News: Taco Bell Reveals New Fiery Doritos Locos Taco

Taco Bell revealed today that Fiery Doritos Locos Tacos will be their third flavor of the Doritos Locos platform and will be available at Taco Bell locations nationwide starting Thursday, August 22, 2013.

It is essentially the Flamas Doritos Locos Taco previously tested, but with a different but similar name.

Taco Bell had previously teased previews of the new taco to generate buzz before launch, but many expected Doritos Flamas to be the next flavor.

Review: Arby's - Salted Caramel Shake

Arby's Salted Caramel Shake comes with a caramel swirl and is topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pink Hawaiian sea salt.

Unfortunately, when I ordered one I was asked if I wanted a small, medium, or large, and I went with the small which, the cashier neglected to mention, does not come with whipped cream, a caramel swirl, or sea salt. So yeah, I got a caramel shake. It was $2.19.

News: El Pollo Loco - New Signature Summer Burritos

For a limited-time, El Pollo Loco is offering three new Signature Summer Burritos: Chicken & Chorizo, Chicken Bacon Avocado, and Chicken Fajita.

The Chicken & Chorizo Burrito features shredded chicken with pork chorizo, Monterey Jack cheese, rice, pinto beans, cabbage, onions, cilantro, and poblano salsa.

Reference: Starbucks Recommended Frappuccino Custom Orders

With their "any drink can be customized" ethos, Starbucks doesn't have a secret menu.

But, that hasn't stopped people from putting out lists that, if ordered by name, would probably garner a blank stare from your Starbucks barista and a prompt to describe how to make the drink

Think about it. There are already enough drinks on the Starbucks menu. Why train specific off-menu drinks over just plain customization?

Review: Sara Lee - Devil's Food Creme Cakes

Sara Lee's Devil's Food Creme Cakes feature snack-sized devil's food cake topped with a layer of creme and covered with a chocolaty coating.

A 12.5-ounce box of 8 individually-wrapped cakes retails for $3.99, but I received these courtesy of Sara Lee.

News: Chobani Supplies Greek Yogurt for School Meals

The USDA is testing out the addition of Chobani Greek yogurt to K-12 school meal programs in New York, Idaho, Arizona and Tennessee. Chobani was chosen through a competitive bid process for the pilot program, which will evaluate Greek yogurt as a healthy protein option for students.

News: Jamba Juice - $2 Smoothies on August 12 through 16

Jamba Juice is angling for your morning drink dollars by offering their 16-ounce smoothies for a discounted $2 from 9am to 11am starting Monday, August 12, 2013 and running through Friday, August 16, 2013.

Review: Sara Lee - Buttery Sunshine Cakes

Sara Lee's new Buttery Sunshine Cakes are individually wrapped round, buttery golden cakes.

They come six cakes to a 9-ounce box and retail for $3.99 a box. I received these courtesy of Sara Lee though.

Around the World: Domino's UK - New Hot Dog Twisted Dough Balls

Over in the UK, Domino's is following up their Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza with new Hot Dog Twisted Dough Balls. The dish features pizza rolls filled with mozzarella and mini hot dogs and brushed with garlic oil (there also looks to be a little mustard in there). They sound similar to stuffed garlic knots.

News: Olive Garden - Never Ending Pasta Bowl Returns

The Olive Garden is once again offering the Never Ending Pasta Bowl for a limited time. Under the deal, you can get unlimited soup, salad, breadsticks, and pasta bowls for $9.99.

Frozen Friday: Safeway Select - Moroccan Style Chicken

Safeway Select's Moroccan Style Chicken is a frozen entree featuring roasted white meat chicken in a "Moroccan recipe" tomato sauce with lentils, brown rice, corn, spinach, and feta cheese.

A 9.25-ounce box was $1.99.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Canada's Big Dipper Comes with Five More Sauces Than US Version

While Canada gets Pizza Hut's new Big Dipper Pizza over two years after us, they get it with six different dipping sauces to choose from while ours only came with one choice: marinara.

News: Sonic - Half-Price Cheeseburgers on August 15

Sonic will be offering half-price Cheeseburgers all day on Thursday, August 15, 2013 to mark the return of school (most school years start in August or September).

News: Papa John's - Half-Off Any Large Pizza Ordered Online

Papa John's is currently offering half-off the regular menu price of any large pizza ordered online. The offer is only valid through Sunday, August 18, 2013 at participating locations.

