News: The Chicken Pecan Salad Returns to Arby's

The Chicken Pecan Salad is back for the summer at Arby's. Available on either honey wheat bread or in a whole-grain wrap, the Chicken Pecan Salad features sliced roast chicken, mayo, diced apples, sliced grapes, diced celery, chopped, toasted pecans, and green leaf lettuce.

I tried both versions last year. Both were fresh and flavorful if a little heavy on the mayo but I preferred the wrap over the bread.

News: Starbucks - Frappuccino Happy Hour Returns, May 4-13, 3-5pm

Starbucks is bringing back Frappuccino Happy Hour starting today and running till May 13. Under the Happy Hour promotion, you can pick up any Frappuccino, made the way you want it, for half the regular price from 3-5 pm.

Heading into summer, Starbucks introduces the new Mocha Cookie Crumble as well as its non-coffee counterpart, the Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme. Their features include a chocolaty whipped creme that might look mighty fine on whatever Frappuccino you have your local Starbucks make for you.

I put together a guide last year on the basics of Starbucks Frappuccino customization. You can check it out here.

News: Carl's Jr. - New Hand-Breaded Chicken Tender Sandwiches

Apparently, not content with the Hand-Breaded Chicken Fillet Sandwich, Carl's Jr. is replacing it with new Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders Sandwiches which come with two Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders inside instead of a single chicken breast fillet.

The new sandwiches come in three varieties partially aping their snack wrap flavors: Bacon Swiss Crispy, Honey Mustard, and Buttermilk Ranch.

News: Starbucks Summer 2012 Featured Line Up

For those of you wanting a more chocolaty Frappuccino this summer, Starbucks is aiming to please with new, limited-time Mocha Cookie Crumble and Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme Frappuccinos.

The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino features coffee blended with mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, chocolaty chips, milk, and ice topped with chocolaty whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumbles. "Chocolaty," by the way tends to mean made with cocoa and not chocolate.

The Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme is for when you're not feeling the coffee and blends the same ingredients as the Mocha version sans the coffee.

Review: Frito Lay - Loaded Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins Ruffles Potato Chips

Ruffles Loaded Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins flavored potato chips promise the flavor of green onions, sour cream, cheese, and bacon in a potato chip.

I picked up a bag at a local supermarket for $2.50 (off of a $4.29 retail).

News: Baskin-Robbins - May 2012 Flavor of the Month

Baskin-Robbins is doing a Men In Black 3 tie-in this May. The promo for the movie (which comes out May 25) includes Lunar Cheesecake as the Flavor of the Month.

Lunar Cheesecake is a returning flavor that was first introduced in 1969 to commemorate the first spaceflight to the Moon. It features green and white cheesecake ice cream with cheesecake bits and a crunchy graham cracker ribbon.

In addition to the limited-time return of Lunar Cheesecake, Baskin-Robbins is also offering two space-themed sundaes, a new Triple Mocha Cappuccino Blast, and a special cake for a limited time.

News: Subway - May 2012 $5 Featured Footlong

This month Subway is offering the Pizza Sub as their May $5 Featured Footlong.

The Pizza Sub features a base of spicy pepperoni slices and marinara to go with the customary choice of cheese, veggies, and condiments.

Subway has also been running a $3 Breakfast Combo which comes with your choice of a 6" Egg and Cheese Sub with either Ham or Bacon and a 16-ounce coffee or 21-ounce fountain drink.

Review: McDonald's - Cherry Berry Chiller

McDonald's Cherry Berry Chiller is an ice-slush drink made by blending a 100% fruit juice base with ice. It uses a combinations of apple, grape, and raspberry juice plus cherry puree to achieve a cherry raspberry flavor.

I actually tried this twice, it was $2.29 for a 12-ounce small in San Francisco but only $1.49 for the same in central California. San Francisco has a pretty high cost of living though.

News: Hardee's - New Cheddar Cheese Fries

Hardee's returns Bacon Cheddar Fries as summer begins. The returning menu item features Hardee's Natural Cut Fries smothered with melted cheddar cheese sauce and sprinkled with crumbled bits of bacon.

While chili cheese fries are fairly common, bacon and cheese on fries aren't so much. I'm not actually sure why as both combinations sound pretty good.

