News: Jamba Juice - $1 Smoothies in the Morning till Aug 10

Jamba Juice is offering their 16-ounce smoothies for $1, but only from 9am to 11am through August 10, 2012. (Update: Jamba Juice is extending the promotion through Friday, 8/17/2012)

The offer is also limited to participating locations in California, New York, New Jersey, and Idaho. Fortunately, they've made a list of participating locations online.

My Starbucks is Not This Nice: A Starbucks in Brazil

I thought this was a neat looking Starbucks that recently opened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Between the wave-like ceiling and the blue lighting, there's a nice ocean motif going on that makes me think it's near the sea. So, I looked it up and yup, it's near the ocean. Makes sense, no?

I think it's supposed to feel like you're underneath the ocean maybe?

Review: Wendy's - Kids' Cheeseburger

Wendy's Kids' Cheeseburger is actually different from their Jr. Cheeseburger. It's basically a Jr. Cheeseburger, but without pickles or onions which makes it a really simple combination of a beef patty, American cheese, ketchup, and bun.

A Cheeseburger Kids' Meal goes for $3.69 at my local Wendy's.

News: The Coffee Bean - Bring Morning Receipt for Half-Off

Similar to Starbucks' current Treat Receipt promotion, The Coffee Bean is offering a half-off discount on any Iced or Ice Blended beverage when you bring back a same-day morning receipt after 2PM.

The promotion runs through August 19, 2012.

Like the Starbucks promotion, it's a nice discount if The Coffee Bean is your cafe of choice for your morning coffee.

Domino's Offers 50% Off Pizza This Week - Online Only

Domino's is once again offering their pizzas for 50% off regular menu prices ordered through online orders this week only. The promotion runs through Sunday, August 12, 2012.

Review: Lay's Classic BLT Potato Chips

Lay's Classic BLT Potato Chips feature the familiar taste and crunch of Lay's potato chips with the flavor of a classic BLT (bacon, lettuce, tomato) sandwich.

A 10-ounce bag carries a suggested retail price of $4.29.

Neat! Lavazza Cookie Coffee Cup

Behold the Lavazza Cookie Cup in all it's awesome glory! It's an edible espresso cup that's made to be eaten after the espresso has been finished.

The cup was designed by a collaborative effort between designer Enrique Luis Sardi, the Lavazza Training Centre team, and confectioner Cataldo Parisi.

Around the World: Wendy's Japan Goes Fancy with Lobster and Caviar

To celebrate the opening of their second location in Japan on August 17, 2012, Wendy's will introduce two new burgers to their Japan Premium line of burgers which features  fancy ingredients. Calling it the "Ocean Premium" line, the premium ingredients this time are lobster and caviar and Wendy's is showcasing the fanciness with two burgers and a salad.

The burgers available are the Lobster and Caviar burger and the Surf & Turf burger. Each carries a price tag of 1280 yen or roughly $16.28. A better indicator of relative cost might be the price of a Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburger which is 400 yen in Japan or about $5.09.

Review: Good Humor - Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cups

Good Humor's Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cups are pretty new to the frozen food aisle of the supermarket. Each "ice cream cup" features peanut butter ice cream swirled with Reese's trademark peanut butter and then dipped in a milk chocolate flavored coating.

A 19.8 fl oz box of six 3.3 fl oz bars retails at $4.29 at my local Ralph's supermarket, but my box was free courtesy of Unilever (the owner of Good Humor brand and world's largest ice cream producer)

A Guide to In-N-Out's Secret Menu

Here's a quick reference to In-N-Out's Secret Menu. It's basically a list of custom orders that customers have ordered enough times to warrant being keyed into their ordering system (most other chains don't have such items in their system so it can be hit or miss if you ask for "secret menu" items. Not so at In-N-Out).

Frozen Friday: Fresh & Easy - Chicken Tikka Masala

Fresh & Easy is like a Trader Joe's crossed with a 7-Eleven. They only have locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona so you may never had heard of it. One of the neat things they have is cheap frozen Indian cuisine including this Chicken Tikka Masala entree.

