News: McDonald's Testing Chicken Flatbreads

Similar to their Snack Wraps, McDonald's is testing a four Chicken Flatbreads. The four varities are BBQ Bacon Ranch, Four Cheese, Southwest, and Tuscan Tomato Basil. Test markets include Baltimore, Nebraska and New Mexico. Pricing is within the $1.89 range or 10 cents less than an Angus Snack Wrap.

Each Flatbread features a base of grilled boneless chicken breast pillowed by warm, toasted flatbread.

The BBQ Bacon Ranch builds on that with bacon, a four cheese blend (Fontana, Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Monterey Jack), garlic aioli (read: garlic mayo made with oven-roasted garlic), and a barbecue ranch sauce.

Review: Arby's - Steakhouse Onion Rings

Arby's new Steakhouse Onion Rings are battered, breaded, and deep-fried. They come five to an order in a box for $1.99 and are made-to-order (at least mine were).

Review: Taco Bell - Orange 'N Cream Frutista Freeze

Taco Bell's latest Frutista Freeze, the new Orange 'N Creme Frutista Freeze features an icy slush of orange slush blended with vanilla soft serve.

It costs $1.99 for a 16-ounce regular and $2.29 for a 20-ounce large at my local Taco Bell.

News: White Castle - Free Garlic Cheese Sliders on Facebook

For a limited time, you can visit White Castle on Facebook and receive a coupon for a free Garlic Cheese Slider. The Garlic Cheese Sliders are a series of three new limited edition sandwiches available at White Castle through October 30, 2010. The three versions are Garlic Cheese, Garlic Cheese & Mushroom and Garlic Cheese & Chicken Marinara.

To receive the coupon you must "Like" White Castle on Facebook at www.facebook.com/whitecastle and print the coupon to use at any location nationwide. The coupon will be available on White Castle's Facebook page through October 22 and expires on October 30, 2010.

The Garlic Cheese Slider begins features a steamed beef patty, a slice of White Castle's garlic cheese. The Garlic Cheese Slider and Mushroom adds mushrooms in a savory sauce. And the Chicken Marinara Slider consists of a lightly breaded white-meat chicken breast topped off with garlic cheese and marinara sauce.

Nutritional info after the jump.

News: McDonald's - McRib Returns November 2, 2010

The polarizing McDonald's McRib sandwich is slated to return nationwide on November 2, 2010 according to Eater and will stick around for approximately six weeks.

For those who don't know, the McRib sandwich has very little to do with ribs the way most people think of them. Instead, the McRib features ground pork meat shaped in a very rough approximation of a mini rack of ribs (like if it came from a really, small pygmy pig) and then slathered in barbecue sauce with pickles and onions and served on a roll.

I've never tried one myself because they served a similar product in the school cafeteria back in the day, so why buy it right? I might try one this go round just to say I did though.

Nutritional info after the jump.

Review: Taco Bell - Verde and Fire Roasted Salsas

Taco Bell recently added two new Border Salsas to their menu: Verde and Fire Roasted which come in a green and reddish brown sauce packets respectively (almost like Christmas!). Like Taco Bell's Border hot sauces, they're complimentary and yours for the grabbing.

I recently tried them to see what they're about and have to say they're a welcome addition to Taco Bell's repertoire. For one, they actually bring new flavors to the Taco Bell menu rather than familiar combinations of the same old stuff.

Review: Taco Bell - XXL Chalupa

Taco Bell's new XXL Chalupa features a kitchen sink selection of an XXL Chalupa flatbread (roughly double the size of a regular), Fiesta salsa (tomatoes, onions, and cilantro), reduced fat sour cream, Taco Bell's three cheese blend (mozzarella, monterey jack, and American), lettuce, nacho cheese sauce, red tortilla strips, and seasoned ground beef. Pricing stands at $2.79 for one.

Around the World: McDonald's Japan - iCon' Chicken

Apparently, chicken is what is being pushed at McDonald's Japan.  I have to say McDonald's Japan seems to get a lot more limited-time and outlandish items on their menu. In the month of October - early November, they are getting four different chicken sandwiches... complete with a somewhat long chicken dance, it feels like a children's show:


Inexplicably, the dance is lead by an American guy... in English and has caused my eye to start twitching. But on to the limited-time iCon' Chicken sandwiches:

News: Subway - New Sunrise Subway Melt

A breakfast version of the Subway Melt, Subway's Sunrise Subway Melt features sliced turkey deli meat, bacon, Black Forest ham, and egg whites with your choice of cheese and veggies.

It's promoted in pictures with flatbread, but you, as always, you also have your choice of bread.

Subway is running a promotion where from 7am to 11am, you can get a Footlong Sunrise Subway Melt or Steak, Egg & Cheese Sub for $5.

Nutritional info after the jump.

