Review: Hershey's - Zero Candy Bar

Hershey's Zero candy bar is a bit of an oddity in the candy bar world with a snow white layer of white fudge on the outside. Inside, there's a mix of caramel plus peanut and almond nougat.

It's not originally a Hershey's product but it's theirs now. I bought a bar from a local drugstore for $1.

News: Quaker Oats - New Quaker Real Medleys

Quaker Oats is out with a convenient on-the-go solution, new Quaker Real Medleys that expands their line up of oatmeal products.

The new line's main selling point is the inclusion of real chunks of dried fruit and/or crunchy nuts to go with a portable cup of instant oatmeal (just add water or microwave with water).

News: Frito-Lay - New Smartfood Selects

Frito Lay has expanded their brand of Smartfood products (or rather product since their was only one flavor of popcorn initially) into a whole line dubbed "Smartfood Selects" which feature all-natural ingredients, no preservatives, and no MSG.

The Smartfood Selects line includes popped chips, popcorn, and puffed corn. Another highlight of the brand is that certain nutritional information (calories per serving, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar) is displayed prominently on the front of the package  and accompanied by readily identifiable nutrition icons.

Review: Frito Lay - Enchilada Supreme Doritos Jacked

Doritos Jacked tortilla chips are a recent innovation from Frito Lay boasting of being bigger, bolder, and thicker. I recently tried Enchilada Supreme Doritos Jacked which purported to meld the flavors of cheddar cheese with tangy salsa and the bite of Mexican spices.

A 10.5-ounce bag cost me $2.00 on sale off a retail of $4.29.

News: White Castle Offers Craver Nation Loyalty Program

White Castle kicks off the launch of Craver Nation, a loyalty program/website for its fans that rewards them with free Sliders. You can visit the site at www.cravernation.com.

The website is a social media website where fans of White Castle can interact with each other.

News: Burger King - $1 for 2 Chicken Strips This Weekend

Starting today and running through the end of tomorrow, Burger King is discounting their new Chicken Strips to $1 for two.

The offer is only good May 5-6 at participating locations. The offer is not valid in Hawaii and Alaska because food just costs more out that way.

Frozen Friday: Lean Cuisine - Roasted Turkey and Vegetables

Lean Cuisine's Roasted Turkey and Vegetables features a 200-calorie frozen meal with roasted turkey tenderloins with gravy and green beans with cranberries and slivered almonds.

I got an 8-ounce box from my local supermarket for $2 but they're normally $3.29.

News: Arby's - New Orange Cream Shake

For a limited-time, Arby's is blending a new flavor of milkshake with the Orange Cream Shake.

They're describing it as "cool, creamy & totally dreamy!" It features vanilla shake mix blended with Orange Cream syrup.

Sounds to me like it would taste like those orange Popsicles with a vanilla ice cream filling except blended into a shake.

News: Hardee's Cooking Up New Breakfast Wraps

Hardee's is now offering new Breakfast Wraps, perhaps for those who want something more snackable than a breakfast burrito (they're about 100 to 110 grams compared with 265 grams for Hardee's Loaded Breakfast Burrito).

The new tortilla wraps are offered in two varieties: Bacon, Egg & Cheese and Sausage, Egg & Gravy.

News: Häagen-Dazs - Free Cone Day, May 8th

Like Ben & Jerry's, ice cream maker Häagen-Dazs has their fair share of fans and like Ben & Jerry's, Häagen-Dazs also throws a Free Cone Day event and it's coming up this Tuesday, May 8th, between the hours of 4 and 8 pm.

Not sure if you can get in line repeatedly like at the Ben & Jerry's event but free ice cream is free ice cream, no?

News: The Chicken Pecan Salad Returns to Arby's

The Chicken Pecan Salad is back for the summer at Arby's. Available on either honey wheat bread or in a whole-grain wrap, the Chicken Pecan Salad features sliced roast chicken, mayo, diced apples, sliced grapes, diced celery, chopped, toasted pecans, and green leaf lettuce.

I tried both versions last year. Both were fresh and flavorful if a little heavy on the mayo but I preferred the wrap over the bread.

