Around the World: Starbucks Japan - Seasonal Crunchy Caramel Drinks

From left to right: Iced Crunchy Caramel Macchiato, Hot
Crunchy Caramel Macchiato, and Crunchy Caramel
Frappuccino.

While we have our seasonal Starbucks autumn flavors of Pumpkin Spice and Salted Caramel here in the U.S., over in Japan, there is no Pumpkin Spice Latte (*gasp* I know). Instead, this fall, Starbucks Japan is celebrating the falling of leaves with the Crunchy Caramel Macchiato and Crunchy Caramel Frappuccino.

The Crunchy Caramel Macchiato is layered with a dark, bitter caramel sauce along the bottom, overlaid with  frothy steamed milk and espresso coffee before finished with crunchy bits of candied almonds and a criss-cross of sweet caramel sauce.

Review: Hostess - Devil's Food Cake Zingers

Hostess Devil's Food Zingers are very similar to a Twinkie in that they're long bar-shaped cakes filled with creme. For the Devil's Food Zinger, the cake is devil's food cake (i.e. a rich chocolate cake) and it's iced on top with a chocolaty coating.

A 15.24-ounce box of 12 individually-wrapped cakes retails for $4.29 and you might guess that this particular box cost two for $5, but you would be wrong! They were actually buy one, get one free, so $4.29 for two boxes.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Australia - The Plank

Down in Australia, Pizza Hut is offering a new, limited-time 94-cm (~37 inches) extra long pizza, they're calling "The Plank." Now, The Plank is not actually a 94-centimeter pizza, but rather 3 deep-pan, slab pizzas whose lengths add up to 94 centimeters and are fitted into a 94-centimeter box.

News: Yogurtland - Two New Flavors This Fall

Yogurtland pumps out new White Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Blackberry Passion Fruit Tart flavors of frozen yogurt this month.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut is made with double roasted macadamias from Australia that are ground into a butter and folded into the yogurt.

Blackberry Passion Fruit Tart features passion fruit from South America and blackberries from Oregon. An 8-ounce serving provides a full day's worth of the recommended intake of Vitamin C.

Frozen Friday - Lean Cuisine - Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli

Lean Cuisine's Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli is a simple meal of cubes of grilled white meat chicken, florets of broccoli, and rigatoni pasta in a creamy alfredo sauce.

A 10-ounce box typically retails for $3.29 at my local supermarket.

News: Nabisco - New Candy Corn Oreos

Starting September 10, 2012, new Candy Corn Oreos will be available exclusively at Target stores nationwide (superstore clout strikes!) according to The Huffington Post. The suggested retail price is $3.59 for a 10.5-ounce package.

Candy Corn Oreos feature a candy corn flavored creme (half colored orange, half colored yellow) sandwiched between two Golden Oreo wafers (kinda white) to reflect the candy corn color scheme.

News: Baskin-Robbins - September 2012 Flavor of the Month

Baskin-Robbins' September 2012 Flavor of the Month is Apple Cinnamon Crisp. Ushering in autumn, the Apple Cinnamon Crisp features cinnamon-flavored ice cream interspersed with apple and oat chunks, cut with a brown-sugar-and-cinnamon-flavored swirl.

Apple Cinnamon Crisp is available by the scoop (cup or cone), in a waffle bowl sundae, or as part of a custom ice cream cake. It can also be taken home in fresh-packed pints and quarts.

News: Starbucks 2012 Fall Seasonal Menu

No new drinks on Starbucks 2012 Seasonal Fall Menu, but seasonal favorites, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, and Salted Caramel Mocha, are back for a limited time. For non-coffee drinks, a Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino might pique the interest.

Review: Arby's - Market Fresh Turkey Asiago Sandwich

Arby's Market Fresh Turkey Asiago Sandwich is a limited-time sandwich filled with thin-sliced, oven-roasted turkey, tomatoes, Asiago cheese, green leaf lettuce, thinly-sliced red onions, and savory au jus spread (a mix of mayo and au jus powder) on two slices of honey wheat bread.

The price is on the fast food high end at $4.99.

News: Boston Market - New Market Bowls

Boston Market introduces new Market Bowls, which takes a KFC-like approach in layering entrees and sides into a easy-to-eat bowl.

Each Market Bowl features your choice of two gourmet sides (a starch and a veggie; one of each) and a choice of Boston Market's signature Rotisserie Chicken, Roasted Turkey Breast, or Meatloaf combined in a bowl and topped with Beef Gravy, Poultry Gravy, or one of three sauces: Zesty Barbecue (mild); Sweet Thai Chili Garlic (medium hot), and Honey Habanero (medium hot). The bowls are available for a limited-time at $6.99 each.

News: Subway - New Birthday Berry Cookie

Since Subway is throwing themselves a birthday party this month, it's only appropriated that they're baking new, limited-time Birthday Berry Cookies, which feature a colorful blend of red, white, and blue in cookie form. Specifically, the cookie has cranberries, blueberries, and white chocolate chips baked in.

My local Subway charges 60 cents per cookie or three for $1.25.

News: Baskin-Robbins - New Waffle Chip Dippers

Nachos as a dessert?! Well, kinda. Baskin-Robbins offers new Waffle Chip Dippers this month, a dessert consisting of a "dip" of vanilla soft serve drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with M&M’s and Snickers pieces, along with six hand-cut, triangle-shaped waffle and brownie chips.

Waffle Chip Dippers are available through the end of September at participating Baskin-Robbins shops nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.99.