Next week, it’s back to business. And the major Fast Food players have showered us with new menu items in preparation for the return of the Fast-Food-for-lunch-crowd… Burgers, Chicken Sammys and Steak Nuggets star on the menu…
The rundown…
Heads up! Arby’s Steak Nuggets are back in town! BK Crown Nuggets are back with an upgrade! And Papa’s is serving Grandma’s Pizza!
MAINS
KFC lights up Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Menu
The chicken giant is offering a special crossover with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in a new limited-time menu featuring the chain’s Crispy Chicken Sandwiches. “The Flamin’ Hot Chicken Sandwich features KFC’s triple-breaded chicken fillet turned up with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos heat. Coated in bold Flamin’ Hot seasoning, drizzled with spicy Flamin’ Hot sauce, and topped with crunchy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos for an extra fiery kick in every bite…” The sammy also stars in an array of meal deals…
Steak Nuggets are back at Arby’s
A rare treat is back at Arby’s. The guys who brag, “We’ve got the meats!” aren’t stretching the point at all – they’re bringing back Steak Nuggets! You can also get ’em in a special Steak ‘n Mac Bowl and a Steak ‘n Potato Bowl.
Did you say ‘tailgating? White Castle says, ‘Beer Cheese’
Special for the fall football season, White Castle is offering a unique version of its iconic slider” The Garage Beer Cheese Sausage Slider is, “a mini smoked sausage topped with Garage Beer Cheese and caramelized onions on a White Castle Slider bun.”
There’s also coordinating Garage Beer Cheese Fries and Pretzel Nibblers with Garage Beer Cheese. Yah… It’s definitely something new for the Castle!
Bacon Double Wrangler rides back into Whataburger
The classic Beef Burger is joined this time out by a a new Bacon Wrangler Chicken sandwich. The bur-ger features: two beef patties, American and Monterey Jack cheeses, bacon, crispy-fried onion strings, pickles, and smoky chipotle aioli. The Chicken Wrangler features: a spicy chicken, or grilled chicken filet, Monterey Jack cheese, bacon, fried onion strings, pickles, and smoky chipotle aioli. Both come on Whataburger’s classic toasted bun. For a limited time, only…
Papa Murphy’s unveils Grandma’s Pizza
Papa’s ‘biggest Pizza yet’ is a large, rectangular pie that comes in a pan coated with, “an herb-and-garlic spread and a dusting of cornmeal.” It’s topped with a creamy red sauce, classic marinara, moz-zarella, the chain’s signature herb-and-cheese blend, and new Chunky Italian Sausage. Get it now though October 18. The Chunky Sausage is back permanently on Papa Murphy’s topping menu.
SIDES
Burger King revamps Crown Nuggets
The King’s nuggets were not making the grade. “We threw the old ones out and said, let’s start over again,” BK’s head chef, Amy, says in an Instagram video.
They’re now all real chicken breast meat – no Pink Slime – and they’re tastier and juicer thanks to a new marination process. Coming soon to a BK near you!
Arby’s teams Steak Nuggets with new Horsey Ranch
What better for Ranch fans than Arby’s new Horsey (Horseradish) Ranch Sauce blend? I’m not sure how well Ranch and Horseradish go together. It would depend on just how much ‘horsey’ they add to the ranch…
KFC Flamin’ Hot Menu includes new sides…
Flamin’ Hot Fries are tossed in Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Seasoning. The Flamin’ Hot Dip- Cup is described as, “a creamy, spicy dip packed with the bold heat of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Perfect for anything that could use a little extra flame.”
… Débuts Hot Ranch Sauce
The new dipping option is described as ‘about a three or four out of 10’. Which is great for folks who prefer to taste flavour rather than raw heat. It’s technically a blend of garlic-herb ranch and a mild chili. Watch for new Creole Honey Mustard and Kentucky BBQ, coming soon…
BEVERAGES
Banana Flavour ‘takeover’ hits SONIC
The whacky ‘original drive in’ guys are going all-in o0n the new Banana flavour fad. Choose from: the banana Pudding Shake, the Banana Pudding Blast…
… Banana Dirty Dr Pepper, or Banana Pudding Cream Slush. Touches all the beverage bases… And it’s right on trend!
