Around the World: The Biggest McMenu, Part Four

Time for Part Four of the Biggest McMenu, highlighting various "Mc-" items from McDonald's restaurants all over the world! We'll start this week with the McBean. No, it's not a single-bean like the name suggest but a vegetarian burger option at McDonald's in Sweden. The breaded patty is made of beans plus veggies.

Review: Doritos - Spicy Sweet Chili Flavored Chips

Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili seems to be inspired by Thai sweet chili sauce offering a blend of savory spiciness with sweet in a crunchy Doritos chip.

A bag retails at my local supermarket for $4.29 but I bought this one on sale for $2.50

Around the World: Burger King Hong Kong Serves Up Black Truffles

Following the heels of Wendy's foie-gras-and-truffle burger in Japan, Burger King gets in on the fancy party with a limited-time Black Truffle Angus XT burger in Hong Kong. But while Wendy's burger was about $16 in Japan, Burger King's burger seems a relative bargain at 38 Hong Kong Dollars or about $4.89 here in the U.S.

Why so cheap? The burger seems to embrace more proletarian affordability by keeping cost down with black truffle mayo. Also fancy is the use of curly endive. The rest of the burger is pretty standard with an Angus beef patty, tomatoes, bacon, and cheese.

News: Super Pretzel - New Sweet Cinnamon Flavor

Super Pretzels brand soft pretzels now come in a new Sweet Cinnamon flavor. The frozen pretzel brand mixed in some cinnamon into their soft and sweet pretzels and included cinnamon-sugar packets to coat the pretzels after their heated.

They come six fully baked pretzels to a 13-ounce box in the frozen food aisle. To eat, you just microwave and sprinkle the packet on.

Review: Starbucks - Java Chip Frappuccino Ice Cream

Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino Ice Cream offers the taste of a Java Chip Frappuccino in ice cream form. Of course they could have just called it Java Chip Ice Cream because it's just coffee ice cream with dark chocolaty chunks.

A pint normally sells for $4.99 at my local supermarket but I picked this one up on sale for $2.50.

Frozen Friday: Stouffer's - Swedish Meatballs

Stouffer's Swedish Meatballs is one of their Signature Classic frozen dinner and is pretty much a frozen food staple. Stoffer's version comes with noodles and parsley in a sour cream sauce.

A 11.5-ounce box retails for around $3.69 but I bought this particular box on sale for $2.

News: Quiznos - Over 25 New Menu Items

Looks like Quiznos is re-doing their image and food with a menu overhaul and brand makeover. Best known for their toasted subs, the chain is angling to emphasize their better ingredients (like all-natural chicken, Angus beef, and better turkey) and unique flavors.

The featured new menu item to show the new direction of Quiznos is the Chicken Milano Sub, an under-500 calorie sub sandwich that aims directly at Subway's Fresh Fit Choices while highlighting the new flavors of Quiznos. The sandwich is filled with all-natural chicken, all-natural mozzarella, an Italian 3-cheese blend, a seasonal lettuce blend, tomatoes, and smoky sundried tomato and basil pestos. Sounds pretty fancy, no? It's served on your choice of Artisan Breads (Whole Grain Flatbread, White, Wheat, Rosemary Parmesan or Chipotle Jack).

News: McDonald's - S'mores Pie Coming in June!

As McDonald's Strawberries & Creme Pie winds its way down off the McDonald's menu (to the sadness of many), a new pie stands at the ready on the horizon: the S'mores Pie is coming to McDonald's near you in June!

First seen during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada, the S'mores Pie has long been a curiosity to us here in the U.S. A curiosity that will be sated this summer with its arrival.

Review: Wendy's - Baked Sweet Potato

Wendy's Baked Sweet Potato is a new, limited time Signature Side on the menu and is simply a baked sweet potato served with an all-natural buttery cinnamon spread.

I got mine's for free courtesy of Wendy's but these normally sell for $2.49.

News: Jack in the Box - New Chicken Nuggets

Jack in the Box adds new Chicken Nuggets and other new value menu items. The new nuggets are breaded and made of all-white meat chicken. They're available in an order of 5 nuggets for $1.29.

Other new value menu items include: the the new Jr. Jack Hamburger for $1.19 (it looks like a Jumbo Jack but smaller), a 16-ounce drink for $1, and Value Fries for $1.

I'm guessing with beef costs rising, the Jr. Jack is replacing the Jumbo Jack on the value menu or at the very least replacing its price point.

