Around the World - KFC Hong Kong - Breakfast

I didn't get a chance to go to KFC Hong Kong while on the Asia Trip (it was way too crowded at lunchtime in the financial district), but they serve breakfast there in the mornings. It's a bit of American style with chicken and Hong Kong local cuisine thrown in:

Review: Starbucks - Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Look! They give you a plastic Starbucks mermaid stirrer! Only sometimes though.

Starbucks' Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate is a fall seasonal drink that features a hot chocolate made with mocha sauce and toffee nut syrup (apparently two separate syrups and not the same stuff used for the Toffee Mocha), topped with whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, and finished with a sprinkled blend of sea salt and Hawaiian Turbinado sugar (i.e. raw sugar). The price for this warm, fall concoction is $2.70 for a 12-ounce Tall.

News: Papa John's - Any Large for $10 Till Halloween

If pizza is on the menu for your Halloween party, and let's face it, it's pretty much the cheapest way to feed a bunch of people with very little effort, Papa John's is selling any Large Pizza for $10 through Halloween. The offer is online only (i.e. they want you to use their new online interface).

If Papa John's isn't your thing. Pizza Hut still has their $10 for any up-to-three-topping large or $12 for a specialty  large and Domino's has their buy two medium pizzas for $5.99 each.

Frozen Friday: Hungry-Man - Grilled Bourbon Steak Strips

Part of Hungry-Man's "Pub Favorites," the Grilled Bourbon Steak Strips frozen meal features grilled beef strips and onions in a bourbon sauce with garlic mashed potatoes, and a seasoned broccoli and carrot medley. The price for this pound of food is $3.69.

News: El Pollo Loco - New Plates

Not exactly a new dish, but more like a new combo, El Pollo Loco is offering three "new" plates for a limited time on their menu. Each plate features Spanish rice, pinto beans, and fresh salsa and your choice of Carne Asada, Mixed Grill (carne asada and a chicken thigh or leg), or Tamales (covered with Colorado sauce). The Carne Asada and Mixed Grill Plates also include tortillas (your choice of corn or flour).

Prices are $5.99 for the Tamales Plate, $6.49 for the Mixed Grill Plate, and $6.99 for the Carne Asada Plate.

To promote the new plates, El Pollo Loco is offering a printable coupon on their site for a free individual-sized chocolate bundt cake with any Plate purchase (expires November 11, 2010).

News: Papa John's - New Zesty Jalapeno Pizza for $11

Not to be outdone by Domino's, Papa John's has also recently introduced a new pizza today: the Zesty Jalapeno & Meats Pizza. The new Zesty Jalapeno & Meats Pizza features pepperoni, spicy Italian sausage, jalapeño peppers, and a blend of three cheeses (Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Romano).

It is currently available at a limited-time promotional price of $11 for a large. As a non-spicy alternative, Papa John is also making their Tuscan Six Cheese Pizza available for the same $11.

The Tuscan Six Cheese Pizza features Mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, provolone and Fontana cheeses with Italian herb seasonings.

Review: Jack in the Box: Supreme Croissant

The other half of Jack in the Box's 2 for $3 Breakfast Croissants, the Supreme Croissant features a fried egg, Jack's new hickory-smoked bacon, ham, and American cheese on a buttery croissant. What makes it "supreme" you ask? It's that thin slice of ham, because otherwise it would just be the "Bacon Croissant" or the "Bacon, Egg & Cheese Croissant." See how much difference a slice of ham makes? The normal price for a Supreme Croissant is $2.19.

Brand Eating Giveaway: Sonic Gift Cards and Tailgate Blanket

Free Sonic Tailgate Blanket! Well, for two lucky readers anyway. In fire red no less! Perfect for keeping you warm during that overnight tailgate or while you wait in line for some coveted tickets.

Courtesy of Sonic Drive-In and their limited-time Loaded Burgers, two readers will win a Sonic Tailgate Blanket as well as a Sonic gift card so you can grab some tailgate eats before the game:

- One Grand Prize: A tailgate package of a Sonic Tailgate Blanket and a $100 Sonic Gift Card.

