News: Panera Bread - 2012 Seasonal Holiday Menu

It's nearing Christmas, and that means Panera Bread is trotting out some new and returning featured menu items this winter to help celebrate the holidays, including a couple new sandwiches as well as some new holiday-themed cookies.

Here's a look at Panera Bread's 2012 Holiday Menu:

Review: Blue Diamond - Honey Dijon Almonds

Blue Diamond Bold Honey Dijon Almonds are roasted almonds seasoned with the flavors of honey Dijon mustard.

A 6-ounce can goes for $3.99 at Walgreens and if you're too lazy to actually go there, they even offer it online.

Around the World: Burger King Taiwan - Roast Poussin for Christmas!

Burger King Taiwan is currently offering roast Poussin, or "young chicken," this holiday season. The chicken is sold by the half and look to be about the same size as a small Cornish Game Hen here in the U.S.

They're having fans vote between two versions of the chicken with a chance to win coupons for free chicken. There's an original version and a spicy Sichuan (or Szechuan) version, and original is winning the vote 2-to-1 so far.


I guess if McDonald's in Taiwan can offer fried chicken, roast chicken isn't much of a stretch for Burger King.

The price appears to be $149 NT each or about $5.13 US.

Review: Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Cupcakes

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes are chocolate cups cakes filled with a peanut butter cream and topped with a dark chocolate ganache icing.

They come four to a box for $3.99.

Around the World: Taco Bell Philippines - Bucket Nachos

Earlier this summer, in the Philippines, Taco Bell offered Bucket Nachos (or Bucket Nacho according to the actual bucket) which as far as I can tell is a bucket of nacho/tortilla chips without cheese i.e. it's a bucket of chips... from what I can guess, it looks like you can choose to sprinkle them with Barbecue, Nacho Cheddar, or Ranch seasonings or just eat them plain.

It is also entirely possible that the cheese just comes in a dipping cup on the side (it's just not shown in the promo shot). I haven't been able to find out much from digging online other than it's a bucket of corn tortilla chips though.

Around the World: McDonald's UK - Festive Menu

In what's become an annual event, McDonald's UK is celebrating the holidays with their Festive Menu.

The menu is anchored by the Winter Warmer with Tomato & Red Pepper Sauce, and also includes Cheese Melt Dippers, the Chicken Celebration sandwich, the Orange Flavor Chocolate Pie, and the Nestle Quality Street Fudge McFlurry.

Here are the details:

Frozen Friday: Healthy Choice - Barbecued Seasoned Steak with Red Potatoes

Healthy Choice's Barbecued Seasoned Steak with Red Potatoes is a Top Chef-inspired frozen entree that cooks in a microwavable steam basket. It consists of beef with red potatoes, corn, red and green bell peppers, and onions and uncured bacon in a whiskey barbecue sauce.

These are normally around $4.29 and about $2 to $3 on sale.

News: El Pollo Loco Tries Beef Again

After a failed attempt at introducing beef to their menu a few years back, El Pollo Loco is once again trying beef on their menu with new shredded beef tacos, bowls, and quesadillas.

The new shredded beef is slow-simmered (i.e. braised) for several hours and shredded by hand every day at each location.

Here's a closer look at the new shredded beef dishes:

News: Taco Bell Testing Double Steak Quesadilla and Smothered Burrito

Taco Bell is currently testing two new entrees in two different markets. The two menu items are the Double Steak Quesadilla and the Smothered Burrito. The two test markets are Charlotte, NC and Dayton, OH respectively.

You can read the details below.

Review: Togo's - The Italian Sandwich

Togo's "The Italian" sub features a base of mortadella, capicola, cotto salami, dry salami, and provolone cheese.

I got it "Togo's Way" which means mayo, mustard, oil, Italian dressing, lettuce, tomato, red onions, pickles, and pepperoncinis, plus salt & pepper. I bought it on a Tuesday when it was supposed to be $4, but the Togo's I went to wasn't participating in the Daily Specials promo, so it cost me $4.99 for a regular which is about 6".

News: Popeyes - Wicked Chicken Returns to Popeyes

For a limited-time, those thin chicken strips with the tiny bottle of spicy Tabasco sauce returns to the Popeyes' menu. That's right, Wicked Chicken is back at Popeyes for probably about a month or so.

News: Krispy Kreme - 2012 Holiday Donuts

Krispy Kreme is out with new Gingerbread Cake Donuts this year as part of their holiday line up along with some returning favorites like the Red Velvet Cake Donut.

Here's the full holiday line up:

News: Wendy's - $1.99 Kid's Meal with Coupon

For a limited time, Wendy's is offering a printable digital coupon at www.ToysRUs.com/Wendys for a $1.99 Kid's Meal (compared to an average cost of $3.48).

The coupon expires 12/31/12.

Review: Wendy's - Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Part of Wendy's ongoing breakfast test includes Steel-Cut Oatmeal. It's kettle-cooked and offered with either apples chunks and caramel sauce or with dried cranberries, roasted pecans, and brown sugar.

The price on a cup was $2.59 and I went with the Cranberries and Pecans.

News: Red Robin - Holiday 2012 Specials

This December, Red Robin brings back some old faces to warm the heart (and maybe burn the tongue and light a fire in the belly as well).

Here are Red Robin's specials:

News: Baskin-Robbins - December Flavor of the Month

Baskin-Robbins' December Flavor of the Month isn't terribly exciting this month as it's the regular-menu mainstay, Mint Chocolate Chip. It's a classic flavor and a good one, but how about something new?

On the more festive side (and new!) of things, Baskin Robbins offers a new lineup of dome-shaped ice cream cakes for your holiday celebrations.

News: Sbarro - New White Pizza and Holiday Cookies

This season Italian mall eatery Sbarro is offering a limited-time white pizza and Italian holiday cookies on their menu.

The white pizza features a blend of three cheeses (mozzarella and ricotta sauce with white pepper, sprinkled with Pecorino Romano). It's topped with roasted red peppers and fresh broccoli and comes on their new Neapolitan-style (think thin crust) finished with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

News: Jack in the Box Brings Back the Bonus Jack

Jack in the Box returns the Bonus Jack for a limited time. The burger is Jack in the Box's take on the rival McDonald's Big Mac and was first introduced in 1970. Like the Big Mac, it features a club-style third bun slice and a "secret" sauce.

In between the bun, you'll also find two beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, and pickles.

Review: Wendy's - Updated Sausage Biscuit

Wendy's Sausage Biscuit is on the Everyday Breakfast Value Menu of their ongoing breakfast test and is priced at 99 cents. I tried their Sausage Biscuit back in 2009 and it seems they upgraded it a bit.

It's pretty simple with a grilled all-natural sausage patty sandwiched inside two halves of a fresh-baked Southern-style buttermilk biscuit brushed with butter.

News: Burger King - 55 Cent Whoppers December 6 through 9

Burger King is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Whopper sandwich by offering a deal on the iconic burger where you can get an original Whopper for 55 cents when you purchase any Whopper sandwich (including the current limited-time Wisconsin White Whopper and Angry Whopper, but excluding the Whopper Jr.).

The deal is good from December 6 through December 9.