It’s only just August… But you’d think it was the beginning of September! The Fall menu announce-ments are coming fast and furious. There are special events from Chick-Fil-A, White Castle and Taco Bell. And, sorry: There is NO Monkey Burger…
The rundown…
Fall is definitely in the air… Even though it’s still the ‘Dog Days’ of summer. Cool-season bevs and snacks are taking over the weekly rundown!
Mains
Chipotle to increase portion sizes
The controversial Tex-Mex chain is responding to ‘viral’ customer demands for more ‘good stuff’ in their Burrito Bowls. Back in May, social media exploded with complaints that Chipotle’s featured bowels were seriously short on their si9gnature ingredients: the proteins. Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol told investors and annalists, on the chain’s Q2 earnings call, that all 3.500 locations across the chain are being instructed to increase portion sizes. Power to the people!
SONIC Smashburger ‘an elevated experience’
SONIC is rolling out its new smashburger (see photo, top of page) August 5. But app users can get an advance taste of what the chain is hailing as, “an elevated burger experience like no other, perfectly balancing the textures and flavors of a sit-down restaurant cheeseburger, all at a fraction of the cost.” The SONIC Smasher starts with 2 smashed patties, and adds American (Processed) cheese, a new Smasher Sauce, crinkle-cut pickles, and diced onions.
Fatburger adds Chicken Strips
Fatburger has come onto our radar. The chain, founded in LA in 1947, has hundreds of locations all over the world. Long known for its hand-made, cooked-to-order burgers, Fatburger is introducing it’s fist chicken menu item:
Hand-breaded Chicken Strips in original and Frank’s Nashville RedHot Hot versions. How did they hold out on adding chicken for so long?
Dairy Queen joins the ‘Value’ brigade
Not to be outdone by the other Fast Food chains, DQ has launched a new $7 Cheeseburger Meal Deal as its entry in the current ‘Value’ menu war. You get a Bacon Cheeseburger, Medium Fries, a 24 oz. / 700 ml fountain drink, and a small Sundae. All in all, a pretty good deal…
Checkers and Rally’s add a burger and a wrap
C&R are dancing to the same tune again… Adding a $1.99 Bacon Ranch Cheeseburger and $1.99 Fry-Seasoned Chicken Tender Wrap. They’re the duo’s entry in the sector-wide ‘value’ movement. Avail-able now until further notice. May become permanent if they’re a hit. Prices may vary regionally, for the usual reasons…
White Castle bags up retro Slider deal
The Castle is offering an old-timey deal: A bag of 10 Cheese Sliders for just $7.99. ($8.99 i New York and New Jersey). Last time they did that was 13 years ago.
The deal -which essentially discounts the price of the sliders by 30 percent – is seen as a nod to the current ‘Value Price’ war. It’s on for a limited time, across the chain.
In-N-Out debunks ‘Monkey Burger’ secret-menu rumours
An Instagram post about the alleged Monkey Burger has tallied more than 130,000 likes, more than 4.6 million views, and hundreds of comments to date. But In-N-Out’s head honcho, Lynsi Snider post-ed: “Ok, you’ve heard the rumors, wondered what was on it, maybe even felt a little left out of the loop. But in reality, we don’t have any secrets at all.
Beverages
Tim Horton’s offers Free Drinks
Horton’s summer menu dangles a 50 percent discount under your nose… On selected drinks, when purchased after 2 pm, Monday thru Thursday, now through August 8.
Choose from: New Cocoa Cara-mel Crunch Iced Capp; New Butter Pecan Cold Brew; New Mango Lemonade; Strawberry Lemonade; Solar Splash TimsBoost; and Berry Cherry Refresher.
Dunkin’s collabs with celeb chef Nick DiGiovanni
… On 4 new iced coffee drinks. Choose from: Blueberry Donut; Caramel Coconut Cream; Mocha Vanilla and Caramel Almondmilk. It’s just the latest in a growing series of Dunkin collabs with entertainment industry ‘names’…
Starbuck’s fall menu features new bevs
The premium coffee chain will unveil three special fall drinks on August 22. Try any or all of: Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, and the new Iced Apple Crisp Cream Chai (a non-dairy option). There’s also an Oatmilk Iced Apple Crisp Shaken Espresso and an Oatmilk Apple Crisp Mac-chiato. And watch for Oatmilk Pecan Crunch Latte and Salted Pecan Cream Cold Foam to follow in September. See Snacks, below, for the munchies rundown…
Snacks
Taco Bell pumps Bajaversary Baja Blast Gelato
It’s Baja Blast’s 20th anniversary. And BB bestie Taco Bell is carrying on the celebration with new Baja Blast Gelato, coming in September.
There’s also a special Baja Blast cream pie in the wings, poised to launch later this year. And keep a weather eye out for additional very-limited-time BB anniversary specials…
Starbuck’s fall snacks leaked online!
Look forward to the release of: a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin, a Baked Apple Croissant, and an all-new Raccoon Cake Pop on August 22. But that’s just the first installment of the big new seasonal cele-bration. And look for a Hallowe’en-themed Mummy Cookie to appear in September. See Beverages, above, for Starbuck’s fall drinks news!
Novelties
Chick-Fil-A’s ‘Code Moo’ online game is back
Once again, you can play and win free food prizes while spreading the Chick-fil-A Cows’ ‘Eat Mor Chikin’ gospel.
The chain is offering 2 million ‘rewards’ prizes each week over a month-long playing season. A new game challenge will be unveiled every Monday through August 17.
Chipotle launches new beauty product
It’s called Lipotle, and it’s a special ‘burrito-proof’ lip stain masque that goes on like lip gloss, and has its own greenish, Guacamole-inspired look. Spray on Wonderskin’s Wonder Blading Activator to seal the pigments for up to 10 hours. “Lipotle is a sensory journey,” says Stephanie Perdue, Vice Pres-ident of Brand Marketing at Chipotle. “Fans will love the unique experience of […] finally taking a smudge-proof bite of their meal.”
McDonald’s not at the Olympics, but…
… They’re all over the rest of France, with special international summer menu at all its 1,560 locations there. The slate offers signature McD’s menu items from seven different countries…
…including Indonesia, Canada, the Philippines, Cyprus, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States… Available now through September 2, 2024 at all McDonald’s restaurants in France.
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little less swimsuit-worthy over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the latest muffin-topped edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.