This has been an interesting week on the Fast Food Front. In past week’s we’ve seen a pot-pourri of seasonal promos, Hallowe’en specials and eye-catching novelty launches. This week, we have a whole flock of sandwich announcements, some Pizza news, and a trio of extreme ‘International Alerts’…
The Quizno’s Bison Reuben: Making promotional noise…
Quizno’s buffalos the Reuben
The second-most popular sub and sandwich chain in North America is making a bold move to raise its brand profile above the rest: Quizno’s is offering a Bison Reuben for a limited time this fall. The novelty sandwich is based on ‘toasted rustic rye bread’ and features ‘Premium High Plains Bison’, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing. At participating Quizno’s locations across the U.S. and Canada, while supplies last.
Arby’s launches Boneless Wings
Which is to say, Chicken breast meat nuggets. They’re available in two flavours: Classic Buffalo and Hot Honey Sauce. Classic Buffalo Sauce is based on cayenne pepper and butter. Hot Honey Sauce blends honey, lime, and smoky notes with a medley of peppers. A 6-piece order with a side of Crinkle Fries will set you back $5.00. Maybe a little more than I’m willing to pay for jumbo chicken nuggets, even with the fries.
Papa John’s suffers(?) Bacon Mania
Papa John’s is offering a trio of BaconMania treats, headlined by a new Triple Bacon Pizza topped with cheese, crumbled smoky bacon, juliennes of Canadian bacon and smoked bacon strips.
The Smokey Bacon Parmesan Crusted Papadia (pretty much a pizza quesadilla) is ‘a toasted flatbread-style sandwich’ featuring the aforementioned Canadian bacon, onions, smoked bacon strips and ranch sauce. The Bacon Jalapeño Popper Rolls are basically Pizza Rolls stuffed with Philadelphia Cream Cheese, bacon and jalapeños.
McDonald’s tests a Plant Burger
McD’s is test marketing a new McPlant Burger at just a few select locations in Texas, Louisiana and California (see photo, top of page). In spite of the burger giant’s previous leaks that it was developing its own proprietary plant-based burger patties, this test is a collab with Beyond Meat. The Beyond Meat Patty is topped with American (Processed) cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo on a sesame seed bun. Alas! It sounds as if McD’s is trying to hide the flavour of the patty with all those sauces, rather than showcase it!
BK brings back Double Quarter Pound King
The Double Quarter Pound King looks suspiciously like McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder. The resemblance is probably intentional. This King is based on 2 quarter pound Whopper patties, two slices of American (Processed) cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard on a sesame seed bun.
It’s truly a monster, clocking in at almost 1,100 Calories, with 67 g of fat and a whopping (pun intended) 2,450 mg of Salt. I might risk one once a month… Last seen in 2018, there’s no word on how long the Double Quarter Pound King will be on the BK menu this time.
Old El Paso spices up its shells
Old El Paso – the king of do-it-yourself Tex-Mex food ingredients – is now offering Takis Fuego-inspired Hot Chili Pepper and Lime-Flavored Stand ‘N Stuff Taco Shells. They’re the flat-bottomed ones that stand up on their own without benefit if a wire frame or other support. Good to see Old El Paso getting on the hot pepper train…
International Alert: BK launches ‘Gourmet Kings’ in UK
Burger King is débuting two new Gourmet Kings at locations throughout the UK. The Steakhouse features tomatoes, crispy onions, arugula, mayo, melted oak-smoked cheddar, crispy bacon slices, and BBQ sauce.
The Argentinian has onions, arugula, oak-smoked cheddar cheese, chilli sauce, crispy onions, and Chimichurri mayo. No word on when these deluxe Kings will disappear, but we can assume, based on previous experience, that they’ll be around for at least a month…
International Alert: Domino’s Australia rolls out Vegemite pie
Crikey, mate! Couldn’t pass this one by, especially after we took our culinary expedition to Australia earlier this week! Domino’s Aus is now offering a new Cheesy Vegemite Pizza. Vegemite is described as a brewer’s yeast extract loaded with umami. Now, it’s apparently the ‘sauce’ for the CVP. Available at all Down Under Domino’s locations for the next three weeks.
International Alert: KFC Pakistan gets Messy Xtreme
KFC Pakistan (of all places) has unveiled a new sandwich which, for starters, has two top buns bracketing a Zinger spicy chicken breast filet topped with KFC’s spicy signature sauce, onions, tomatoes and mayo.
They call it the Messy Xtreme, and with al those sauces, it certainly looks as though it will live up admirably to its name! At participating locations, for 495 Pakistani Rupees – about $2.89 US dollars. In North America, that would be an unbelievably big meal for under $3.00!
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little fatter over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.