Taco Bell Fajita Quesalupa - © 2021

Fast Food Week: Quick Service Restaurant And Snacks News!

Well… The Halowe’en promos and special menu items are ramping up apace – enough this past week to dominate this post! There are also several new main menu items starting on test at selected locations. M&Ms announces new pruducts. And Nissin Cup Noodles go carb-on-carb with rice!

Krispy Screme Doughnuts - © 2021 Krispy Kreme

Subway unveils Fried Chicken Sandwich in Canada…

Lucky Canadians! If the new Subway sammy is as good as the ones it’s designed to compete with from Chick-Fil-A, Popeye’s and just about every other Fast Food flogger. The new Crispy Chicken Sidekick is described as a crispy chicken breast, lettuce, pickles, with smoky honey mustard sauce on a potato bun. A spicy version is available, and a Crispy Chicken Sub is also on the limited time menu.

… Adds Baja Steak & Jack sandwich

The new limited-time sammy starts with Italian Artisan Bread (why Italian, I dunno), and a layer of shaved steak, Pepper Jack cheese, green peppers, red onions, and either of 2 new sauces:

Subway Baja Steak and Jack - © 2021 Subway

the aforementioned Baja Chipotle (which replaces their Chipotle Southwest sauce) and a Peppercorn Ranch. Looks like Subway edging in ob Arby’s territory. Just the latest infringement by one fast food player on another’s turf…

Taco Bell tests another new Quesalupa

This time it’s a Fajita Quesalupa: A serving of Fajita Beef topped with poblano pepper sauce, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. It’s available for a limited time at participating locations in the Toledo, Ohio area. Additional attraction: a Fire-roasted Quesalupa Shell!

Frozen Pizza guys launch Mac & Cheese

As a fad, Mac & Cheese Pizza has come and gone. But Digiorno – makers of what they describe as premium frozen Pizzas – are launching a new Original Rising Crust Mac & Cheese Pizza, ‘inspired by’ Stouffer’s signature Mac & Cheese.

Digorni Mac and Cheese Pizza - © 2021 Digiorno

If you didn’t know (or forgot) that October is National Pizza Month – well, it is. And This is Digiorno’s and Stauffers’s way of celebrating. Fans can apply online to win free preview samples of the new pie now through October 27.

Red Baron Gets fully-loaded

Frozen Pizza purveyor Red Baron is rolling out three new fully-loaded pies all based on a, “unique golden-brown crust that’s crispy on the outside and airy on the inside,” (and looks like a high-sided deep-crust) topped with lots of great stuff. Versions include: Pepperoni; Five Cheese; and Supreme.

Nissin Noodles goes carb-on-carb

Nissin Cup Noodles is adding rice via its new Cup Noodles Stir Fry Rice With Noodles. Just add a little water and microwave for a few minutes. Initial flavours include: Japanese Teriyaki Chicken; Korean Spicy Beef, and Thai Yellow Curry. Available at selected Walmart stores for now; hope fully at most grocery retailers soon.

Dunkin pours a Hallowe’en Macciato

Dunkin is offering a seasonal-special Peanut Butter Cup Macciato and a special Spider Doughnut for Hallowe’en. Participating locations are also offering a seasonal doughnut decorating kit.

Dunkin PD Cup Macciato - © 2021 Dunkin

Each kit includes: 4 or 9 plain yeast or Old Fashioned cake donuts, pre-packaged orange, white, and chocolate icing, and three sprinkles blends. While supplies last.

Krispy Kreme = ‘Krispy Screme’ for Hallowe’en

Now through Hallowe’en, the nation’s most iconic doughnut shop temporarily changes its name and logo to Kirspy Screme, and rolls out a collection of seasonal dunkers including: The Abra Cat Dabra, the Enchanted Cauldron, the Bewitched Broomstick and the Spooky Sprinkle. Every Saturday from today until October 30, customers can cash in on a free dozen Hallowe’en doughnuts with the purchase of any regular dozen thanks to the Saturday Scary Sharies promo.

M&Ms débuts new Crispy Cookie candy

The official announcement says it’s, “a great-tasting crunchy center covered in delicious milk chocolate, all wrapped in the colorful, iconic M&M’S candy shell.” And it’s coming in 2022 – along with a bunch of other new products from a whole crew of Mars Wrigley brands.

Novelty Alert! ‘Tomato Blood’ Hallowe’en costume

Ketchup ‘blood’ has been a stereotyped stand-in for the real thing on Hallowe’en pretty much since Ketchup and Hallowe’en were invented.

Heinz Ketchup Blood - © 2021 Heinz-Kraft

Now Kraft-Heinz is celebrating the spooky season with a limited-edition Tomato Blood Costume Kit. Get yours (while supplies last) at the Heinz Halloween website.

International Novelty Alert! Vegemite Pizza

Oh, those wacky Australians! They’re always coming up with something other-cultured folks would call… wacky! Now, Domino’s Australia is combining the Aussie national condiment with extra cheese in their new Cheesy Vegemite Pizza. It’s a regular crust, using the salty, umami-overload spread as a ‘sauce’, topped with lots of Mozz. For those who have never tripped over a reference to the stuff before, Vegemite is described as ‘an extract of leftover brewer’s yeast’. I have a suspicion the Cheesy Vegemite pie may become an Aussie classic!

And that’s the skinny…

… On some of the stuff what’s going to be making some of us a little fatter over the coming says and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next edition of Fast Food Week!

~ Maggie J.