Wendy's - Breakfast Test Continues

As some of you might know, Wendy's began testing breakfast about four years ago in a limited number of restaurants breaking a 30 year hiatus. Most recently, they're testing a more upscale breakfast menu in Kansas City, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, and Shreveport areas. The chain is set to tackle breakfast nationally early next year.

The current items being tested are: an Artisan Egg Sandwich, a Mornin' Melt Panini, a Fresh Baked Biscuit Sandwich, a Bacon Fire Roasted Burrito, Seasoned Home-Style Potatoes, a Good-to-Go Oatmeal Bar, Fresh Seasonal Fruit, Premium Blend Coffee, a Sausage & Egg Burrito, and a Sausage Biscuit.

Full item descriptions and nutritional info after the jump.

Frozen Friday: Stouffer's - French Bread Pizza - Pepperoni

Stouffer's French Bread Pizza comes in several flavors including my favorite topping, Pepperoni. They're basically a lengthwise sliced piece of French Bread with tomato sauce, real mozzarella cheese, and toppings. A pack of two goes for $3.39 at my local supermarket, but it's not uncommon to see them on sale for $1.50 or less.

Review: Sonic - Chicken Strip Dinner

Listed as a local favorite on the Sonic website, Sonic's Chicken Strip Dinner contains a bit of something for everyone and includes 4 chicken strips, fries, Texas Toast, a country gravy, and an onion ring for $4.99.

News: KFC Introducing Reusable Side Container

In what they believe to be a fast food industry first, KFC is set to introduce it's new consumer-reusable food containers nationwide by early 2011 which will replace the current foam and plastic containers.

The new containers feature a clear polypropylene (the same material used to make leading retail food storage containers) bowl with a red lid embossed with “REUSABLE”, as well as a reminder that the container is both microwaveable and top rack dishwasher safe.

More interesting, the container features a patented “ventless vent” technology that allows moisture to escape without the need for a hole in the lid. The result is a leak-resistant lid that provides a secure fit and keeps food fresh. High tech, no?

Update: Here's KFC's video of the new containers:

News: Hardee's - New Texas Toast Bacon Cheese Thickburger

Hardee's latest menu addition comes complete with a new spokesperson. The Texas-inspired Texas Toast Bacon Cheese Thickburger features a charbroiled 100% Black Angus beef patty, bacon, American cheese, red onions, tomato, lettuce and Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce served between two slices of thick, grilled Texas Toast. Pricing starts at a suggested retail of $2.79 for the 1/4 lb. size (It is also available in 1/3 lb. and 1/2 lb. sizes).

As usual, Hardee's has an online coupon for $1 off a Texas Toast Bacon Cheese Thickburger small combo. (Expires 11/20/2010)

As for the new spokesperson, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and native Texan, Julie Henderson has been tapped for the role and appears in a commercial with the Texas Toast Bacon Cheese Thickburger:

Nutritional info after the jump.

Review: Burger King - French Toast Sticks

Part of Burger King's BK Breakfast Value Menu, French Toast Sticks feature three sticks of bread covered in a sweet fried batter for $1. They're served with a side of maple-flavored syrup to cater to your sweet tooth.

News: Starbucks, Peets to Raise Prices

You can enjoy the coffee in the front for
the same price, but the ones in the back will
cost you a bit more than they used to.

Citing 13-year highs in prices of green (unroasted) Arabica beans, coffee chains Starbucks and Peet's are posed to raise drink and bean prices. Prices for the beans have risen approximately 35% since the beginning of the year.

Starbucks announced that prices will increase on "larger, labor-intensive" drinks (i.e. Frappuccinos) while maintaining or cutting prices of its most popular products, including certain espresso-based drinks and its $1.50 Tall brewed coffee.

Starting September 29, 2010, most Peet's drinks will increase by 10 to 15 cents in price, while beans sold in store will increase by an average of 8% in price.

On the plus side, if McDonald's coffee is your caffeine of choice, the fast food powerhouse with a bigger portfolio of food items, is better poised to absorb the costs increases and will continue business as usual.

Relief might come at the tail end of the year, when Columbian harvests are expected to "reduce supply bottlenecks." Whether or not, this will spell any relief at the check stand remains to be seen.

Review: Chipotle - Crispy Chicken Tacos

A favorite of the Sister, Chipotle's Chicken Tacos are of the hard shell or soft flour tortilla variety most commonly associated with Taco Bell. They're available in a set of three, starting from $5.70 (up to $5.90), with your choice of meat (braised carnitas or barbacoa, adobo-marinated and grilled chicken or steak), salsa, cheese, sour cream and romaine lettuce.

Review: Jack in the Box - Onion Rings

Jack in the Box Onion Rings are of the breaded and fried variety. An order of Onion Rings will cost you $1.79.

Around the World: McDonald's Australia - "Bacon"

Here's an ad by McDonald's Australia that I can really get behind. Mmmmmm... bacon... they call McDonald's "Maccas" and serve, among other items, a "Bakehouse Brekkie Roll" with slices of back bacon (which is more like ham than what we typically call "bacon"), egg, cheese, a hash brown (they call it a "Potato Rosti"), and onion relish on a sourdough roll. It's one of their fancier "M Selections" items. It's one of the sandwiches being made in the ad.

Local Review: Porto's Bakery - Potato Ball

Porto's Bakery's Potato Ball is one of their most popular items. It features a slightly-bigger-than-golf-ball-sized mashed potato ball with a meat filling and a fried crust of fine breading. One Potato Ball will run you about 85 cents.

Frozen Friday: Totino's Pizza Rolls

Totino's Pizza Rolls are mini bite-sized pizza crust rolls with pizza filling inside. They come in a variety of flavors but the ones I usually see are: Cheese, Pepperoni, and Combination (sausage and pepperoni). A 7.5-ounce box goes for $2.99 at my local Alberton's but go on sale from anywhere between $1 and $2. For a buck more at $3.99, they also sell a 19.8-ounce bag which is a much better value.