- One Runner-Up Prize: a Sonic Tailgate Blanket and a $25 Sonic Gift Card.

The Tailgate Blanket is a 54" x 84", extra-soft machine washable "sweatshirt blanket." It's 80% cotton, 20% polyester and feels like your favorite hoodie.

To enter: simply comment on this post with what limited-time food items you're looking forward to this fall/winter season. Please be sure to include a valid email address in the proper field when you post as that is how I will be contacting the winners for where to send the prizes. I will pick the winners via the virtual hat i.e. a random number generator. Only one entry per person please.

The drawing will close on Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time. I will draw the winners shortly thereafter. Winners will have three days to respond to my email, after which time I will pick another winner.

Good Luck!

Review: Jack in the Box - Breakfast Pita

Jack in the Box's new Breakfast Pita doesn't offer something new beyond a whole wheat pita to the breakfast sandwich mix, but it offers enough differences to merit consideration. Jack's Breakfast Pita features your normal breakfast accouterments (bacon, scrambled eggs, ham, American cheese) stuffed inside a whole wheat pita. The price on it is $2.79 or just a little more than Jack's other breakfast sandwiches.

Review: Jack in the Box - Egg Nog Ice Cream Shake

An annual event at Jack in the Box, the Egg Nog Ice Cream Shake comes once a year around the holiday season. It features real vanilla ice cream blended with egg nog flavoring and topped with whipped topping and a maraschino cherry. Prices at my local Jack in the Box was $2.69 for a 16-ounce regular and $3.19 for a 24-ounce large. I opted for the regular.

News: A&W - Free $3 Big Taste Meal for Facebook "Like"

A&W Restaurants (the lesser known burger branch of the Yum! Brands family) is promoting their new $3 Big Taste Meals by offering an online coupon for a "free" $3 Big Taste Meal (with 32-ounce drink purchase) to fans who "like" them on Facebook.

The $3 Big Taste Meals are a permanent value addition to the A&W menu and feature fries with your choice of one of four regular menu items: the BBQ Bacon Crunch Burger, Cheddar Onion Crunch Burger, Coney Cheese Dog, or Deluxe Cheeseburger.

While the meals don't come with a drink, it does free you up to buy a classic root beer float to go with.

News: White Castle - Slider-Scented Candles are Back!

Whether you missed out on the 10,000 burger-scented candles sold (they sold out in less than 48 hours) back in May (National Hamburger Month), really love the smell of White Castle, have a loved one that really loves the smell of White Castle (or conversely, have a frenemy that really hates the smell of White Castle) or want to help support Autism Speaks, White Castle is here to oblige you.

Starting on Wednesday, October 27, 2010, you can buy your very own burger-and-onion scented White Castle Slider-Scented Candle for $13 at White Castle's online store: www.houseofcrave.com.

The candles are packaged in a ceramic holder that apes the signature cardboard sleeve of White Castle hamburger boxes. Net proceeds from sales of the candles will benefit Autism Speaks.

News: Popeyes - Crawfish Festival Returns with Free Samples

Crawfish makes its annual return to Popeyes' menu starting today in an event dubbed the "2nd Annual Crawfish Festival" which will run through November 28, 2010. To celebrate, Popeyes is offering four limited-time crawfish dishes and a free sampling day on November 3, 2010 where you can get a taste of their crawfish for free.

The four limited-time dishes are:

· $4.99 Crawfish Tackle Box - 8 crawfish piled high (probably more than 8, I find that Popeyes tends to just pile it on without counting) with a regular side (Cajun Fries by default, but you can choose something else), and a biscuit.
· Crawfish Po’Boy - served on a warm baguette with lettuce, pickles and horseradish sauce.
· Crawfish Traveler - like Popeyes' Lousiana Travelers, an order of Crawfish in specified numbers.
· Crawfish Etouffee - seasoned rice smothered with a rich sauce of crawfish, veggies and spices. Available as a 16oz Big Easy Bowl, or as a regular side.

