Review: McDonald's - Cinnamon Melts

Cinnamon Melts are McDonald's take on the cinnamon roll without actually bothering to roll anything. They resemble monkey bread in form, are topped with a cream cheese icing, and are priced at $1.69 (may vary).

Review: Burger King - Original Chicken Sandwich

Burger King's Original Chicken Sandwich is Burger King's basic chicken sandwich consisting of a chicken patty on a bun with shredded iceberg lettuce and mayo. Burger King throws it up just a tad by making it a sub-style sandwich instead of a burger shape. It'll run you $3.99 but Burger King is currently running a promotion where it's buy one, get one for free.

Around the World - McDonald's Challenges KFC's Christmas Supremacy in Japan

Through some sort of marketing magic, back in the '70s, KFC managed to convince the Japanese that Christmas means chicken (because turkey is hard to find in Japan). KFC chicken to be precise. Fast forward 40 years later and many a Japanese family pre-orders their Christmas dinners at KFC and wait in line on Christmas Day to pick it up.

But this year, there is a challenger for KFC's Christmas supremacy. McDonald's is hawking their own Christmas-themed chicken dinner this year in the iCon'BOX (that's how they're spelling it) for 1780 yen (~$21.16) undercutting KFC and vying to get their own claws (so to speak) in Japan's Christmas celebration.

News: Jamba Juice - Testing Froyo

Jamba Juice is again looking to expand its menu, and jump in on a trend, with a test of frozen yogurt at select locations in the northern California market according to NRN.

Besides the typical flavors (original tart, chocolate, vanilla, etc.) and toppings, Jamba Juice is offering the option of blending in your choice of fresh fruits much like their smoothies. They're calling it "Whirl'ns" frozen yogurt.

They're looking to expand the testing to other markets in 2011. If the tests goes well, look for Jamba Juice to expand Whirl'ns nationally. Suggested pricing is $3.50 for a 6-ounce small with one topping and $5.50 for a 10-ounce large with one topping.

Review: Pepperidge Farm - Oatmeal Cookies

New to Pepperidge Farm's delectable cookie collection, Oatmeal cookies are touted as "sweet & simple homestyle cookies." Actually, in Pepperidge Farm fashion they're just simply labeled "oatmeal" in all big, lowercase letters. They're part of Pepperidge Farm's Homestyle Cookies which feature classic cookies made with just a few ingredients. A 5.25-ounce bag of 15 cookies retails for around $4 but are found on sale for about $2.

Frozen Friday: Claim Jumper - Lasagna with Meat Sauce

Claim Jumper's Lasagna with Meat Sauce frozen dinner features over a pound of the Italian staple (and Garfield favorite) and is a convenient alternative to spending the time to bake a lasagna, especially if you don't have a family to feed. It retails for around $3.99 but goes on sale now and again for around $2.

Review: Jack in the Box - Seasoned Curly Fries

Jack in the Box's Seasoned Curly Fries are curly cut French fries seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, and "spices" (which probably includes paprika). They cost a little bit more than Jack's regular fries at $1.79 for a small order (compared to $1.39) in my locale.

Review: Five Guys - Fries

Five Guys Fries are what Wendy's would call "natural cut" AKA skin-on fries. Unlike Wendy's new fries (which are shipped frozen to each restaurant), Five Guys' Fries are cut fresh in house before frying in In-N-Out fashion.

$3.99 buys you a large order enough to share with four friends or maybe just one friend if you're a big eater. I wouldn't recommend eating an entire large order by yourself for two reasons: one, it's over a pound of fries; and two, it's nearly 1,500 calories worth of fried potatoes.

Review: Sonic - Sonic Cheeseburger

The Sonic Cheeseburger is Sonics' (it would be strange otherwise) version of the standard fast food cheeseburger. While it doesn't look like it on the menu, I was surprised to find that the Sonic Cheeseburger is about the size of a Whopper and features American cheese, crinkle-cut pickles, chopped onions, shredded lettuce, and sliced tomatoes on a beef patty with your choice of mustard, mayo or ketchup. It's a bit cheaper than the Whopper at $3.29 (or $2.79 without cheese).

News: Reserve Your Free Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Biscuit

Chick-fil-A is offering free Spicy Chicken Biscuits to their customers from January 3 to January 8, 2011 but like their free Spicy Chicken Sandwich promotion back in May, you have to go online and reserve your free Spicy Chicken Biscuit. It's a little more legwork, but at least you know they won't run out when you get there right?