KFC heats up Cheetos Dirty Soda
KFC Cheetos Dirty Soda is, “a creamy dirty soda made with Orange Crush and velvety vanilla cold foam, topped with crunchy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos for the perfect flavour combo.” Certainly does sound like a great go-with for th whole KFC Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Menu!
Fanta pours Ghost Face Punch for Hallowe’en
The fruit-flavoured arm of Coca-Cola is pumping out a line of special Ghost Face fizzies for the haunt-ing season. The ‘dark berry punch flavoured bev is one of 4 offerings getting special seasonal cans including: Fanta Orange, Pineapple, and Strawberry. Commenters on @snackolator’s Instagram post seem more excited about the can designs than the flavor!
Mountain Dew + Trolli = Swicy, crawly experience
PepsiCo describes MTD Mango Pineapple Punch as a, “bold, fizzy soda with tropical mango, pine-apple, and a hint of strawberry flavors.” It’s designed to coordinate with Trolli Trolli Spicy Crawlers gummy worms.
“Two iconic brands come together in an unexpected way,” said Michael Smith, VP of Marketing, Mountain Dew, in a news release. For a limited time…
SNACKS
SALTY
Pringles finally offers dip-resistant ridgies
One of the first reactions I had to Pringles, when they first came out, was how fragile they were. The issue echoes in spades these days, when big, thick, heavy, gooey dips are more popular than ever. Now, in response to fan demand, Pringles is releasing Original, Bacon Cheddar and French Onion Extra-Thick, ridged Dippers. Fewer per tube… But just what the dipper ordered!
Lays cooks up Brisket BBQ chips
The potato chip maven is releasing a new BBQ Brisket flavour for end-of-Summer snacking. The flav-our dressing is made with similar ingredients to a classic brisket, including tomato powder, brown sugar, vinegar, onion, and garlic—plus beef fat for extra-meaty flavor. Lays boasts, it’ll be a new tailgating classic…
SWEET
Flipz x Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Donut-Flavored Pretzels
The wild Fall-themed snack is described as the prefect complement to sweater weather. “These crunchy pretzels are coated with warm pumpkin spice…
… and cakey donut flavors to make the ultimate sweet and salty fall snack.” Dunkin’ calls it, “the most iconic crossover ever.” Let’s call this flavour crossover ‘swalty’…
NOVELTIES
KFC China rolls out OREO Chicken Sandwich
Yes, really! Those nutty Asian test kitchen cooks have done it again. Come up with a combo nobody saw coming. It’s a RFC Crispy Chicken Breast Sandwich , but with a layer of mashed potatoes studded with OREO Cookie crumbs. And the bun is a special dark-brown creation, imprinted with the OREO wafer design. (See photo, top of page.)
Commenters on China’s Reddit clone, Red Note, liked the idea. But their Western counterparts were not so generous: “KFC scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should,” one Reddit user said. Another added, “That sounds beyond terrible.”
EVENTS
The Year of the Banana?
Food writer Reach Guinto has identified what could be the next big fast Food craze. Maybe it already is: “Sonic joins a growing list of brands betting on banana this year. Dunkin’ dropped its Goin’ Ban-anas spring menu, M&M’s released Banana Nut Bread candies, Little Debbie launched Banana Pud-din’ Creme Pies, and Califia Farms fast-tracked a Banana Crème Almond Creamer to capitalize on the trend.”
He wonders, aloud, if this could be the flavour monster to unseat Pumpkin Spice from its seasonal throne?
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some us a little more ‘plush’ in the coming days and weeks. See you back her in 7 for the next doorway-to-autumn edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.