The Fast Food world is in full ‘Holiday’ mode, flooding my in-box with all manner of seasonal specials and even a few nutty menu items and hacks. We also have a whole flock of food brand collaborations with game developers, and teen-pop stars. And… Do you butter your Pop Tarts?
The 7-Eleven Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich – on a tantalizing Stuffing-flavoured bun!
Taco Bell unveils Double Steak Grilled Cheese Burrito…
The Bell is rolling out a new Double Steak Grilled Cheese Burrito at participating locations across the chain. The deluxe sammy was tested in Huston last year. It’s apparently taken until now to gear up to mass-market it.
The DSGCB starts with a double serving of signature seasoned rice and marinated steak, than adds crunchy red taco strips, chipotle sauce, nacho cheese sauce, sour cream and three-cheese blend. Make it spicy with a handful of jalapeños. No word on how long it may be around.
… Tests Crispy Dipping Flautas
They’re flour tortillas rolled up around a serving of signature seasoned beef and melted cheese, then toasted until crisp.
You dip them in your choice of Spicy Ranch, Nacho Cheese or Creamy Chipotle sauces. Crispy Dipping Flautas are currently being tested in Oklahoma…
7-Eleven flies Thanksgiving Turkey Sub
The new holiday sandwich features Butterball turkey, white cheddar cheese, and cranberry mayo. But the real star of this limited-run show may well be the stuffing-flavoured bun! You’ll find it in the cold case at most 7-Eleven locations until Thanksgiving.
Arby’s Canada Does a new Poutine Dip
Poutine originated in Canada – in the french-speaking province of Quebec, in fact. So it’s fitting that Arby’s is giving its French Dip Roast Beef sammy the Poutine treatment.
It starts with a sub roll and a generous layer of Arby’s signature Roast beef. Then it’s topped with curly fries, cheese curds, and beef gravy. You also get a side of gravy for the dipping part.
Novelty Alert: Arby’s pumping Vodka?
It sounds out of character to me, to say the least. But Arby’s is apparently offering limited edition Vodkas flavoured like its Crinkle Fries and Curly Fries. It won’t be generally available at your neighbourhood bottle shop. In fact, you’ll find it only at a special online store, and only in about a dozen U.S. states. Although I can’t imagine who would want to try it. Of course, I’m not a vodka fan to begin with. And I don’t think I even know any…
McDonald’s, FaZe Clan collab on ‘Friendsgaming’ event…
McDonald’s is teaming with gaming company FaZe Clan, to host the first-ever Friendsgaming event. Selected lucky Faze Clan members will get together online, gaming and live streaming.
McD’s is offering a Crispy Chicken Sandwich Expansion Pack that includes limited-edition game-enhancing accessories at CCSFriendsgaming.com. The the livestream event at 8:00 p.m. ET, Saturday November 20, on FaZe Swagg’s Twitch.
Reese’s Puffs Cereal floats KAWS special edition
Reese’s and General Mills are collabbing on a limited edition version featuring special boxes and online access to an AR game – KAWS Companion. Look for special Orange boxes in the store; blue boxes starting November 17 at KAWSPUFFS. You’ll also find details of a contest, the winner of which will receive a special edition box signed by KAWS himself.
Do you butter your Pop Tarts?
I personally left Pop Tarts behind me after I graduated from university, and well before I became a foodsdervice professional. So I missed the genesis and apparent proliferation of a hack that involves smearing butter on them.
As if they weren’t nutritionally sinful enough as it is! Anyway, Kellogg’s is now offering what it calls Pop-Tarts x Butter Kits based containing Frosted Strawberry, Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Frosted Chocolate Fudge Pop Tarts with 6 kinds of luxe blended butter. The kits are available only at bannerbutter.com/poptarts on November 16, starting at noon EST, for $25 each, while supplies last.
‘Timbiebs’: Hot or not?
Tim Horton’s is partnering with Canadian teen-pop sensation Justin Bieber on a new line of ‘Timbiebs’ Timbits. Bieber personally chose the flavour range: flavors: birthday cake waffle, chocolate white fudge, and sour cream chocolate chip.
It’s coming November 29, across Canada and the U.s. And there’ a new line of coordinating merchandise at participating Tim’s locations, also starting November 29.
Cinnabon reprises Icing Pints
It’s becoming a Christmas tradition: a limited release of Cinnabon’s signature icing in pint tubs (see photo, top of page). If you’ve only had it on Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, now’s your chance to try it on… everything! Visit Cinnabon.com/holidays or Cinnabon’s TikTok and Instagram sites for frosting recipe inspirations.
Haagen-Dazs brings back Peppermint Bark
– Also its iconic Peppermint Bark Ice Cream Bars, for the Holidays. The master Peppermint Bark formula starts with white chocolate ice cream, then mixes in crunchy, chocolaty peppermint bark and peppermint candy pieces. Both products are available through the end of November at the usual outlets.
And that’s the skinny..
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little fatter over the coming days and weeks, through U.S. Thanksgiving, at least. See you back here in 7 for the next edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.