News: Panera Bread - Summer Offerings 2012

Panera Bread returns their Strawberry Poppyseed & Chicken Salad for Summer 2012 along with a slew of other new and returning menu items for a limited time only.

The Strawberry Poppyseed & Chicken Salad features all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, romaine lettuce, fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries, fresh pineapple, Mandarin oranges, pecans, and fat-free poppyseed salad dressing.

In addition, there's a new salad available, the Chopped Chicken Cobb with Avocado Salad with all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, Applewood-smoked bacon, Gorgonzola, hard-boiled eggs, dressed with herb vinaigrette, and topped with fresh avocado.

News: Sonic - New Hey Batter Batter Blast

Sonic is welcoming in the Summer with new, limited time Hey Batter Batter Blast.

The frozen dessert blends ice cream with chocolate chip cookie dough and brownie batter pieces.

In conjunction with the launch of the new Blast, Sonic also now offers a new 10-ounce mini-size for those looking for more portion control in their ice cream consumption or maybe just less ice cream.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - New MIB 3-inspired Coffee and Donuts

Like sister brand Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin' Donuts is doing a Men in Black 3 promotion with three new menu items inspired by the movie.

For a limited-time, you can pick up Black Cocoa Creme Iced Coffee, Undercover Black Cocoa Donuts, and Chocolate Lunarmax Donuts at your local Dunkin' Donuts (of course, my "local" Dunkin' is one state over...).

Review: Wendy's - Mac 'N Cheese

Wendy's Macaroni 'N Cheese is one of three new Signature Sides. It features large macaroni pasta smothered in a cheese sauce that's made with milk, cream and white Vermont Cheddar and American cheese. Shredded cheddar cheese is sprinkled on top.

An order comes in a wide cup for $2.49 and is available for a limited time only. I got this particular order for free courtesy of Wendy's though.

News: New Nestle Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars

Girl Scout Thin Mints, the great ruiner of diets, are, along with two other flavors, now available as a Nestle Crunch bar (but only for a limited time).

They won't be available in stores until June 1st and will only be in stores through September.

If you can't wait until June, new Nestle Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars are currently available via a pre-sale on the Nestle Facebook page here. You can only order up to three 7.8-ounce Fun Size Boxes at $3.99 a box (shipping is free) per Facebook ID.

News: The Coffee Bean - $1 Ice-Blended Drinks, May 10, 2-6pm

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is holding one of their regular Open House events again tomorrow, May 10, 2012 from 2pm to 6 pm.

During the event, you can pick up a 12-ounce cup of either their Mocha Mudslide Ice Blended or Cookies & Cream Ice Blended for $1.

The deal is good at participating locations only and you can locate the nearest Coffee Bean here.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - New Breakfast Burritos

Taking advantage of their turbo convection ovens, Dunkin' Donuts is now offering oven-toasted breakfast burritos in two varieties: the Southwest Steak Burrito and the Southwest Veggie Burrito.

The Southwest Steak Burrito enfolds strips of seasoned steak, scrambled eggs, fire-roasted veggies, potatoes, and Monterey Jack and Pepper Jack cheeses in a flour tortilla.

The Southwest Veggie Burrito features all the same but takes out the steak and gives you roasted corn and black beans instead.

Review: Wendy's - Chili Cheese Fries

Wendy's Chili Cheese Fries is a new "Signature Side" that was recently added to the Wendy's menu. It features Wendy's Natural-Cut Fries topped with their trademark chili, cheddar cheese sauce, and a sprinkle of shredded cheddar.

It sells for $2.49 but I got this one for free courtesy of Wendy's.

News: Del Taco - New Asada Burritos

Del Taco serves up new Asada Burritos joining their Asada Tacos. Available with grilled marinated steak (Carne Asada) or chicken (Pollo Asada), the Asada Burritos also come with seasoned rice, guacamole, and fresh pico de gallo salsa.

News: Wienerschnitzel - New $9.99 Family Combos

Wienerschnitzel offers new, limited-time Family Combos for $9.99 this summer. Under the promotion you can get either: 3 Hamburgers, 3 Chili Dogs, and 3 Regular Fries; 6 Chili Dogs, and 3 Regular Fries; or 5 Chili Dogs and 5 Corn Dogs for $9.99.

Additionally, they're running a limited-time promotion where you can get a mix-and-match 5 for $5 combination of Corn Dogs/Chili Dogs.