News: Baskin-Robbins - New Oreo Independence Ice Cream in Pre-Packaged Quarts

Just in time for Memorial day, Baskin-Robbins has partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to honor our armed services and their families with new Oreo Independence ice cream.

News: New Veggie Popchips

Tired of just sticking to the standard trio of potato, tortilla, and corn chips, Popchips branches off into vegetables with new popped veggie chips.

New Veggie Popchips feature a blend of nine vegetables: kale, spinach, tomato, pumpkin, potato, beet, bell pepper, navy bean, and chickpea (the main ingredient is still dried potato though), and comes in three varieties: Sea Salt, Hint of Olive Oil, and Tuscan Herb.

News: New Bite-Sized Rice Krispies Treats Crackle Snaps

They've offered a mini version, but Kellogg's is now trying their hand at bite-sized puffed rice snacks under the Rice Krispies Treat name.

They're calling the new snacks "Crackle Snaps (I'm surprised it's not "Krackle" but I guess that would be too close to Krackel the candy)." It seems like Pop got the shaft. Maybe they'll make Crackle Pops popcorn next.

Frozen Friday: Trader Joe's - Pizza Al Pollo Asado

Trader Joe's Pizza Al Pollo Asado is their take on a Mexican pizza. It features a corn masa crust topped with grilled chicken breast, refried beans, jack cheese, and tomatillo salsa.

It weighs in at 10 ounces and cost me $1.99.

News: Quiznos - BBQ Pulled Pork Returns for the Summer

Latching on the summer and barbecue tradition, Quiznos brings back their BBQ Pulled Pork Subs for a limited time with a Southern version and for those who prefer a bit of heat, a Spicy version.

Quiznos' Southern BBQ Pulled Pork Sub features pulled pork, mozzarella and cheddar cheese, pickles, yellow mustard, and BBQ sauce over your choice of bread.

News: New Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Creme Oreos

New Limited Edition Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Creme Oreos are now available at Walmart. The new cookies features the standard Oreo chocolate wafers with a half-and-half of chocolate creme and peanut butter-flavored creme.

News: Wendy's - New Steakhouse Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe

Wendy's has a new value-priced cheeseburger just in time for Memorial Day weekend with the new, limited-time Steakhouse Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe for $1.49.

Review: Carl's Jr. - Sea Salt & Caramel Shake

Carl's Jr.'s new Sea Salt & Caramel Shake features hand-scooped vanilla ice cream blended with caramel syrup and sea salt toffee crumbles, topped with whipped cream.

My local Carl's Jr. offers them for $3.39 but I received this one courtesy of Carl's Jr.

Around the World: Krispy Kreme Japan Offers a World of Donuts

Krispy Kreme Japan is offering a selection of limited-time donut themed after select countries across the globe for the new World Dolce Cup donuts, which seems to be named after this upcoming World Cup soccer tournament.

There are six donuts in all and the countries represented are Japan, Brazil (the host country for this year's World Cup), France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and our own US of A.

News: Starbucks to Serve Soda This Summer

Starbucks is serving made- and carbonated-to-order sodas this summer and they're calling the new drink and the machine that carbonates them "Fizzio."

The available flavors are Golden Ginger Ale, Spice Root Beer, and Lemon Ale, but given the nature of the carbonation machine, it seems likely you can carbonate a number of Starbucks beverages.

News: Carl's Jr. / Hardee's - New Big Chicken Fillet Sandwich

Carl's Jr. and Hardee's now offer what they're calling "the biggest chicken sandwich among all major fast food chains" in the new Big Chicken Fillet Sandwich.

News: Jamba Juice - BOGO on Any Smoothie or Juice Through May 26th

Jamba Juice has a "buy one, get one free" deal on any size fresh-squeezed juice or smoothie running through Memorial Day, this Monday May 26, 2014.

Review - Arby's - Jalapeno Poppers

Arby's Jalapeno Poppers are halved spicy jalapeno peppers filled with cream cheese and breaded before a short trip into a very hot deep fryer.

I picked up an order of 5 Poppers for $2.99.

News: Domino's - $5.99 Carryout Deal on 2-Topping Large Pizzas Starting May 26

Starting on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2014, Domino's will be offering a carryout deal on 2-Topping Large Pizzas by offering them for $5.99 each.

The deal is good for a week and ends Sunday, June 1, 2014.

