Around the World: KFC New Zealand Offers New Mexican Range

The latest promotion in New Zealand for KFC is the new, limited-time Mexican Range of sandwiches: The Mexican, Mexican Zinger, and Mexican Snack.

While the names make them sound like a person, a joke, and, perhaps, a churro, the sandwiches feature ingredients like Mexican bean salad (something I've never seen at a Mexican restaurant) and tortilla chips.

News: Wendy's Brings Back 99-cent Monterey Ranch Crispy Chicken Sandwich

As summer nears its end, Wendy's makes a value play by bringing back their Monterey Ranch Crispy Chicken Sandwich at 99 cents a pop for a limited time (I'm not sure they ever stopped serving it at my local Wendy's though).

The value chicken sandwich variants adds a slice of Monterey Jack cheese and ranch instead of mayo to the standard lettuce and breaded chicken patty.

Review: Taco Bell - Very Berry Waffle Taco Test

Taco Bell's Very Berry Waffle Taco is a test item currently being sold at a select few Taco Bell locations in Orange County. It features a waffle taco shell bent into a close approximation of a crunchy taco shell and folded around whipped cream, strawberries, and blueberries.

I paid 79 cents for one.

Around the World: McDonald's Italy's Sausage Baguette is Only Offered in Lazio Region

In what seems to an experiment in hyper-localizing a menu item, McDonald's Italy is offering a Sausage baguette sandwich only in the Lazio region of Italy.

News: McDonald's - New BLT Quarter Pounder

For a limited-time, McDonald's is offering the new BLT Quarter Pounder. If it looks more than a little familar to you, it's more or less a Deluxe Quarter Pounder with bacon added to it, which means it comes with a quarter pound beef patty, thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, tomato, leaf lettuce, red onion, crinkle-cut pickles, mayo, mustard, and a toasted bakery-style bun.

Review: Jack in the Box - BBQ Really Big Chicken Sandwich

Jack in the Box's limited-time BBQ Really Big Chicken Sandwich features two breaded chicken patties, two slices of cheese, bacon, barbecue sauce, and grilled onions on a toasted bun.

It's being sold for $3.99 in a combo with small fries and a 20-ounce drink.

News: Carl's Jr. / Hardee's - New Buffalo Blue Cheese Burger

To coincide with the beginning of football season, Carl's Jr. and Hardee's are offering the new, limited-time Buffalo Blue Cheese Burger as an homage to the popular tailgate combination of buffalo wings and blue cheese.

News: General Mills Brings Back Fruit Brute and Yummy Mummy

While they used to be available year round, Count Chocula and his Monster Cereal friends, Franken Berry and Boo Berry, have since been relegated to seasonal Halloween duties and it's that time of the year again. This year, the General Mills Halloween trio are joined by two monster flavors that haven't been seen in over 20 years: Fruit Brute and Yummy Mummy.

Review: Taco Bell - Fiery Doritos Locos Taco

Taco Bell's new Fiery Doritos Locos Taco doesn't officially drop until this Thursday, but it's actually available starting today if you just ask.

The third Doritos Locos Taco flavor features a spicy chili-lime flavored red shell along with the standard seasoned ground beef, lettuce, and shredded cheddar (plus diced tomatoes and sour cream if you go for the Supreme).

I picked up the Fiery Doritos Locos Taco Supreme for $1.69.

News: 7-Eleven - Free Snapple Lemon Daze on August 20

Users of 7-Eleven's mobile app can score themselves a free 16-ounce bottle of Snapple Lemon Daze on Tuesday, August 20 in celebration of National Lemonade Day.

A mobile coupon for the free bottle will be available in the app on August 20. To redeem it, simply show it to the cashier upon check out at participating 7-Eleven locations.

The app is available for both iOS (Apple) and Android mobile devices.

News: Papa John's - BOGO 53-Cent Pizza Deal

It's not quite a buy, one, get one free deal, but Papa John's is leveraging their Super Bowl sponsorship with an online-only "buy any large pizza at regular menu price, get a large, 1-topping pizza for 53 cents" offer.

Review: Salted Caramel Chunk Chewy Chips Ahoy Cookies

Nabisco's Salted Caramel Chunk Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies are your run-of-the-mill Chewy Chips Ahoy soft-baked chocolate chip cookies but with chunks of salted caramel thrown into the mix.

A 9.5-ounce bag was $2.99 on sale.

Around the World: McDonald's Malaysia Offers Banana Pie

Over Malaysia, McDonald's is once again offering the Banana Pie. Not banana cream pie mind you. Just plain banana pie. The Banana Pie comes in the crispy deep-fried shell that McDonald's offers everywhere but here in the States and is filled with baked bananas and a bit of cinnamon.

They're also continuing the theme with the new Banana Crunch McFlurry and Banana Crunch Sundae.

Around the World: McDonald's India - New Crispy Veggie Pops

In a decidedly Indian take on the McBites platform, McDonald's recently introduced new Crispy Veggie Pops in India.

In a country with a large vegetarian population, the new bite-sized fritters fit right in with a filling of potatoes and spinach in a spicy, breaded shell.

Review: Lay's Chicken & Waffles Potato Chips

Frito Lay recently brought back their "Do Us a Flavor" chip flavors for a limited time. Since I missed them the first time around, I picked up a bag of Lay's Chicken & Waffles-flavored potato chips because it sounded the weirdest of the three (the other two are Sriracha and Cheesy Garlic Bread).

A 9.5-ounce bag was on sale for $2.50.

News: Lean Cuisine - New "Honestly Good" Meals

Lean Cuisine's latest line are the new "Honestly Good" entrees made with 100% all natural ingredients and zero preservatives. They debuted earlier this year in March and continue to make their way into the frozen food aisle.

The "Honestly Good" line currently features six varieties: Pomegranate Chicken, Lemongrass Salmon, Roasted Red Pepper Chicken, Plum Ginger Grain-Crusted Fish, Pineapple Black Pepper Beef, and Honey Citrus Chicken.

Frozen Friday: Lyfe Kitchen - Farmer's Market Frittata

Lyfe Kitchen's Farmer's Market Frittata frozen meal features a skillet-cooked low-yolk egg frittata with mushrooms and goat cheese plus a sweet potato and mango hash and a spicy garden salsa with poblano chiles.

A 10-ounce box retails for $4.99, but I found this on sale for $2.50.

Around the World: Subway Japan Offers Hot Dog and BBQ Sub

If you've ever wondered what a hot dog from Subway might look like, you'll be happy to know that Subway Japan is celebrating the summer barbecue season by offering a sausage and barbecue sub.

The sub is being offered through the end of August as part of a special where a 6-inch version of the sub and a drink can be had for 490 yen (~$5.02 US).

News: Ruby Tuesday - New Pretzel Burgers

Ruby Tuesday jumps on the pretzel burger bandwagon, but with a literal twist: their new line of pretzel burger buns actually sport a bit of pretzel-like twist as well as a sprinkle of pretzel salt.

Review: Del Taco - Fiery 6 Layer Burrito

Del Taco's Fiery 6 Layer Burrito features slow-cooked beans, seasoned beef, hand-grated cheddar cheese, spicy jalapeno slices, and sour cream, wrapped in a flour tortilla with a "secret" layer of warm nacho cheese.

The burrito goes for $1.59.