Conan Visits Taco Bell HQ and Creates the O'Taco; Also Tries the New Quesalupa

Conan O'Brien recently paid a vist to Taco Bell headquarters along with his show's head IT guy, Chris Hayes, who also just happens to be a Taco Bell superfan.

Besides his normal (or abnormal) hilarity, Conan stretches his fertile comic mind in Taco Bell's test kitchen and comes up with the La Cona, a burrito caddy for when you're driving and eating, and the Irish Taco AKA the O'Taco (I've also been in Taco Bell's test kitchen and came up with this).

Coming Soon: New Sweetos, Sweet Cheetos

If you're ever wanted the Cheetos puff texture but sweet rather than the signature cheesy savory, it looks like the folks at Frito-Lay were thinking of you when they came up with new Sweetos.

Like the name suggests, they're a sweet version of Cheetos and they're coming soon.

Review: Green Burrito - BBQ Brisket Nachos

Carl's. Jr.-Green Burrito's BBQ Brisket Nachos feature pieces of smoked beef brisket atop a bed of tortilla chips along with BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese sauce, jalapenos, and sour cream.

I paid $6.29 for an order. These are also available at Hardee's-Red Burrito co-branded locations.

Tastykake Introduces Limited Edition Red Velvet and Salted Caramel Mini Donuts

Tastykake offers new, limited edition Red Velvet Mini Donuts and Salted Caramel Mini Donuts to start the new year.

The Red Velvet Mini Donuts feature mini red velvet-flavored donuts covered with a coating of powdered sugar.

KFC Offers New Moroccan Burger in New Zealand

KFC is offering a new Moroccan Burger as well as a new Moroccan Wrap over in New Zealand.

Collectively called the "Moroccan Range," each features "Original Recipe capsicum (bell peppers), spices, salsa, and two (grilled) Zinger tenders."

Review: Bojangles - Cheddar Bo Biscuit

Bojangles’ Cheddar Bo Biscuit features two slices of aged cheddar cheese melted inside their signature buttermilk biscuit.

They go for $1.59, but I received this one courtesy of Bojangles.

Applebee's Introduces New Health-Conscious "Pub Diet"

People don't normally tend to associate pub food with healthy, but that's the angle (perhaps ironically) that Applebee's is taking with their new Pub Diet menu.

Catering to research that showed that a majority of people looking for nutrition looked for things like protein and fiber, the new menu features pub-style dishes that come in at less than 600 calories and look to deliver a good amount of fiber and protein.

Bruegger's Bagels' 2015 Winter Menu Includes Grilled Cheese

Bruegger's Bagels introduces the new Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich and The Benedict for this year's winter menu.

The Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich features Muenster and cheddar cheeses melted between two slices of buttered sourdough bread.

Review: Panda Express - Firecracker Chicken Breast

Panda Express' Firecracker Chicken Breast features marinated chicken breast, sautéed onions, and red and yellow bell peppers cooked in a wok with a spicy black bean sauce.

It was $6.70 to get it as part of a 2-entree combo (along with Broccoli Beef, brown rice, and mixed veggies).

New Red Velvet Oreos Coming February

New, limited-edition Red Velvet Oreos will be hitting stores starting February 2, 2015 as a Valentine's-themed flavor.

The new flavor features red chocolate Oreo cookies sandwiching a cream-cheese flavored creme filling. Apparently, the chocolate cookie portion is just your regular Oreo wafers tinged with red.

New BBQ Brisket Nachos at Green Burrito / Red Burrito

For a limited time, Carl's Jr. and Hardee's locations that are dual-branded with Green Burrito or Red Burrito respectively, are offering new BBQ Brisket Nachos for a limited time.

Pizza Hut Bakes Up New Triple Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza

The latest to come out of Pizza Hut's oven is the new Triple Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza. A permanent menu item, the new pizza takes the mozzarella stuffed crust from the original Stuffed Crust Pizza and sprinkles parmesan, Asiago, and cheddar cheese onto the crust before baking it for a toasty crunch.

Frito-Lay Japan Debuts New Salty Shrimp Cheetos

For fans of shrimp-flavored chips and Cheetos corn puffs, Frito-Lay Japan debuts new Salty Shrimp Cheetos.

The new snacks offers the flavor of salted shrimp with the crunchy texture of Crunchy Cheetos.

Review: Sonic - French Toaster Breakfast Sandwich

Sonic's French Toaster Breakfast Sandwich takes your breakfast staples--ham, sausage, or bacon--plus eggs and American cheese, and puts them between two slices of thick French Toast.

They go for $3.99 but I received this one courtesy of Sonic.

Panda Express Rings in 2015 with the Return of Firecracker Chicken Breast

Panda Express kicks off 2015 as well as the Chinese New Year with the return of Firecracker Chicken Breast.