Popeyes' crawfish is seasoned, battered, and then deep-fried and complemented by a creamy horseradish sauce.

News: Hardee's - New Caramel Crumb Biscuit

It looks absolutely decadent, no? No, Hardee's
on the West Coast though. *Sigh*

Just in time for Halloween, Hardee's had added the new Caramel Crumb Biscuit to their menu. The Caramel Crumb Biscuit takes one of Hardee's "Made from Scratch" Biscuits and covers it in caramel, a drizzle of icing, and a sweet crumb.

Suggested prices are 99 cents for one, $1.69 for two, or $3.99 for six.

The commercial, similar to the one for Hardee's/Carl's Jr.'s Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders, plays up the "made fresh in-house vs. frozen" angle. Carl's Jr. doesn't make biscuits though (sad, I know). You can check out the commercial after the jump.

Review: Jack in the Box - Sausage Croissant

One of Jack in the Box's current value promotions is 2 for $3 Breakfast Croissants, not being one to pass up a deal, I tried the Sausage Croissant which features a pork sausage patty, a fried egg, and a slice of American cheese in a croissant. It's normally priced at $2.19 in my neighborhood.

Around the World: Pizza Hut - The Many Forms of Cheesy Bites

Back in 2007, Pizza Hut tried to woo the American public with the limited-time Cheesy Bites Pizza which was similar to a Stuffed Crust Pizza but with individual cheese-filled rolls for the crust and featured a commercial with Jessica Simpson:

But the U.S. wasn't the only place that received the Cheesy Bites Pizza...

News: Carl's Jr. - New Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders

Carl's Jr recently announced their new freshly prepared Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders. These appear to be slightly different, but mostly the same as the Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders that have been selling at sibling-chain Hardee's since about June.

My own local Carl's Jr has been carrying them for about a month. It is unclear if "freshly prepared" means made-to-order or just made in-house throughout the day and left to warm. Probably the former since it does take some time to cook breaded chicken.

The selling point on these chicken tenders is that they are hand-dipped in buttermilk and lightly breaded in-house daily rather than shipped frozen and pre-cooked to each restaurant before a final dunk in the deep fryer.

Retail pricing stands at $2.99 for a 3-piece order or $4.49 for a 5-piece order which compares quite well to other fast food chains as well as the fried chicken chains. They are also available as part of a combo or kid's meal. Sauces are available in honey mustard, buttermilk ranch, and barbecue.

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

Chick-fil-A's Cookies & Cream Milkshake features Chick-fil-A vanilla Icedream (soft-serve) handspun with bits of Oreo cookies, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. A large costs $3.45.

News: Pinkberry - New Seasonal Pumpkin Flavor

A bit late to the fall pumpkin party, Pinkberry today introduced its new seasonal Pumpkin flavored frozen yogurt which features real pumpkin puree, notfat milk, and nonfat frozen yogurt.

The new flavor is recommended with featured paired toppings of honey graham crackers, new Pinkberry Swirly Whip (whipped cream made fresh daily), and a dusting of cinnamon for that holiday pumpkin pie flavor.

Pinkberry's Pumpkin flavor will be available through the end of the year.

Frozen Friday: Hungry-Man - Boneless Fried Chicken

The Hungry-Man Boneless Fried Chicken frozen meal features a pound of fried chicken patties, mashed potatoes, sweet corn, and chocolate brownie for $3.69.

Review: The Coffee Bean - Cinnamon French Toast Ice Blended

The Coffee Bean's Cinnamon French Toast Ice Blended is a fall-themed limited-time drink that is sold as being "creamy and sweet with hints of maple and nut, this smooth cinnamon French toast beverage will remind you of Sunday morning breakfast as a kid." Pricing on the Ice Blended version (it's also available as a latte) is $4.30 for a 16-ounce regular and $5.20 for a 22-ounce large.

