No fewer than 23 new and returning Fast Food treats on the menu this week. A record roster! They just couldn’t wait to tell you about themselves in a surge of summer hype! It’s shaping up to be a fabu-lous grab-and-go ‘swelter’ season!
Jollibee’s new Chicken Nuggets: Real Chicken Breast Meat chunks – not ‘Pink Slime’!
The rundown…
The big novelty news this week is Dunkin’s new Eagle Beverage Cup. Fans are bitterly divided over the America250-themed Clear Plastic vessel for Dunkin’s Red, White and Blue July 4 beverages…
MAINS
Jollibee hatches Chicken Nuggets
The happy little chain from the Philippines that’s taken America by storm is adding Chicken Nuggets to its menu. Jollibee’s premium nuggets feature 100 percent all-white meat chicken breast. You can choose from Jollibee’s signature gravy or five additional dipping sauces. Available in 5-, 8-, 15-, and 30-piece orders.
Church’s brings back Smokehouse Chicken
The summer favourite is back with a new lemon-pepper dry rub, described as ‘combining bright citrus with cracked black pepper’, in addition to Original and Spicy flavors. Smokehouse chicken is marinated for at least 12 hours before roasting, and comes in classic, bone-in, skin-on format – NOT breaded.
Subway Canada brings back the SubDog – Seriously…
It started as an April Fool’s joke. But it was so dearly embraced by fans that it’s back as a real limited time menu item. And it’s back for the heart of summer Hot Dog season…
A big, fat, footlong all-beef Schneider’s dog occupies a footlong bun, and fans can get it dressed up with any of Subway’s classic toppings. Now through July 26…
SONIC unveils America250 menu
The summer specials therein include: A Jr Double Cheeseburger featuring two beef patties, American cheese, pickles, ketchup, and mustard; an All-American Hot Dog dressed with classic ketchup, must-ard, relish, and diced onions; Medium Onion Rings; and a blue raspberry-flavoured Red, White & Blue Slush Float. Each menu item is available for just $2.50 through July 12.
Taco Bell leans on Chili Cheese for value…
The Bell is testing a $3 Chili Cheese menu in Louisville, KY. The selection includes a Chili Cheese Bur-rito, a new Mini Chili Cheese Bowl, and new Chili Cheese Nachos. Each for just $3. Sounds like a win-ner. And even though we don’t usually cover ‘test’ releases here at the FFB, we think this one will be showing up as a new value deal across the Taco Bell chain.
… Brings back the Enchirito
The Bell’s unique cross between an enchilada and a burrito – the Enchirito – is back for a limited time this summer. The menu item is described as ‘seasoned beef, refried beans, and diced onions…
… wrapped in a warm flour tortilla and smothered with red sauce and melted shredded cheddar cheese’. Many fans say they wish this one was elevated to the permanent menu…
Long John Silver’s unfurls Summer Menu
The LJS Summer Menu includes: a Summer Special Platter featuring five pieces of the chain’s re-turning crispy-fried coconut shrimp, two pieces of crispy fish, two sides, and two hushpuppies. A companion Basket selection including: Fish & Shrimp; Chicken; and Chicken & Shrimp is also avail-able for just $6 each.
SIDES
Wing Stop adds Classic Mexican notes
The Sauce-crazy Wing purveyor has added two new ‘dressings’ featuring Chamoy and Tajin. Sweet Heat Chamoy featuring Tajín is…
… a new limited-time flavor blending a Chamoy-inspired dry rub with fruity Tajín Sauce. Chamoy Ranch adds a ‘swavoury’ tang to the Stop’s signature Ranch.
Long John Silver’s pours Citrus Honey Mustard
The new sauce is intended as a specially-matched companion for the LJS Summer Menu items (see MAINS, above). Combining trendy Citrus with classic Honey Mustard, you can’t really go wrong…
BEVERAGES
Starbuck’s brings back S’Mores bevs
They creamy, chocolately and swirled like crazy. The original S’mores Frappuccino returns after a six-year hiatus. It’s joined this time around by the S’mores Cold Brew and Iced S’mores Chai. For a limited time this summer. And, as one reviewer noted: No campfire required.