Two New $1 Nachos at Del Taco

Del Taco has added two $1 Nachos to their Buck & Under value menu. The two new varieties are Chili Cheese and Salsa Verde.

New Glazed Donettes from Hostess

Hostess Donettes now come in a new Glazed variety. The mini cake donuts are partially covered in a sugary glaze.

They join a Donette line up that includes Chocolate (or "Frosted"), Devil's Food Chocolate, Crunch (formerly "Crumb"), and Powdered Sugar.

Review: Lunchables - Pancake and Bacon Dippers

Lunchables Pancake and Bacon Dippers consist of mini pancakes and bacon bits with syrup for dipping.

A 2.8-oz packages was $1 on sale.

King's Hawaiian Offers New Jalapeno Bread Online Only

For those who like a sweet and spicy combination, King's Hawaiian has been offering their Jalapeno Bread for sale online on their website since at least last November.

The bread is basically King's Hawaiian regular sweet bread but with diced jalapenos baked in for a bit of a kick.

50-Cent Corn Dogs at Sonic on 1/20/15

Sonic will be celebrating National Best Friends Day this Tuesday, January 20, 2015 by offering their Corn Dogs for a discounted 50 cents each all day.

Starbucks Offers New Candy-Themed Espresso Drinks in Hong Kong

Starbucks' latest new drinks over in Hong Kong for the winter are called the "Starbucks Espresso Confections" i.e they're meant to be like candy. There are two drinks available the Espresso Truffle Raspberry Mocha and the familiar Chestnut Praline Latte.

Review: Trader Joe's - Lattemiele Cookies

Trader Joe's Lattemiele Cookies are described as "slightly sweet milk & honey" cookies.

A 14.11-oz package contains 4 separately wrapped sets of cookies and cost me $2.49.

Wendy's New BBQ Brisket Cheeseburger Lands in Middle East

Interestingly, the new BBQ Brisket Cheeseburger that Wendy's was testing out in Florida last year has recently been added to the menu all the way over in the Middle East.

Stacy's Pita Chips Adds Spice with New Jalapeno Flavor

Stacy's adds a bit of heat to their pita chip selection with new Fire Roasted Pita Chips. The chips contain jalapenos and red peppers that are baked right into the pita dough.

Frozen Friday: Chili's - Cheesy Chicken Pasta Florentine

Chili's Cheesy Chicken Pasta Florentine frozen meal features grilled white chicken with pasta, black beans, red bell peppers, and corn in a jalapeno spinach sauce.

I bought a 10-oz box for $2 on sale.

Corner Bakery Introduces New Kale Caesar Salad

Corner Bakery Cafe goes for those with healthier-eating resolutions by offering the new Kale Caesar Salad with Chicken. Paired with the Tuscan White Bean Soup as a Corner Combo it comes in at under 600 calories.

The new Kale Caesar Salad with Chicken comes made-to-order and features grilled chicken, fresh kale and romaine lettuce, croutons, parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing.

Cold Stone Offers New Red Hot Strawberry Ice Cream for Valentine's

Cold Stone Creamery is ready for Valentine's Day with new spicy Red Hot Strawberry ice cream featured in their Hot Strawberry Passion Creation. They've also brought back Fudge Truffle Ice Cream and the Falling in Chocolate Creation, as well as a heart-shaped cake or cupcakes.

Review: Jack in the Box - Chicken Fajita Pita

Jack in the Box's Chicken Fajita Pita features grilled chicken pieces, shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce, grilled onions, and tomato, nestled inside of a pita with 16 grams of whole grain. Fire-roasted salsa comes on the side.

It costs $4.99 at my local Jack in the Box.

Post's Strawberry Honeycomb Cereal is Back!

Post has brought back Strawberry Honeycomb cereal. The strawberry version of the honey-flavored corn cereal was first introduced in 1983 but was eventually discontinued.

Strawberry Honeycomb features corn and oat cereal in the signature honeycomb hexagonal shape coated with strawberry flavor.

Free Winterberry Tea at Teavana on January 17

Teavana will be offering free cups of their new Winterberry Green Tea Blend at participating Teavana stores this Saturday, January 17, 2015.

Review: Sonic - Lil' Doggies

Sonic's Lil' Doggies are 4" mini hot dogs that come in three varieties: Original, Chili Cheese, and Baja Jalapeno & Chili.

The Original was $1.29, while the other two were $1.49 a piece at my local Sonic, but I received these courtesy of Sonic.

Burger King Offering Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Pie

Burger King adds the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Pie to their menu for a limited time only.

The pie features a filling made with Reese's peanut butter on a chocolate cookie crust, topped with crumbled Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Pizza Hut Launches Double Sensation II Pizzas in Hong Kong

Perhaps following up on the double-crusted pizzas of the same name that launched a few years ago in Singapore, Pizza Hut Hong Kong launches new Double Sensation II Pizzas to welcome the New Year. Like the Singaporean version, the pizza features two sets of stuffed crust edge; one at the actual pizza's edge and one as a ring in the middle of the pizza.

