News: Kashi - New Hummus Crisps

Kashi debuts new Hummus Crisps, popped chips, so named because they include chickpeas (the main ingredient of hummus) among their ingredients.

Kashi Hummus Crisps come in three flavors: Sea Salt & Olive Oil, Sundried Tomato, Basil, & Feta, and Caramelized Onion.

Review: Cracker Jack'D - Hearty Mixes

Cracker Jack'D Hearty Mixes come in four varieties: Cheddar BBQ, Zesty Queso, Berry Yogurt, and PB & Chocolate. The idea is to have "snacks with impact" i.e. bold flavor powders.

They're labelled "Hearty Mix" because they're meant to satiate your hunger. For the most part, they feature various oat clusters (like granola), peanuts, and almonds (except for PB & Chocolate).

A 3.0-oz pouch carries a suggested retail price of $2.49, but I received these courtesy of Frito Lay.

Frozen Friday: Confetti Italian Ice & Custard

Confetti Italian Ice & Custard is a frozen dessert parlor out in Costa Mesa, CA, whose main dish is a parfait with multiple laters of Italian ice topped with frozen custard. The weekly special was Strawberry Lemonade, which consists of strawberry and lemon ice topped with lemon custard.

A small cup was $3.25. You can also get only custard for $3.50 or only Italian ice for $3.00.

News: El Pollo Loco - New Chicken Fajita Stuffed Quesadilla and More

El Pollo Loco is offering a new Chicken Fajita Stuffed Quesadilla plus a new salad and two new tacos. The Chicken Fajita Stuffed Quesadilla features fire-grilled chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, sauteed peppers and onions, avocado, cilantro, and poblano cream sauce wrapped with a hexagonally-folded, grilled flour tortilla.

Review: Auntie Anne's - Mini Pretzel Dogs

Auntie Anne's new Mini Pretzel Dogs feature mini Nathan's Famous all-beef hot dogs wrapped with fresh-baked pretzels. They're essentially mini, shareable versions of the chain's normal-sized Pretzel Dogs.

I picked up a 12-count order at the mall for $4.89.

News: Arby's to Launch Smokehouse Brisket Later This Year

Arby's will be offering a premium barbecue sandwich later this year (date to be determined) called the Smokehouse Brisket.

The sandwich's main feature is thinly-sliced beef brisket smoked with hickory for 14 to 18 hours. The brisket will be served with melted smoked Gouda cheese, crispy onions, barbecue sauce and mayo on a toasted specialty roll.

Around the World: Hello Kitty Circus Plush Dolls Come to McDonald's Hong Kong

McDonald's Hong Kong is once again running one of their immensely popular Hello Kitty plush doll promotions. While the theme last year was 'fairy tales,' this time around it's the Circus of Life.

News: Subway - New Greek Yogurt Parfait

Subway updates their yogurt parfait and jumps on a trend by switching from Dannon yogurt to new YoCrunch Yopa Greek Yogurt Parfaits.

The new available side features nonfat Greek yogurt with strawberries and nine whole grain granola. In case you're wondering, the nine whole grains are oats, barley, white wheat, rye, triticale, spelt, brown rice, millet, and buckwheat.

Review: Sonic - Cheesy Bacon Pretzel Dog

Sonic's Cheesy Bacon Pretzel Dog is one of two pretzel dogs they're offering this summer (the other being the plain Original Pretzel Dog) and features a beef hot dog nestled in a warm, soft pretzel bun, topped with bacon, grilled onions, and warm cheese sauce.

Sonic has them going for $2.49 each in my area.

Reference: Ben & Jerry's 2013 Exclusive Flavors

Photo Credit: Ben and Jerry's

There are certain Ben & Jerry's flavors that you won't find on their website. They're special flavors that are only offered exclusively at a specific chain of stores, like 7-Eleven or Walmart.

If you're looking to try these flavors or if you've never heard of them, here's a list of Ben & Jerry's 2013 exclusive flavors for your reference:

News: Baskin-Robbins - July 2013 Flavor of the Month

Baskin-Robbins' July 2013 Flavor of the Month is Oreo 'n Chocolate. A bit like a chocolate version of Oreo 'n Cream, it features chocolate ice cream with Oreo cookie pieces and a crispy fudge crackle ribbon.

Along with the flavor of the month (available in cups, cones, and shakes, as well as hand-packed pints and quarts), Baskin-Robbins is serving up a whole line-up of Oreo-themed desserts, including:

Review: Krispy Kreme - Caramel Chocolate Chip Cake Donut

Krispy Kreme's limited-time Caramel Chocolate Chip Cake Donut features a chocolate cake donut topped with caramel icing and Ghiradelli chocolate chips.

