News: Starbucks - 2011 Seasonal Holiday Drinks

Christmas cheer is in full effect at Starbucks as November sets in and with it comes their lineup of 2011 seasonal holiday drinks.

This year's seasonal menu is much like last year's with the Peppermint Mocha, the Caramel Brulée Latte, the Gingerbread Latte, and the Eggnog Latte.

There is something new though. Well, kinda new, a low cal version of the Peppermint Mocha: the new Skinny Peppermint Mocha. It's made with espresso, nonfat milk, sugar-free Peppermint Syrup and Skinny Mocha sauce. And delivers 100 calories per 12-ounce Tall (130 calories for a Grande).

Please do keep in mind that while it uses sugar-free Syrup, the Skinny Peppermint Mocha is not a sugar-free drink since milk naturally contains sugar.

News: Baskin-Robbins has Ice Cream Cake Turkey!

For all you non-turkey eating people who still want to celebrate with a turkey-like yet non-tofurkey centerpiece (or just want a turkey for dessert), Baskin-Robbins has you covered with the return of their seasonal Turkey Cake.

The cake offers your choice of ice cream flavor glazed in chocolate or caramel. And the legs? They're actually sugar cones. Each cake serves 12 to 16 people and is offered at a suggested retail price of $31.99.

If you're looking to order one, be sure to place your order at least 24-hours in advance.

News: Nabisco - Sweet Cinnamon Wheat Thins Back for the Holidays

Apparently thanks to consumer demand, Nabisco has brought back Sweet Cinnamon Wheat Thins for a limited time this holiday season.

It comes in a swell holiday box too.

They come 9.5 ounces to a box (like other Wheat Thin varieties) and promise 10g of whole grains per serving.

News: Carl's Jr. - New Hardee's Made from Scratch Biscuits in SoCal

Carl's Jr. is now serving up sister chain, Hardee's, Made from Scratch Biscuits in the southern California market.

Fitting in with the made-in-house theme of their Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders and Fillets, the new biscuits are made fresh throughout every morning and offered in a number of various breakfast menu items.

Biscuit items include: the Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, the Ham, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, the Monster Biscuit (with egg, sausage, bacon, ham and two pieces of cheese), Biscuit ’N’ Gravy, and the Strawberry Biscuit.

To get you to try their new biscuits, Carl's Jr. is giving away one Free Sausage Biscuit per dine-in customer tomorrow morning (Wednesday, 11/5/11) from 6 AM to 10:30 PM. No purchase is necessary although apparently you will have to get out of your car (How un-Californian I know!).

News: Arby's New Super Reuben

Arby's new Super Reuben is another of their limited-time, limited participation menu items that you may or may not find at Arby's locations in your area.

It features two slices of toasted marble rye bread, a layer of thin-sliced corn beef, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing, and another layer of protein in thin-sliced turkey.

Basically what makes it "super" is the addition of turkey to Arby's normal Reuben sandwich. Then again, it comes with an extra 100g of sandwich... and 2710mg of sodium.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - New Smokehouse Sausage Breakfast Sandwich

Dunkin' Donuts teams up with Hillshire Farm for their new, limited-time Smokehouse Sausage Breakfast Sandwich.

The Smokehouse Sausage Breakfast Sandwich features a split Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage link, an egg and a slice of American cheese on an English muffin.

Obviously the selling point here is the smoked sausage rather than the typical choice of bacon or breakfast sausage. I'd like to try it... but the nearest Dunkin' is in the next state over and four hours away...

News: Sonic - New Toaster Melt Sandwiches

New for a limited-time at Sonic, Toaster Melt Sandwiches bring a mix of burger and sandwich. That is, they're basically burgers but with Texas toast instead of buns.

Toaster Melts are offered in two varieties: Bacon Cheddar and Mushroom Swiss.

The Bacon Cheddar Toaster Melt features a beef patty with grilled onions, bacon, cheddar cheese, pickles, and a hickory barbecue sauce while the Mushroom Swiss comes with a beef patty, grilled onions, sautéed portobello mushrooms, mayo, and Swiss cheese.

The sandwiches are available in full-sized (quarter pound) or junior versions and start at $1.99.

They're available through December.

News: Taco Bell - New Triple Steak Stack

Having already once offered a Triple and Quad Steak Burrito, Taco Bell moves on to flatbread with their latest new, limited-time item, the Triple Steak Stack.

While the name is perhaps more evocative of a burger, the Triple Steak Stack is actually a sizable, soft, flatbread sandwich filled with a triple portion (4.5 ounces compared to the normal 1.5 ounce) of USDA Select marinated, grilled steak and a melted blend of three-cheeses.

You can expect to pick one up around the $4.99 mark.

News: Arby's - New Jr. Pepper Jack

A limited-time, limited-participation item at Arby's, the Jr. Pepper Jack is basically their Jr. Roast Beef Sandwich but with the addition of a slice of Pepper Jack cheese.

Not super special but it should be pretty cheap. Arby's description includes the line: "This sandwich is spicy, not pricy." I think "pricey" is more common usage but I guess "pricy" looks like it rhymes more.

In case you missed it, Jr. Roast Beef Sandwich + Pepper Jack cheese = Jr. Pepper Jack.

News: Burger King - New BK Family Bundle

Moving towards a more family-friendly dining option, Burger King is out with the new BK Family Bundle.

The BK Family Bundle is a limited-time promotion offering one Whopper, one Whopper Jr., two small fries, two small drinks and a Kids Meal for $9.99.

As to who gets what, I guess that really depends on family dynamics and how many people are in the family. Personally, I might go for the Kids Meal.

The promotion runs through December 4, 2011 at participating locations.

Review: Taco Bell - Nachos Supreme

Taco Bell's Nacho Supreme features tortilla chips covered with seasoned beef, refried beans, warm nacho cheese sauce, diced tomatoes, and reduced-fat sour cream for $1.89

Review: Jamba Juice - Berry Cherry Pecan Steel Cut Oatmeal

Jamba Juice's Berry Cherry Pecan Steel Cut Oatmeal features slow-cooked organic oatmeal with soymilk topped with dried cranberries, cherries, and blueberries plus glazed pecans and crumbled brown sugar.

A good-sized cup/bowl comes in at $2.95.