Around the World: McDonald's Japan Uses Actual Hourglass to Time Orders

McDonald's Japan is offering a limited-time lunch-time guarantee from January 4 through January 31, 2013 where each customer's order will be completed in 60 seconds or less or they get a free burger of their choice.

The tagline for the campaign is "Enjoy! 60 Seconds Service."

To show their customers the elapsed time, McDonald's employees will flip an actual hourglass (minute-glass?) to time each and every order.

Around the World: The Apple Burger Returns to BK Japan

Because pumpkin and squid ink burgers weren't enough, Burger King Japan brings back the "BK RiNGO" ("ringo" means "apple" in Japanese; not sure why the odd capitalization though) burger for a limited time.

First introduced earlier this year in March, the distinguishing feature of the BK RiNGO is a grilled thick slice of apple sprinkled with cinnamon. It's accompanied by a grilled beef patty, spicy honey-mustard sauce, lettuce, and tomato, and served together on a Whopper Jr. bun.

Review: Starbucks - Salted Caramel Mocha

Starbucks' Salted Caramel Mocha is a seasonal fall/winter drink first introduced last year. It features a blend of espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce, and toffee nut syrup, topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce, turbinado (i.e. raw) sugar, and sea salt.

It's about a buck more than a Starbucks Latte at $3.75 for a 12-ounce "Tall" drink. I got mine without whipped cream.

Frozen Friday: Stouffer's - Fried Chicken

Stouffer's Fried Chicken is actually a boneless white meat chicken piece that's been seasoned, breaded, and fried. It's served with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy.

An 8.875-ounce box retails for $4.19 at one of my local supermarkets.

News: IHOP - All-You-Can-Eat Pancakes Return

A feast of pancake gluttony (and ruiner of New Year's resolutions) is back at IHOP with the limited-time return of "All-You-Can-Eat" Buttermilk Pancakes.

The offer is available as part of a combo or as an entree. Once you polish off the initial stack, you can keep it coming in stacks of two for as long as your appetite (or stomach) holds out.

Review: Taco Bell - Loaded Potato Griller

Taco Bell's Loaded Potato Griller looks to capture the taste of a loaded potato skin in a grilled tortilla wrapper. The limited-time item features crispy potato bites, nacho cheese, bits of bacon, and sour cream, wrapped in a flour tortilla and grilled.

Like the rest of the new, limited-time Loaded Grillers, it's offered at 99 cents a pop.

Review: Taco Bell - Spicy Buffalo Chicken Griller

Taco Bell's Spicy Buffalo Chicken Griller is purported to offer the taste of buffalo wings in a portable appetizer for one. To achieve this, Taco Bell goes with their marinated white meat chicken, spicy lava sauce (from their Volcano menu), and (reduced fat) sour cream.

The price is nice at 99 cents per Loaded Griller.

News: Taco Bell Tests New $1 Cravings Menu

It appears Taco Bell is looking to scrap the current "Why Pay More" value menu by testing a "$1 Cravings" value menu. The move to a flat $1 per menu item is probably a response to rising food and labor costs.

I was traveling through California's Central Valley over the holidays and came upon the menu at a Taco Bell in one of the major truck stops.

The $1 Cravings gets its name because it's split into several different food cravings: "Beefy," "Cheesy," "Spicy," "Crunchy," and "Sweet."

Review: Starbucks - Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop

Starbucks Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop is a holiday-themed, portion-controlled dessert of peppermint chocolate cake (made with buttercream and candy cane pieces) dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with candy cane bits.

A single pop sells for $1.50.

Review: Pepperidge Farm - Milano Minis Candy Cane Cookies

Pepperidge Farm Milano Minis Candy Cane cookies are exclusive to Target and are miniature versions of Pepperidge Farm's sandwich cookies with a layer of candy cane flavored filling to go with the standard dark chocolate.

I picked up a 5-ounce package on sale for $2.50.

Review: Ben & Jerry's - Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry's Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream features red velvet cake batter ice cream with red velvet cake pieces, and a cream cheese frosting swirl.

I grabbed a pint on sale at Fresh 'N Easy for $2.50.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Hong Kong - Pizza on a Pizza

So while Pizza Hut Singapore offers pizza within a pizza this Christmas, not so far away in Hong Kong, the chain is offering pizza on a pizza: the Cheesy Opera pizza!

Each Cheesy Opera pizza features a base pizza with chicken, ham, beef, pork, tomato, oregano, and red onion on tomato sauce, plus Twisted Cheese crust (which is like Stuffed Crust but with partial dough coverage and two types of cheese). On top of this is stacked a smaller, crispy thin crust pizza with one of two topping combinations.