Lots of action on the Mains and Snacks fronts this week. Behold: A new Pizza Hut Cheeseburger Melt, All You Can Eat BWW Wings, new Pringle’s ‘Mingles’ puffs, Buttery-er Ritz Crackers, STAR WARS OREOs, and Girl Guide Cookie Jello Puddings!
The rundown…
We proudly present the week’s most prodigious Fast Food picks…
Mains
AYCE Boneless Wings at Buffalo Wild Wings
A great deal for wing lovers! And even better, in as much as you’re not paying for the bones! For just $19.95, you get your fill of the breaded, deep fried chicken breast meat nuggets with your choice of any of BWW’s 20 sauces and seasonings – and fries!
But… You have to place an order of $10 or more via the app or website, using the promo code ‘GOWINGS’. And the deal is only ‘live’ on Mondays and Wednesday. At participating locations, now through June 30.
Pizza Hut pushes into burger territory…
The Hut is making history, in a way… Pushing into burger territory. The pie giant is adding a Cheeseburger to its menu. Sort of. The new Melt is a Thin ‘n Crispy pizza crust turnover filled with burger morsels, beef, bacon, onions, mozzarella, and cheddar. And a burger Sauce that insiders say is pretty close to McDonald’s Big Mac ‘Special Sauce’.
… Débuts My Hut Box meal
You get a sturdy cardboard Pizza Box containing any of three mains: A 2-topping Personal Pan Pizza; a half Melt; or a full Melt.
Each option comes with your choice of either a side of fries or 4 boneless wings… I’m going for the pizza and wings…
Chili’s débuts bigger Smash Burger
In fact, Chili’s is adding a new Big Smash Burger AND a crispy Chicken Sandwich, revolving them into its 3 for Me value menu. The burger is billed as an ‘almost-half-pound’ patty topped with onions, lettuce, pickles and Thousand Island Dressing. (See photo, top of page.) The Crispy Chicken Sandwich is a classic Chick-Fil-A knockoff, topped with pickles and mayo.
Beverages
Starbucks rewards Rewards members
The premium coffee purveyor is offering 50 percent off the regular price of any beverage, every Friday in May 2024, from 12 pm to 6 pm.
Some seasonal drinks are also fair game in the deal: Choose any of the new Summer-Berry Refreshers or the White Chocolate Macadamia Cold Brew.
Whataburger pours luxe Latté Shake
Whataburger is now offering a ‘fancy’ Caramel Latté Shake featuring featuring espresso, caramel, and vanilla flavours. It’s a summer treat, and joins Whataburger’s regular shake flavors – Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla – for a limited time.
Snacks & Desserts
Pringle’s pushes out new puffs
We just told you (above) that Pizza Hut is expanding its menu into Burgerland. So it’s somehow fitting that Pringle’s is ‘thinking beyond the can’, getting into the puffed-snack business.
Their new Pringle’s Mingles might remind you of Goldfish Crackers at first glance. But they’re seen as direct competitors for Cheetos, Cheezies and their ilk. Another Pringle’s first: they’re made from corn, not potatoes.
Ritz presents: New Buttery-er Crackers
The ancient and venerable Cracker brand is now offering Buttery-er Flavour Ritz. They’re here for a limited time, at all the usual Ritz retails sources. To celebrate, the baker is holding a sweepstakes with a prize of a butter-stick shaped gold brick. Enter now through May 20.
OREO’s empire strikes back
OREO is forever putting out new limited time flavours. And the latest is a Star Warns tribute, with two different cookies, one honouring the Dark Side and the other, the Light Side.
The Dark Siders have red Stuff, and the Lightsiders have blue. The traditional chocolate wafers are imprinted with 20 different Star Wars character portraits. They apparently come up randomly in the new packs. ‘Eat ’em! Trade ’em! Collect ’em!’
Burger King celebrates birthdays
… With a new limited-time Birthday pie. It’s built on a Graham Cracker crust, filled with a birthday cake-flavoured cream, and crowned with rainbow sprinkles, cake chunks, and whipped topping. It’s part of BK 70th Birthday festivities, along with a menu of specials – one each day, from May 28 to June 3 – for Royal Perk members. Check the app for details…
Jello partners with Girl Guides!
Talk about invading neighbouring realms! Jello is now offering Girl Scout Pudding Cups in Coconut and Thin Mint flavours. Each features a crumble topping made from the appropriate GG cookie.
They’re available now at the usual Jello Pudding outlets. And Jello makes a contribution to the Girl Guides for each pudding pack sold.
Walmart launches Better Goods brand
And it’s heavy on snacks. In fact, the Better Goods banner will encompass more than 300 different products by the end of this year. It’s a move by Walmart to consolidate products offering better value than some big brands under one name. The retailer says the Better Goods items will be priced from $2 to $15, with the majority under $5.
Novelties
Burger King rolls out Cheese Ring Burger
… In Vietnam. It’s a ring of breaded, fried cheese on a toasted sesame seed bun, topped with caramelized onions and BBQ sauce. You can also order the Cheese Ring by itself.
Western observers, who’ve only seen the CRB from afar, in ads, speculated that the cheese in question is Mozz. Further research by yours truly revealed, it’s really Gouda. Bonus.
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to make some of our body parts more ‘outstanding’ over the days and weeks to come. See you back here in 7 for the next expansive edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.