News: Papa John's - New "My Papa Points" Reward Program

Included in the revamp of their online ordering system (no doubt to catch up to Domino's and Pizza Hut's online ordering overhauls), Papa John's has instituted a rewards point system for online ordering and dubbed it "My Papa Points."

The basics of the program is for every $5 (including tax and delivery) you spend through online ordering you get a point. So, if you spend $10 you get two points. However, if you only spend $9, you only get one point because points are awarded in $5 increments only.

When (or if) you collect 25 points (basically spend $125), you can redeem your points for a free large, 3-topping pizza.

Domino's had a similar (but more extensive) program when they rolled out their revamped online ordering system, but has since discontinued it. The program is basically meant to incentivize customers to order online rather than over the phone.

The program is set to run until June 30, 2011.

News: Starbucks Launches Starbucks Digital Network

As an added perk for Starbucks' customers, Starbucks has launched the Starbucks Digital Network, a digital hub of assorted premium content for users of Starbuck's free Wifi created in partnership with Yahoo.


The service is accessible for free via Wifi-enabled computers, tablets, or smartphones and features free access to a bevy of selected video, textual, and audio content (i.e. selected books, videos, games, magazines, and music).

Highlights include: free access to the subscription editions of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today; exclusive iTune downloads; and free, unlimited access to Zagat restaurant reviews and ratings.

With all the added perks, the Starbucks Digital Network definitely encourages customers to come in and pull up a chair, whether any chairs will be available is the question, especially in high-traffic stores. I know that other popular coffee houses already have problems with too many people occupying seats to use free WiFi. My own local Starbucks stores are already pretty crowded, seating-wise.

Review: Taco Bell - Tostada

Taco Bell's Tostada is not listed on their online menu so it might not be available at all Taco Bell restaurants. It features a meatless concoction of a tostada shell (basically a flattened taco shell) spread with a layer of refried beans and then topped with red sauce, shredded cheese, and lettuce. It costs $1.29 for one.

Review: Burger King - Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich

Burger King's Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich is BK's version of the ubiquitous fast food grilled chicken sandwich. Unsurprisingly, it features a seasoned grilled chicken filet, with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo. To change it up a little, Burger King recently changed the bun to a healthier, whole grain ciabatta. Pricing stands at $4.19.

News: Taco Bell - Free Orange 'N Creme Swirl Frutista Freeze

Apparently, Taco Bell really wants you to try their new Orange 'N Creme Swirl Frutista Freeze; they're giving them away for free via a printable coupon on their website here. The Orange 'N Creme Swirl Frutista Freeze is normally priced at $1.99.

The coupons expire on 11/25/2010 or until 500,000 coupons are redeemed, whichever comes first.

I've tried it, and it tastes like a blended orange Creamsicle for whatever that's worth. Also, it did not look like an orange and white swirl.

Review: Arby's Chocolate Turnover

Arby's Chocolate Turnover features a puff pasty turnover filled with a rich chocolate filling and decorated with a zig zag pattern of chocolate icing. It's a limited-time value menu item for $1.

Around the World: KFC - Boxmaster

Before KFC ever got around to plopping the Double Down in our laps, they had another eye-brow-raising menu item that made the rounds internationally: the KFC Boxmaster. While it never made it to our shores, it did make its way around to the UK and Canada, and for all you jetsetters, is currently making its home in India, France, Greece and probably other countries I'm sure.

Review: Sonic - Peach Flavored Sweet Tea

Sonic's Peach Flavored Sweet Tea features their sweetened iced tea flavored with peach syrup. It's available for their Happy Hour promotion for half price between 2 and 4pm. Since it was Happy Hour and ice tea doesn't have carbonation to lose, I bought a Route 44-sized (Sonic's name for a 44-ounce drink) Peach Flavored Sweet Tea for half-off at $1.30 (regularly $2.60). It's also available unsweetened for a single-digit calorie drink.