It cost me only $1.99 for a 10-ounce box featuring roasted white chicken, a spicy curry masala sauce with a side of basmati rice mixed with spinach and carrots.

News: Baskin-Robbins - August 2012 Flavor of the Month

Baskin-Robbins' Flavor of the Month for August 2012 is the Olympic-appropriate Gold Medal Ribbon. The flavor arrives with the 2012 Summer Olympics in full swing.

The featured, limited-time ice cream flavor is simple enough with a combination of vanilla and chocolate ice cream swirled with a golden ribbon of caramel.

Gold Medal Ribbon is available by the scoop (cup or cone), in a milkshake, or as part of a custom ice cream cake. It can also be taken home in fresh-packed pints and quarts.

Dairy Queen Welcomes August 2012 Blizzard of the Month

This August, Dairy Queen is going with M&M's and brownies for their Blizzard of the Month. The M&M's Brownie Blizzard features Plain M&M's candy pieces, brownie pieces and chocolaty topping blended in vanilla soft serve.

Also this month, Dairy Queen is offering a fast food special that they're calling the "Cheeseburger Lovers" deal where you can get two DQ Cheeseburgers for $3 or two Double DQ Cheeseburgers for $4 at participating locations across the US.

Review: Quiznos - Basil Pesto Chicken Grilled Flatbread

Quiznos' Basil Pesto Chicken Grilled Flatbread is a fairly recent addition to the menu and features all-natural Chicken, all-natural Mozzarella, tomatoes, a seasonal lettuce blend, and basil pesto on a toasted, grilled flatbread.

They cost $3.29 each or two for $5.99. I got a small-sized one free courtesy of Quiznos though. It's a little bit bigger than a Taco Bell Chalupa which is a pretty good size.

News: Starbucks Returns Treat Receipt Promo

Starbucks regulars can rejoice: Starbucks has brought back the Treat Receipt promotion through September 3, 2012.

For those who stop by Starbucks for their morning Joe, you can bring back your morning receipt after 2pm and get any handcrafted cold grande beverage for $2.

Pizza Hut Canada's Delayed Gratification Promotion

Pizza Hut Canada has launched what, to some, might seem a cruel promotion in which they give you an envelope with a guaranteed prize, but to redeem the prize, you can't open the envelope.

Instead, you have to bring back the envelope in September (September 4th to October 31st specifically) where it is then unsealed by the Pizza Hut manager and you can then find out what you won. They're calling it the "'Don't Open Me' challenge."

Review: Papa John's - Pepperoni Pizza

Papa John's Pepperoni Pizza is a fairly run-of-the-mill hand-tossed pizza with pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. Peppercinis and a cup of Papa John's special garlic sauce come free of charge.

They have a long-running special where you can pick up a large for $7.99 carryout only.

Popchips Releases New Popped Tortilla Chips

Popchips expands their line of popped chips to include tortilla chips. The new popped tortilla chips promise half the fat of regular tortilla chips, fewer calories, and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Popchips tortilla chips are available in four flavors: Nacho Cheese, Ranch, Salsa, and Chili Limon. They're available at select retailers.

News: Yoplait - New Simplait Yogurt

For customers demanding an ingredient list that is quick to read and contains ingredients they can actually identify, Yoplait is out with new Simplait yogurt, a portmanteau of "Yoplait" and "simple."

Simplait yogurt is all-natural and made with only six ingredients: cultured pasteurized grade A milk, fruit, sugar, corn starch, natural flavor, and a vegetable or fruit juice or extract or pectin. It's available in four flavors: Strawberry, Vanilla, Peach, and Blackberry and at a suggested retail of 90 cents per 6-ounce cup.

For comparison, I've include the list of ingredients and nutritional information for Original Yoplait Strawberry yogurt and Simplait Strawberry yogurt below.

News: Subway - August 2012 Featured $5 Footlong

This August, Subway's Featured $5 Footlong is the Black Forest Ham, Egg & Cheese with Spinach.

By default, the sandwich comes with Black Forest ham, egg, your choice of cheese, spinach, and your choice of veggies, on toasted flatbread (you can probably ask for other breads as well). While normally a breakfast sub, it's available all day for the length of the promotion.