Review: Burger King - New Smooth Roast Coffee

Burger King is offering their new Smooth Roast Coffee at 25 cents for a small cup for a limited time, so I popped in one morning to see if it was any good. The new coffee blend is custom-made for Burger King and features arabica coffee beans sourced from Latin America.

It's normally $1 for a small 12-ounce cup.

Around the World: Starbucks Japan - Sakura Season Menu

In an annual event similar to the Pumpkin Spice Latte here in the U.S., Sakura (meaning "cherry blossom") season is upon Starbucks Japan! Sakura season is when the cherry blossoms bloom in Japan (typically ranging from March to April) and droves of people in Japan stake out a spot at the park to view them (and picnic; drinking is usually involved).

News: Arby's Challenges Cities to Change Name to "Reubenville" Plus BOGO Offer

In a bit of a marketing stunt to promote their Classic Reuben sandwich, Arby's is issuing what they're calling the "Reubenville Challenge" to cities across the US. The challenge calls upon cities to rename themselves "Reubenville" for the month of March. The first city to do so will enjoy free Arby's Reuben sandwiches.

Review: Krispy Kreme - Oreo Donut Review

Krispy Kreme's Oreo Donut (or Cookies and Kreme Donut) is a yeast donut filled with Oreo-flavored creme, topped with dark chocolate icing and crushed Oreo pieces.

I picked one up for $1.19.

Around the World: Domino's India Offers the Cheesy Boloroni Pizza

Domino's India's latest crust option is the new Cheesy Boloroni Pizza, "boloroni" being a portmanteau of "bolognese" and "macaroni." Yes, it's a pizza with macaroni and a vegetarian bolognese sauce (I'm super curious as to what they put in a meatless version of a meat-based sauce...).

News: Dickey's Barbecue - $5 Westerner Sandwich on Mondays in March

Dickey's Barbecue offers their most popular sandwich, the Westerner, for a discounted price of $5 on every Monday in March.

The Westerner sandwich features two choices of meats (with nine different choices available, including beef, chicken, turkey, and pork options), cheese, pickles, onions, and barbecue sauce on a buttery roll. It's regularly priced around $7.75 (varying with location).

Giveaway Drawing: Champagne Glasses

Grey Poupon brand mustard has revived and updated their "Pardon Me" advertising campaign and are celebrating by giving me a set of two champagne glass flutes to give away.

To enter: Just leave a comment below declaring what you like to eat with mustard or say if you hate mustard (that's okay too). Only one comment per person please and the contest is only open to residents of the U.S. ages 18 and older. Please be sure to include your email address in the "email" field (and not in the comment section... you don't want spam!) as I will be contacting the winners via email.

News: Sonic - Half-Off Jumbo Popcorn Chicken on February 28

Sonic will be running a half-price promotion all day tomorrow, Thursday, February 28, 2013, on their regular or Spicy Jumbo Popcorn Chicken.

Sonic's Jumbo Popcorn Chicken are made of battered and deep-fried chunks of white meat chicken. Sauces available for dipping include Buttermilk Ranch, Honey Mustard, and Hickory BBQ, as well as new Smoked Chipotle and Berry Jalapeno.

Review: Taco Bell - Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco

Taco Bell's Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco is not quite yet available, but I got to try one at a recent preview in Los Angeles.

The taco is basically a Taco Bell Crunchy Taco (seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, and shredded cheese) with a specialized shell made of Cool Ranch Doritos tortilla chips.

You can expect them to cost $1.39 each (or $1.69 for the Supreme version) when they arrive on March 7.

News: Corner Bakery Cafe - New Turkey Monterey Panini

As winter comes to a close, Corner Bakery Cafe introduces a new panini sandwich: the Turkey Monterey Panini, as well as new Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.

The Turkey Monterey Panini sandwich features smoked turkey, spinach, homemade asiago spread, and provolone cheese on sourdough bread, pressed on a panini grill.

News: California Pizza Kitchen - New Brussels Sprouts Pizza

California Pizza Kitchen introduces two new seasonal menu items: Brussels + Bacon Pizza and Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese Salad.

You can choose from a selection of crusts ( traditional, thin, or whole grain) for the Brussels plus Bacon Pizza, and it comes topped with caramelized onions, Nueske's applewood-smoked bacon, Romano and goat cheese, black pepper, and hand-separated, charred Brussels sprouts.

Review: Krispy Kreme - Oreo Cake Donut

Krispy Kreme's Oreo Cake Donut, or "Cookies and Kreme Cake Donut," features a chocolate cake donut made with a blend of Oreo cookie pieces, topped with white icing, more Oreo cookie pieces, and, a dollop of blended Oreo-flavored Kreme with Oreo cookie pieces atop the donut's hole.

The nearest Krispy Kreme sells them for $1.19.