Review: Seattle's Best - Iced Mocha Can

Seattle's Best Iced Mocha Can boasts of "an uncommonly smooth blend of coffee and milk flavored with chocolate." They retail for around $6 dollars for a pack of four 9.5 ounce skinny cans (usually about $1 or $2 less than a 4-pack of Starbucks Frappuccino).

News: Chipotle - Boorito 2010 - $2 Burrito, Bowl, Salad, Etc.

This year, Chipotle is pushing its philosophy a bit more for its annual Boorito event than the last.

Rather than dressing up as a Chipotle food item on Halloween for a free burrito, this year, customers who visit a Chipotle restaurant after 6pm on Sunday, October 31, 2010, dressed up as a "horrifying processed food product" can get a burrito, bowl, salad, or an order of tacos (basically any entree on the menu) for $2.

While you're picking up your $2 burrito, you can snap a picture of it inside Chipotle to enter their online costume contest (details here) with prizes up to $2,500.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (up to $1,000,000).

You can check out the video promoting their message and event, featuring celebrity chef Jamie Oliver below:

News: Jack in the Box - Pumpkin Pie and Egg Nog Shakes Return

Seasonal shakes in Pumpkin Pie and Egg Nog flavors are back at Jack in the Box. Retail pricing is $2.49 for a regular (16-ounce) and $2.99 for a large (24-ounce).

Both shakes features a base of vanilla ice cream, their respective flavors, and are topped with whipped topping and a maraschino (preserved and sweetened) cherry.

Nutritional info after the jump.

News: Domino's - New Wisconsin 6 Cheese Pizza

Domino's new Wisconsin 6 Cheese Pizza

Domino's Wisconsin 6 Cheese is the first extension to their American Legends pizza line up, and their first new menu item for 2010.

The Wisconsin 6 Cheese is topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, feta, provolone, cheddar, parmesan and asiago on an oregano-sprinkled crust.

Domino's current national deal is two medium, 2-topping pizzas for $5.99 each. For $2 more, you can make one of them a specialty pizza which includes the Wisconsin 6 Cheese pizza.

Frozen Friday: Marie Callender's - Chicken Pot Pie

Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pie features over a pound of food and is filled with white meat chicken, peas, carrots, celery, and potatoes.

It costs $3.99 but can be found on sale for around the $2 range. They're also available in a smaller size in bulk at some warehouse stores.

News: McDonald's Testing Chicken Flatbreads

Similar to their Snack Wraps, McDonald's is testing a four Chicken Flatbreads. The four varities are BBQ Bacon Ranch, Four Cheese, Southwest, and Tuscan Tomato Basil. Test markets include Baltimore, Nebraska and New Mexico. Pricing is within the $1.89 range or 10 cents less than an Angus Snack Wrap.

Each Flatbread features a base of grilled boneless chicken breast pillowed by warm, toasted flatbread.

The BBQ Bacon Ranch builds on that with bacon, a four cheese blend (Fontana, Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Monterey Jack), garlic aioli (read: garlic mayo made with oven-roasted garlic), and a barbecue ranch sauce.

Review: Arby's - Steakhouse Onion Rings

Arby's new Steakhouse Onion Rings are battered, breaded, and deep-fried. They come five to an order in a box for $1.99 and are made-to-order (at least mine were).

Review: Taco Bell - Orange 'N Cream Frutista Freeze

Taco Bell's latest Frutista Freeze, the new Orange 'N Creme Frutista Freeze features an icy slush of orange slush blended with vanilla soft serve.

It costs $1.99 for a 16-ounce regular and $2.29 for a 20-ounce large at my local Taco Bell.

News: White Castle - Free Garlic Cheese Sliders on Facebook

For a limited time, you can visit White Castle on Facebook and receive a coupon for a free Garlic Cheese Slider. The Garlic Cheese Sliders are a series of three new limited edition sandwiches available at White Castle through October 30, 2010. The three versions are Garlic Cheese, Garlic Cheese & Mushroom and Garlic Cheese & Chicken Marinara.

