News: Some McDonald's Restaurants Giving Free Hot Mochas

It appears that some McDonald's franchise groups are running a promotion for a free hot Mocha drink (they should just call it a McMocha!) on Wednesdays until the end of February.

According to McDonald's official twitter, this is not a McDonald's Corp. promotion so your mileage may vary but I'm guessing if your local McDonald's is participating, they'll be some sort of signage up.  Otherwise, you can just call ahead and ask.  No purchase is necessary.  I haven't been able to verify if you get a normal-sized cup or an 7-ounce sample cup like the promotion last July.

(Mis?)Adventures in Cooking: Homemade Braised Pork Loin

Pork loin was on sale for cheap so I bought one and decided to braise it.  The thing I like about braising is you can adjust the stock on the fly and can taste as you braise.  For this recipe, I decided on a soy-based broth.  Just a word of warning, you might learn what not to do from this post or maybe why you should follow an actual recipe instead of winging it but it works for me.

The Asia Trip: Blenz Coffee in Japan

When I first went to Blenz Coffee, I thought it was a Japanese coffee chain since I had never heard of it, but Blenz is originally from Canada.  Their trademarked slogan is "Never Burnt, Never Bitter."  I ordered myself a latte and got some nice latte art!

Around the Web: The Best Fast Food in America and Top French Chefs Now Serving Fast Food

• Esquire Magazine surveyed some of America's top chefs (including Thomas Keller and Alton Brown) to find out where they go when they feel the need for fast food.  The winner by far was unsurprisingly beloved California-based burger chain In-N-Out.
  
  Check out what other fast food joints made the cut as well as which restaurants they thought were the worst.
  
  Interestingly enough, Jack in the Box was picked as a favorite as well as a worst.
  
  
• I thought this was pretty interesting: even fancy French chefs are turning to fast food due to the weak economy.  Pricey Michelin-rated restaurants are turning to express meals and sandwiches at (relatively) low prices to drum up business in the economic downturn.
  
  Check out the UK Telegraph story here.

News: Free Coupon for Fresco Taco at Tacobell.com

In an effort to promote their somewhat dubiously-named "Drive-Thru Diet Menu," Taco Bell is offering a free coupon for a Fresco Taco at their website here.  The coupons are valid from 7 days from printing or until 1 million coupons are redeemed.

The coupons are limit one per customer and one print per customer at participating locations only.

The Fresco tacos available on the menu are: the Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Taco, the Fresco Crunchy Taco, the Fresco Soft Taco, and the Fresco Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco.

Each features shredded lettuce and Fiesta Salsa (i.e. pico de gallo) instead of the usual condiments (i.e. Cheddar cheese).

News: El Pollo Loco Adds Beef to Its Menu

That's right, the Crazy Chicken, home of flame-grilled Mexican chicken, has added flame-grilled beef to its menu.  It's a bit like KFC adding hamburgers to the menu, no?

In an effort to attract more visitors of the beef-eating variety, El Pollo Loco has added several sirloin-based dishes to their menu. The sirloin is prepared "carne asada" style meaning it is marinated in a citrus-based marinade and then grilled over their trademark open flame. Carne asada is usually served sliced thin.

Here are the new sirloin beef items:

• Steak Taco - served "street-style" with cilantro and onions.
• Grillmaster Steak Taco - with melted Cheddar and Jack cheese, pico de gallo (chunky salsa), and guacamole.
• Sirloin Steak Bowl - steak, cilantro, pico de gallo, and onions served atop Spanish rice and pinto beans.
• Steak & 3-Cheese Quesadilla - the three cheeses are: Cheddar, Jack, and Cotija.

Hopefully, the steak will be made to order and not stored in a heating tray like most fast food places. If so, it might be pretty good.

Review: Taco Bell - Beefy 5-Layer Burrito

The latest addition to Taco Bell's "Why Pay More" value menu, the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito features two flour tortillas with a layer of nacho cheese between them wrapping a filling of seasoned ground beef, grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, and refried beans. Basically, it's a quesadilla burrito.

News: Wi-Fi Now Free at McDonald's

Since Friday, January 15, 2010, over 11,000 (out of roughly 14,000) McDonald's across the U.S. are offering free Wi-Fi to their customers via AT&T.

Seems like another straight shot across the bow at Starbucks, which currently offers 2 hours a day of free Wi-Fi to customers with a registered Starbucks Card (also from AT&T), but charges $3.99 per two hours otherwise.  Perhaps fancier McDonald's decor and a more lounge-like atmosphere are in the works?  Will more people hang out at McDonald's and imbibe their McCafe offerings or refillable sodas?

The Asia Trip: A Look at a McDonald's McCafe in Japan

I only saw one McCafe in Japan.  They are no where near as prevalent as Starbucks is over there.  But still the setup was pretty interesting in comparison to here in the U.S.

I had heard that the McCafes abroad were much nicer and sometimes standalone from McDonald's unlike here in the U.S. where our McCafes are just a Melitta super automatic espresso machine placed inside of your everyday McDonald's.