News: Popeyes - Cajun Surf & Turf Combo

Along with the Butterfly Shrimp Tackle Box, Popeyes is also offering the Cajun Surf & Turf combo for a limited time this seafood season.

What's the Secret Password? Checking Out the Doritos Locos Taco Experience

Last Friday, Taco Bell was previewing the Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco out in Venice Beach  and invited me to come check it out.

As a little bit of background, Taco Bell has promised the largest marketing campaign ever for the new taco and have thus far previewed the March 7 launch date with a series of speakeasy-type events, where fans had to speak a password to try the new taco.

Review: Kellogg's - Buttery Toffee Rice Krispy Treats

Kellogg's new Buttery Toffee Rice Krispy Treats are basically your standard Rice Krispy Treats, but with a hit of buttery toffee flavor.

A 6.2-ounce box contains 8-individually-wrapped marshmallow "squares" (they're more like rectangles) and sell for around $3.79.

News: New Tostitos Artisan Recipes Grilled Red Pepper and Tomato Salsa Chips

Frito Lay is offering their line of Tostitos Artisan Recipes tortilla chips in a new flavor: Grilled Red Pepper and Tomato Salsa.

The new chips are purported to draw their inspiration from the "layered flavors of a rich Mexican mole sauce." Mole can be somewhat varied in Mexican cuisine, and in this case, Frito Lay's ingredients include ancho chile, smoked paprika, garlic, onion, roasted bell peppers, sundried tomato, and lime.

What a KFC Seafood Menu Might Look Like

KFC doesn't serve seafood here in the US (except occasionally in Hawaii, where they currently offer Fish and Chips for a limited time), but if they decided to introduce a Seafood Menu, here's some inspiration taken from what's currently available at some KFC locations around the world:

Review: Ikea - Hazelnut Chocolate Bar

Ikea's Hazelnut Chocolate bar is something you can pick up from the Swedish food market department of the famed furniture store.

With regular 2-ounce bars of chocolate retailing for 79 cents or more, Ikea's 3.5-ounce bars are a great value at 99 cents each, or 3 for $2.49.

News: Seattle's Best - New Frozen Coffee Blends to Make at Home

Seattle's Best Coffee teams up with Inventure Foods, Inc. to introduce Frozen Coffee Blends, a frozen coffee drink you can blend at home.

Seattle's Best Coffee Frozen Coffee Blends are made with 100% arabica coffee beans and are available in four flavors: Coffee Chiller (i.e. plain), Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla, and Mega Mocha.

News: Hot Dog Pizza Parade Continues in the UK

Apparently, they really like their hot dog pizza over in the UK. Following Pizza Hut, Domino's UK has just recently released the new Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza. But Pizza Hut's not out of it yet, they've moved on to a new Hot Dog Pizza Bites Pizza.

While Pizza Hut's version came with mustard drizzled on top, Domino's Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza gives you the option of having the mustard inside the crust with the hot dogs.

Frozen Friday: Trader Joe's - Butter Chicken

Trader Joe's Butter Chicken is their take on the Indian dish featuring chicken in a tomato and butter sauce. It comes with basmati rice on the side.

$3.49 nets you a 12.5-ounce box.

News: Del Taco - New Beer Battered Fish Tacos

Del Taco introduces new Beer Battered Fish Tacos for seafood season (Lent) this year.

The new dish appears to replace Del Taco's Crispy Fish Taco and features hand-cut Alaskan pollock fillets in a crispy-fried beer batter crust. The fish is served in a corn tortilla and accompanied by shredded cabbage, salsa, and a creamy secret sauce. They're offered at 2 for $3.

News: Applebee's - New "Flavors of Bourbon Street" Menu

Applebee's offers the new "Jazzed Up Flavors of Bourbon Street" menu for a limited time. The New Orleans-inspired menu is anchored by two new dishes: Creamy Cajun Steak & Shrimp and the Shrimp Combo Platter.

Creamy Cajun Steak & Shrimp features a 7-ounce blackened sirloin steak, topped with seasoned shrimp, with fried red potatoes, spinach, mushrooms, peppers, and onions, plus a white wine Andouille sauce. My local Applebee's offers the entree for $15.99.

Review: Burger King - Bacon Gouda Breakfast Sandwich

Burger King's new, limited-time Bacon Gouda Breakfast Sandwich is a slight variation on the bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich that adds Gouda cheese and an herb sauce into the combination. It's available on a croissant, English muffin, or biscuit. I went with the muffin.

My local Burger King prices these at $2.99 per sandwich (in fact, all their breakfast sandwiches, except for the value ones, are $2.99).

News: El Pollo Loco - New Chicken Mushroom Stuffed Quesadilla

El Pollo Loco returns their Stuffed Quesadillas for a limited time and introduces a new Chicken Mushroom version.