My nearest Krispy Kreme sells them for $1.19 each.

News: 7-Eleven - Free Small Slurpees on 7/11

7-Eleven is once again celebrating 7-Eleven Day this year by offering free small 12-ounce Slurpee drinks on this Thursday, July 11 between 11am and 7pm (i.e. on 7-11 from 11 to 7) at participating 7-Eleven stores, while supplies last.

Review: Wendy's Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger

Wendy's Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger is their latest limited-time offer and features a soft pretzel bun sandwiching a 1/4 lb hamburger patty, Applewood-smoked bacon, a slice of cheddar cheese, warm cheddar cheese sauce, smoky honey mustard, tomato, red onion, and spring mix

The price tag at my local Wendy's is $4.69 and is the first Wendy's burger I've seen that comes in a clam-shell.

News: Starbucks - New Discoveries Iced Cafe Favorites

Starbucks Discoveries Iced Cafe Favorites (long name, let's just go with "Starbucks Discoveries") is Starbucks' new carton-based coffee and milk drink sold in grocery stores for at-home consumption. According to a company representative, the drinks are made of Starbucks espresso from 100% arabica beans, 2% milk, and natural flavors.

They're currently available in a limited number of grocery stores, but will be more broadly distributed by August. Unlike Starbucks' current grocery line up of bottled and canned coffee, Starbucks Discoveries are not shelf-stable and require refrigeration.

Around the World: McDonald's Hong Kong - Summer Sauces and Drinks

From top to bottom: Honey Mustard, Singapore Curry,
Korean Chili, and Sesame Miso.

In a campaign they're calling "Amazing Summer Flavors," but what I am going to call "The Summer of Sauces and Drinks" McDonald's Hong Kong is offering four McNugget sauces and five dessert-type drinks on a very limited-time basis (only about a week or two).

For the sauces, McDonald's Hong Kong is currently offering Honey Mustard and Singapore Curry sauces through July 22, when they'll begin offering Korean Chili and Sesame Miso sauces.

Local Review: Cook's Tortas - Mojito Torta

Cook's Tortas is a Mexican-/Latin-inspired sandwich shop that serves up a variety of tortas on their own fresh-baked bread. The Mojito Torta is filled with roasted pork, garlic mojo sauce, and slow-cooked onions.

All tortas on the menu come with a side and are $8.59 each. I went with potato salad for the side and got a Watermelon Mint Aguas Frescas to drink.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Sri Lanka - Birizza

Over in Sri Lanka, Pizza Hut recently brought back the Birizza. What's a Birizza you ask? It's a portmanteau of biryani and pizza.

The dish is basically baked pizza dough placed over a serving of biriyani in a pot pie-like manner. Basically, it's not pizza at all and is closer to a calzone than anything.

News: Subway Tests Crunchy Chicken Enchilada Melt

Subway is testing a Crunchy Chicken Enchilada Melt. The sandwich features a base of shredded chicken with enchilada sauce, Monterey cheddar cheese, chipotle southwest sauce, and Fritos corn chips, plus the standard choice of veggies, condiments, and bread.

Review: Pepperidge Farm - Buffalo Wing Goldfish Puffs

Pepperidge Farm's Goldfish Puffs are basically like goldfish-shaped Cheetos Cheese Puffs. They come in several flavors, but my local Target only had Buffalo Wing flavor so here we are (the other flavors are Mega Cheese and Cheddar & Bacon). They are also gluten-free.

A 7-ounce bag was $2.99.

Around the World: KFC Singapore's Latest Fried Chicken is Marinated in Tomatoes

In somewhat of a McDonald's-like move, KFC Singapore has launched a "Global Delights" line of fried chicken featuring flavors from all over world. First up? KFC Italian Crunch fried chicken.

Frozen Friday: Lean Cuisine - Lasagna with Meat Sauce

Lean Cuisine's Lasagna with Meat Sauce features layered pasta with seasoned meat, tomato, and reduced fat mozzarella cheese.

A 10.5-ounce package is normally about $3.50, or $2 to $2.50 on sale.

News: Chick-fil-A - Cow Appreciation Day on July 12

Photo credit: Chick-fil-A

Cow Appreciation Day is once again upon us at Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide. To celebrate, customers who drop by any Chick-fil-A restaurant fully dressed as a cow on Friday, July 12 will receive a free combo meal of their choice.

Combo meals include an entree, side item, and fountain drink.

News: Krispy Kreme - Buy a Dozen, Get a Dozen for 76 Cents on July 13

Krispy Kreme is commemorating the company's birthday on Saturday, July 13, by offering a deal on their signature Original Glazed Donuts.