Review: McDonald's Mac Snack Wrap

McDonald's recently did a nationwide rollout of their Mac Snack Wrap.  The Mac Wrap is basically a quarter of a Big Mac wrapped in a flour tortilla.  It sells for $1.49.  As a disclaimer, I'm not a big fan of wraps.  Generally, the only things I want wrapped in a flour tortilla are burrito ingredients.

News: $1 Oatmeal Every Wednesday in January at Jamba Juice

Jamba Juice is running a New Year's promotion this January 2010.  Until Feb 3rd (I guess that makes it mostly January huh?), you can buy their steel-cut oatmeal with fruit on top for $1 on Wednesdays.  It seems they are targeting people with New Year resolutions to eat healthier with this one.  At participating locations only.

I'm more of a oatmeal-is-easy-to-make at home kind of person though.  I might try it if I coincidentally passed by a Jamba Juice on a Wednesday in January but otherwise it'd be a pass for me.  It does look pretty good in the promo picture though (then again it never looks like the promo picture).

The Asia Trip: Apple Croissant

I got this little baby at a bakery at Shin-Yokohama Station before we boarded the bullet train for Kyoto.  The caramelized sugar coating its crust especially caught my eye.

The Asia Trip: McDonald's Japan - Gateau Marron McFlurry

Along with the Shaka Shaka Chicken, I also tried a Gateau Marron McFlurry from the McDonald's in Kyoto.  My cousin and I also tried to buy a McChicken that was advertised in the window but being the idiots that we are, didn't look closely at the date of the promotion which had not yet begun.  In our defense, the date wasn't that prominent on the poster.  Add to the fact that the cashier didn't speak English and we didn't speak Japanese, and wild gesticulation occurred with little result.  Eventually, we realized there was a date on the poster and just pointed to pictures of what we wanted instead.

The Asia Trip: McDonald's Japan - Shaka Shaka Chicken

A while ago, I did a spotlight on McDonald's in Japan (not knowing that I'd be actually going there not too soon thereafter).  One of the items that caught my interest in that post was the Shaka Shaka Chicken which upon going to Japan, I had to try.

As you can see above, the Shaka Shaka Chicken is served in a folded-over paper pouch with easy-to-follow picture instructions.  There are even some English words thrown in in case you get confused!  The dotted line that runs through the middle of the pouch is where you tear the pouch open after shaking for easy access without making a mess.

The Asia Trip: Subway Japan

Subway in Japan!  Okay I didn't actually eat here but couldn't help snapping some shots as I got out of the subway station at Omoto-Sando in Tokyo. They also have Subway in Taiwan but the ones there were very much like we have here in the States. Japan however was a little bit different...

The Asia Trip: First Meal... Chicken Katsu!

My first meal in Japan was a takeout bento. I thought I'd start the new year with the long-awaited posts of my trip to Asia (AKA The Asia Trip).

Review: El Pollo Loco - Crunchy Chicken Taco

El Pollo Loco's Crunchy Chicken Taco provides a bit of a change from the typical fast food taco in that it has shredded flame-broiled chicken inside (I suppose it is makes sense, El Pollo Loco being a chicken joint and all).  It's good but it's also more expensive at around $1.50 while still being the same size.  Beyond that, it's the same standard cheese and shredded lettuce.  The shell is freshly fried in Carl's Jr./Green Burrito fashion.

For the price the price though, I think most times, I would just eat their 99 cent Taco Al Carbon which is a chicken taco of the street taco variety (in a corn torilla with onions and cilantro).

El Pollo Loco Store Locator

Review: Philly's Best - French Fries

Oh yeah... they had fries too.  They're okay.  Nothing memorable except that they weren't too salty which I like but otherwise just your standard french fries.  They don't taste any different for having the skin on.  But I don't go for the fries... I go for the cheese steak! (and sometimes the Italian hoagie!)

Review: Philly's Best - Philly Pepper Steak

Philly's Best offers a good rendition of a Philly Cheesesteak out here in the Southland.  Outside of local shops,  this is one of the best places to get a Philly Cheesesteak here in Los Angeles.  It's not as good as my favorite the Cheesesteak Shop up in the Bay area but it passed muster and it's where I go when I feel like some steak and cheese on an Amoroso roll.  They also make a mean Itailian hoagie with Boar Head's deli meats.

The Philly Pepper Steak features thinly-sliced steak, melted white American cheese, and sweet peppers.  You can also get it with Provolone or Cheese Whiz.  I've tried it with Cheese Whiz before and didn't care for it as much as I thought I would.  Sometimes, the bread doesn't taste as fresh as I would like but otherwise it's quite tasty and has locations throughout southern California.

Review: Taco Bell - Grilled Chicken Burrito

Taco Bell's Grilled Chicken Burrito features grilled chicken, seasoned rice, avocado ranch sauce, and grated Cheddar cheese wrapped up in a flour tortilla.  It was 89 cents, and is now 99 cents.