The Chicken Mushroom Stuffed Quesadilla features a twice-grilled flour tortilla folded into a hexagon around melted jack cheese, chopped citrus-marinated grilled chicken, sauteed mushrooms and onions, poblano cream sauce, and cilantro.

News: Hardee's Brings Back Pork Chop 'N' Gravy Biscuit

Hardee's once again offers the Pork Chop 'N' Gravy Biscuit, featuring a breaded, boneless pork chop topped with sausage gravy between two halves of a buttermilk biscuit.

Hardee's has offered several version of the Pork Chop Biscuit over the past 10 years, including a gravy-less version and a grilled version.

Review: Popeyes - Strawberry and Cream Cheese Pie

Popeyes' new Strawberry and Cream Cheese Pie is a limited-time menu item featuring strawberry puree layered with cream cheese inside of a deep-fried pie dough shell (technically, it's a deep-fried turnover).

My local Popeyes offers them for $1.29 each.

News: Kettle Brand - New Maple Bacon and Sweet & Salty Chips

Kettle Brand kettle-cooked potato chips is out with two new flavors: Maple Bacon and Sweet & Salty.

Each flavor took more than nine months to develop and were selected from hundreds of prototypes.

Maple Bacon takes the smokiness of bacon and combines it with the sweetness of real maple syrup and lightly spices it with chili pepper.

News: Krispy Kreme - Oreo Donuts

Krispy Kreme's latest limited-time donuts features Oreo cookies for a cookies and cream theme. There are two varieties: the Cookies and Kreme Cake Donut and the Cookies and Kreme Donut.

The Cookies and Kreme Cake Donut (shouldn't it be "Oreos and Kreme" for maximum branding?) is a chocolate cake donut made with Oreo cookie pieces and then topped with white icing, more Oreo cookie pieces, and just for good measure, a dollop of blended Oreo-flavored Kreme with Oreo cookie pieces.

Review: Nabisco - Peanut Butter Oreo Fudge Cremes Cookies

Peanut Butter Oreo Fudge Cremes cookies are basically half an Oreo (creme side) with a peanut butter-flavored creme covered in chocolaty fudge (i.e. made with cocoa and not chocolate).

A 11.3-ounce package retails for about $2.99.

Around the World: Domino's Also Serves Pizza Sliders... in Australia

Like Pizza Hut, Domino's  introduces new Pizza Sliders for a limited-time, but in Australia rather than here in the U.S.

The sliders come four to a pack with one of each of the following topping combinations:

- Meatlovers - Topped with back bacon, ham, ground beef, and Italian sausage.
- Supreme - Topped with pepperoni, back bacon, bell peppers, ground beef, Italian sausage, mushroom, pineapple, and oregano. (I'm really not sure how they fit all of that onto a mini pizza. Maybe one piece of each?)
- Pepperoni - self-explanatory.
- Hawaiian - Topped with ham, pineapple, and extra mozzarella.

News: Quiznos - Lobster Sub and Salad are Back

Once again, Quiznos is offering lobster for seafood season (i.e. Lent). While the chain offers tuna year round, lobster is only offered around this time of year and is available in the Lobster & Seafood Salad Sub as well as the Lobster & Seafood Salad.

Review: Wendy's - Premium Fish Fillet Sandwich

Wendy's Premium Fish Fillet Sandwich is their seasonal seafood offering around this time of year. It features a hand-cut fillet of North Pacific Cod, breaded in a deep-fried panko crumb coating along with lettuce and tartar sauce on a buttered and toasted bun.

My local Wendy's offers them for $3.49, but I received this one courtesy of Wendy's.

News: Burger King - 25 Cent Small Coffee, February 18 to March 10

Burger King invites you to try their new coffee with a 25-cent Small Coffee promotion that starts today, February 18, 2013, and runs through Sunday, March 10, 2013.

Burger King recently switched their coffee blend to new Smooth Roast by Seattle's Best (the previous coffee blend was also by Seattle's Best).

News: Papa John's - New Steak and Cheese Pizza

Papa John's newest offering is the Steak and Cheese Pizza. It's topped with a blend of pizza and creamy garlic parmesan sauce, marinated steak slices, mozzarella cheese, and Italian herb seasoning (the same stuff they give you in packets).

Review: Pringles - Paprika Flavor

This canister of Paprika flavor Pringles came to me from my cousin who picked it up in Germany while traveling around Europe. It's actually made in Belgium though.

While it's exclusive to Europe, apparently you can pick them up from an importer on Amazon for a little over $5.

Around the World: KFC France - Mountain Boxmaster

In some countries abroad, KFC offers the Boxmaster, which is a box-shaped flour tortilla wrap that comes in different varieties depending on the country, but generally filled with KFC chicken (grilled or fried), hash brown, lettuce, tomato, and sauce.

