Review: Starbucks - Caramel Brulee Latte

Starbucks Caramel Brulee Latte is a holiday seasonal drink that takes a base of espresso and steamed milk and adds a caramel brulee sauce finishing with whipped cream and caramel pieces. Like all of Starbucks' seasonal coffee-based drinks, pricing is $3.75 for a Tall, $4.45 for a Grande, and $4.75 for a Venti.

Review: Starbucks - Gingerbread Latte

Starbucks' holiday-themed seasonal Gingerbread Latte features steamed milk and espresso mixed with a gingerbread-flavored syrup and then topped with whipped cream and nutmeg. A 12-ounce Tall costs $3.75; a 16-ounce Grande is $4.45, and a 20-ounce Venti is $4.75.

Frozen Friday: Hormel - Compleats Chicken Breast & Gravy

Okay, not exactly frozen, but vacuum-sealed, Hormel's Compleats Chicken Breast & Gravy is basically like canned food, but in plastic so that you can stick it in the microwave for the indoorsman who shuns heating cans over a open fire.

For about $3.39, you get a 10-ounces meal that includes a piece of chicken breast, mashed potatoes, and gravy.

Review: Taco Bell - Chicken Enchilada Grilled Stuft Burrito

Taco Bell's limited-time Chicken Enchilada Grilled Stuft Burrito consists of marinated white meat chicken, enchilada sauce, a three cheese blend (cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella), enchilada rice and reduced fat sour cream wrapped in a flour tortilla and pressed to a crisp finish. They're priced at $3.29 each.

News: Jack in the Box - Bonus Jack Returns

Jack in the Box's Big Mac clone, the Bonus Jack is back on Jack's menu for a limited time. Apparently "the sauce is still secret" but also an almost neon bright orange rather than the muted cream orange usually associated with Thousand Island.

It replaces the Really Big Chicken Sandwich's spot in the $3.99 value-priced combo which comes with a small order of fries and a small fountain drink.

I've tried the Bonus Jack before and you can check out my thoughts in this review and the somewhat kinky commercial after the jump.

Review: Little Caesars - Crazy Bread

For as long as I've been to Little Caesars, they've always had Crazy Bread available for dirt cheap to accompany their "Pizza! Pizza!" Crazy Bread comes in an order of eight breadsticks (made from pizza dough as far as I can tell) topped with butter and garlic (or some reasonable facsimile thereof) and a dusting of Parmesan cheese.

There's always a deal for them when you buy a pizza. This time around the deal was two orders (16 breadsticks!) for $2(!).

News: Starbucks - Buy One, Get One Free Holiday Drinks - November 18-21, 2010

Starbucks is promoting their holiday drink lineup with a "buy one, get one free" offer later this week starting Thursday, November 18th from 2pm to 5pm and running until Sunday, November 21th.

When: November 18-21 from 2-5 pm
Where: Participating company-operated and licensed Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada.
Why: free holiday drink when buying a holiday drink of equal or lesser value; "holiday drinks" includes the Caramel Brulée Latte, Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread Latte, Eggnog Latte, Peppermint White Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Hot Chocolate.

Review: Carl's Jr. - Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders

Carl's Jr's new Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders are touted being made in house rather than the standard of frozen pre-cooked chicken strips most other chains carry. They're dipped in buttermilk and hand-breaded. Suggested retail price is $2.99 for three, but I paid $3.29 at my local Carl's.

News: Taco Bell - Chicken Enchilada Grilled Stuft Burrito Returns

Fans rejoice! The Grilled Stuft Chicken Enchilada Burrito has returned to the Taco Bell menu.

Last appearing in 2007, the burrito features marinated white meat chicken, enchilada sauce, a three cheese blend (cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella), enchilada rice and reduced fat sour cream wrapped in a flour tortilla and pressed to a crisp finish.

It sounds somewhat interesting, but what I really want Taco Bell to bring back is the Grilled Stuft Chicken Caesar Burrito which due to an ordering mishap (they gave me the wrong burrito...), I only got one delicious bite of (...yet they got my friend's order right).

News: Whataburger - 12 Days of Whataburger Free Food

Texas-based burger chain Whataburger is celebrating the holidays by offering 12 Days of Whataburger to customers who opt-in to their email list. Like the "true love" in the carol Twelve Days of Christmas, Whataburger will be giving (by email) 12 gifts (coupons) to subscribers.

The redemptions days are every odd day leading up to Christmas in December (i.e. 12/1, 12/3, 12,5, etc.). Coupons will be emailed prior to each redemption day for a free dine-in Whataburger food item ranging from burgers to sides to dessert.


If you live in the 10 states where Whataburger restaurants are located, you can sign up here. Well, you can sign up regardless, but let's face it, you're probably not going to make the drive to another state unless you really love Whataburger.

