News: Panera Bread - Featured 2013 Winter Menu

Panera Bread tends to add limited-time/seasonal menu items every couple of months or so. They usually add a couple of new things and returns some seasonal items. New this winter are the Spinach Power Salad and Fat-Free Superfruit Power Smoothie.

Here's a more detailed list of what Panera's featuring this winter:

News: Auntie Anne's - New Whole Grain Pretzels

Auntie Anne's adds whole grains to their pretzel line up with new Honey Whole Grain Pretzels. Each pretzel features a hint of honey sweetness and whole grain dough. Nutritionally, each provides one daily serving of whole grains, six grams of fiber and just 300 calories

While prices vary, these should cost about $2.79 per pretzel.

Review: Pepperidge Farm - Garlic Parmesan Jingos

Jingos are a new line of snack crackers from Pepperidge Farm promising "bold flavor" and "snappy crunch." I recently tried Parmesan Garlic Jingos.

A 7.5-ounce box retails for about $3.29.

Around the World: MOS Burger - Focaccia with U-shaped Sausage

Japanese burger chain, MOS Burger, offers two limited-time Focaccias on the menu this winter.

The one of particular note is the Barbecue Focaccia, which features a U-shaped, grilled, smoked sauce cradling a mix of cabbage, onions, eggplant, and tomatoes stewed in barbecue sauce, served on a bed of crispy shredded cabbage, and folded inside a warm, toasted focaccia bread.

Around the World: Domino's Pakistan - Quesadilla Pizza

Since Taco Bell offers a Mexican Pizza, it's only fitting that Domino's offers a Quesadilla Pizza, albeit only in Pakistan.

Available since 2011, the Quesadilla Pizza is offered as a crust option and features cheese and your choice of various chicken, beef, or veggie topping combinations sandwiched between two thin crust pizza rounds and served with marinara and sour cream on the side for dipping. And, just to make sure you get enough cheese, it's topped with melted mozzarella cheese as well.

The pizza is offered in two sizes: an 11" medium and a 13" large. Prices are 845 rupees (~$8.65 US) and 945 rupees (~$9.67 US) respectively.

News: Kashi - New Garlic Pesto Pita Crisps

Kashi expands their pita crisps line with new Garlic Pesto Pita Crisps. Like everything else with the Kashi name on it, the new crackers features Kashi's signature blend of 7 whole grains (I wonder if a Kashi ice cream would also feature whole grains?).

Pita crisps are basically crunchy, puffy crackers. The Garlic Pesto version showcases a blend of basil with a hint of garlic. For nutritional benefits, there's 10 grams of whole grains and 5 grams of fiber per serving.

Review: Rhythm Superfoods - Texas BBQ Kale Chips

Rhythm Superfoods Texas BBQ Kale Chips are air-crisped, dried kale flavored with all-natural liquid smoke, organic veggie powders, and apple cider vinegar. For those of you with special dietary needs and/or concerns, these are organic, vegan, and gluten-free.

It doesn't come cheap though: a 2-ounce bag cost $6.54 at their online store. I received this bag courtesy of Rhythm Superfoods.

News: Lean Cuisine - New "Salad Additions"

Lean Cuisine now offers new Salad Additions in the frozen food aisle. Each box consists of everything you need to make your next salad except for the lettuce.

If you're like me, you're wondering, "How does that work?" or "Uh, why would you want a frozen salad? I don't get it." Basically the way these work is you heat up the chicken and fruits/vegetables, thaw out the salad dressing, and throw on the crunchy starch. What they don't include is the lettuce, you have pick that up yourself.

Frozen Friday: California Pizza Kitchen - Crispy Thin Crust BBQ Chicken Pizza

California Pizza Kitchen's Crispy Thin Crust BBQ Chicken Pizza for One is a square crispy thin crust pizza topped with grilled white meat chicken, reduced fat mozzarella, smoked gouda, red onion, and cilantro with barbecue sauce.

Each pizza is 6-ounces and costs $3.99 at my local supermarket.

Around the World: Starbucks Hong Kong - Winter Casseroles

Over in Hong Kong, Starbucks is offering something new you'd more likely find at a sit-down restaurant or at home: casseroles.

Offered as a meal option for the winter, there are two varieties: Signature Meatball Casserole and Alfredo Broccoli & New Potato Casserole.

The Signature Meatball Casserole consists of meatballs and new potatoes in a rosemary tomato sauce with melted mozzarella cheese on top. The price is $38 HK (~$4.90 US)

News: Chipotle to Test Tofu as an Option

Chipotle is planning to test a braised, shredded tofu filling as a protein option next month out in San Francisco according to this AP story. They're calling it "Sofritas" and it's cooked similar to the chain's barbacoa.

Now before you go thinking that's some Mexican dish you never heard of, it's not. While it is indeed an actual Spanish word (it's the past participle of "sofreir" meaning "to fry lightly"), Chipotle has filed a trademark registration for the word as a mark for "prepared vegetable-based entrees." There's a bit of irony there since the tofu will be braised and not fried. There's also the similar "sofrito" which is a base of slow-fried or simmered aromatics in Spanish cuisine.

News: Caribou Coffee - New Lemon Earl Grey Tea Latte

Caribou Coffee now offers a new, limited-time Lemon Earl Grey Tea Latte. The drink combines Earl Grey tea extract with a lemon creme sauce, and steamed milk. There's also an iced version if you're so inclined.

I know people drink Earl Grey with lemon or milk, but I don't think it's typical to drink it with both lemon and milk.