News: Starbucks - Frappuccino Happy Hour Returns, May 4-13, 3-5pm

Starbucks is bringing back Frappuccino Happy Hour starting today and running till May 13. Under the Happy Hour promotion, you can pick up any Frappuccino, made the way you want it, for half the regular price from 3-5 pm.

Heading into summer, Starbucks introduces the new Mocha Cookie Crumble as well as its non-coffee counterpart, the Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme. Their features include a chocolaty whipped creme that might look mighty fine on whatever Frappuccino you have your local Starbucks make for you.

I put together a guide last year on the basics of Starbucks Frappuccino customization. You can check it out here.

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

Apparently, not content with the Hand-Breaded Chicken Fillet Sandwich, Carl's Jr. is replacing it with new Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders Sandwiches which come with two Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders inside instead of a single chicken breast fillet.

The new sandwiches come in three varieties partially aping their snack wrap flavors: Bacon Swiss Crispy, Honey Mustard, and Buttermilk Ranch.

News: Starbucks Summer 2012 Featured Line Up

For those of you wanting a more chocolaty Frappuccino this summer, Starbucks is aiming to please with new, limited-time Mocha Cookie Crumble and Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme Frappuccinos.

The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino features coffee blended with mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, chocolaty chips, milk, and ice topped with chocolaty whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumbles. "Chocolaty," by the way tends to mean made with cocoa and not chocolate.

The Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme is for when you're not feeling the coffee and blends the same ingredients as the Mocha version sans the coffee.

Review: Frito Lay - Loaded Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins Ruffles Potato Chips

Ruffles Loaded Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins flavored potato chips promise the flavor of green onions, sour cream, cheese, and bacon in a potato chip.

I picked up a bag at a local supermarket for $2.50 (off of a $4.29 retail).

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

Baskin-Robbins is doing a Men In Black 3 tie-in this May. The promo for the movie (which comes out May 25) includes Lunar Cheesecake as the Flavor of the Month.

Lunar Cheesecake is a returning flavor that was first introduced in 1969 to commemorate the first spaceflight to the Moon. It features green and white cheesecake ice cream with cheesecake bits and a crunchy graham cracker ribbon.

In addition to the limited-time return of Lunar Cheesecake, Baskin-Robbins is also offering two space-themed sundaes, a new Triple Mocha Cappuccino Blast, and a special cake for a limited time.

News: Subway - May 2012 $5 Featured Footlong

This month Subway is offering the Pizza Sub as their May $5 Featured Footlong.

The Pizza Sub features a base of spicy pepperoni slices and marinara to go with the customary choice of cheese, veggies, and condiments.

Subway has also been running a $3 Breakfast Combo which comes with your choice of a 6" Egg and Cheese Sub with either Ham or Bacon and a 16-ounce coffee or 21-ounce fountain drink.

Review: McDonald's - Cherry Berry Chiller

McDonald's Cherry Berry Chiller is an ice-slush drink made by blending a 100% fruit juice base with ice. It uses a combinations of apple, grape, and raspberry juice plus cherry puree to achieve a cherry raspberry flavor.

I actually tried this twice, it was $2.29 for a 12-ounce small in San Francisco but only $1.49 for the same in central California. San Francisco has a pretty high cost of living though.

News: Hardee's - New Cheddar Cheese Fries

Hardee's returns Bacon Cheddar Fries as summer begins. The returning menu item features Hardee's Natural Cut Fries smothered with melted cheddar cheese sauce and sprinkled with crumbled bits of bacon.

While chili cheese fries are fairly common, bacon and cheese on fries aren't so much. I'm not actually sure why as both combinations sound pretty good.

To promote Bacon Cheddar Fries, Hardee's is looking to entice you further by offering a coupon for a free drink to go with your order of fries here: http://www.hardees.com/coupons/baconcheddarfriesfreedrink

News: Dairy Queen - May Blizzard of the Month 2012

It's May 1st and that means a new Blizzard of the Month at Dairy Queen.

This May, for all you cake fans out there, it's Confetti Cake which takes white cake pieces and confetti frosting and blends them into Dairy Queen's vanilla soft serve.

Also new for the month is the Chicken Bacon Ranch Iron Grilled Sandwich featuring grilled chicken, bacon, green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, and Ranch dressing on iron-grilled bread.