24
Jan
2023
Bacon is sizzling on seasonal menus.
Fast-casual concept BurgerFi is introducing the Ultimate Bacon Bash meal, which includes the Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger, bacon cheese fries and a limited-time maple bacon shake.
“BurgerFi loves to put a new spin on a classic fan favorite,” said Paul Griffin, chief culinary officer of BurgerFi. “There’s never too much bacon, and this sweet and savory combination continues to win for foodies and BurgerFi on redefining what consumers love and crave the most.”
New at Noodles & Co. is Truff Mac. The limited-edition dish adds a drizzle of Truff’s Signature Black Truffle Hot Sauce to the restaurant chain’s bestselling menu item, Wisconsin Mac & Cheese. The sauce blends
chili peppers, organic agave nectar, black truffle and savory spices.
“Our goal with Truff was to create a hot sauce so unique that it would elevate any dining experience,” said Nick Guillen, co-founder and co-chief executive officer at Truff. “With Noodles & Co., we had the opportunity to reinvent a dish as classic and popular as their Wisconsin Mac & Cheese. The Truff Mac dish will offer Noodles & Company guests instant, craveable flavor. We are excited to share this unexpected mashup with Noodles fans.”
Panda Express is unveiling new children’s meal offerings. Panda Cub Meals are served with Tree Top Apple Crisps and a choice of water or juice. Varieties include orange chicken with super greens and white steamed rice, grilled teriyaki chicken with super greens and chow main, and broccoli beef with super greens and white steamed rice. The meals were developed based on the US Department of Agriculture dietary recommendations for children and are approved by National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell Program.
“At Panda, we strive to offer our guests a variety of balanced and flavorful options that they feel good about,” said Andrea Cherng, chief brand officer at Panda Express. “Our new Panda Cub Meals are thoughtfully assembled with a nutrition-first mindset, using our most popular dishes and introducing a new healthy fruit snack. We want to make it easier for families to enjoy their favorite American Chinese meals while ensuring kids are getting the nutrients they need.”
P.F. Chang’s is rolling out its seasonal selection of menu items, including wagyu dumplings, fire-braised short ribs, short-rib fried rice and Chang’s Apple Crunch served warm with cinnamon sugar, caramel and vanilla icing. A limited-time cocktail mixes Grey Goose Vodka, Moonstone Asian Pear Saké, yuzu and pomegranate, served in a keepsake ornament.
“The holidays provide a unique opportunity to utilize seasonal flavor profiles and ingredients to bring exciting new items for our guests to enjoy,” said Tana Davila, chief marketing officer at P.F. Chang’s. “Whether they’re dining at our table or theirs, we’re proud to be part of their holiday celebrations.”
The Garlic Butter Bacon Burger is returning to Sonic Drive-Ins nationwide for a limited time. The sandwich has a beef patty topped with garlic butter, two slices of American cheese, bacon, mayonnaise and grilled onions on a toasted bakery bun.
“This year, Sonic has been dedicated to enhancing our burgers by making them meltier and juicier, and we hope our guests enjoy the upgrades we made to the popular Garlic Butter Bacon Burger,” said Scott Uehlein, executive chef at Sonic. “Our culinary team took on this exciting challenge by doubling up the cheesiness and adding even more creamy garlic butter. To top it all off, the Garlic Butter Bacon Burger is stacked on a toasted bakery bun that Sonic guests will love as they satisfy their garlic butter craving.”
Carvel Ice Cream has partnered with Lotus Biscoff to introduce a seasonal collection of treats featuring cookie butter ice cream. The brand also is introducing Cookie Butter Crunchies, which is described as “crispy vanilla crunch blended with Lotus Biscoff Cookie crumbles coated in a sweet vanilla bonnet shell.”
“During the holidays, people seek comforting treats that remind them how magical the season is,” said Delia Wong, director of marketing for Carvel. “Our Cookie Butter Ice Cream and new Cookie Butter Crunchies made with Lotus Biscoff will transport fans to a cookie wonderland as they take breaks from the holiday rush, enjoy a cozy night in or share a treat with guests during holiday get-togethers.”
