News: Dunkin' Donuts - Spring 2012 Featured Drinks

It's Spring and Dunkin' Donuts is thinking caramel-flavored iced coffees are the cure for what ails ya. Dunkin' is offering new Caramel Turtle, new Caramel Almond, and Caramel Mocha for a limited time at participating locations.

Like all Dunkin' Donut coffees, the drinks are also available hot if you so choose.

News: Popeyes Celebrates 40 Years with 8 Pieces for $5.99 Promo

Popeyes is celebrating their 40 Years anniversary tomorrow by offering 8 mixed pieces of spicy or mild fried chicken (mixed) for $5.99 at participating locations.

The deal is similar to the brand's popular "Pay Day" promotions in prior years which have sold out in the past.

Popeyes first opened in 1972 and today has 2,035 restaurants in 25 countries. In terms of fast food fried chicken, they're second in size only to the Colonel but offer more of a Cajun twist to their cuisine.

Review: El Pollo Loco - Roja Wet Burrito

The El Pollo Loco Roja Wet Burrito is only available for a limited time and features El Pollo Loco’s trademark flame-grilled chicken stuffed inside a burrito along with pinto beans, pico de gallo salsa, fresh cilantro, diced onions, and melted Jack cheese. It is then grilled and covered in Colorado sauce (a red chili pepper sauce) before being topped with more fresh cilantro and Cotija cheese.

The price of admission? An even $5.99 for the burrito.

News: Panera Bread Featured 2012 Spring Menu

Panera Bread is returning a seasonal menu dish and showcasing two new ones this Spring.

Returning is the soup and salad combo of Low-Fat Chicken Tortilla Soup and Cuban Chicken Panini. The soup is made corn and roasted Poblano peppers, black beans and tomatoes, seasoned with dried chili peppers, cumin, and lime. It's finished with a topping of tri-colored tortilla strips.

New is the Roasted Turkey Fuji Apple Salad which is made with all-natural roasted turkey, mixed field greens, romaine lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, pecans, Gorgonzola, and apple chips, dressed with a white balsamic apple vinaigrette.

News: Burger King Value Menu Tweaks

Not one to be left behind, it looks like Burger King is also making some changes to their value menu (of course BK's value menu starts at $1 and goes up from there).

According the Burger King website, the current national value menu items are: the Whopper Jr., Spicy Chick'N Crisp Sandwich, new Classic Chick'N Crisp Sandwich, Chicken Tenders, French Fries, Onion Rings, Garden Salad, and Dutch Apple Pie. There are additional items that vary per region.

News: McDonald's Dollar Menu Tweaks

McDonald's tweaks their value-priced Dollar Menu this month with the most notable changes being the removal small drinks and small French fries. The two popular menu items are being replaced with dessert: cookies and soft serve cones.

Additionally, McDonald's is reshuffling their menu board with some items being showcased in a new "Extra Value Menu" but is not actually changing the prices.

Happy Belated Saint Patty's!

It's a day late but Happy St. Patty's Day! Corned beef and cabbage!

Why's it called "corned beef?" For the "corns" of salt used to treat the beef. It's also known as "salt beef" or "bully beef."

Review: Wheat Thins Wisconsin Colby Artisan Cheese Crackers

I think Wheat Thins Wisconsin Colby Artisan Cheese Crackers are supposed to be a fancier version of the original and are made with real Colby cheese.

A 8-ounce box cost me 1.99 on sale (a retail of $3.59).

Neat: Taco Bell USB Flash Drive

Neat huh?! It's a USB Flash Drive made to look like a Taco Bell sauce packet. They gave it to me (and the other bloggers/attendees) during the Doritos Locos Taco Launch Reveal / HQ tour.

Frozen Friday: Marie Callender's - Apple Pie

A relatively new frozen dessert from Marie Callender's, the two-serving Apple Pie is roughly the size of Marie's frozen pot pies but with a different crust and, more importantly, a different filling.

I picked a 10-ounce pie on sale for $1.99 (the regular price was $2.69).

News: Panda Express Testing Paw Plate

Panda Express is testing a "Paw Plate" out in several markets according to QSR Magazine. The Paw Plate is shaped to somewhat resemble a bear paw replaces Panda Express' traditional two-entree plate in these test markets.

Basically instead of getting two large-sized entrees, you get three smaller ones which gives you a little more variety if you so choose but overall the same amount of food for the same price. The plates also have the extra benefits of being recyclable, microwavable, and dishwasher safe.

News: Starbucks Offers Smoother, Creamier Steamed Milk

Starbucks has introduced a new milk steaming pitcher to their stores with a distinct, tapered dome-shaped bottom. The new pitcher is purported to allow Starbucks baristas to consistently steam milk with a more velvety texture than before.

What does this mean to the average Starbucks drinker? Well, if your typical Starbucks drink is a Frappuccino or an iced coffee, nothing really. But if you take a Starbucks cappuccino or latte every day (or any other steamed milk drink), it should mean a great deal. The new pitchers are meant to enhance the production of "microfoam" during steaming so that the result looks more like paint and less like thick but soapy water (bigger is not better for steamed milk).