Review: Arby's - Philly Beef Toasted Sub

Arby's Philly Beef Toasted Sub is basically a French Dip without the dip, but with the addition of grilled diced onions, mayo, and red and green bell peppers. The price for one is $3.89 but there's often a two for $5 coupon floating about.

Around the World - Pizza Hut Hong Kong - Spanish Tapas Pizza

Pizza Hut dine-in has pretty much died out here in southern California; though I'm sure there much be one or two here or there. But, it seems to have flourished in Hong Kong though where the dine-in experience is more akin to fine dining than what you typically think of Pizza Hut.

The menu is also a lot more varied and fancier than you would expect from Pizza Hut as well. Check out the Spanish Tapas Pizza promo they ran earlier this year; you can see the plating and decor of Pizza Hut dine-in:

Review: Starbucks - Vanilla Via Instant Coffee

Starbucks Vanilla Via instant coffee is one of the four flavors of the Starbuck's brand instant coffee recently brought to market. The other three flavors are Mocha, Caramel, and Cinnamon. Pricing is currently a promotional $5.95 for 6 one-serving packets. The normal price is $6.95.

News: Cold Stone Creamery Offering Free Eight Layer Cake Samples - November 16, 2010

Cold Stone Creamery will be handing out free samples of their Eight Layer Cakes to hopefully inspire you to order one for upcoming holiday festivities. The event will take place on Tuesday, November 16th, from 5-8pm.

Cold Stone's Eight Layer Cakes feature three layers of ice cream, three layers of cake and two mid-layers of mix-ins and finished with frosting and edible decorations. They're available in two flavors: Cake Batter Layers and Quilted Coffee Caramel.

When: Tuesday, November 16th, 2010, 5-8pm
Where: At participating Cold Stone Creamery locations nationwide.
Why: Free samples of Eight Layer Cake

Frozen Friday: Claim Jumper - Frozen Buffalo Wings

Claim Jumper's frozen Buffalo Wings feature fully cooked buffalo style chicken wing portions and drumlettes with a hot spicy sauce included. It carries a pricey retail of about $9.99 for a little more than a pound of food (1 pound and 6 ounces to be exact) though is occasionally on sale for around $7.99.

News: Pizza Hut - Two Medium Pizzas for $6 Each

Pizza Hut's latest promotion is two medium pizzas, with up to 3 toppings, for $6 each (i.e. $12 total). The deal ends on Saturday, November 20th.

It's comparable to Domino's two medium, 2-topping pizzas for $5.99 each except you can get one more topping if you so choose.

Medium pizzas at Pizza Hut are normally $8 (with up to three toppings) under their new pricing structure.

News: Popeyes - Cajun Style Turkeys are Back

Popeyes Cajun Style Turkeys are back for those of you planning to order one to go with your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

Popeyes Cajun Style Turkeys weigh approximately 9 to 11 pounds and are seasoned with their blend of Louisiana seasonings and then flash-fried for a crispy coating. The turkey is then roasted so that it is crispy outside and juicy within. They carry a suggested retail price of $39.99.

They're only available once a year at participating restaurants through December, or until supplies last. You can check which Popeyes locations are carrying them online.

I've always been curious about these things which are up there with those BBQ joints that will smoke a whole turkey for you. It's just a bit pricey compared to buying and roasting your own turkey but maybe someday...

Review: Taco Bell - Crunchwrap Supreme

Taco Bell's Crunchwrap Supreme is like a uniquely Taco Bell cross between a Tostada and a Burrito Supreme. Specially, it consists of a grilled flour tortilla folded into a hexagon filled with seasoned ground beef, a tostada shell, nacho cheese sauce, reduced fat sour cream, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce. Buying one will cost you $2.39.

News: Wendy's - New Natural-Cut Sea Salt Fries

In a bit of a reversal of Jack in the Box's fry change, but in keeping with their own premium theme, Wendy's is replacing their current fries with new Natural-Cut Sea Salt Fries. Pricing will remain the same as their current fries and the roll out begins tomorrow, November 11th.

The new fries are cut skin-on from Russet potatoes and seasoned with sea salt which tends to cost a little more than regular table salt. They are cooked in a new oil formulation which is purported to contain no allergens and 0 grams of trans fat per serving.

The new fries are touted as "hotter, crispier, and tastier" and were tested in three U.S. cities before the decision to launch them nationwide.

Review: Sonic - Chili Cheese Tots

I think Sonic is the only place I know of that offers Chili Cheese Tots which is like Chili Cheese Fries but with Tots instead of French fries. Pricing is $2.19 for a small, $2.59 for a medium, and $3.29 for a large. In addition to chili and cheese, you can ask for onions as well for added flavor and crunch.