Review: Wienerschnitzel - Chili Cheese Dog

Probably the most well known item at Wienerschnitzel, the Chili Cheese Dog features a regular size hot dog and bun topped with cheese and chili for $1.69.

Frozen Friday: Hungry-Man - Beer Battered Chicken

The Hungry-Man "Pub Favorite" Beer Battered Chicken frozen dinner features beer battered chicken strips with seasoned potato wedges in a cheddar cheese sauce. As with all Hungry-Man dinners, this one boasts of a pound of food. They're regularly around $3.69 but can be found on sale for $1.50 to $2.00.

News: Arby's - New Steakhouse Onion Rings

A new limited-time menu item, Arby's Steakhouse Onion Rings feature (like most onion rings) battered and deep-fried onion rings. They priced at $1.99 for five onion rings.

They already serve Onion Petals which is almost the same thing, no? (Update: they replaced Onion Petals, at least at my local Arby's)

Nutritional info not yet available.

News: Arby's - New Chocolate Turnover

Like an apple turnover but not, Arby's new, limited-time Chocolate Turnover features a chocolate filling made with Hershey's Cocoa nestled inside a flaky turnover and decorated with a zigzag squiggle of chocolate icing.

As part of Arby's Value menu, it costs $1.

Nutritional info not yet available.

News: Taco Bell - New Orange 'N Creme Frutista Freeze

The newest drink to come out of Taco Bell's ever-changing wheel of Frutista is the new Orange 'N Creme Frutista Freeze which features an icy slush of orange slush with a vanilla creme.

Basically, it's a blended orange Creamsicle. You know, the orange popsicle with vanilla ice cream inside.

It's available in a 16-ounce "regular" and a 20-ounce "large." Pricing is $1.99 and $2.29 respectively.

Nutritional info after the jump.

News: Taco Bell - New Verde and Fire-Roasted Border Salsas

This month, Taco Bell is spicing it up by introducing two new Border Salsas to complement their current line of varying heat Border Sauces. The two news salsas are Verde and Fire-Roasted.

Verde (literally "green") is a green sauce mainly made with green chili peppers and tomatillos and comes in a matching green sauce packet.

Fire-Roasted is a reddish brown sauce whose main ingredient is fire-roasted tomatoes and also comes in a color-matching sauce packet.

News: Taco Bell - New XXL Chalupa

Look! The lip is curled up so you don't lose your beef!

Despite having no XL Chalupa, Taco Bell is pulling the trigger on their new XXL Chalupa.

The XXL Chalupa features an XXL Chalupa flatbread, Fiesta salsa (tomatoes, onions, and cilantro), reduced fat sour cream, Taco Bell's three cheese blend (mozzarella, monterey jack, and American), lettuce, nacho cheese sauce, red tortilla strips, and seasoned ground beef.

It is also available with chicken or steak for an upcharge.

Pricing stands at $2.79 for one.

Nutritional info after the jump or check out the review here.

Review: Starbucks - Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino

In search of better pumpkin flavor, I tried Starbucks' seasonal Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino. "Creme" is Starbucks' fancy name for a milk drink with no coffee, which basically means it's a cup of milk, usually steamed, but not for a cold drink I don't think. They used to be called "Steamers" but that term evokes some rather unpleasant imagery for some. So basically, I got milk, ice, and pumpkin sauce blended together. A 16-ounce "Grande" set me back $4.35.

News: Jack in the Box - 2 for 3 Dollars Breakfast Croissants

The latest limited time deal cranking out of Jack in the Box is 2 for $3 Breakfast Croissants. Unlike most supermarket deals, but like most fast food chains, you do have to buy two croissant sandwiches to take advantage of the offer.

You can choose from two croissant sandwiches: the Sausage Croissant which comes with sausage, fried egg, and a slice of American cheese or the Supreme Croissant with fried egg, Jack's new hickory smoked bacon, ham, and cheese.

Not a bad deal at all. I'm pretty sure croissants cost more than biscuits or English muffins.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - New Caramel Apple Latte

Only available in select markets (excluding all of New England! How's that for hate?), Dunkin' Donuts' new Caramel Apple Latte offers a combination of red and green apple flavors with a dash of caramel.

Suggested retail pricing is $1.99 for a small 10-ounce hot beverage. Available cold or hot.

Tastes like Halloween? No Dunkin' here in California though.

Nutritional info after the jump.

News: Dunkin' Donut's - Maple Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich Returns

This month, Dunkin' Donuts brings back their oven-toasted Maple Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich as part of their fall flavors.

The sandwich pairs a scrambled egg with a sweet maple-flavored sausage patty. It is then, topped with a slice of melted white cheddar cheese and served warm on a freshly baked croissant. The suggested retail price is $2.99.

Sounds a bit like a better McGriddle, no?

Nutritional info after the jump.