This edition… Another Fast Food Week first: NO MAINS! But scads of everything else, including Events and Novelties. plus the first Easter specialty ‘menus’ trickling in. And Steak ‘N Shake goes retro with Beef Tallow Fries!
The rundown…
Would you believe it? Events and Novelties lead the Fast Food Week pack this time around! Including Dunkin’s Doughnut shortages and ‘Soup you can suck on’!
Sides
Steak N’ Shake to add Beef Tallow
S&S will be phasing-in the ‘authentic’ flavour of Beef Tallow to its fries. At all locations, by the end of February. Most faithful readers will recall how McDonald’s dropped it’s traditional Beef Tallow recipe after healthy eating advocates complained the stuff was really bad to cook fries in.
Fans rose up in hordes to complain about the switch to vegetable oil. S&S doesn’t seem to adhere to the new convention, either. “Our fries will now be cooked in an authentic way, 100 percent beef tal-low, in order to achieve the highest quality and best taste,” a spokesperson said, in a statement.
Velveeta launches ‘wingman’ pocket packs
They’re single-serve pocket-sized pouches designed to ensure that you never again want for ‘more cheese’ on your to-go foods. “We created Vel2Go as a portable offering that’s more than just a con-diment — it’s the ultimate wingman that unleashes craveability and big mood food in ways other condiments can’t,” Stephanie Vance, Velveeta Brand Manager, shared in a statement.
Beverages
Pepsi fights back – again
Pepsi recently lost it’s historic second spot in the soda race (after leader Coke) to Dr. Pepper, Since then, the brand has been trying to recapture fans’ attention with new-flavour releases.
The latest two are Wild Cherry, and World Cherry & Cream. Available in regular (sugar-sweetened) and Zero Sugar, in 12 oz. / 355 ml cans and 20 oz. / 591 ml bottles.
Desserts & Snacks
New Jack Wraps feature chicken
Jack In The Box is adding two new Jack Wraps to the menu: Chicken Fajita and Chicken Caesar. They’re based on JITB’s Chicken strips – order them either grilled or deep fried – and come with dressing as appropriate. Get ’em as onesies, or twosies for just $6, now until February 16.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch ‘Pizza FLavour’?
Is it a novelty or a snack? Yes. Ic it sweet or savoury? Yes. Specifically, the crunchy game-day toss-and-nosh is described as a combo of ‘Cinnadust cereal taste with the savory cheesiness of Totino’s’.
Claim a FREE box on shop.cinnamontoastcrunch.com starting Tuesday, January 28, at 7 pm EST. First-come, first-served, while supplies last. We don’t know if the x-over will be generally available anytime in the near future…
Events
Dunkin’s experiencing scattered doughnut shortages
Dunkin’s is currently experiencing doughnut shortages in stores scattered across the US. Nebraska and New Mexico locations appear to be wort-affected. Stores in the Northeast are not reporting prob-lems. Dunkin’s head office says issues with substandard products have been isolated and fixed. And resupply is underway.
McDonald’s partners with Pokémon ‘Go’
McD’s is offering special Pokémon Go-themed Happy Meals – featuring PM game card booster packs as in-box prizes. The Pokémon Go activation event lasts until the end of March.
There are four differ-ent themed boxes to choose from: Charizard, Pikachu & Dragonite together, Rayquaza, and Roaring Moon. Each includes a Pokémon TCG booster pack featuring four cards (fifteen in total), a poster and sticker sheet to decorate it with.
Hershey releases extensive Easter menu
Hershey’s has unveiled an extensive Hershey / Cadbury / Jolly Roger-brand Easter treats menu. I know… Valentine’s Day is still to come – and already, with the Easter stuff? Ours is not to reason why…
Novelties
OREO x Post Malone cross ‘best ever’
But you can be the judge! The promo-king pop star, Post Malone and OREO have broken new ground with a swirled-Stuf filling combining salted caramel and shortbread-flavored cremes, each sandwich-ed between one chocolate and one golden OREO wafer. Thing is, they’re not generally available. But you can register to win a pack – each of which contains a hand-written note from Post.
‘Soup you can suck on’
It’s touted as the best thing for a cold or the flu: Chicken Soup. But it’s not something that’s all that easy to take-with. Now, Progresso has introduced the ultimate grab-and-go chicken soup. It’s a loz-enge. You supply the water. Eh, voilá – ‘Chicken Soup you can suck on’!
“When you’re sick, nothing is more reassuring than chicken noodle soup. So, […] we took the beloved flavors of chicken noodle soup and packed them into a fun, savory candy Soup Drop,” said M.C. Com-ings, Progresso VP, in a news release.
Starbuck’s x Harry Potter promo
Starbuck’s Korea is fronting a big Harry Potter-themed promo just now. The star is a ‘magic’ mug, with a ‘sorting hat’ lid that reveals your house affiliation when you pour in a hot liquid. There are also Harry-themed tumblers and whole cohort of themed beverages and sweet eats…
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us … over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next invigourating edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.