To promote Bacon Cheddar Fries, Hardee's is looking to entice you further by offering a coupon for a free drink to go with your order of fries here: http://www.hardees.com/coupons/baconcheddarfriesfreedrink

News: Dairy Queen - May Blizzard of the Month 2012

It's May 1st and that means a new Blizzard of the Month at Dairy Queen.

This May, for all you cake fans out there, it's Confetti Cake which takes white cake pieces and confetti frosting and blends them into Dairy Queen's vanilla soft serve.

Also new for the month is the Chicken Bacon Ranch Iron Grilled Sandwich featuring grilled chicken, bacon, green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, and Ranch dressing on iron-grilled bread.

Review: McDonald's - Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal

McDonald's Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal is a new seasonal summertime offering with banana oatmeal, topped with chopped walnuts and fresh blueberries. It's most likely ordered for breakfast but it's served all-day.

While on a road trip, I picked up a cup for $2.49.

Around the World: The Biggest McMenu, Part Two

I'm going to jump right into it for Part Two of the Biggest McMenu (you can check out part one/un/uno/ein here) highlighting "Mc-" items from McDonald's restaurants all over the world.

I'm sure you might know what a macaron is (if you don't it's a like a meringue-based sandwich cookie), but unless you're in Austria, you've probably never heard of a McCaron! That's right macarons are offered at McCafes in Austria and are called "McCarons."

News: Starbucks Coming Soon to Disneyland

Along with Cars Land and Buena Vista Street, Starbucks is coming this summer to Disney's California Adventure (and perhaps introducing kiddies to some caffeinated branding).

The first of six Starbucks set to open at various Disney theme parks, the new Starbucks location will be located in the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe on Buena Vista Street. Along with Cars Land, Buena Vista Street opens on June 15, 2012 and is themed after 1920s Los Angeles, when Walt Disney first arrived in California.

Review: Meiji - Yan Yan

Meiji's Yan Yans are a Japanese biscuit and chocolate-dipping creme combo that comes in an individual tapered cup for easy snacking.

A 2-ounce cup goes for about 79 cents at Asian supermarkets in my area, they cost a bit more at the supermarket chains (like $1 or more).

Frozen Friday: Stouffer's - Chicken in Barbeque Sauce

Stouffer's Chicken in Barbeque Sauce is one of their Signature Classics, which I take to me they've been making it for a while. The frozen entree features grilled white meat chicken strips in a barbecue sauce and a cheddar cheese potato bake with bacon.

I bought a 10-ounce box at my local supermarket on sale for $2.00 (regularly $3.99).

News: Burger King Offering Minibons

Burger King is set for a nationwide rollout of Cinnabon's Minibon in their restaurants. The Minibon is a miniature version of the Cinnabon with the same trademark Makara cinnamon and cream cheese frosting. It's actually been around for 25 years now.

News: IHOP Syrups in Blueberry and Strawberry!

Rejoice IHOP fans or IHOP syrup fans! IHOP has recently launched new IHOP at Home syrups in three flavors: Original, Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N' Fruity Strawberry, and Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N' Fruity Blueberry.

If the Original varieties contain too much calories for you, there's also Lite and Sugar Free pancake syrups.

IHOP at Home syrups are available in retail and grocery stores but not at your local IHOP.

Review: Taco Bell - Meximelt

Taco Bell's Meximelt is a cross between an Fresco Soft Taco and a quesadilla; it has the flour tortilla, seasoned ground beef, and fiesta salsa of a Fresco Soft Taco but the melted three cheese blend of a quesadilla

I picked one up at my local Taco Bell for $1.79.

What's on the Menu: Pizza Hut Middle East

Pizza Hut Middle East's latest promotion is the funky Crown Crust Carnival, a pizza with a golden crown crust that rings the pizza with either mini cheeseburgers or chicken fillet balls depending on the version.

For this edition of What's on the Menu, we'll take a look at the Crown Crust Carnival as well as some of Pizza Hut Middle East's current promotions.

Let's take a closer look at the Crown Crust Carnival, the so-called "Most Royal Pizza Ever."

News: Jack in the Box - New Java Cookie Shake

The Bacon Shake is gone at Jack in the Box and in it's a place, there's the new, limited-time Java Cookie Shake.

The Java Cookie Shake is made with vanilla ice cream blended with coffee-flavored syrup and Oreo cookie pieces and finished whipped topping and a Maraschino cherry.

My local Jack in the Box has them at $2.69 for a regular (16 ounce) and $3.19 for a large (24 ounce).