It’s going to be a hot, if not terribly long summer: Firehouse Subs and Taco Bell are revelling in Reaper Madness, and Panda Express is burning up in Asian Peppers. Burger King reprises Pulled Pork, and Starbuck’s revisits the Summer of Love with a Tie-Dyed creamy, cold beverage…
Sichuan Hot Chicken: A new departure for Panda Express…
Firehouse Subs visits the Islands
The upscale Subs guys have quietly added a Jamaican Jerk Turkey Sub to their repertoire. It starts with the usual selection of Toasted Roll, piled with Sliced Smoked Turkey Breast, new Sweet Mustard Sauce, Caribbean Jerk Seasonings, Pepper Jack Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and Mayo. Like everything else new and interesting in the Fast Food Universe, it’s available for a limited time only.
Panda Express adds real Sichuan to its menu
Asian-themed QSR Panda Express sent a chef to China to find out what goes into authentic Sichuan flavours. The results were ‘married’ with the chain’s Nashville Hot seasoning to produce its new Sichuan blend. The new flavour, described as both sweet and fiery in every bite, débuts in new Sichuan Hot Chicken (see photo, above), which will appear at all outlets July 17 and stay around for 10 weeks or while supplies last. Get it as Tenders, doused in Sichuan Sauce, or rolled into a Burrito.
Taco Bell joins the Reaper revival with volcanic Fries
The Bell presents, for a limited time, new Steak Reaper Ranch Fries, featuring: Reaper Ranch Sauce, Marinated Steak, Nacho Cheese Sauce, Sour Cream and Tomatoes. You can also get it as a Burrito.
Burger King heads down the BBQ trail…
It’s the new Pulled Pork King (see photo, top of page), a departure from the usual Beef King with lots of Pulled Pork soaked with Hot and Spicy BBQ Sauce, topped with Onions and Pickles, on a Whopper-style Sesame Seed Bun. It’s the third appearance for Pulled Pork on the BK limited time stage, following sell-out performances by the Memphis BBQ Pulled Pork and the Extra-Long Pulled Pork Sandwich.
…Adds (US)$1 Crispy Tacos
The only thing really special about these classic Tacos is the price. You get a regular Corn Tortilla filled with Seasoned Ground Beef, Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce and Taco Sauce. It was a big hit with test market diners during its first brief appearance up and down the U.S. coast a few months back.
Starbuck’s goes retro with a Tie Dye Frapp
The Premium Coffee king introduced a new Tie Dye Frappuccino last week across the chain. It certainly looks colourful and it’s supposed to taste Fruity. But, as one who was around during the late 60s and tie dyed her share of faux-silk scarves and t-shirts, I can attest to the authenticity of the overall ‘look’. They make it by stirring brightly-coloured edible red, blue and yellow powders into a Vanilla Cream Frapp Base. Available while supplies of the powders last.
And that’s the skinny…
…On what’s making some of us fatter this summer. Back in 7 with another edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.