Headlining the holiday menu at First Watch is the Million Dollar Breakfast Sandwich, which has bacon, pork sausage, an over-easy egg, smoked Wisconsin gouda, fresh arugula and Mike’s Hot Honey drizzled on a griddled English muffin. The restaurant also is introducing for a limited time the Short Rib Poutine Hash, featuring red wine-braised beef short rib, potatoes, mushrooms and shallots, mozzarella cheese and Wisconsin white cheddar cheese curds, and two eggs cooked any style. Additional items include the Cinnamon Chip Pancake Breakfast and the Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Roll.
“I’ve been a fan of Mike’s brand for years, and it’s been a personal mission of mine to incorporate this hot honey into one of our dishes here at First Watch,” said chef Shane Schaibly, senior vice president of culinary strategy for First Watch. “I can say this Million Dollar Breakfast Sandwich is one of my favorite seasonal menu items we had the joy of creating. While this incredible glaze was originally created to drizzle on some fresh New York pizza, it’s being used in so many other applications today. The combination of Mike’s with our fan-favorite Million Dollar Bacon, smoked Wisconsin Gouda, all-natural pork sausage and a griddled English Muffin — it’s a flavor combination that you simply have to taste for yourself.”
IHOP is introducing for a limited time sweet and savory items spanning breakfast, dinner and dessert. New pancake offerings include Winter Wonderland Pancakes, which are topped with a shimmering blue vanilla swirl, miniature marshmallows and powdered sugar, and Cranberry Vanilla Pancakes, topped with creamy vanilla bean mousse, cranberry topping, whipped topping and powdered sugar. The Cali Roasted Turkey Melt is topped with bacon, cheese, roasted cherry tomatoes, avocado and mayonnaise on multigrain bread. The new Frozen Hot Chocolate Milkshake blends vanilla ice cream with milk and hot chocolate, topped with whipped topping, chocolate drizzle and miniature marshmallows.
Dunkin’ unveiled its slate of seasonal beverages, including a new holiday blend coffee, toasted white chocolate signature latte, white mocha hot chocolate and peppermint mocha signature latte. New food items include Pancake Minis, which are filled with maple-flavored bits and served with a side of syrup, the Cranberry Orange Muffin, and the Chicken, Bacon and Cheese Croissant Stuffers, a handheld snack.
Baskin-Robbins is scooping Snickerdoodle Chai for the month of November. The seasonal offering includes vanilla chai flavored ice cream with a cinnamon streusel ribbon and snickerdoodle dough pieces.
Also available for a limited time is the Turkey Cake, an ice cream cake topped with a pair of sugar cone legs, smothered in caramel praline glaze and garnished with frosting.
“Fall is all about flavors that remind guests of seasonal treats enjoyed at home, and we’re thrilled to bring some of these flavors into Baskin-Robbins shops across the country this November,” said Charlie Nutting, brand marketing director at Inspire Brands. “We’re also excited to bring back Baskin-Robbins’ own Thanksgiving tradition, the beloved Turkey Cake, which is the perfect conversation piece and Insta-worthy addition to any Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving gathering.”
Krispy Kreme’s Thanksgiving Collection includes three dessert-inspired donuts. The Pecan Pie donut is an original glazed donut dipped in butter tart filling and sprinkled with candied pecans and pie crust crumbles. The Cranberry Orange donut is filled with cranberry, dipped in cranberry orange icing and finished with an icing drizzle. The Dutch Apple Pie donut is filled with apple pie filling, dipped in caramel icing, topped in cinnamon and decorated with an icing lattice. Additionally, the heart-shaped Gobbler donut is dipped in chocolate icing, decorated with chocolate Kreme and Thanksgiving sprinkles and topped with a Turkey Face fondant piece.
Jan
2023
Products aimed at elevating the home cook’s experience take center stage at the Las Vegas show.
Vegan and plant-based options ring in the new year.