McDonald's Makes Dollar Menu Changes in New York Including 3 for $1 Mozzarella Sticks

Perhaps in a bit of regional testing, McDonald's expands the lower end of the Dollar Menu & More in the New York Tri-State Area by offering the Cheeseburger, new 3-piece Mozzarella Sticks, 4-piece Chicken McNuggets and 16-oz soft drink for $1 each for a limited time.

New Mixed Nuts Snickers Bar

Mars Chocolate introduces a new, limited edition Snickers candy bar this month: the Snickers Mixed Nuts bar. 

The new bar combines the signature peanuts with almonds and hazelnuts before finishing up in typical fashion with caramel, nougat, and milk chocolate.

Review: Pizza Hut - Pretzel Piggy Pizza

Pizza Hut's Pretzel Piggy Pizza is part of their new "Flavor of Now" menu expansion and features a hand-tossed pizza with a garlic parmesan sauce topped with bacon, mushrooms, and fresh spinach, plus a drizzle of balsamic sauce and a salted pretzel crust edge.

It cost me $11 for a large pizza with a carryout deal (the pizza is normally $14.99).

Starbucks Offers Free Refill Tumbler Starting Thanksgiving

Starbucks once again offers a special Brewed Coffee Refill Tumbler starting this Thanksgiving, November 27, 2014, while supplies last.

The special tumbler typically makes an annual appearance around this time of year and is good for one Grande brewed coffee each day of January 2015 when brought to a participating Starbucks location.

Target Adds Dark Chocolate Lay's for the Holidays

Target adds new Wavy Lay's Dark Chocolate Dipped Chips heading into the holiday season.

The new chips are joined by the return of Wavy Lay's Milk Chocolate Dipped Chips, which were first introduced last year.

Darius' Take - Five Guys - Little Bacon Cheeseburger

Five Guys' Little Bacon Cheeseburger comes fresh off the grill and features a single beef patty, bacon, and a slice of American cheese plus a choice of toppings.

I paid $6.09 for one at my local store.

Haagen-Dazs Peppermint Bark Ice Cream and Bars Back for 2014 Holidays

Haagen-Dazs Peppermint Bark ice cream and ice cream bars have once again made their annual return for the holiday season. Additionally, you can find limited-time Peppermint Bark Milkshakes and Sundaes at Haagen-Dazs Scoop Shops.

Einstein Bros. 2014 Holiday Menu

Einstein Bros. (and Noah's Bagels) goes with a cinnamon theme for this year's holiday menu, including a new Cinnamon Toast Egg Sandwich.

The new sandwich offers scrambled eggs, Applewood-smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, and a cinnamon-butter blend on a Cinnamon Raisin Bagel.

Review: Starbucks - Chestnut Praline Latte

Starbucks' Chestnut Praline Latte combines espresso, steamed milk, and a spiced caramelized chestnut syrup for a wintry drink. It comes topped with whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs.

A 12-oz Tall was $4.15.

Bojangles Offering Seasoned Fried Turkey for Thanksgiving

Bojangles is once again taking pre-orders on limited-time Seasoned Fried Turkeys at participating locations heading into Thanksgiving.

The turkeys are roasted, fried in vegetable oil, frozen, and then shipped to restaurants.

Starbucks Adds New Wireless Phone Charging

Starbucks adds free Powermat wireless charging to about 200 locations in the San Francisco Bay Area as the first step in a nationwide rollout. 

The stores feature "Powermat Spots," which are designated (and literal) spots on tables and counters where customers can place their compatible devices to charge them wirelessly without any need to take up an outlet.

TGI Fridays Introduces New Rib Flight Trio

TGI Fridays offers some rib variety with their new Rib Flight Trio. The special offers a choice of three of the chain's rib flavors for $10.

Review: KFC - Loaded Potato Bowl

KFC's Loaded Potato Bowl offers a slightly different take on their Famous Bowl and features a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy topped with corn, diced Extra Crispy chicken strips, a new bacon cheese sauce, green onions, and three cheese blend.

I bought a bowl with a 20-oz drink for $5 (sadly, no chocolate chip cookie was included at my local KFC); the bowl was also offered by itself at $3.99.

A Look at Taco Bell's 2nd Annual Friendsgiving Feast

Taco Bell held their second annual Friendsgiving event last week and I was on hand as an invitee (I also went last year), so I thought I'd share with you the Thanksgiving-type feast that was prepared by Taco Bell's chefs (i.e. the people who come up with new Taco Bell menu items)... with a Taco Bell twist of course.

Last year's feast was really good, but this year's was amazingly so (like "if you-could-whip-this-up-I-would-go-to-your-house-every-year-without-fail" good). Here's what was on the menu:

Wendy's Bacon Portabella Melt on Brioche Returns

Wendy's Bacon Portabella Melt on Brioche burger returns for a limited time as Thanksgiving nears.

The burger was first introduced last year as a Bacon Portabella Melt with an upgraded bun.

Free Holiday Drink with Food Purchase at Peet's

Peet's Coffee is offering a deal where you can get one of this year's holiday beverages for free with a food or bakery purchase. You'll need this coupon though. They've also introduced a new Cinnamon Hazelnut Latte.

Specifically, you can choose a free 12-oz seasonal drink from the following:

7-Eleven 2014 Holiday Deals & Promos

7-Eleven offers a Peppermint Mocha for the 2014 holiday season as well as new Cinnabon Gooey Bites (microwavable mini Cinnabons).

Beyond the new stuff, they're also offering a number of deals:

Review: Nonni's Pumpkin Spice Biscotti

Nonni's Pumpkin Spice Biscotti are pumpkin spice-flavored biscotti dipped in cinnamon icing.

The suggested retail price is $3.29 per 6.88-ounce box but I received this courtesy of Nonni's.

Pringles Debuts New Milk Chocolate Flavor

Pringles introduces new Milk Chocolate-flavored potato crisps as one of two new flavors for the 2014 holiday season to go along with three returning flavors.

The other new flavor is Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Pringles and both are exclusive to Walmart stores. Please bear in mind that the Milk Chocolate ones are milk chocolate-flavored Pringles and not milk chocolate covered. There's a dusting of seasoning on them.

Subways Offers $2 Cold-Cut & Meatball Subs Through December

Perhaps as a mea culpa for doing away with the $5 Featured Footlong, Subway is offering their $2 Customer Appreciation deal a bit earlier this year. Under the promotion you can get either a 6-inch Cold-Cut Combo or Meatball Marinara Sub for $2.