Review: Fresh & Easy - Iced Pumpkin Scones

Iced Pumpkin Scones are new to Fresh & Easy this fall. They usually only have blueberry and orange cranberry scones.

The scones typically go for $3.99 for a pack of 4. They go on sale for $2.99 every once in a while, but I usually get them off the bargain (i.e."sell by today") rack for $2.69.

News: Chipotle - $2 Burrito for Dressing Up on Halloween

Chipotle is once again bring back their Boorito promotion this year. Remember when they used to give away free burritos? Nowadays, it's a $2 burrito, bowl, salad, tacos, etc., but the money goes to a non-profit: the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation (up to 1 million dollars anyway), which promotes "sustainable agriculture, family farming, and culinary education."

Sunday Funny: Snoop Dogg Parodies Himself for Hot Pockets

In a marketing coup that's sure to generate buzz, Snoop Dogg shills for Hot Pockets with a parody of his hit song, "Drop It Like It's Hot," entitled "Pocket Like It's Hot." Instead of Pharell Williams, the parody, which comes complete with a music video, features comedian/rapper Andy Milonakis and Youtube personality/rapper DeStorm (pronounced "day-storm") Power as well as the Funkasaurus, WWE wrestler Brodius Clay (who used to work as one of Snoop Dogg's bodyguards).

The video plays up on some of the sparse aesthetics and motifs of the original version. Check it out below:

Review: Entenmann's - Pumpkin Donuts

Entenmann's Pumpkin Donuts are new and made with real pumpkin. I'd never seen pumpkin donuts at any of my local supermarkets, so I picked a box of these up.

It's not cheap at $4.99 for a box of 8 donuts, but a sale knocked the price down to $2.50.

News: Jelly Belly - New Tabasco Flavored Jelly Beans

For those who like a lot of heat with their sweet, Jelly Belly has just the thing for you: new Tabasco flavored Jelly Beans.

Jelly Belly describes the flavor like this: "the pungent taste of red peppers, Avery Island salt and distilled vinegar, coupled with a subtle sweetness – but not too sweet – undertone from the jelly bean itself."

It sounds like "ow! my tongue is burning!" to me though.

Frozen Friday: Healthy Choice - Beef and Broccoli

Healthy Choice's Beef and Broccoli is billed as "a fresh take on an old favorite" and features chunks of beef with diced onions and red peppers over whole grain brown rice with a teriyaki sauce and broccoli on the side.

These normally sell for $3.99 at my local supermarket ($2.50 or so on sale).

News: Krispy Kreme - Pumpkin Spice Donut Returns Plus New Pumpkin Treats

Krispy Kreme returns the Pumpkin Spice Cake Donut this fall along with a slew of other pumpkin treats.

The Pumpkin Spice Cake Donut is an old-fashioned cake donut made with pumpkin flavor and spices, and glazed in Krispy Kreme fashion. It is available through November 22, 2012 at Krispy Kreme donut shops.

Also at participating Krispy Kreme locations, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is available hot or iced and topped with whipped cream.

News: Starbucks - Free Verismo Lattes on October 15

Starbucks is giving away free lattes made from their new Verismo one-touch, coffee pod machine at select stores this upcoming Monday, October 15, 2012, from 4pm to 6pm.

The promotion is meant to promote the new Verismo machine (they're going with "Verismo System" as the name, but that sounds more like a speaker system to me). The machines are meant to provide at-home convenience for Starbucks customers who want the same drinks from Starbucks in their own home.

Review: Domino's - Bacon and Jalapeno Stuffed Cheesy Bread

Domino's Bacon and Jalapeno Stuffed Cheesy Breadsticks feature baked breadsticks stuffed with cheese, bacon, and jalapeno peppers, covered in a melted blend of mozzarella and cheddar and finished with a dusting of garlic, parsley and Romano cheese.

It's $5.99 for an order.

News: Subway - New Chopped Salads

Subway now has a new Chopped Salad option where any 6" sub or double meat sub of your choice can be had as a salad (sans the bread of course).

News: Wendy's Unveils New Logo

A lot of changes going on at Wendy's lately. There's the recent revamps of their fries, burgers, and bacon, but there's more... Coming in March 2013, you also be seeing a new Wendy's logo.