Under the promotion, customers who buy a dozen Original Glazed donuts on July 13, will be able to get a second dozen for 76 cents more.

Review: Starbucks - Salted Caramel Cake Pop

Starbucks' Salted Caramel Cake Pop is their baked take on their popular Salted Caramel Mocha (and Hot Chocolate). It features a ball of chocolate cake mixed with caramel and buttercream icing, covered with a milk chocolaty coating and and finished an additional white coating, a caramel drizzle, and a bit of sea salt.

Cake pops are sold at Starbucks for $1.50 each or two for $2.50.

News: Panda Express - New Grilled Teriyaki Chicken

The latest offering at Panda Express is new Grilled Teriyaki Chicken. It's meant to be a healthier option and features sliced-to-order, grilled marinated chicken filets with a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce.

Apparently depending on the location, it may or may not be grilled (in which case it's just called "Teriyaki Chicken").

News: KFC SoCal - 7-Piece Drumstick and Thigh Bucket for $5 on July 6

KFC restaurants in the Southern California market area will celebrate National Fried Chicken Day on July 6, by offering a coupon deal for a 7-Piece Drumstick and Thigh Bucket for $5.

You can find the coupon on the KFC SoCal Facebook page here.

Review: Jack in the Box - Loaded Chili Cheese Wedges

Jack in the Box's new, limited-time Loaded Chili Cheese Wedges features potato wedges topped with beef chili, cheddar cheese sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, diced onions, and sliced jalapenos.

An order at my local Jack in the Box was $2.99.

News: Dickey's Barbecue - New Racetrack Sandwich

Dickey's Barbecue is offering a new Racetrack Sandwich for the summer starting this month. The sandwich features beef brisket and slow-smoked, pulled pork topped with tangy barbecue sauce, onions, pickles, and coleslaw on Dickey's new "signature" bread.

News: Burger King - $1.04 Original Chicken Sandwich on July 4 to 7

Burger King is offering a Fourth of July deal where the Original Chicken Sandwich will be discounted to $1.04 starting tomorrow, Thursday, July 4 and running through Sunday, July 7.

Review: Sonic - Peanut Butter & Jelly Shake

Sonic's Peanut Butter & Jelly Shake is a new, limited-time shake combination being offered (along with a bunch of others) this summer.  It features vanilla ice cream mixed with peanut butter and the flavor of strawberry jelly, completed with whipped topping and a maraschino cherry.

I picked up a 12-ounce mini-sized cup for $1.99.

Around the World: McDonald's Japan - New Jewelry Quarter Pounder Line

McDonald's Japan is set to offer a new, limited-time "Quarter Pounder Jewelry" line of three premium burgers later this month.

The very limited-edition burgers will each only be offered in limited quantities for only one day each on three separate Saturdays, starting July 6. They will feature premium ingredients like slab bacon and truffle sauce and come with names like "Gold Ring" and "Ruby Spark."

Here are the details:

News: Dairy Queen - July 2013 Blizzard of the Month

Dairy Queen is featuring the new Lemon Meringue Blizzard as their Blizzard of the Month for this July. The frozen treat consists of lemon meringue pie filling and crunchy pie pieces blended with vanilla soft serve and garnished with whipped topping.

Unlike the usual practice, this month's featured flavor is not available as part of a Blizzard Cake.

News: Wienerschitzel - New Blue Raspberry and Cotton Candy Dipped Cones

Wienerschnitzel is offering two new Dipped Cones this summer as well as a rainbow sprinkled cone.

Review: Taco Bell - Cantina Double Steak Quesadilla

Taco Bell's new, limited-time Cantina Double Steak Quesadilla features a double portion of thick-cut, marinated steak with pepper jack cheese folded inside a large flour tortilla, which is then pressed/grilled. It measures a pretty good size and comes with tortilla chips, sour cream, and new fire-roasted tomato Cantina salsa on the side.

An order comes in at $4.99, which is in line with the rest of the Cantina Menu. A chicken version is also available for $4.79 at my local Taco Bell.

News: Subway - July 2013 Featured $5 Footlong

Subway's Featured $5 Footlong for July is the Western Egg & Cheese. It features a base of Black Forest ham, two egg omelets, peppers, and onions plus your choice of bread, cheese, condiments, and veggies.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - New Hot & Spicy Breakfast Sandwich and Wrap

Today, Dunkin' Donuts introduces a new, limited-time Hot & Spicy Breakfast Sandwich coupled with a corresponding wrap version.