Review: Popeyes - Chicken Po' Boy

Popeyes' Chicken Po' Boy consists of two chicken tenders (spicy or mild, I chose spicy), shredded lettuce, pickles, and mayo on a French baguette. A shrimp version is also available.

I picked one up from my local Popeyes for $3.99.

Around the World: Dunkin-Donuts Offers Donut Croissants Abroad

Dominique Ansel's Cronut (croissant-donut) has generated a fair amount of buzz (and long lines) since its introduction in May, but as of yet, major donut chains like Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme haven't tried their hands at mass-production of a donut-croissant... at least not here in the US...

Review: Dairy Queen - Tripleberry Brownie Blizzard

Dairy Queen's Tripleberry Brownie Blizzard is August's Blizzard of the Month and features vanilla soft serve with chocolate chunks, chewy brownie pieces, and a Tripleberry fruit mix of strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry puree.

A Mini cup is regularly $1.99 to $2.49 at most locations, but I picked one up for a dollar extra with a $5 Buck Lunch.

News: Quiznos - New Black & Blue Salad

Quiznos goes for the healthy crowd this summer with less-than-500-calorie surf and turf salads in two limited-time varieties: the new Black & Blue Salad and the returning Lobster & Seafood Salad.

News: White Castle - New Grilled Chicken Sliders

White Castle now offers more chicken options with new Grilled Chicken Sliders featuring grilled chicken breasts. The new sliders come in three flavors: Savory, Western BBQ, and Bacon & Cheddar.

Review: Del Taco - Jacked Up Value Bean & Cheese Burrito with Rice

Del Taco's Jacked Up Value Bean & Cheese Burrito with Rice features slow-cooked beans, Fresca Lime rice, spicy jack cheese, and tangy green sauce wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla. It's a slightly suped up version.

The burrito goes for 75 cents. They also have a regular value bean and cheese (cheddar) burrito for 50 cents.

News: Jamba Juice - New Whole Grain Boost

Just in case you want to add some whole grains to your smoothie, Jamba Juice has added a new Quaker-branded whole grain boost option for 25 cents extra.

The Quaker Whole Grains Boost is a scoop of finely-ground oats good for one serving (16 grams) of whole grains.

The new boost is part of a new "Whole Food Boosts" platform that also includes the Greek Yogurt Boost and Chia Seeds Boost.

Neat! Totino's Turns Elevator into Microwave

In a marketing stunt to highlight the quick microwave cook time of their popular Pizza Rolls, Totino's revamped the inside of an elevator to look like the outside of a microwave oven with a microwave touch pad in lieu of elevator buttons.

Once the occupants arrived at the designated floor 60 seconds later, the doors opened to reveal a room mocked up to look like the interior of the microwave occupied by waiting Totino's employees with trays of Pizza Rolls.

News: Corner Bakery Cafe - New Hibiscus Lemonade

Corner Bakery Cafe is offering a new Hibiscus Lemonade in addition to the regular garden-variety version. The new drink is made with a blend of pomegranate, berries, and lemons plus a hint of hibiscus.

Review: Chick-fil-A - Mocha Cookies & Cream Milkshake

Chick-fil-A's new, limited-time Mocha Cookies & Cream Milkshake features the a blend of the chain's Icedream soft serve, Oreo cookie crumbles, coffee, and Hershey's chocolate syrup topped with light whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

A 14-ounce small cost me $3.15.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - New Pretzel Roll Sandwiches

Dunkin' Donut joins the pretzel bun trend this month with the introduction of new Pretzel Roll Sandwiches. The roll-out is anchored by a new, limited-time Pretzel Roll Roast Beef Sandwich, but the limited-time option of a pretzel bun is available for any of the chain's Bakery Sandwiches.

The Pretzel Roll Roasted Beef Sandwich features roast beef on a soft, warm, pretzel roll with white cheddar and Dijon mustard. The sandwich and option follows on the heels of a new pretzel bun cheeseburger from Wendy's, and a pretzel bun hot dog from Sonic.

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

Baskin-Robbins is offering Oreo Nutty Salted Caramel ice cream as their flavor for August. The flavor features vanilla ice cream with a salty caramel ribbon, Oreo cookie crumbles, and honey-glazed peanut pieces. The flavor is also being showcased in a layered sundae.

Review: Brownie-Filled Chewy Chips Ahoy

Nabisco's Brownie-Filled Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies each feature a disc of fudge brownie baked inside of a chewy chocolate chip cookie.

