No fewer than 8 specials and new releases headline our Mains section this week. Many are Value Wars ‘volleys’. Most are summer-themed. And summer movie collaborations are now coming in fast and furious…
Packed with pepperoni and supercharged with extra cheese… The nouveau-iconic
extra-large Shaq-a-Roni pie is now a permanent menu item at Papa John’s…
The rundown…
This week, a special slate of deals that will teach you the difference – once and for all – between Shack and Shaq. And Cup Nodles brand breaks into super-quirky mode with green ‘creamy sauce’ Dill Pickle Ramen… (See photo, top of page…)
Mains
Papa John’s keeps Shaq-a-Roni on permanently
The Shaq-a-Roni is an extra-large (16 in. / 40 cm) hand-tossed pizza topped with extra cheese and extra pepperoni. It’s named after extra-large NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, who is also a high-profile Papa John’s franchise owner, of course. In keeping with the extra-large theme, it’s cut into 8 (rather than the usual 10) extra-large slices.
… Intros new Cheddar Cheese Crust
The new option features a blend of aged cheddar cheese and garlic & herb seasoning, baked onto the edge of a large hand-tossed pizza. Papa John is also featuring Cheddar in new Cheddar Cheese-sticks. A choice of dipping sauces is included.
Taco Bell spotlights new Crispy Chicken
They’re expanding their lineup with new Crispy Chicken Strips, and featuring them in limited-time tacos and burritos…
Both mains spotlight new Spicy Ranchero Sauce, described as, “a creamy sauce made with Anaheim and jalapeno chiles, tomatoes, garlic, and onion, offering a hint of spice that’s perfect for dunking or drizzling.” It’s a prelude to the promised permanent addition of some sort of crispy chicken to the TB main menu next year…
KFC $7 Fill-Ups back for summer
Summer is Grand Prix season. And KFC is partnering with the summer movie blockbuster F1 The Movie. KFC also thought summer would be the prefect time to splash-out new Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning Peaches & Cream Soda. The $7 Fill Ups meal choices include: A Chicken Tenders option, One-piece and Two-piece Fried Chicken Fill Ups, and a Famous Bowl Fill Up.
Subway bosses summer with a ‘real’ BOGO deal
By ‘real’ we mean just that It is what it says: Buy one Subway Footlong sub and get a second one (of equal or lesser value) for $1. Period. Available now through June 30, using the promo code ‘BOGO1’, when ordering through the Subway mobile app or website at participating locations US wide.Alas, it’s only available through the app…
Jack In The Box fêtes Dad with Munchie Deal
Specifically, it’s a T-Pain Munchies Meal, which includes includes your choice of a Burg-R-Tater Melt or Chick-N-Tater Melt…
… Plus a taco, regular curly fries, a stuffed cookie, a regular drink, and a T-Pain air freshener. The late-night-themed, limited-time deal is priced at .around $13′ depending on where you live.
Shake Shack sees double with ShackBurger Deal
Double ShackBurgers, to be specific. Buy one at the regular price now through June 16, and get a second free when ordering through an in-restaurant kiosk, or for delivery or pick-up via the Shake Shack Mobile App or website using the code ‘DADMODE’ at checkout.
Denny’s Slams summer with 4-platter deal
The mid-summer days start early, and you can fuel up early at Denny’s. The breakfast spot is offering your choice from a slate of 4 Breakfast Slams for just $10. The deal is good for a limited time at par-ticipating locations across the US. And check out Denny’s Father’s Day deals, good now through June 15, via the website using code: ‘RADDAD’…
Sides
Chipotle’s Announces Adobo Ranch Dip
Adobo Ranch, the Tex-Mex burrito house’s first new dip in 5 years. It’s described as, ‘a smoky, spicy twist on a classic [that] features […] ingredients such as adobo pepper and sour cream’.
“The intro-duction of Adobo Ranch comes at a time when ranch dips have taken American dining by storm,” says Chris Brandt, Chipotle’s President and Chief Brand Officer. “Our new Adobo Ranch taps into this passion.”
Beverages
Liquid Death Spices-up Sparkling Water
The energy drink company has pioneered new territory, introducing a Hot and Spicy Sparking Water. The new flavour is called Deathberry Inferno and blends strawberry with Ghost Pepper flavour for an experience on which LD has placed a heat warning! Deathberry Inferno is ‘lean’ in several different ways, with only 10 calories, no artificial sweeteners, no fiber, and only 2 grams of sugar.
Desserts and Snacks
Cup Noodles jumps on the Pickle Wagon
… With new Dill Pickle (and Other Natural Flavoures) Ramen. All it takes is the usual hot water to unlock the ‘swavoury’ flavour complex which is complemented by new, never-before seen green crinkly noodles. It’s one of Cup Noodles’ new ‘creamy sauce’ varieties…
Pop-Tarts x Marvel celebrates Fantastic 4 Origin movie
It was back in the 1960s that Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts and Marvel’s Fantastic 4 both débuted. And this summer, Marvel is celebrating the F4 with an origin movie: First Steps.
“There’s no better way to welcome everyone’s favorite, blue-suited Super Hero family to the MCU than with the triumphant return of our own fantastically blue toaster pastry – Pop-Tarts Frosted Blue Raspberry – back on shelves for the first time since 2019,” Leslie Serro, vice president of marketing for Pop-Tarts.
McFlurry S’Mores combo screams Newstalgia!
Talk about a multi-layered newstalgic experience… McDonald’s new S’Mores McFlurry comes just in time to celebrate the dessert’s 30th birthday, and the coming of summer camp season. Newstalgic update additions include favorites like OREO cookie bits and M&M’s.
Wendy’s x Cheez It = New Baconator Cracker
What a great idea for screenfront treat! Everything you want in a savoury binge-watching companion in one crunchy bite. This limited-time treat wil appear in general release next moth. But you can get an early taste via an exclusive Cheez-It x Wendy’s bundle now on CheezIt.com. The bundle combines crackers with a Wendy’s Frosty keychain tag that unlocks free Frosties all year long. Free shipping too, with code CHEEZBURGER, until supplies last.
Novelties
KFC gets gooey in South Korea
The international chicken giant is serving up something that will remind fans of the US south, in the chicken-loving Republic of Korea.
They call it the Upgraded Gravy Tower, which features a fried chic-ken filet, a hashbrown, a scoop of mashed potatoes, gravy, a slice of American cheese, and pepper dressing. There’s that newstalgia ‘upgrade’ thing again… I’m still thinking… “Who knew they love gravy and potatoes so much in South Korea?”
Events
Mars blinks first: Titanium Dioxide Out of Skittles
The controversy has been churning for years. But food safety advocates finally got their way recently. Mars Co. has agreed to remove suspected carcinogen Titanium Dioxide from its flagship fruity candy, Skittles, in the US. The additive is a white pigment that makes food colours look brighter and fresher. It has no nutritive or therapeutic value. The US FDA says such products are not regulated, much less banned in the US, though they have been banned in several other countries.
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little more sticky-fingered over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next ice cream-melting edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.