The new sandwich features an omelet with jalapeno peppers, red bell peppers and pepper jack cheese (with habanero peppers), two slices of bacon, and a slice of white cheddar cheese on a plain bagel.

Preview/Review: New Yoplait Greek Yogurt

Taking into account feedback regarding their current Greek yogurt offering, the folks at Yoplait will be coming out with a new Greek Yogurt this August. Customers weren't big on the previous fruit on the bottom and aftertaste of the current stuff, so the fruit is now blended into the yogurt and they've tried to eliminate the aftertaste.

I was offered the opportunity to sample the new yogurt pre-launch and received several 5.3-ounce cups in the mail courtesy of Yoplait. The suggested retail price will be $1.29 a cup.

News: Boston Market - 50% Off Family Meals on July 4th

Boston Market is offering a Fourth of July half-off deal. The promotion is only valid this upcoming Thursday, July 4, and is good on any Family Meal purchase at participating Boston Market locations.

Around the World: Burger King Singapore - Rendang Burger

In a localized twist, Burger King Singapore combines their burgers and crispy chicken sandwiches with rendang for new, limited-time Rendang Burgers.

Rendang is a meat-based sauce made with coconut and a paste of ground spices.

News: Panda Express Looks to Fans to Choose White or Brown Fried Rice

Due to mixed response regarding their change from white rice to brown rice as the base for their fried rice, Panda Express looks to customers to decide whether Classic (white) Fried Rice or new Brown Fried Rice will remain on the menu come September.

Here's how it'll work:

Review: Wendy's - Strawberry Lemonade

Wendy's Strawberry Lemonade is their All-Natural Lemonade with strawberry puree added.

A large 32-ounce cup of lemonade is $2.49 and an extra 50 cents for strawberry puree brings the total to $2.99.

Around the World: KFC Canada - New Waffles Fries and Harvest Vegetables

For whatever reason, KFC restaurants here in the States don't offer French fries. However, up north in Canada, KFC and even Taco Bell serves French fries. Now, KFC Canada even serves new Waffles Fries, along with new Harvest Vegetables.

I guess Waffle Fries are sorta like Potato Wedges, and we get those... Also, they offer gravy but not mashed potatoes (it's for the fries... I think).

News: Jamba Juice - BOGO Smoothie Offer Through July 7

Similar to last month, Jamba Juice is once again offering a limited-time "buy, one, get one free" deal on any of their smoothies through Monday, July 7, at participating locations.

Frozen Friday: Jose Ole - Spicy Shredded Steak and Cheese Nacho Bites

Jose Ole Spicy Shredded Steak and Cheese Nacho Bites features red corn tortilla folded into triangles and filled with shredded steak, cheese, green chiles, jalapenos, and seasonings.

A 16-ounce box was on sale for $4.99.

Neat! Beer Fridge Only Opens for Canadians

How do you increase your country's popularity abroad in one fell swoop? With beer of course! Molson Canadian had the brilliant idea of putting fridges (in Canadian red of course) full of beer at select locations all over Europe. The catch being they could only be opened by scanning a Canadian passport.

Around the World: Burger King Australia Goes with Spicy Chili Hot Fudge Sundae

Burger King's Australia branch, Hungry Jack's (named after the Pillsbury pancake brand because "Burger King" was already trademarked by another company in Australia), recently introduced a limited-time, spicy-themed "Angry Menu," which features the familiar Angry Whopper (as well as a chicken and veggie version), but also a Chili Choco Sundae.

Review: Starbucks - Valencia Orange Starbucks Refresher

The Valencia Orange Starbucks Refresher is the newest member of the Starbucks Refresher line and features the taste of Valencia oranges and Clementines plus a slice of Navel Orange for garnish, along with green coffee extract for a hit of caffeine.

A 24-ounce Venti cup is normally $3.95, but I picked this one up for $1.97 during the half-off promotion this week.

Around the World: KFC Japan's Colonel's Dish Line is Super Fancy

Over in Japan, KFC offers a fancier line of foodstuffs they call "Colonel's Dish." It was initially launched in December of last year with a chicken terrine (like pate but even fancier) and ballotine.

The Colonel's Dish line comes cold and can be served as is or incorporated into a fancy dinner plating. They're only available at a select number of KFC restaurants in Japan.

News: Del Taco Welcomes Back Carnitas

Carnitas is back on the menu at Del Taco for a limited time and in addition to being available in tacos and burritos, the seasoned braised pork can also be found on fries. They're calling the new dish "Loaded Carnitas Fries and it features crinkle-cut French fries topped with carnitas, shredded cheddar, chopped cilantro, and diced onions.