Recently, in France, KFC introduced the new, limited time Mountain Boxmaster with a region specific AOC French cheese called "Reblochon."

Review: Ralph's - Private Selection Raspberry Shortbread Cookies

Ralph's / Kroger's Private Selection Raspberry Shortbread Cookies are a new offering in their stores and feature "buttery shortbread with tart raspberries, dipped in delicious white chocolate."

Private Selection is Ralph's brand for "premium" food items.

A 6-ounce box goes for $2.99.

News: Subway - Free Cookie with Any Purchase February 18

Subway celebrates this upcoming President's Day, Monday, February 18, 2013 by offering a free cookie with any purchase all day (featuring their red, white, and blue Birthday Berry Cookie, of course).

The deal is not a bad one if you're picking up a $5 Footlong that day anyway.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Sri Lanka Offers Pizza Stuffed with Mayo and Mustard

Pizza Hut Sri Lanka (that small island county off the southern coast of India) offers a pizza stuffed with toppings, mayo, and mustard called the "Double Decker" pizza.

I'm not sure about the mustard and mayo, but the rest looks like the pizza that last year's Overstuffed Pizza should have been.

News: Haagen-Dazs Introduces New Gelato

Haagen-Dazs will soon offer new Gelato as the latest addition to their existing line of ice cream, sorbets, and frozen yogurt. Generally, gelato tends to contain more milk and less cream than regular ice cream.

Being Haagen-Dazs, ingredients like Madagascar vanilla, Brazilian coffee, San Francisco sea salt, Oregon cherries, and South African lemons find their way into some of the flavors.

Frozen Friday - Marie Callender's - Savory Chicken and Rice

Marie Callender's Savory Chicken and Rice is one of their new Comfort Bakes frozen entrees that promises "oven baked taste from the microwave." It features white meat chicken with white & wild rice and vegetables smothered in a creamy mushroom sauce.

A 10-ounce package sells for about $3.69.

News: Wienerschnitzel - "UnDer the Sea" Trio is Back

Wienerschnitzel's stylized "UnDer the Sea Trio" returns in time for Lent this year. The menu features battered and deep-fried fish filet strips featured in three different dishes.

There's the classic Fish and Chips, the Sea Dog, and the Fish Wrap.

News: White Castle - New Shrimp and Mac & Cheese Nibblers

White Castle offers new, limited-time Shrimp Nibblers and Mac & Cheese Nibblers this Lenten season to go with their everday seafood choices of Fish Nibblers and Fish Sliders.

Mac & Cheese Nibblers feature creamy Cheddar cheese and macaroni noodles coated with a crispy Cheddar batter.

Review: Foster's Freeze - Waffle Fries

Foster's Freeze's Waffle Fries are of the seasoned and battered variety of waffle-cut potato fries.

These came in a 6-ounce, larger-than-usual, waxed bag for $2.49.

Around the World: Wendy's Serves up Hot Dogs in the Philippines

If you've ever gone to Wendy's and thought, "Man, I could really go for a hot dog right now..." It turns out Wendy's does offer hot dogs... in the Philippines... at all of one location... (some place called "Greenhills" if you're wondering)

The hot dogs are styled as "Wendy's New York Style Franks," but the "New York Classic" is probably unidentifiable as such to any New Yorker; it's just a plain hot dog with ketchup.

News: Taco Bell's New Steak Goes National

It's in with the new, out with the old (steak that is) at Taco Bell with the nationwide release of their new steak, which was developed with the help of celebrity chef Lorena Garcia (best known for helping them out with the Cantina Bowl).

The new steak is described on the Taco Bell website as "tender-braised thick cut steak marinated in Chef Lorena Garcia’s authentic Latin recipe." The pieces also sport grill marks so I have to assume that the steak is grilled at some point.

News: Burger King - New Bacon Gouda Breakfast Sandwiches

For a limited-time, Burger King is offering a "Bacon Gouda" option for their breakfast sandwiches. The sandwiches feature thick-cut smoked bacon, eggs, Gouda cheese, and an herb spread on your choice of an English muffin, biscuit, or croissant.

They're also available with sausage, ham, and no egg combinations if you specify.

News: Frito Lay - New Lay's "Do Us A Flavor" Potato Chips

Frito Lay now offers three consumer-inspired potato chips flavors to their Lay's line of chips. The limited time flavors are Cheesy Garlic Bread, Lay's Chicken & Waffles, and Sriracha and can be found in stores nationwide through May 2013.

Review: Jack in the Box - Hot Cinnamon Shake

Jack in the Box's new, limited-time Hot Cinnamon Shake features vanilla ice cream and red spicy cinnamon syrup, finished with whipped topping and a maraschino cherry.

A 16-ounce "regular" shake goes for $2.69 at my local Jack in the Box.