A 9.5-oz bag was $2.99 on sale.

News: 7-Eleven - New Summer Snacks

7-Eleven is introducing more new hot items this summer for your anytime-snacking enjoyment. The three new items are Corn Dog Bites, Mozzarella Sticks, and Chicken Chipotle Go-Go Taquitos.

The Corn Dog Bites are mini hot dogs wrapped in corn meal batter and cooked until crisp.  The suggested retail price for three is $1.00.

Trend Watch: Burrissimo - Italian-Style Chipotle?

Burrissimo is a fast casual chain here in Southern California that opened for business last year. The food comes from a Chipotle-style quick assembly line but with a twist.  Instead of Mexican food, you get to assemble your own Italian entree.

Like Chipotle, you can choose from burritos, bowls, or salads (but not tacos) with your choice of protein, sauces, and toppings.  Their star entree is the Burrissimo Italian Burrito, which is interesting because instead of rice inside, you get angel hair pasta.  Yup, pasta inside of a burrito.

News: Dairy Queen - August 2013 Featured Blizzard of the Month

Dairy Queen is offering the new, limited-time Tripleberry Brownie Blizzard as their featured Blizzard of the Month this August.  The sweet treat blends vanilla soft serve with chocolate chunks, chewy brownie pieces, and a Tripleberry fruit mix of strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry puree.

As usual, Tripleberry Brownie will be available throughout the month in four different-sized cups and as a Blizzard Cake.

Review: Flame Grilled Steak Flavored Ruffles Max Potato Chips

Flame Grilled Steak Flavored Ruffles Max Potato Chips are a relatively new, limited edition flavor from Frito Lay. According to the bag, these ridged potato chips "bring you that char-grilled meat taste that makes the caveman in you smile and want to club something."

I picked up an 8.5-oz bag for $2.99.

News: Chick-fil-A - New Mocha Cookies & Cream Shake

Chick-fil-A is set to introduce the new, limited-time Mocha Cookies & Cream Milkshake this Monday, August 5, marking the chains first new shake flavor since 2011.

The Mocha Cookies & Cream Milkshake features Chick-fil-A's Icedream soft serve, Oreo cookie crumbles, coffee, and Hershey's chocolate syrup blended together and topped with light whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

News: Subway - August 2013 $6 Footlong Special

It looks like Subway is forgoing the Featured $5 Footlong this month as they tinker around with their value promotions. Instead, they're offering the Buffalo Chicken, which used to be a Featured $5 Footlong, as a "$6 Footlong Special." Whether this is the new norm for Subway remains to be seen.

Frozen Friday: Boston Market - Turkey Breast Medallions

Boston Market's Turkey Breast Medallions frozen entree is a fairly standard turkey dinner. It features turkey breast medallions, "home-style" mashed potatoes and gravy, plus carrots and green beans.

It weighs in at 14-ounces for $3.49 (bought for $2 on sale).

News: Yogurtland's New Flavor Features Spinach and Marvin the Martian

Photo: Yogurtland

Yogurtland is currently featuring a slew of Looney Toons-inspired flavors through September 15, and the latest flavor offers both spinach and Marvin the Martian.

The recently introduced Kosmic Fruit Kaboom sorbet was inspired by Marvin the Martian and is thus a suitably green sorbet made with pineapple, lime, banana, and spinach. It also makes the flavor the first commercially available soft serve sorbet to feature a vegetable.

News: Arby's New Salted Caramel Shake

Arby's is offering a new, limted-time Salted Caramel Shake. It comes with a caramel swirl and is topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pink Hawaiian sea salt.

The Hawaiian bit seems to be a nod to the King's Hawaiian Roast Beef and Swiss offered earlier this summer.

The suggested retail price on the shake is $2.89 for a 20 fl oz cup.

The new shake is offered at participating locations nationwide and will be available through September 30, 2013.

Review: Subway - Applewood Pulled Pork Sub

Subway's new, limited-time Applewood Pulled Pork sub sandwich features slow-cooked pulled pork covered in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, along with your choice of bread and condiments. I went with lettuce, pickles, and red onions on Italian bread.

A footlong sandwich was $6.95 (cheaper than the previous pulled pork, which was $7.50!)