Where the old logo was classic and played to the chain's roots, Wendy's new logo is meant to reflect "innovation and fresh thinking" as the chain moves forward into the future.

The new logo is the most drastically different of the five previous logos the chain has worn. Gone is the "Old Fashioned Hamburgers" tagline and red and yellow box. While Wendy's trademark face remains, it's a slightly more mature (and better drawn) face.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Canada - New Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza

First it was the U.K. and now Canada: Pizza Hut introduces the new Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza in Canada for a limited time starting October 15, 2012.

The pizza's main feature is that Angus beef hot dogs are rolled up into the pizza crust.

It will be offered at the same price as a regular Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza and will be available in medium or large sizes. Each pizza will come with a Heinz Ketchup Dip and Squeeze and Heinz Honey Mustard Dip.

Review: Yoshinoya - Beef Yaki Udon Bowl

Yoshinoya's Yaki Udon is a new noodle dish for the Japanese beef bowl chain. I recently tried the Beef Yaki Udon Bowl which consisted of sliced beef stir-fried in a wok with a mix of fresh vegetables (zucchini, bok choy, cabbage, snow peas, onion and garlic), udon noodles, and Yoshinoya's special sauce.

It cost me $6.69 for an order.

Around the World: McDonald's - New Grilled Halloum on Ciabatta in Kuwait

In a bit of localized flavor, McDonald's is offering a new, limited-time Grilled Halloum on Ciabatta breakfast sandwich in Kuwait.

If you're like me and saw the picture, you'd think it was just an egg white sandwich right? But it's actually a thick slice of cheese.

Around the World: KFC Offers to Deliver Soggy Hash Browns? ...in Singapore

KFC Singapore recently introduced the KFC Cheese Hash Brown as their latest new menu item. It's a fried up hash brown patty drizzled with cheese sauce, mayonnaise, and topped with spring onions. Might be good right?

So here's the weird part: they're only offering Cheese Hash Browns via delivery only, which, theoretically, gives plenty of time for the cheese sauce and mayo to turn the hash brown into mushy potatoes. Yay for soggy hash browns?

Review: Panera Bread - Roasted Turkey & Cranberry Panini

Panera Bread's Roasted Turkey & Cranberry Panini sandwich is new this fall and features all-natural, roasted turkey slices layered in a fresh-baked ciabatta bread with a garlic and herb cheese spread, cranberry chutney, and fresh spinach.

It's fairly pricey at $8.79 a sandwich, though it does come with a choice of chips, apple, or baguette on the side.

News: Krispy Kreme - Halloween Donuts are Back

Krispy Kreme returns their spate of Halloween Donuts this month. The Krispy Skremes donut line up includes Pumpkin, Spider Web, and Halloween Sprinkle.

The Pumpkin donut is a jack-o-lantern-shaped donut with a face of black icing atop orange icing.

The Spider Web donut features a chocolate-iced donut with Kreme filling decorated with a web of white icing.

Review: Subway - Tuscan Chicken Melt

Subway's new, limited-time Tuscan Chicken Melt is a "$6 Footlong Special" they're offering this month in addition to their Featured $5 Footlong. It features strips of chicken breast tossed in a zesty herb seasoning, served with your choice of melted cheese, veggies, and bread and finished with a balsamic vinaigrette.

I went with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, spinach, onions, tomatoes, and the Italian herbs & cheese bread. It cost me $6 for a footlong.

Around the World: Domino's Australia Offers Pancakes

Domino's Australia now offers new Mini Dutch Pancakes for a limited time on their menu.

Specifically, they're offering poffertjes, which are small, fluffy and puffy pancakes (they look like fat, little flying saucers). Poffertjes are typically made in a specialized pan and served with butter and powdered sugar.

News: Pei Wei - New Sriracha Chicken and BOGO Offer

Pei Wei Asian Diner incorporates the fiery-red Thai chili sauce, Sriracha, into their latest limited-time dish, Sriracha Chicken.

The ingredient was selected by fan voting and features the spicy kick of Sriracha joined with "cooling ingredients" such as tomatoes, long beans, and  pineapple.