Review: Tropical Smoothie Cafe - Greek Salad Chicken Flatbread

Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s Greek Salad Chicken Flatbread features grilled chicken, cucumber, red onion, tomato, carrots, hummus, romaine, and a special Greek feta vinaigrette, all served on a toasted flatbread.

I purchased one for $3.99.

Pizza Hut Launches New Gluten-Free Pizza

Pizza Hut is set to launch new Gluten-Free Pizzas through a partnership with Udi's brand (best known for gluten-free bread and baked goods) and the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG).

Whataburger Unveils New Chicken Strip Monterey Melt Sandwich

Whataburger offers a chicken-y twist to their classic Monterey Melt with the new Chicken Strip Monterey Melt Sandwich.

Review: Pizza Hut - Quepapas

Pizza Hut's Quepapas are only available at some locations and feature mini potato bites filled with cheese and jalapenos.

It was $4.25 for an order of 15 Quepapas.

Ben and Jerry's Introduces New Cookie Core Ice Creams

Last year Ben & Jerry's introduced new Core Ice Creams with a topping/sauce that formed the "core" of each pint. This year, they take it to the next level with new Cookie Cores, which, like the name suggests, features a core of crunchy cookie butter that runs through the middle of each pint from top to bottom.

Panera Debuts New Asian-Inspired Broth Bowls

Panera Bread's latest menu addition, Broth Bowls, looks to fend off the cold with an Asian-inspired warm "umami soy-miso broth" paired with either soba noodles or lentils and quinoa.

There are four varieties of Panera Bread's Broth Bowls. They are:

Del Taco's Turkey Now Made with Jennie-O Turkey

Del Taco's seasoned ground turkey is now made with Jennie-O brand turkey and has been slightly tweaked.

I reached out to Del Taco for comment and was told the new turkey is made with a "new proprietary turkey recipe developed with category expert Jennie-O [that] features chunkier ground turkey, along with a slightly-adjusted seasoning for the ultimate flavor combination." Basically, they looked to improve the texture and flavor.

Review: Sonic - Lil' Chickies

Sonic's Lil' Chickies feature mini white-meat crispy chicken patties in a mini 4" hot dog bun. They come in three varieties: Classic, BBQ, and Buffalo.

I got one of each courtesy of Sonic. They're normally $1.49 a piece.

Burger King Brings Back $1.49 10-Piece Chicken Nuggets Deal

Looking to kickstart the New Year, Burger King brings back their popular 10-piece Chicken Nuggets for $1.49 deal for a limited time only.

Free Burrito with Any Sofritas Purchase at Chipotle on 1/26/15

Chipotle really wants you to try their organic tofu Sofritas. So much so that if you order Sofritas on Monday, January 26th, you can bring your receipt back and get your choice of a free burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos.

Denny's Introduces New "Skillets Across America" Menu

Denny's starts the New Year with the limited time "Skillets Across America" menu featuring four new skillets, each showcasing a number of regional American flavors.

The four new skillet dishes are:

Review: Del Taco - Hash Brown Sticks

Del Taco's Hash Brown Sticks are your typical fast food deep-fried diced potatoes, except in rectangular stick form.

An order of five goes for $1.09.

El Pollo Loco Offers Four New Under 500 Calories Menu Items for 2015

El Pollo Loco introduces four new "Under 500 Calories" menu items to kick off 2015. They are the Grilled Chicken & Kale Salad, Chicken & Shrimp Grilled Tostada, Double Chicken Wet Burrito, and Skinny Chicken Enchilada.

Skinny Cow Unveils New Iced Coffee Drinks and More

Nestle's calorie-conscious Skinny Cow brand is probably best known for candy and ice cream, but looks to branch into drinks with three new Creamy Iced Coffee Drinks this year. Additionally, the brand will also be introducing two new Blissful Truffle Candy Bars, three new Chocolate Dipped Ice Cream Bars, and one new Ice Cream Candy Bar flavor.

Review: Starbucks - Flat White

Starbucks' Flat White features a double ristretto (short) shot of espresso with finely foamed milk.

It cost me $3.75 for a Tall.

Belvita Biscuits Now in New Bite Size

Kraft's Belvita Breakfast Biscuits are now available in new mini Belvita Bites for a portable, poppable breakfast option.

The new bites are available in two flavors: Chocolate and Mixed Berry.

Trumoo Marshmallow Chocolate Milk Back for Winter

Just in case, you like hot chocolate with marshmallows but don't actually like it hot... or with actual marshmallows, TruMoo has brought back their Limited Edition Chocolate Marshmallow milk as a wintry drink.

The idea for the drink is to provide the hot chocolate with marshmallow experience without the hassle. And, if you want it to be actually hot, you can always just heat a cup of it in the microwave.