News: Kraft - New belVita Breakfast Biscuit

Not sure about what's up with the odd capitalization, but Kraft/Nabisco is out with new belVita Breakfast Biscuits. Owing that people don't normally eat cookies for breakfast here in the States (at least not regularly!), they're calling it "the launch of a new breakfast category in the U.S."

The biscuits were made to "provide nutritious sustained energy to help fuel your body throughout the morning." The company touts that "sustained energy release results from a combination of carefully selected ingredients and a special baking process that helps preserve the integrity of the grain so that the carbohydrates are slowly released in the body." So they're a bit like timed-release biscuits.

Review: Jack in the Box - Bacon Shake

Jack in the Box's Bacon Shake is part of their Marry Bacon promotion along with the BLT Cheeseburger. All they need to complete the trifecta are bacon fries...

The shakes blends real vanilla ice cream, bacon-flavored syrup, whipped topping, and a maraschino cherry.

I picked up a 16-ounce "regular"-sized shake for $2.79 and wasn't quite sure what to expect...

News: Taco Bell - New Doritos Locos Taco Coming March 8th!

Taco Bell's Doritos Locos Taco is coming to Taco Bell restaurants all over the nation on March 8th in the biggest launch in the company's history.

The taco is basically Taco Bell's regular or Supreme Taco but with a specially-made Nacho Cheese Doritos shell.

The regular version (with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, and cheese) will carry a suggested price of $1.29 while the Supreme (which adds tomatoes and sour cream to the mix) will go for $1.69 when it arrives (prices may vary).

Additionally, the Doritos Loco Taco Supreme will be available in a $5 Buck Box along with a Crunchwrap Supreme, Crunchy Taco, and medium drink.

News: Panda Express - New Peppercorn Shrimp

Panda Express' latest menu addition, new, limited-time Peppercorn Shrimp, features marinated shrimp, asparagus, chopped yellow onions, and red bell peppers wok-tossed with a signature sauce made from Thai green peppercorns and Asian spices.

To encourage you to try the new dish, Panda Express is offering a free entree serving of Peppercorn Shrimp via a coupon good only on February 22 (uncoincidentally, the first day of Lent). To get and print the coupon, visit Panda Express on Facebook or their website.

Peppercorn Shrimp is available at Panda Express locations nationwide through April 10, 2012.

Nutritional Info - Panda Express Peppercorn Shrimp
Calories - 170 (from Fat - 45)
Fat - 5g (Saturated Fat - 1g)
Sodium - 800mg
Carbs - 18g (Sugar - 11g)
Protein - 12g

Review: Burger King - Bacon and Cheddar BK Topper

Burger King's limited time Bacon and Cheddar BK Topper with made with a 3.2 ounce flame-grilled beef patty, thick-cut, hardwood smoked bacon, a slice of cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickles on a sesame seed bun.

I picked one up for $1.99 at my local BK restaurant.

News: Burger King - Buy One, Get One Free Chicken Sandwiches

Besides their two for $3 breakfast sandwich promotion, Burger King has another limited-time promotion going this month: buy one Original Chicken Sandwich and get one free (of equal or lesser value).

Sandwiches include the Original Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Club Sandwich and the Italian Chicken Sandwich and the offer is good through March 5th at participating BK restaurants.

The Original Chicken Sandwich is Burger King's sub-style basic deep-fried chicken patty sandwich with lettuce and mayo. The Chicken Club Sandwich and Italian Chicken Sandwich are variations on the theme with the Chicken Club adding tomatoes and bacon to the mix while the Italian substitutes in marinara and mozzarella cheese.

The last time I had an Original Chicken Sandwich, they were going for $3.99 but also buy one, get one free.

News: Jack in the Box - New Bacon Shake

Along with the limited-time BLT Cheeseburger, Jack in the Box is urging you to show your bacon love with their new, limited-time Bacon Shake.

The Bacon Shake is made with real vanilla ice cream, bacon-flavored syrup, whipped topping, and a maraschino cherry. So yeah, no real bacon here.

A 16-ounce regular comes in at around $2.79 (varying with location) and 770 calories which, is around the same number of calories in Jack's strawberry or vanilla shakes (and is pretty much in line with milkshakes in general; again no real bacon).

News: Cinnabon - New Cinnabon Flavored Coffee

Not content with making cinnamon rolls, mall-based chain, Cinnabon is now adding their trademark Cinnabon flavor to their coffee and coffee Chillatta for a limited time.

Cinnabon Flavored Iced Coffee contains hints of brown sugar, vanilla, and Makara cinnamon while the Cinnabon Flavored Coffee Chillatta is a frozen, blended beverage that contains Makara cinnamon and vanilla flavors blended with a ribbon of caramel and topped with whipped cream.

The suggested retail price of Cinnabon Flavored Iced Coffee is $1.99 (16 oz.) and $2.29 (24 oz.), while the Cinnabon Flavored Coffee Chillatta sells for $3.99 (16 oz.) and $4.49 (24 oz.).

Both drinks are available through May 20.

News: Jack in the Box - $2.99 Fish Sandwich Combo Meal

For a limited-time, Jack in the Box has brought back their $2.99 Fish Sandwich Combo as well as their Fish & Chips.

