Around the World: Pizza Hut Adds Yeast Spread to Stuffed Crust Pizza in New Zealand

Pizza Hut New Zealand is adding a local favorite, Marmite yeast spread, to their Stuffed Crust pizza with the new, limited-time Chee-Zee Marmite Stuffed Crust Pizza. Alongside with the standard pipping of mozzarella cheese is a layer of Marmite. The Stuffed Crust is paired with their Cheese Extreme pizza which is a plain cheese pizza with three times the normal amount of mozzarella.

News: Nabisco - New Wheat Thins Popped

A puffed/popped version of Wheat Thins are set to arrive this month in new Wheat Thins Popped.

According to the company, the new product will be the first popped whole grain snack/chips with wheat as the "first ingredient." Basically, they're like Popchips but made with wheat.

Review: Nabisco - Mocha Chunk Chewy Chips Ahoy Cookies

Mocha Chunk Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies are one of four new Ice Cream Creations flavors for the popular chocolate chip cookie brand. It features a chewy chocolate chip cookie with the addition of mocha-flavored chunks.

I bought a 9.5-ounce package for $2.50 on sale.

Fast Food Items You Might Not Expect to Have Artificial Sweeteners

Unlike some allergens like nuts and gluten, it isn't common for food manufacturers and, by extension, fast food chains to warn of artificial sweeteners in their products (it is however listed in the ingredients if you know what to look for).

So, for your reference, I went through the ingredients list (where available online) of some of the biggest fast-food chains to come up with this list of fast-food menu items containing artificial sugar that you might not expect.

News: Frito-Lay - New Buffalo Wild Wings Flavored Deep Ridged Ruffles

Frito-Lay is offering new Ruffles Deep Ridged potato chips boasting ridges two times as deep as regular Ruffles with a new, co-branded flavor: Classic Hot Wings inspired by Buffalo Wild Wings. The flavor features notes of tangy vinegar, chicken, and hot sauce.

Not sure how this squares with their existing Ruffles Ultimate line of -potato chips, which also has really big ridges (that seem at least two times as deep). It sometimes feels like Frito-Lay is out to become the General Motors ((before they got rid of overlapping brands like Pontiac and Saturn)  of snack foods.

News: Starbucks - New Grocery-Store-Only Bright Sky Blend

Starbucks is offering a new Bright Sky Blend packaged coffee that's only available in grocery stores (you won't find it in Starbucks stores or their online store).

The coffee was spotted in early February on Starbucks superfan blog Starbucks Melody.

Frozen Friday: Lean Cuisine vs. Smart Ones - Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans

I decided to pit Lean Cuisine's and Smart Ones' Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans against one another to see which one came out on top. Lean Cuisine's version comes in a sour cream and mild green chile sauce and is topped with a bit of cheddar cheese. Smart Ones' version also comes with a sour cream and green chile sauce but is topped with mozzarella.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - Mint Oreo Donuts and Irish Creme Coffee for St. Patrick's Day

Dunkin' Donuts is offering two new Mint Oreo donuts in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. In addition to the donuts, they're also offering some seasonal drinks including Irish Creme coffees and various mint-flavor drinks.

The new donuts are the Mint Oreo Donut and the Mint Oreo Creme Donut.

Neat! Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Available Fresh from the Factory

I didn't know this but Reese's occasionally offers "Fresh from the Factory" Reese's Peanut Butter cups that ship directly from the factory to your home.

The cups are currently available for pre-ordering from the Hershey's online store and will ship the week of March 24, 2014.

News: Arby's - 2014 St. Patrick's Day Deal on Reuben Sandwich

Arby's tends to promote their Reuben Sandwich around St. Patty's Day and this year is no different. On St. Patrick's Day weekend from Saturday, March 15 through Monday, March 17, Arby's will be offering a "buy one, get one free" deal (via coupon) on their Reuben sandwich at participating locations.

Review: Starbucks - Vanilla Macchiato

Starbucks' new Vanilla Macchiato features steamed milk mixed with vanilla syrup and topped off with a shot of espresso and a cross-hatch of vanilla-caramel sauce (they describe it as "a drizzle of Madagascar Bourbon vanilla mixed with brown sugar, butter and a dash of salt").

I paid $3.75 for a 12-oz Tall (I opted for whole milk over the standard 2%).

Around the World: McDonald's Australia - New Chicken Schnitzel Sandwiches

McDonald's Australia is current offering new Chicken Schnitzel Rolls / Sandwiches featuring a flattened, lightly breaded chicken patty in two flavors: Citrus Mayo and BBQ. The sandwiches are part of McDonald's M-Selections, a menu of premium sandwiches offered in Australia.

News: The Coffee Bean - New Tea Granitas for $2 Next Week

The Coffee Bean offers new Tea Granitas, which blend ice teas with fruit flavor and ice. The new drinks draw their name from granitas, an Italian dessert made with ice, sugar, and various flavors.

To promote the new drinks, The Coffee Bean will be offering them in a 12-ounce cups at $2 a piece (limit 1 per customer per visit) on Monday, March 10 through Friday, March 14, from 2 to 6 pm at participating Coffee Bean locations.

News: Oscar Mayer - New Bacon Scent Alarm Attachment for iPhone

Because they figured that people really want to wake up to the smell of bacon without there actually being bacon to eat, Oscar Mayer is offering a new Bacon Scent Alarm attachment for the iPhone. 

Review: Starbucks - Slow-Roasted Ham & Swiss Croissant

Starbucks Slow-Roasted Ham & Swiss Croissant features slow-roasted ham, a fried egg patty, and Swiss cheese on a warm croissant bun.

I paid $4.45 for one.

Around the World: Subway Japan Offering Meatloaf Sub

Over in Japan, Subway has been offering a limited-time Meatloaf Sub as well as a Prosciutto & Anchovy Potato Sub as part of a "Feast Sandwich" promotion.

The Meatloaf sub has a bit of a Japanese twist to it though: it's interspersed with veggies, but rather than the more typical onions in the US, the meatloaf contains a colorful blend of red bell peppers, green soybeans, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and arrowhead. Beyond the typical bread and veggies, it also comes with a demi-glace and cheese sauce.

News: Taco Bell - New Mountain Dew Kickstart Black Cherry Freeze

Mountain Dew's new Kickstart Black Cherry nighttime (not a joke) soda can now be found in ice-slush form at Taco Bell as the new Mountain Dew Kickstart Black Cherry Freeze.

The new drink features a blend of Mountain Dew, juice, electrolytes ("for taste" according to the company) and cherry flavor mixed into a smooth icy slush.

News: Caribou Coffee - New Mini Donut Muffin

Caribou Coffee jumps on a recently popular trend of combining desserts with the introduction of the new Mini Donut Muffin. The new bakery item is part of a larger bakery menu revamp, which introduces 13 new items.

The Mini Donut Muffin promises the shape of a muffin but the sweetness and texture of a donut.

News: Krispy Kreme - Free Donuts to Make Up for Daylight Savings

Krispy Kreme is looking to assuage the pain of getting up an hour earlier this Sunday, due to daylight savings, by offering free Original Glazed donuts (one per guest) at participating US and Canadian Krispy Kreme locations.

Review: Burger King - Alaskan Fish Sandwich

Burger King's Alaskan Fish Sandwich features a filet of white Alaskan pollock breaded with panko (bread crumbs), and served with tartar sauce, pickles, and lettuce, on a toasted artisan-style bun

It's normally $3.39, but I picked one up as part of the current two for $5 deal.