Summer is bursting out all over, here at Fast Food Week! From monster Ball Park Franks, to new BBQ-themed mains, to a flurry of new breakfast sandwiches… And you have to SEE KFC Australia’s new Waffle Double to believe it!
‘The Biggest Wiener In The MBA’
The rundown…
Only the best of the best for our faithful followers! To wit, this past week’s most sumptuous Fast Food sphere announcements…
Mains
‘Biggest Wiener in the MLB’
That’s the tongue-in-cheek title bestowed by the BetUS online sports book on the Texas Rangers’ mammoth home-field hot dog. It’s called the Broomstick, and it’s a full 2 ft. / 60 cm long. It edged out the Baltimore Orioles’ 36 in. / 90 cm Yard Dog on a technicality. The Yard Dog is indeed a yard long, but it’s actually three foot-long franks strung together.
‘Crabfest is back at Red Lobster’
So goes the old, familiar summer refrain… And this year you can get your fix in a number of new ways: ‘Your Way’, Crab & Lobster, Crab & Steak, Crab-Topped Filet Mignon, Creamy Crab Carbonara, and Crab Mac & Cheese. It’s taken over as the headline annual seafood deal, after the collapse of the Endless Shrinp special, which almost took down the whole resto chain with it last year…
Starbuck’s unveils new Pairings Menu
It’s another ‘value’ initiative, in the wake of McDonald’s recent launch of ‘Under $4’ bundles. You can get either either a 12 oz. Iced Tea or coffee and either a butter croissant or breakfast sandwich with prices starting at $5.
You can opt for the Double Smoked Bacon or Impossible breakfast sandwich for a buck more.
Papa John’s reprises Cheesy Burger Pizza
The celebrated pie-burger mashup is back, accompanied by the Cheesy Burger Papadia and new Bacon Cheesy Burger Papa Bites. Could be a response to Pizza Hit, which recently rolled out its Cheeseburger Melt. One way or the other, it looks as though the burger-pizza combo may be a coming ‘thing’…
KFC answers Wendy’s Saucy Wings challenge
‘Hot’ on the heels of last week’s announcement that Wendy’s was launching new Saucy Nuggs, KFC – the chicken monster – has rotated-in a new flavour to its own Saucy Nugget line. Nashville Hot, Georgia Gold, and Sticky Chicky are out. Korean BBQ and Honey Sriracha remain, and… new Honey BBQ joins the lineup.
Jack In The Box lights up new B’fast Sandwich
The new Meat Lovers Croissant stacks a fresh-cracked egg, grilled ham, hickory-smoked bacon, a breakfast sausage, and melted American (Processed) cheese on a ‘buttery’ croissant.
It’s similar JITB’s Supreme Croissant, but adds the sausage patty. A pretty good deal for just $4.95. And there’s also a limited-time deal that gets you 2 regular Sausage Croissants for just $5.
… Crisps up its Wings
JITB has unveiled it’s latest new treat: sauced Crispy Chicken Wings. Note: They’re real wings, not ‘boneless’ chunks of breast meat. Get ’em tossed in Classic, Buffalo, or Garlic Parmesan sauce. In 6- or 12-piece orders, or in a combo with fries and a drink.
White Castle updates Chicken Rings
White Castle is spotlighting and updating its unique Chicken Rings (rhymes with ‘wings’). For a limited time, at participating locations, they’re available in two new flavours…
… Smoky BBQ and Hiddern Valley Ranch. Original Chicken Rings are also there, too. In fact they’re permanent fixtures on the WC menu.
Father’s Day Specials compendium…
And… Thanks to the hard-working folks at BrandEating for compiling a pretty comprehensive list of Father’s Day specials. Available today, and on The Day, tomorrow, Sunday June 15. If your Dad – like millions of others – is the Griller-in-Chief at your house, give him a break on his day…
Beverages
For the first time ever, Pepsi drops to third place
Pepsi has always been ‘number 2 but trying harder’ in the Cola Race. But this summer, it’s fallen back to third place – for the first time in Cola history. Dr. Pepper came out stronger in the most recent Colatown census.
At age 139, Dr. Pepper has been slowly but steadily gaining on Pepsi since the turn of he millenniumm while Pepsi’s market share has remained more or less stagnant.
Jack In The Box pours new Churro Creamaccino
It’s a new iced treat in the tradition of Starbuck’s Frappuccino. Sweet strong coffee whizzed with ice and topped with Whipped Cream. Comes in Mocha, Caramel, and Vanilla versions. For a limited time, to officially usher-in Summer.
Snacks
‘Cracker Jill’ supports female athletes
Cracker Jack is reprising an initiative to support female athletes this summer. They’re selling their original caramel corn in special ‘Cracker Jill’ packages. There are 5 different packs, each featuring a different champion female athlete.
The companion contest will see both fans and individual athletes rewarded with cash prizes, and a $200,000 donation to the US Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF). It’s the third annual Cracker Jill Spotlight event. AND… They’re running a parallel promo in Canada!
Wendy’s cycles its Frosties again
The popular Orange Dreamsicle Frosty is out, and a brand new Triple Berry concoction is in. The Triple Berry Frosty is described as Vanilla Frosty mix combined with a new Triple Berry Flavored Syrup featuring, “strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, and other natural flavors.” Wendy’s seasonal offerings temporarily replace the classic Vanilla version…
7-Eleven and Drumstick collab on cone
The food-friendly convenience chain has joined with the Drumstick people to offer a special summer cone celebrating the Blue Raspberry Slurpee.
Its a classic Drumstick waffle cone filled with a chocolately ‘nugget’ at the base, vanilla ice cream with Blue Razz sauce ripples and candy chips, and a blue raspberry layer.At 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes, for a limited time, while supplies last.
Krispy Kreme débuts Donut Dots
We’ve had them here in Canada for decades. We call them TimBits. The started out as simply the centres that were punched out of conventional round sinkers. And they became a craze all their own. KK’s version comes in 4 versions: Powdered, Sprinkled, Cinnamon and Cookie Crumb. It appears these little two-bite goodies are a permanent menu addition! Note: KK doesn’t (currently, at least) offer full-sized versions of Powdered, Cinnamon or Cookie Crumb.
Novelties
Bobby Flay smokes the cologne market
It’s actually a new collab between the famous BBQ chef and Pepsi. Dubbed SMOKED, it’s, “a Grilling Inspired COLAogne […] designed to reinforce just how well grilling and Pepsi go together.”
… Evoking the sensation of drinking a Pepsi over a flame fired grill. A select Walmarts in Denver, Miami, and Philadelphia today only: Saturday, June 15.
Opulent nuttiness: The KFC Waffle Double
Those crazy Aussies are at it again! They’ve evolved the incredibly indulgent Double Down into a new down-under waffle-centred treat. (See photo, top of page.). Literally. Two crispy chicken breasts bracket Belgian waffle, topped with bacon and smoky maple mayo. Think of it as the former, limited-time Chicken and Waffles Sandwhich turned inside out.
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be ’rounding out’ some of us a little more over the days and weeks to come. See you back here in 7 for another positively plump edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.