To receive the coupon you must "Like" White Castle on Facebook at www.facebook.com/whitecastle and print the coupon to use at any location nationwide. The coupon will be available on White Castle's Facebook page through October 22 and expires on October 30, 2010.

The Garlic Cheese Slider begins features a steamed beef patty, a slice of White Castle's garlic cheese. The Garlic Cheese Slider and Mushroom adds mushrooms in a savory sauce. And the Chicken Marinara Slider consists of a lightly breaded white-meat chicken breast topped off with garlic cheese and marinara sauce.

Nutritional info after the jump.

News: McDonald's - McRib Returns November 2, 2010

The polarizing McDonald's McRib sandwich is slated to return nationwide on November 2, 2010 according to Eater and will stick around for approximately six weeks.

For those who don't know, the McRib sandwich has very little to do with ribs the way most people think of them. Instead, the McRib features ground pork meat shaped in a very rough approximation of a mini rack of ribs (like if it came from a really, small pygmy pig) and then slathered in barbecue sauce with pickles and onions and served on a roll.

I've never tried one myself because they served a similar product in the school cafeteria back in the day, so why buy it right? I might try one this go round just to say I did though.

Nutritional info after the jump.

Review: Taco Bell - Verde and Fire Roasted Salsas

Taco Bell recently added two new Border Salsas to their menu: Verde and Fire Roasted which come in a green and reddish brown sauce packets respectively (almost like Christmas!). Like Taco Bell's Border hot sauces, they're complimentary and yours for the grabbing.

I recently tried them to see what they're about and have to say they're a welcome addition to Taco Bell's repertoire. For one, they actually bring new flavors to the Taco Bell menu rather than familiar combinations of the same old stuff.

Review: Taco Bell - XXL Chalupa

Taco Bell's new XXL Chalupa features a kitchen sink selection of an XXL Chalupa flatbread (roughly double the size of a regular), Fiesta salsa (tomatoes, onions, and cilantro), reduced fat sour cream, Taco Bell's three cheese blend (mozzarella, monterey jack, and American), lettuce, nacho cheese sauce, red tortilla strips, and seasoned ground beef. Pricing stands at $2.79 for one.

Around the World: McDonald's Japan - iCon' Chicken

Apparently, chicken is what is being pushed at McDonald's Japan.  I have to say McDonald's Japan seems to get a lot more limited-time and outlandish items on their menu. In the month of October - early November, they are getting four different chicken sandwiches... complete with a somewhat long chicken dance, it feels like a children's show:


Inexplicably, the dance is lead by an American guy... in English and has caused my eye to start twitching. But on to the limited-time iCon' Chicken sandwiches:

News: Subway - New Sunrise Subway Melt

A breakfast version of the Subway Melt, Subway's Sunrise Subway Melt features sliced turkey deli meat, bacon, Black Forest ham, and egg whites with your choice of cheese and veggies.

It's promoted in pictures with flatbread, but you, as always, you also have your choice of bread.

Subway is running a promotion where from 7am to 11am, you can get a Footlong Sunrise Subway Melt or Steak, Egg & Cheese Sub for $5.

Nutritional info after the jump.

Review: Wienerschnitzel - Chili Cheese Dog

Probably the most well known item at Wienerschnitzel, the Chili Cheese Dog features a regular size hot dog and bun topped with cheese and chili for $1.69.

Frozen Friday: Hungry-Man - Beer Battered Chicken

The Hungry-Man "Pub Favorite" Beer Battered Chicken frozen dinner features beer battered chicken strips with seasoned potato wedges in a cheddar cheese sauce. As with all Hungry-Man dinners, this one boasts of a pound of food. They're regularly around $3.69 but can be found on sale for $1.50 to $2.00.

News: Arby's - New Steakhouse Onion Rings

A new limited-time menu item, Arby's Steakhouse Onion Rings feature (like most onion rings) battered and deep-fried onion rings. They priced at $1.99 for five onion rings.