Taco Bell is adds a Strawberries & Cream Chiller
The new new Strawberries & Cream Chiller is based on Vanilla Ice Cream, blended with strawberry-flavored syrup and a strawberry syrup swirl, topped with sweet cream cold foam…
… and dusted with strawberry cheesecake-flavored sugar. It’s available exclusively at Live Más Café locations for a limited time.
Dutch Brothers brings back Firecracker Rebel
Rebel is the chain’s signature energy drink topped with Soft Top sweet cold foam, and garnished with popping candy. Dutch Brothers are also offering Myst Energy Refreshers (flavored drinks infused with caffeine, electrolytes, and antioxidants), in Dulce de Leche, and Strawberry Colada flavours. All these new bevs available for a limited time, on into the summer.
Long John Silver’s Summer Menu includes Cream Sodas
The LJS Summer Menu includes a special range of Cream Sodas – a summer classic – headlined by Strawberry Lemonade Cream flavour. The limited time beverages are intended to complement the Summer Menu food selections. Fans can also add sweet coconut cream to any fountain drink this summer. All ‘creamed’ bevs are priced at $3.59.
DESSERTS & SNACKS
SALTY
For the Heat-And-Eat crowd: Arby’s Potato Cakes
Arby’s popular Potato Cakes are now showing up at grocery stores North America-wide, in the freezer section. The mini hash brown patties you know and love are now available to bake-up at home any-time the craving hits!
They were reprized regionally last year, and fans were overjoyed. So they’re back at all Arby’s locat-ions now. An according to some sources – it’s permanent!
Cup Noodles goes South – In a good way…
The instant Ramen giant has added Texas and Kansas City BBQ to its roster of flavours. The limited time flavours are available while supplies last… Indications are, we’ll see other regional BBQ flavours in future if the initial two take off with fans.
SWEET
OREOs revives Cinnamon Bun Cookies…
For the first time in 10 years, OREO is bringing back its quirky but delectable Cinnamon Bun flavour. Must have something to do with the current craze for cinnamon sugar-enhanced treats. The toasty-coloured cinnamon-flavoured wafers are stuffed with cinnamon bun-flavored creme….
… Teams with BTS for summer release
OREO has teamed up with boy-band sensation BTS for a new summer release: inspired by the Hottek, a tremendously popular Korean brown sugar pancake.
The OREO Brown Sugar Pancake Cookie is around for a limited time, only, of course…
Taco Bell adds Cinnamon Sugar Churros
The Bell is adding Cinnamon Sugar Churros to its dessert line under the Luxe Value Menu. They’re snack-sized, crispy churros with a sweet cream filling, dusted with cinnamon sugar. The suggested price for a three-pack is just $1.99. (see photo accompanying ‘Strawberries & Cream Chiller’, in BEVERAGES, above.)
M&Ms to drop two classic colours
Blue and Brown M&Ms have been in the family since the beginning. But now they’re about to be dis-owned. Mars, which makes M&Ms and other classic candies, is phasing out artificial colours across all its lines. And it’s decided blue and brown are too hard to replicate with non-chemical substitutes. On the other hand, Mars told The Wall Street Journal, recreating the other traditional colours – red, yel-low, orange, and green – with natural ingredients like beets and turmeric has been relatively easy.
Long John Silvers features Creamsicle Cheesecake
It’s a collab with The Cheesecake Factory: Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake with sweet cream cheese-cake and orange cream cheesecake, marbled together on a vanilla crumb crust…
… topped with a layer of orange cream, whipped cream rosettes, and white chocolate shavings. Just $4.49 per slice, or $58.99 for a whole 10 in / 25 cm cake.
NOVELTIES
New Dunkin’ Eagle Cups divide fans
The new cups are sculpted in the form of a roosting American Eagle. And they’re obviously intended to celebrate the 4th of July. But fans are split on their probity. The reusable cup comes with 30 days worth of discounts on Dunkin Refreshers and Dunkin Zero drinks.
They’re $10.95. If that sounds a little rich to you, you’re not alone. Some fans are calling it a late April Fools joke. But others say its ‘Cool’…
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little more perspiration-prone over the days and weeks to come. See you back here in 7 for the next grill-flared (?) edition of fast Food Week!
Maggie J.