News: Taco Bell Teases New Doritos Locos Taco Flavor

Taco Bell is coming out with a third variety of their Doritos Locos Tacos (following Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch) on Thursday, August 22 and are being rather coy on what the flavor will be (or at least be named) by teasing the release date with tweets including a link to this short Vine video.

The safe bet is that the new taco will be the Doritos Flamas-flavored taco tested earlier. However, a Taco Bell rep stated that "this #__DLT, contrary to speculation, may not what be what you’re expecting" and to "expect the unexpected." But, it's possible they may just be calling it by a different name.

News: Subway - New Applewood Pulled Pork Sub

Subway joins the barbecue crowd this summer by offering the new, limited-time Applewood Pulled Pork sub. The sandwich features slow-cooked pulled pork covered in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, along with your choice of bread, cheese, veggies, and sauce(s).

Giveaway Drawing: Sara Lee Snack Cakes Gift Pack

I have a gift pack, provided courtesy of Sara Lee, to give away to one lucky reader. The gift pack includes the following:

• An assortment of Sara Lee Snack Cakes (three by my count)
• An official Sara Lee logoed lunch box (just an FYI, it's more of a lunch purse)
• An official Sara Lee logoed water bottle
• Two randomly selected boxes of Sara Lee Snack Cakes

News: Papa John's - Sausage Sensation Pizza Returns

Papa John's has put the Sausage Sensation Pizza back on rotation for a limited time. The pizza was first introduced in 2011, and features spicy Italian sausage, sweet sausage, smoked sausage, green and red peppers, and onions with Italian herb seasoning.

Review: Taco Bell - Brownie Sandwich

Taco Bell's new Brownie Sandwich replaces the Cookie Sandwich and comes with two triangular-shaped brownies with a fudge creme filling between them.

I picked one up for $1.29.

News: Popeyes - New Blackberry and Cream Cheese Pie

Following up on the Strawberry and Cream Cheese Pie offered earlier this year, Popeyes is now offering a new, limited-time Blackberry and Cream Cheese Pie (stylized as "Blackberry 'N Cream Cheese Pie").

Around the World: McDonald's Japan - Mexican Festival Burgers

McDonald's Japan is currently running a "Mexican Festival" campaign featuring three limited-time burgers with three different proteins. There's the Double Beef Salsa, the Chicken Salsa, and the Shrimp Salsa. As you may have guessed, the burgers each features a dollop of salsa, but also a spicy jalapeno cheese sauce.

News: Jamba Juice - New Kona Berry Blast Smoothie

Jamba Juice recently introduced the new, limited-time Kona Berry Blast Smoothie, a seasonal smoothie featuring coffee fruit (the part of the coffee plant surrounding the coffee bean; they're calling it "Hawaii's superfruit"). It's basically a smoothie alternative to coffee, tea, and the like.

The coffee fruit is a good source of caffeine, as well as vitamins C and E. Jamba Juice is using coffee fruit juice supplied by Kona Red.

Review: Del Taco - Loaded Carnitas Fries

Del Taco's Loaded Carnitas Fries feature an order of crinkle-cut French fries topped with carnitas, shredded cheddar, chopped cilantro, onions, and a savory secret sauce.

An order cost me $3.49.

News: Denny's Brings Back "Build Your Own" Pancakes

Denny's has brought back their "Build Your Own" Pancakes for a limited time this summer. It's similar to the "Build Your Own" Burger on the regular menu, but with pancakes obviously.

News: Jack in the Box - New BBQ Really Big Chicken Sandwich

Jack in the Box has brought back the Really Big Chicken Sandwich and introduced its new sibling, the BBQ Really Big Chicken Sandwich. To sweeten the pot, either sandwich is available for a limited time in a combo with a 20-ounce drink and small order of Curly Fries for $3.99.

News: IHOP - New Fruit & Cream-Topped Waffles

IHOP's latest limited-time offer is Fruit & Cream-Topped Waffles. Coming in three varieties, the dishes each feature a crisp Belgian waffle topped with vanilla sweet cream, and a choice of bananas, berries, or cherries plus a dusting of powder sugar.

Review: Popeyes- Chicken Waffle Tenders

Popeyes' new, limited-time Chicken Waffle Tenders are made with chicken breast strips marinated in the chain's familiar Louisiana spices, then covered in a "unique and crispy waffle-style coating." The concept combines the Southern dish of chicken and waffles into one convenient package.

A combo with three tenders, Cajun fries, a biscuit, and Honey Maple dipping sauce runs for $4.99.