News: Taco Bell Tests New $1 Cravings Menu

It appears Taco Bell is looking to scrap the current "Why Pay More" value menu by testing a "$1 Cravings" value menu. The move to a flat $1 per menu item is probably a response to rising food and labor costs.

I was traveling through California's Central Valley over the holidays and came upon the menu at a Taco Bell in one of the major truck stops.

The $1 Cravings gets its name because it's split into several different food cravings: "Beefy," "Cheesy," "Spicy," "Crunchy," and "Sweet."

Review: Starbucks - Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop

Starbucks Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop is a holiday-themed, portion-controlled dessert of peppermint chocolate cake (made with buttercream and candy cane pieces) dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with candy cane bits.

A single pop sells for $1.50.

Review: Pepperidge Farm - Milano Minis Candy Cane Cookies

Pepperidge Farm Milano Minis Candy Cane cookies are exclusive to Target and are miniature versions of Pepperidge Farm's sandwich cookies with a layer of candy cane flavored filling to go with the standard dark chocolate.

I picked up a 5-ounce package on sale for $2.50.

Review: Ben & Jerry's - Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry's Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream features red velvet cake batter ice cream with red velvet cake pieces, and a cream cheese frosting swirl.

I grabbed a pint on sale at Fresh 'N Easy for $2.50.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Hong Kong - Pizza on a Pizza

So while Pizza Hut Singapore offers pizza within a pizza this Christmas, not so far away in Hong Kong, the chain is offering pizza on a pizza: the Cheesy Opera pizza!

Each Cheesy Opera pizza features a base pizza with chicken, ham, beef, pork, tomato, oregano, and red onion on tomato sauce, plus Twisted Cheese crust (which is like Stuffed Crust but with partial dough coverage and two types of cheese). On top of this is stacked a smaller, crispy thin crust pizza with one of two topping combinations.

Review: Weissela - Chocolate-Covered Soft Gingerbread Cookies

I found Weissela's Chocolate-Covered Soft Gingerbread Cookies as I was waiting in line to check out from Trader Joe's.

They're imported from Germany and cost around $5 online, but in true Trader Joe's fashion, they were offered for about $2 for a 200g package of 7 cookies.

Around the World: Burger King Singapore Christmas Menu

Burger King Singapore has two sandwiches from their premium King's Collection on tap this Christmas: The King's Christmas Tendercrisp and The King's Christmas Beef. Impressive names no?

The King's Christmas Tendercrisp seems a bit like a cross between a Hawaiian pizza and a chicken sandwich as it comes with a crispy-fried piece of chicken thigh, Batavia lettuce, mayo, honey mustard,  Swiss cheese, as well as turkey ham and pineapple, all on a Mediterranean-style panini bread.

Frozen Friday: Trader Joe's - Channa Masala

Trader Joe's Channa Masala is described as a "moderately spicy dish with chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) at its center. The beans are sautéed with onions, tomatoes, peppers and exotic spices like cumin and fenugreek. It's a dish that’s wildly popular in the Punjab region of Northern India, as well as Gujarat in the West of the country."

You can think of it as a garbanzo bean curry. A 10-ounce box goes for $2.99.

Around the World: Hong Kong Pizza Chain - Halo 4 Pizza

You might have heard of the Halo 4 Pizza from Pizza Hut UK, but back during the launch of the game in November, Hong Kong pizza chain, Pizza-BOX, really delivered on the concept with their very own Halo 4 Pizza.

News: Del Taco - New Primo Shredded Beef Burrito

Del Taco offers the new Primo Shredded Beef Burrito to their current limited-time shredded beef line up.

The burrito features Del Taco's new Fresca Lime Rice along with slow-simmered shredded beef, hand-made pico de gallo salsa, chipotle sauce, and spicy jack cheese.

Review: El Pollo Loco - Shredded Beef Bowl

El Pollo Loco's Shredded Beef Bowl is a hefty 22-ounce(!) seasoned rice bowl filled with pinto beans, Romaine lettuce, their new shredded beef, shredded Jack cheese, chipotle cream, pico de gallo salsa, flame-grilled corn, and cilantro.

It's a bit cheaper than a similar Chipotle bowl at $5.49.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Australia - Pizza Topped with Chips and Guac!

Earlier this year, Pizza Hut Australia introduced a new "Signature" line of pizzas as a more premium series of pizzas. Among the Signature pizzas was this little gem: the Mexicana Pizza. It's topped with steak, red bell peppers, jalapenos, a squiggle of sour cream and, get this... a glop of guacamole and corn tortilla chips on top!

News: Taco Bell Launches 99 Cent Grillers

Offering the tastes of popular restaurant/bar appetizers, Taco Bell created new, limited-time Loaded Grillers for 99 cents. Promoted as appetizers for one, Loaded Grillers feature a grilled tortilla filled with either the flavors of loaded potatoes, buffalo chicken, or beef nachos.

News: Sonic - Half Price Shakes for the Winter Solstice

Mirroring their Summer Solstice promotion, Sonic is offering half-price milkshakes for the Winter Solstice which is tomorrow, Friday, December 21, and the longest night of the year.

You have to mention the offer when ordering to take advantage of it though.

Review: McDonald's - French Vanilla Latte

McDonald's new French Vanilla Latte features a new French Vanilla syrup that replaces the plain vanilla syrup. The French Vanilla syrup is accompanied by fresh brewed espresso and foamed steamed milk.

A small goes for $2.29, but I got this one for free courtesy of a coupon provided by McDonald's.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Singapore - Double Sensation Pizza

Pizza Hut is offering something interesting out in Singapore for the holidays: the Double Sensation pizza.

Looking more like an edible party tray than a pizza, the Double Sensation is so named because it features not one but two rings of crust. The outer ring is stuffed with melted mozzarella, parmesan, and cheddar cheeses which ooze out at intermittent holes in the crust, while the inner ring is filled with chicken sausage with bits of cheese inside.

News: Carl's Jr. / Hardee's - New Jalapeno Turkey Burger

Carl's Jr. and Hardee's are offering a little bit of heat this winter with the new Jalapeno Turkey Burger. Turkey burgers have become a bit of a thing for Carl's Jr. and Hardee's where they're offered as a lower calorie alternative to beef. Other fast food chains usually don't offer them.

Brand Eating Giveaway Drawing: McDonald's Holiday Drinks

McDonald's sent me some coupons for free small Peppermint Mochas (or Hot Chocolates) and free French Vanilla Lattes and I'd thought I'd share with two lucky readers.

Here's what's up for grabs:

• Two sets of 3 coupons for a free small Peppermint Mocha and 3 coupons for a free new small French Vanilla Latte (a total of 6 coupons per set, or basically enough to get your morning coffee for a week). The coupons expire on February 1, 2013,  because the Peppermint Mocha will be probably be off menu by then.

Review: Papa John's - Sausage, Peppers, and Onions Pizza

I decided to get something like an Italian beef pizza from Papa John's so I ordered a large original crust with sausage, green peppers, and onions for $10.

My Starbucks is Not This Festive: Starbucks Gingerbread House

I don't know how big Christmas is in Hong Kong, but having been there around the holidays, I do know that Christmas decorations are big around the city.

There are amazingly elaborate holiday displays at a lot of the many shopping centers and all along the waterfront (including lights on many of the high-rises facing the water).