News: New Tea Soup at Starbucks' Teavana Stores

Starbucks' Teavana brand just recently opened its first Los Angeles area Tea Bar location in Beverly Hills and, with it, brought a number of new menu items including a new tea soup.

News: Chipotle Adds Some Light Reading to Go with Your Burrito

In an attempt to "Cultivate Thought," Chipotle has reached out to various authors, actors, and comedians to provide some light reading on their cups and bags that you can skim as you eat your burrito.

News: Sonic - 50 Cent Corn Dogs on May 22

Sonic is celebrating National End of School Day tomorrow, Thursday, May 22, 2014 with a deal for 50 cent Corn Dogs all day at participating locations.

Sonic's Corn Dogs are normally priced at $1 or more (varying with location).

Review: Panda Express - Orange Chicken with Bacon & Shiitake Kale Chicken Breast

Panda Express's Orange Chicken with Bacon is their signature Orange Chicken with the simple addition of pieces of bacon. Their Shiitake Kale Chicken Breast features chicken breast, shiitake mushrooms, kale, and broccoli wok-tossed in a savory house sauce.

It cost $6.59 for a 2-entree plate plus 50 cent extra for the bacon. There were also a la carte single servings available for $3.50 each (plus 50 cents extra for bacon).

Around the World: McDonald's UK - My Burger Contest

McDonald's just launched the "My Burger" contest over in the UK where fans can use an online burger generator to build and name their own burgers for a chance to see it on the menu in the fall.

The promotion first started a few years back over in Germany where it spread to a couple of other European countries over the years and now finds itself in merry old England.

If you were to judge by available ingredients here in the US, you wouldn't think there would be that many possible burger combinations. But for the My Burger contest, there are over 20 bun choices and well over 50 ingredients to put inside said buns.

Here's the full (and exhaustive) list:

News: Taco Bell Testing Crunchwrap Sliders

Taco Bell is testing new Crunchwrap Sliders out in Bakersfield, CA and central Ohio. Priced at $1 each, they're basically smaller versions of the chain's signature Crunchwrap Supreme ($3.29) and come in three different flavors: Beefy Cheddar, Spicy Chicken, and BLT.

Rather than going with the tostada shell of the Crunchwrap Supreme for crunch, Taco Bell went with Fritos corn chips for these. The Crunchwrap Sliders look to be about the size of an A.M. Crunchwrap (starting at $2.49) but are lighter and at a much lower price point.

News: The Coffee Bean - New Mud Pie and Caramel Brownie Ice Blendeds

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf offers two, new, limited-time Ice Blended drink flavors for the summer: Mud Pie and Caramel Brownie.

News: Outback Steakhouse - New Moonshine BBQ Menu

Outback's latest is a new, limited-time Moonshine BBQ Menu.

To encourage sampling, the restaurant chain will be offering a free half-order of new Moonshine BBQ Wood-Fire Grilled Wings with the purchase of any adult entree on Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22. To take advantage of the offer, say "Moonshine BBQ Wings" to your server (I recommend just asking for the deal specifically).

Review: Domino's - Oven Baked Philly Cheesesteak

Domino's Oven Baked Philly Cheesesteak sandwich features slices of steak, American and provolone cheeses, fresh onions, fresh green peppers, and fresh mushrooms on artisan bread, baked in their pizza ovens.

I picked one up for $5.99.

News: McDonald's Offers New World Cup Family Meal in Southern California

McDonald's is offering a World Cup-themed, boxed family meal that they're calling the "$15 Mickey D's Value Pack" here in Southern California.

The $15 Mickey D's Value Pack comes in a World Cup-themed box and includes:

Around the World: McDonald's Offers New Cookie Frappes in France

McDonald's is offering new Cookie Frappes over in France. Like the name suggests, the new Frappes are blended with a cookie, which can be chosen from three varieties: Raspberry and White Chocolate, Double Chocolate, and Mlik Chocolate and Hazelnut.

News: Krispy Kreme - New Cake and Brownie Batter Donuts

Because if ice cream can do it, why not donuts? Krispy Kreme introduces new Birthday Cake Batter and Brownie Batter Donuts.

The Birthday Cake Batter Donut is a yeast shell donut filled with a blend of Kreme and birthday cake batter filling, topped with yellow icing and confetti sprinkles.

Review: Nonni's - Thinaddictives Almond Thins

Nonni's Thinaddictives are twice-baked almond thin cookies. Basically they're like biscotti but thinner. They sent me Banana Dark Chocolate and Blueberry Oat flavors to try.