They already serve Onion Petals which is almost the same thing, no? (Update: they replaced Onion Petals, at least at my local Arby's)

Nutritional info not yet available.

News: Arby's - New Chocolate Turnover

Like an apple turnover but not, Arby's new, limited-time Chocolate Turnover features a chocolate filling made with Hershey's Cocoa nestled inside a flaky turnover and decorated with a zigzag squiggle of chocolate icing.

As part of Arby's Value menu, it costs $1.

Nutritional info not yet available.

News: Taco Bell - New Orange 'N Creme Frutista Freeze

The newest drink to come out of Taco Bell's ever-changing wheel of Frutista is the new Orange 'N Creme Frutista Freeze which features an icy slush of orange slush with a vanilla creme.

Basically, it's a blended orange Creamsicle. You know, the orange popsicle with vanilla ice cream inside.

It's available in a 16-ounce "regular" and a 20-ounce "large." Pricing is $1.99 and $2.29 respectively.

Nutritional info after the jump.

News: Taco Bell - New Verde and Fire-Roasted Border Salsas

This month, Taco Bell is spicing it up by introducing two new Border Salsas to complement their current line of varying heat Border Sauces. The two news salsas are Verde and Fire-Roasted.

Verde (literally "green") is a green sauce mainly made with green chili peppers and tomatillos and comes in a matching green sauce packet.

Fire-Roasted is a reddish brown sauce whose main ingredient is fire-roasted tomatoes and also comes in a color-matching sauce packet.

News: Taco Bell - New XXL Chalupa

Look! The lip is curled up so you don't lose your beef!

Despite having no XL Chalupa, Taco Bell is pulling the trigger on their new XXL Chalupa.

The XXL Chalupa features an XXL Chalupa flatbread, Fiesta salsa (tomatoes, onions, and cilantro), reduced fat sour cream, Taco Bell's three cheese blend (mozzarella, monterey jack, and American), lettuce, nacho cheese sauce, red tortilla strips, and seasoned ground beef.

It is also available with chicken or steak for an upcharge.

Pricing stands at $2.79 for one.

Nutritional info after the jump or check out the review here.

Review: Starbucks - Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino

In search of better pumpkin flavor, I tried Starbucks' seasonal Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino. "Creme" is Starbucks' fancy name for a milk drink with no coffee, which basically means it's a cup of milk, usually steamed, but not for a cold drink I don't think. They used to be called "Steamers" but that term evokes some rather unpleasant imagery for some. So basically, I got milk, ice, and pumpkin sauce blended together. A 16-ounce "Grande" set me back $4.35.

News: Jack in the Box - 2 for 3 Dollars Breakfast Croissants

The latest limited time deal cranking out of Jack in the Box is 2 for $3 Breakfast Croissants. Unlike most supermarket deals, but like most fast food chains, you do have to buy two croissant sandwiches to take advantage of the offer.

You can choose from two croissant sandwiches: the Sausage Croissant which comes with sausage, fried egg, and a slice of American cheese or the Supreme Croissant with fried egg, Jack's new hickory smoked bacon, ham, and cheese.

Not a bad deal at all. I'm pretty sure croissants cost more than biscuits or English muffins.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - New Caramel Apple Latte

Only available in select markets (excluding all of New England! How's that for hate?), Dunkin' Donuts' new Caramel Apple Latte offers a combination of red and green apple flavors with a dash of caramel.

Suggested retail pricing is $1.99 for a small 10-ounce hot beverage. Available cold or hot.

Tastes like Halloween? No Dunkin' here in California though.

Nutritional info after the jump.

News: Dunkin' Donut's - Maple Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich Returns

This month, Dunkin' Donuts brings back their oven-toasted Maple Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich as part of their fall flavors.

The sandwich pairs a scrambled egg with a sweet maple-flavored sausage patty. It is then, topped with a slice of melted white cheddar cheese and served warm on a freshly baked croissant. The suggested retail price is $2.99.

Sounds a bit like a better McGriddle, no?

Nutritional info after the jump.