Review: Burger King - Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

Burger King's Chicken Parmesan Sandwich is a fancier iteration of their occasional menu item, the Italian Chicken Sandwich. The Chicken Parmesan Sandwich comes with crispy or grilled chicken breast, mozzarella and shaved Parmesan cheeses, and marinara sauce on an artisan-style bun.

The suggested retail price is $4.79, but my local Burger King has them for $4.99. Fortunately, Burger King has a buy one, get one free coupon online, so I tried both the grilled and crispy versions.

News: Cinnabon - Free Minibons on September 25th

Cinnabon is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the mini version of their trademark Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, the Minibon, by offering Facebook fans one free Minibon each on Tuesday, September 25, 2012.

The offer requires a coupon that is printable from Cinnabon's Facebook page and is good at participating mall locations only.

Around the World: Subway Japan - Spanish Subs

Subway Japan follows up last month's English-themed promotion (and French before that) with a Spanish-themed promotion featuring a Bacon & Potato with Anchovy Sauce sub and a Spanish Omelet with Tomato Meat Sauce sub.

The featured ingredients are not the first, second, nor third thing I think of when I think of Spanish cuisine (bacon and potatoes make me think Irish and tomato meat sauce makes me think Italian), but the subs seem interesting enough.

News: Ben & Jerry's - New Cannoli Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry's latest U.S. limited batch ice cream flavor is Cannoli. This take on the classic Sicilian pastry features mascarpone ice cream with fudge-covered cannoli pastry chunks and a mascarpone swirl.

Ben & Jerry's Cannoli ice cream is set to arrive in stores by the end of the month and it's only available for a limited time.

Review: Sonic - Crispy Chicken Hickory Flatmelt Sandwich

Sonic's Crispy Chicken Hickory Flatmelt Sandwich is a limited-time offering that features crispy fried chicken breast strips, hickory BBQ sauce, bacon, cheddar cheese, and grilled onions folded instead a warm flatbread.

I got mine for free courtesy of Sonic, but they regularly go for $3.99.

Around the World: McDonald's Austria - New McNoodles

McDonald's is branching out into Asian stir-fry in Austria starting tomorrow, September 20, 2012, with new McNoodles. McDonald's features fresh vegetables (looks like red peppers, baby corn, red cabbage), chicken, salad greens, and one of two sauces: Sweet & Sour and Curry.

The noodles are wheat Hokkien noodles shipped directly from Thailand and heated in a water bath at each McDonald's restaurant.

News: Starbucks - New Cinnamon Rolls

Starbucks brings new Cinnamon Rolls to the bakery display of their stores this fall. The new rolls feature a soft and light pastry dough rolled up with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and then covered with cream cheese icing (think Krispy Kreme glaze waterfall).

Starbucks previously served a Double Iced Cinnamon Roll that was discontinued. It featured a blend of Indonesian and Vietnamese cinnamons and was iced with both a sugar glaze and a cream cheese frosting.

News: Campbell's Soup Offers Extensive Lines of New Soups

Campbell's Soup is going all out to attract the next generation of soup eaters with new lines of soup amounting to a huge expansion of varieties featuring bolder, more worldly, and fanciful flavors.

There are three new lines of soups as well as additions to Campbell's original line of condensed soups and Chunky soups.

Here's what's new:

Review: Subway - Birthday Berry Cookies

Subway's Birthday Berry Cookies are a limited-time item they're serving up this month to celebrate their birthday (notwithstanding the fact that they were founded in August). Each cookie has dried cranberries, dried blueberries, and white chocolate chips baked in.

I picked up two recently so I could heat one in the toaster oven to compare. My local Subway had them for 60 cents each or three for $1.25.

News: Jamba Juice - $1 Smoothies in CA and NY for Two Weeks

Jamba Juice is bringing back their Dollar Days promotion and offering 16-ounce smoothies for $1 in New York and California for two weeks from 9/17/12 through 9/28/12, but only on Mondays through Friday and only between the hours of 5pm to 7pm.

News: McDonald's - New Daily Double

McDonald's latest value burger, the new Daily Double, was tested earlier this year and now finds itself on the Extra Value Menu at $1.99.