It's normally $3.29 for a 4.44-oz box with 6 packages of 3 cookies each.

News: New Dannon Oikos Greek Frozen Yogurt

Similar to an effort by rival Yoplait, Dannon Oikos brand Greek yogurt expands to the frozen food aisle with new Dannon Oikos Greek Frozen Yogurt.

The new frozen yogurt comes in six flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Café Latte, Black Cherry, and Key Lime.

News: McDonald's Testing Guacamole Burgers

McDonald's is testing Guacamole Burgers as well as guacamole with any other menu item at participating locations in Denver as well as the rest of Colorado.

The Guacamole Burger is available with either a quarter pound beef patty or grilled or crispy chicken filet and comes with guacamole made from Haas avocados, pico de gallo, ranch sauce, processed white cheddar, and leaf lettuce on the same toasted, egg-washed artisan roll you'd find on the Bacon Clubhouse Burger.

News: YoCrunch - New Yogurt Cereal Bowls

Because just having a little bit of granola or candies to top your yogurt isn't enough, YoCrunch has partnered with Kellogg's to come up with the YoCrunch Cereal Bowl.

It's basically a bowl of cereal that you mix with a bowl of yogurt by shaking them together. Specifically, the assembly of the product features two separate bowls, one of yogurt and one of cereal, with the cereal bowl inverted on the yogurt bowl so that the tops are touching. The idea is you open both bowls and fit them back together and shake to mix.

Review: Nabisco - Sea Salt & Pepper Brown Rice Thins

Nabisco's Sea Salt & Pepper Brown Rice Thins are gluten-free, thin, rice crackers that riff off of their Wheat Thins brand.

A 3.5-oz box was $2.50.

News: Nestle - New Wonka Peel-A-Pop

Wonka is now making frozen dessert pops that look and peel like bananas. They're calling them "Peel-a-Pops." They come with an edible, flavored peel. Never mind that you could just freeze a banana but I guess you wouldn't want to eat its peel.

Wonka's Peel-a-Pops come in two flavors: Vanilla Banana and Vanilla Grape. After you peel back the flavored shell, there's a vanilla frozen dessert core.

News: Coca-Cola Looks to Expand Freestyle Fountain Soda Machines with New Countertop Versions

You may have noticed the Freestyle Coca-Cola fountain soda machine at a number of fast-food chains lately, which let you add extra flavors, like Vanilla and Lime, to a selection of Coca-Cola beverages. But you may also have noticed that the machines are quite tall, which may not fit so well into the existing layout at your local restaurants. Which is why Coca-Cola plans three countertop versions of the platform.

The first two are designed for "medium volume" locations and can dispense 80 different drink choices. One of them sports a rather retro design that I quite like:

Frozen Friday - Jelly Belly Flavored Popsicles

Jelly Belly-flavored Popsicles are new this summer and come in a selection of three flavors in each box: Blueberry, RaspberryVery Cherry, and Tutti-Frutti. Each comes with a "unique center."

A 18-count box was $3.79 but I received this courtesy of the Popsicle brand.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Malaysia - New Taste of Italy Menu

Over in Malaysia, Pizza Hut is offering a new Italian-themed Taste of Italy menu featuring three "artisan" flatbread pizzas, a few pastas, and a combo box.

News: Panera Bread - New Flatbread Sandwiches

Panera debuts new flatbread sandwiches featuring a lighter, more international flavor and an Indian naan-style flatbread. The flatbreads are baked daily at all Panera locations and are made with a blend of 80% wheat flour and 20% whole wheat flour and Greek yogurt.

Review: McDonald's Horchata Frappe

McDonald's new Horchata Frappe is something they're testing out here in Southern California. It features a new horchata-flavored syrup blended with their coffee base, milk, and ice, and then topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce.

I bought a 12-oz small for $2.39.

News: Applebee's - 2014 Featured Summer Menu

Applebee's 2014 Featured Summer Menu features a new steak dish as well as a new shrimp dish, new chicken dish, new salad, and more.

Here's what new for the summer:

- New Grilled Vidalia Onion Sirloin - a 7-oz grilled sirloin topped with a grilled and caramelized slice of Vidalia onion in a sweet and spicy Hawaiian BBQ sauce, served with garlicky spinach and smashed red potatoes.

