Review: McDonald's - Cheeseburger

McDonald's Cheeseburger is, for better or worse, really (with McDonald's Hamburger) the original modern fast food burger made quickly in an assembly line process for a uniform, profitable product. The formula remains simple: a beef patty, American cheese, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard on a soft hamburger bun.

The price seems to vary quite a bit and fluctuates around $1 (I was quoted a price of 98 cents at my local McDonald's but they also offer two for $1.79 under normal menu pricing). In some markets, it actually costs more than a McDouble (which only differs in that it contains an extra beef patty).

News: Chick-fil-A - New Banana Pudding Milkshake

Starting to today there's a new, limited-time Banana Pudding Milkshake at Chick-fil-A. Featuring the taste of fresh bananas, real Nilla wafers, vanilla, and Icedream topped with whipped cream and a cherry, the Banana Pudding Milkshake is offered in 14- and 20-ounce cups at $2.49 and $2.89 respectively (may vary).

The new shake will be available until June 4, 2011.

With banana and Nilla wafers blended in, a Banana Pudding Milkshake is sounding mighty nice to me.

Nutritional Info - Chick-fil-A Banana Pudding Milkshake - small (14.26oz)
Calories - 780 (from Fat - 216)
Fat - 24g (Saturated Fat - 12g)
Sodium - 440mg
Carbs - 104g (Sugar - 104g)
Protein - 22g

News: Hostess- New Chocolate and Strawberry Limited-Edition Twinkies

Hostess recently introduced two new limited-edition Twinkie flavors: Chocolate Creme and Strawberry & Creme. Each features your standard Twinkie cake but with a flavored creme filling rather than the standard vanilla.

News: Taco Bell - 88 Cent Crunchwrap Supreme

Doing more PR damage control from allegations that their beef isn't beef (it is, according to Taco Bell), Taco Bell is highlighting the fact that their beef is 88 percent beef (and 12% signature recipe) by selling their Crunchwrap Supreme for the ridiculously low price of 88 cents (They're normally $2.39 at my local Taco Bell and probably set to go up in price since food prices are expected  to go up a fair bit).

The offer is only good until this Saturday, March 5th, 2011 and there is a limit of 2 per person.

Review: Chobani Strawberry Nonfat Greek Yogurt

In addition to Chobani Blueberry Nonfat Greek Yogurt, I also picked up a cup of Chobani Strawberry Nonfat Greek Yogurt to try for $1.00 on sale.

News: Panda Express - New Golden Treasure Shrimp

Panda Express unveils its newest entrée, Golden Treasure Shrimp. The dish features fried tempura shrimp (the same stuff they use for their Honey Walnut Shrimp), red and green bell peppers wok-tossed in Panda’s new, zesty citrus sauce.

To celebrate the new entrée, on March 9th, 2011, Panda Express is hosting free Golden Treasure Shrimp Day where you can redeem a coupon for a free single serving entrée.

The dish itself will be available in restaurants nationwide a week earlier on March 2nd.

Review: Chobani - Blueberry Nonfat Greek Yogurt

I had never even heard of Chobani until recently when they started airing TV commercials but have been curious about Greek yogurt for a while now. $1.00 bought me a 6-ounce cup of Chobani Blueberry Nonfat Greek Yogurt on sale.

Frozen Friday - Hungry-Man - Home-Style Meatloaf

Meatloaf is another one of those frozen dinners that have been around since back in the day and Hungry-Man's Home-Style Meatloaf is what I typically picture when I think of a TV dinner meatloaf. I wouldn't call it "home-style" myself but what do I know. Anyway, the Hungry-Man version comes with the classic corn, mashed potatoes, and brownie set up that Hungry-Man and Swanson are known for.

Retail price usually comes in at around $3.79 with a sale price ranging around the $2.00 mark.

News: Chick-fil-A - Free Fry Day on March 4, 2011

Chick-fil-A is celebrating Heinz new Squeeze & Dip ketchup by giving away free fries in an event they're calling Free FryDay.

Free FryDay takes place on Friday, March 4, 2011 from the hours of 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

To receive a free medium order of Chick-fil-A's Waffle Potato Fries, you simply have to go to a participating Chick-fil-A restaurant within the requisite time period and mention the promotion.

News: Arbys - New Chopped Side Salad

Arby's new Market Fresh Chopped Side Salad was unveiled today as as an alternative to French fries in its combo meals, at no additional cost. Otherwise, it carries a suggested price of $1.99.

It is currently available at company-owned locations and will roll-out nationwide in July, concurrent with the addition of a Lite Italian Dressing.

The Chopped Side Salad features a shredded blend of green leaf and iceberg lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped red onion and ripe tomatoes, with dressing served on the side. Almost all the calories in the salad comes from the cheese.