For about a dollar (the McDouble is $1.19 at my local McDonald's now so it's only 80 cents more for me) more than the Dollar Menu McDouble, pickles, ketchup, and mustard get replaced by lettuce, tomato, and mayo while onions, double beef patties, and cheese stick around.

Review: Taco Bell - Mountain Dew A.M.

Taco Bell's Mountain Dew A.M. is Mountain Dew soda mixed with Tropicana Orange Juice. You could mix it at home, but if you're at Taco Bell for First Meal anyway, they can provide and mix it for you.

I picked up a 20-ounce large for $1.99 which is the same price as a similar-size cup of plain orange juice at Taco Bell. I really should have gotten the smaller cup. Why do I keep falling for the "for x cents more, you get a lot more beverage?"

Review: Nabisco - Belvita Chocolate Breakfast Biscuits

Nabisco's Chocolate Belvita are one of the latest additions to their line of breakfast biscuits. They promise "nutritious sustained energy" and the taste of chocolate.

A 8.8-ounce box comes with five individually wrapped packs. I got this box on sale for $2.99 ($4.69 regular price).

News: Kellogg's - New Special K Popcorn Chips

Touting them for prime-time television watching and late night snacking, Kellogg's introduces new Special K Popcorn Chips. They're made with corn and are baked rather than fried (They look a bit like thin rice cakes) with 28 chips and 120 calories to a serving.

Special K Popcorn Chips are available in two flavors: Butter and Sweet & Salty.

The idea is popcorn flavor with a crunch while promoting sensible snacking, but couldn't they just as easily sell seasoned, air-popped popcorn for the same effect?

Review: Ben & Jerry's - Coffee Heath Bar Crunch Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch ice cream is fairly simple with pieces of Heath candy bars mixed into coffee ice cream.

I normally pick up a pint of Ben & Jerry's on sale between $2.50 to $3.50. It was really hot today, so I thought I'd enjoy some ice cream.

Frozen Friday: Stouffer's - Farmers' Harvest Vegetable Lasagna

Stouffer's Farmer's Harvest Vegetable Lasagna is a frozen meal made with whole grain lasagna, layered with carrots, spinach, broccoli, onions, and a parmesan and romano cheese sauce.

A 10.5-ounce box retails for $4.19 at one of my local supermarkets.

News: Culver's - 2012 Seasonal Fall Menu

Culver's serves up six limited-time items this fall. There are a few new dishes and a few returning favorites. On the new side of things, there's the new Colby Jack Pub Burger and Asian Crunch Salad. Returning are a spate of pumpkin frozen drinks and Sweet Potato Fries.

The new Colby Jack Pub Burger features a beef patty, seared on a grill and topped with Wisconsin Colby Jack cheese, crispy fried onions, 4-pepper mayo, and A.1. Steak Sauce served on a Supper Club bun. It comes with a side of Wisconsin Cheese Curds and is available through November 11, 2012.

Review: Starbucks - Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino

Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino features coffee blended with mocha sauce and toffee-nut-flavored syrup, milk, and ice. It's then topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a mixture of turbinado sugar and sea salt.

A local Starbucks was giving free samples in little cups so I gave it a try.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - Fall 2012 Pumpkin Donuts and More

Dunkin' Donuts rolls out a full line up of pumpkin and apple flavors this fall as well as new Pumpkin K-Cup packs for convenient use at home.

The fall menu of limited-time items is as follows:

New Apple Orchard Donuts and Munchkins: Apple-cider-flavored cake donuts (or donut holes) with cinnamon sugar topping.

News: Krispy Kreme Celebrates Talk Like a Pirate Day with Free Donuts

For those of you who didn't know (which is probably like 90% of everyone), next Wednesday, 9/19/12 is Talk Like a Pirate Day and Krispy Kreme is celebrating by giving away a free donut to each to anyone who steps inside a participating Krispy Kreme location and talks like a pirate. Arr!

It's a little early for Halloween, but for those who are willing to go full-on Jack Sparrow (i.e. dress like a pirate), will be rewarded with a full dozen free Original Glazed Donuts.