News: Mimi's Cafe - Buy One Entree & Two Drinks, Get One Entree Free

French-themed Mimi's Cafe is running a coupon deal where you can buy any lunch or dinner entree plus two drinks and get a second entree (of equal or lesser value) for free.

News: Qdoba - New Mango Mojo Menu

Qdoba looks to turn up the heat this summer with the new spicy-sweet flavor of Mango Mojo. Featuring the flavor of mangos with chili peppers, the new flavor is featured in three new, limited-time menu items: the Mango Mojo Burrito, Mango Mojo Salad, and Mango Mojo Trio.

Review: Church's Chicken - Spicier Spicy Chicken Tender Strips

Church's Chicken recently brought back their Spicier Spicy Chicken and Tender Strips for a limited-time. Basically, it's a spicier version of their regular menu spicy fried chicken and strips. The company states that they're marinated for 12 hours and prepared fresh in small batches.

I picked up an order of 3 Spicier Spicy Chicken Tender Strips plus a honey butter biscuit for $2.99 on a special promo.

Around the World: McDonald's Hong Kong - German Chicken Sausage Burger Arrives

In the lead up to this year's World Cup in Brazil, McDonald's is offering the limited-time German Chicken Sausage Burger (as Germany is often one of the top teams competing in the Cup).

News: Green Burrito - New Grilled Chicken Flautas

Green Burrito, the Mexican chain dual-branded with select Carl's Jr. restaurants, offers new Grilled Flautas with Charbroiled Chicken.

The new dish features charbroiled chicken, spicy Santa Fe Sauce, and shredded Jack and cheddar cheeses rolled up in a flour torilla and grilled. Each order comes with a side of guacamole.

News: Starbucks - New Raspberry Swirl Pound Cake Slices for Summer

While Starbucks mostly did away with sliced pound cakes with the rollout of La Boulange bakery goods in favor of mini-pound cakes, they're back due to customer feedback.

Review: Pizza Hut - Blake's Smokehouse BBQ Pizza

Pizza Hut's new Blake's Smokehouse BBQ Pizza features a hand-tossed pizza with toasted cheddar cheese on the end crust and honey barbecue sauce instead of pizza sauce. It's topped with bacon, ham, and ground pork pieces. The pizza was inspired by country music artist Blake Shelton, hence the name.

I picked up a large for $11.

News: Burger King Serving Burgers During Breakfast

Burger King is now serving burgers during breakfast hours at 5,000 or so of their over 7,000 U.S. restaurants.

According to BurgerBusiness, at the bare minimum, Burger King restaurants that opt in to the program will serve a selection of lunch/dinner items including the Whopper (and its variants including the Double Whopper and Whopper Jr.), the Big King, Cheeseburgers (and Double Cheeseburgers as well as Bacon Double Cheeseburgers), the Original Chicken Sandwich, French Fries, and Apple Pie.

News: Baskin-Robbins - New Greek Frozen Yogurt

Greek frozen yogurt has been popular lately so it's no surprise that Baskin-Robbins, the world's large chain of ice cream shops, throws their hat into the ring with new Super Yumberry Greek Frozen Yogurt.

The brand's first Greek frozen yogurt product features yumberry-flavored Greek frozen yogurt swirled with a Triple Berry (blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries) ribbon. Like most Greek frozen yogurts, it contains beneficial live and active cultures.

Around the World: McDonald's UK - Great Tastes of America Returns for 2014

McDonald's UK is in the middle of their annual Great Tastes of America limited-time menu, where each week, they showcase a burger (supposedly) inspired by an American city or state that's available for that week only. The promotion features five burgers, which means it lasts for five weeks.

Basically, in five weeks, they get more limited-time burgers from McDonald's than we get in a year.

Request a Review Voting - May 2014

I thought I'd add a bit of democracy to Brand Eating by inviting you guys to submit your review requests here, as well as vote on which review requests you'd like to see.

Here's how it works:

Until the end of the month, you can submit review requests in the comment section below and upvote (or I suppose, downvote; let's try to keep it positive though, okay?) each other's suggestions. You can upvote by clicking on the upward pointing arrow below each comment.

Review: Burger King - Honey BBQ Chicken Strips

Burger King's new Honey BBQ Chicken Strips are their regular crispy-fried chicken strips tossed in a honey BBQ sauce.

It cost me $3.99 for an order of three strips.