News: The Coffee Bean - Free Peach Latte or Tea on March 1st, 2011

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has decided that spring is for peaches and is celebrating by offering customers a free 12-ounce cup of their limited-time Spring Peach Tea Latte, Spring Peach Iced Tea Latte or Peach FruTea on March 1st.

The promotion is for one day only (next Tuesday) and only from the hours of 4pm to 7pm (i.e. just in time for you to stop by on your drive home).

When: Tuesday, March 1, 2011, from 4pm to 7pm.
Where: Participating Coffee Bean locations in CA and AZ.
Why: Free 12-ounce Spring Peach Tea Latte, Spring Peach Iced Tea Latte or
Peach FruTea (One per person).

News: Corner Bakery Cafe - New Smoked Turkey Cobb Sandwich

Corner Bakery Cafe is debuting their new flatbread brioche bread with a new sandwich: the Smoked Turkey Cobb Sandwich.

The new bread was made to be "soft, sturdy, and slightly sweet." It's a flatbread so that it doesn't overpower the other ingredients in the sandwich.

In addition to the new brioche, the Smoked Turkey Cobb Sandwich contains a homemade avocado mayonnaise, smoked turkey breast, thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, hardboiled egg slices, green leaf lettuce and roma tomatoes.

Review: Jack in the Box - Mint Oreo Shake

Jack in the Box's new limited-time Mint Oreo Shake adds cool mint and a green color to their regular Oreo Shake. The green colored shake is enough to get you in the St. Paddy's Day spirit, no?

A 16-ounce regular cup costs $2.69 while a 24-ounce large cup costs just a tad more at $3.19.

Review: Wendy's - Chili

Wendy's Chili is a uniquely Wendy's menu item among the major fast food chains. It's a hearty soup of beans, spices, ground beef, and veggies for a reasonable price.

A fair-sized small cup cost me $1.29 with an additional $0.25 charge for shredded cheddar cheese.

Review: Sonic - Hot Fudge Shake

Sonic's Hot Fudge Shake is basically like a hot fudge sundae stuck into a blender and whipped into liquid form so that you can drink it. Like all shakes, the calories remain the same but you can eat it a lot faster and somewhat more absently. It might not be available at all Sonic's as it's not listed on the online menu.

A 14-ounce "regular" cup costs $2.79 while a 20-ounce "large" cup goes for $3.29.

News: Frito Lay - New Rold Gold Bakery-Inspired Flavors

Frito Lay set loose new Rold Gold bakery-inspired flavors this month. The new pretzel flavors are purported to "offer the classic taste of fresh bakery bread in pretzel form."

There's a total of three new flavors available now nationwide:

• Rold Gold Cheesy Garlic features pretzel nuggets flavored with cheddar and garlic.
• Rold Gold Cinnamon Raisin channels cinnamon raisin bread in the form of  pretzel twists whispering the sweet taste of raisins and cinnamon sugar.
• Rold Gold Everything Bagel seeks to take you to your local bagel shop with pretzel rings tinged with savory sesame and poppy seeds, garlic and onions.

$2.99 (may vary) will buy you a 10-ounce bag.

News: Domino's - New Boneless Chicken and Chicken Wings

Not content to rework just their pizza, Domino's has now tinkered with their chicken in introducing revamped Boneless Chicken and Chicken Wings. The new Boneless Chicken responds to customers' desire for more customization and choice while the new Wings are aimed at providing better texture and flavor.

Prices on the new items start at $5.99 for eight pieces, $9.99 for 14 pieces, and $24.99 for a party-sized 40-piece order.

Review: Subway - Raspberry Cheesecake Cookie

Subway's limited-time Raspberry Cheesecake Cookie are baked in-store with pieces of cheesecake and pockets of what appears to be raspberry jam embedded.

My local Subway charges 60 cents per cookie or three for $1.25 which is a little more than the 3 for $1.00 they charge at McDonald's. I ended up getting three: two Raspberry Cheesecake cookies and one Peanut Butter.

Review: Nabisco - Ritz Munchables Pretzel Thins Spicy Chipotle Cheddar

Nabisco's new Ritz Munchable Pretzel Thins Spicy Chipotle Cheddar flavor are an interesting take on the common pretzel. They're a cross between a pretzel and a Ritz cracker.

$3.49 buys you a 12.25-ounce box. Sale price will typically range from $2.00 to $2.50.

Review: Nabisco - Heads or Tails Oreo

Do you like Oreos and are indecisive or have a Two-Face complex? Then the fine folks at Nabisco has got you covered with Heads or Tail Oreos. Each cookie has two easily discernible sides consisting of one regular chocolate-flavored Oreo half and one Golden vanilla-flavor Oreo half sandwiching a double helping of white frosted filling.

They retail for around $2.99 for a 15.25-ounce package with sale prices running around the $2.00 mark.