Last seen around this time last year, the Fish Sandwich Combo features Jack's Fish Sandwich, a small order of fries, and small fountain drink.

The Fish Sandwich consists of two lightly battered fillets of Alaskan Pollock, lettuce, and tartar sauce on a warm sesame seed bun.

Fish & Chips comes with three fish fillets, a small order of fries, and a side of tartar sauce and malt vinegar for $4.59.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - New Bakery Sandwiches

Dunkin' Donut has two new sandwich choices in their Bakery Sandwich line up: the Ham & Cheese Bakery Sandwich and the Turkey, Cheddar & Bacon Bakery Sandwich.

The Ham & Cheese Bakery Sandwich features Black Forest ham, white cheddar cheese and Creamy Dijon sauce on a French roll, while the new Turkey, Cheddar & Bacon Bakery Sandwich features turkey, white cheddar cheese, bacon and Ancho Chipotle sauce on a French roll.

If the French roll isn't your thing, all of Dunkin' Donuts' bakery sandwiches are also available on a bagel, or croissant. Sandwiches are made to order and oven toasted.

Review: Meiji - Hello Panda Cookies

Meiji Hello Panda Cookies are bite-sized chocolate creme filled cookies, shaped vaguely like a round head with or without bear ears and decorated with a panda picture.

A 2.1-ounce box goes for about 79 cents at my local Asian supermarket.

Feature: Krispy Kreme Olden Days Donut Making Exhibit

In the lobby of Krispy Kreme's mix plant is a couple of knick knacks used to make donuts back in the olden days. Before they ever had a donut hopper to pop out rings of dough, they had this weird metal roller (shown above). It's a donut roller! I didn't pick it up but it looks pretty heavy, no?

Frozen Friday: Lean Cuisine - Fajita-Style Chicken Spring Rolls

Lean Cuisine's Fajita-Style Chicken Spring Rolls feature white meat chicken chipotle, corn, black beans, bell peppers, and onions wrapped in a spring roll wrapper.

An 8-ounce box contains two servings which makes them more of a snack than a meal. You're looking at a normal price of around $3.99 or between $2 and $3 on sale.

News: Burger King - 2 for $3 Breakfast Sandwiches for a Limited Time

Burger King has a limited-time 2 for $3 breakfast sandwich promotion running through the end of the month (until February 29) at participating restaurants.

Under the promotion you can get ham, sausage, or bacon with egg on a croissant or biscuit and only pay $3 for two sandwiches.

Basically, you can choose from any of their biscuit or Croissan'wich but not the double Croissan'wiches under the promotion.

News: The Coffee Bean - Buy One, Get One Free Drinks on Valentine's Day

The Coffee Bean is hosting a buy one, get one free drink promotion good on Valentine's Day only.

The promotion runs on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 from 6:00am until 11:30pm at participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations where if you buy one beverage, you'll receive a second beverage of equal or less value for free.

The Fine Print: "Offer only valid on Valentine's Day 2.14.12 at participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf retail locations. Not valid at Ralphs, Airport or Hawaii locations. Free drink must be of equal or lesser value. Cannot be combined with any other offers."

News: Pizza Hut - New $10 Dinner Box

While Pizza Hut's Big Dinner Box might be gone, there's now the new, limited-time $10 Dinner Box to fill the gap.

News: Papa Murphy's - Heartbaker Pizza Returns for Valentine's Day

If nothing says "I love you" like a heart-shaped pizza, Papa Murphy's has the just the thing for you: the HeartBaker pizza is back at Papa Murphy's.

The HeartBaker features fresh pizza dough formed into a heart shape topped with three different freshly-grated cheeses and pepperoni.

For a limited-time (until February 14), you can pick one up for $6 to "take 'n' bake" at home (price and participation may vary).

If "take 'n' bake" is not your thing, Papa John's is also returning their heart-shaped pizza for a limited time.

News: McDonald's - Shamrock Shakes Returns

For the first time ever, McDonald's is returning their Shamrock Shake nationally at all McDonald's locations (instead of the usual select locations by election) through March 25.

The green shakes are made by blending reduced fat vanilla ice cream and green mint-flavored syrup and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

Price should be in line with your local McDonald's regular shake prices.

News: Dairy Queen - February Blizzard of the Month - Choco Cherry Love

Dairy Queen is going with a Valentine's Day theme for this February's Blizzard of the Month, Choco Cherry Love.

The frozen dessert features vanilla soft serve mixed with sweet cherries (which gives it that pink hue) and choco chunks.

It's a bit like a cherry cordial it seems and is only available for the month of February.

Choco Cherry Love is also Dairy Queen's featured Blizzard Cake for the month.

News: Baskin-Robbins - Superfudge Truffle - February 2012 Flavor of the Month

Baskin-Robbins is going with the gift of chocolate for their February Flavor of the Month this year, Superfudge Truffle.

A returning flavor last seen in 2010, Superfudge Truffle features double chocolate fudge ice cream mixed with soft chunks of chocolate ganache and toffee truffle pieces. It's pretty much chocolate, chocolate, and some toffee.

In Baskin-Robbins stores nationwide during the month of February, Superfudge Truffle is available by the scoop (cup or cone) or as a milkshake. You can also take it home in hand-packed pints, quarts, and half-gallons. Like most ice cream shops, you can always get a small sample before deciding.