Only a limited number of free Spicy Chicken Biscuits are being made available so make your reservations early starting Monday, December 27, 2010 at www.GetSpicyChicken.com to choose your preferred Chick-fil-A location and time.

The Spicy Chicken Biscuit officially comes to the Chick-fil-A menu on January 10, 2011.

Review: Wendy's - Guacamole Bacon Cheeseburger

Wendy's new Guacamole Bacon Cheeseburger is a premium fast food burger being tested in the southern California area and features a quarter pound beef patty, bacon, Swiss cheese, guacamole, onions, tomatoes, and mayo on a Kaiser bun. The price is about average for a premium fast food offering at $4.29.

News: Subway Testing New Oven Crisp Chicken Sandwich

Looks like Subway is testing the Oven Crisp Chicken sandwich exclusively in the Western Michigan Market for a limited time only.

The main feature of the sandwich is its namesake chicken which promises the taste and flavor of fried chicken without the actual frying and greasiness. The Oven Crisp Chicken sandwich is served with a sweet honey mustard sauce by default and your choice of veggies.

News: Burger King - BOGO Original Chicken Sandwich

Burger King is running a national buy one, get one free promotion for the Original Chicken Sandwich for a limited time only.

It looks like the promotion replaces last month's Free Coffee Fridays on the BK website. Perhaps this portends to Burger King running a different value promotion every month? (Update 12/14: The promotion is running through January 16, 2011)

The Original Chicken Sandwich was Burger King's longer, thinner analog to the McChicken back when the McChicken was McDonald's flagship chicken sandwich before McDonald's value-sized (and value-priced) it. An Original Chicken Sandwich costs $3.99(!) in the Los Angeles area.

Review: Starbucks - Toffee Nut Creme

Starbucks' Toffee Nut Creme or Steamer (or Flavored Steamed Milk) is a simple drink of steamed milk with toffee nut syrup. The milk itself will cost you $2.25 for a Tall while the syrup taxes on an additional 45 cents unless you have a Starbucks Card with My Starbucks Rewards, in which case the syrup is complimentary.

Review: Crumbs - Signature Cupcakes

Crumbs Bake Shop is a cake shop chain known mostly for their premium cupcakes. Their cupcakes are a might bit bigger than your typical cupcakes and will run about $3 to $4 depending on the selection (some are available in smaller sizes but I didn't see any). Currently, Crumbs has locations in five states (CA, CT, DC, NJ, and NY) with locations set to open in IL and VA. They ship anywhere in the continental U.S. though.

I visited a Crumbs for the first time very recently and ordered two of their "signature" cupcakes: a Christmas Good Guy and a Squiggle which cost me $3.75 each ($4.50 if you order online).

Frozen Friday: Marie Callender's - Beef Pot Pie

Marie Callender's frozen Beef Pot Pie weighs over a pound and features a golden flaky crust filled with a beef stew with potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions. The regular price on one is $3.99 but it's not uncommon to find them around $2 on sale.

News: Krispy Kreme - Seasonal Holiday Menu 2010

Krispy Kreme has some pretty festive donuts this holiday season: they've got a Snowman Donut, a Chocolate Iced Donut with holiday sprinkles, and a Chocolate Peppermint Bark Donut. In addition, they have an obligatory peppermint-flavored drink in the new Peppermint Krispy Kreme Chiller.

The Snowman Donut comes with white icing and red icing scarf.

There's also a Wreath Donut with red-iced holly berries and a bow.

The new Chocolate Peppermint Bark Donut is a chocolate cake donut made with Hershey’s Cocoa, hand dipped in chocolate, and topped with crunchy peppermint bark.

Review: Chick-fil-A - Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake

Chick-fil-A's holiday themed shake, the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake, takes the chain's Icedream soft serve and blends it with peppermint syrup and red & white dark chocolate pieces before topping it with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

It carries a suggested retail of $2.55 for a small, but it costs $3.09 here in Southern California.

News: Carl's Jr. - Chicken Tenders Now Available in Boxes

Carl's Jr.'s Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders are now available in boxes of 10, 15, or 20 pieces as promoted by the Green Hornet-themed commercial below. Cue the explosions!

There's also a movie-themed Kickin' Asian Sweet & Spicy Dipping Sauce because you know, Kato is Asian and he kicks... I guess it's not as obvious as a Stinging Green Hornet sauce; though it wouldn't be confused with a sauce from Panda Express.

Cheap Gift Idea: McDonald's Sanrio Watches

"Q, want to go to McDonald's?" The Sister asked as I arrived home from work.

"Why?" I asked, somewhat suspicious.

"I want to get a Sanrio watch."

"Huh?"