Nation's Restaurant News On the Go Newsletter #18

Nation's Restaurant News On the Go Newsletter #18

The Latest in Menu News

Hi. It’s Bret Thorn, Nation’s Restaurant News’ senior food and beverage editor, with some updates from the menu world.

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Probably the biggest recent news, though it happened with little fanfare, is that McDonald’s sells lemonade now, and it’s a rather premium drink, with bits of pulp in it. The Golden Arches also renamed its crispy chicken sandwich; now it has the obvious but nonetheless appealing name of McCrispy, and the company is also offering a Bacon Ranch McCrispy, which seems logical since chicken with bacon and ranch is a beloved combination.

It’s so beloved that it’s one of the three builds of MOD Pizza’s new Pocket Pies, which are simply pizzas that are scored and folded to make them more portable. It’s not too different from the way we New Yorkers eat pizza by folding the slices in half lengthwise, but we just do it one slice at a time.

Speaking of chicken, you can get nuggets at KFC starting on Monday even if you’re not in Charlotte, N.C., where they’ve been tested since July.

Last month’s big menu news was Starbucks’ introduction in Italy of Oleato, which is coffee with a spoonful of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil added. The most common Italian reaction I saw to that on social media was “Che cosa?” (“What?”), but if you happen to think it’s worth a try and are in Chicago, New York City, or Seattle, you can find it at some of the premium Starbucks Reserve and Reserve Roastery locations in those cities. On Monday it will be at 75 coffeehouses in Seattle and 475 of them in Los Angeles.

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A look at the history and process behind Chick-fil-A’s menu introductions

Chick-fil-A’s support center features a ‘menu over time’ wall showcasing introductions throughout the decades. Those introductions picked up significantly as the company started accelerating its growth.

READ MORE

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Taco Bell teams up with LA-based food truck concept for breakfast mashup

From March 24 through March 26, consumers in the Los Angeles area will be able to get their hands on a unique breakfast menu that features a mashup between Taco Bell and Yeastie Boys.

Yeastie Boys is an LA food truck concept that features signature spreads and fresh-baked bagels. For the Taco Bell collab, a six-item curated menu will be available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. PST Friday through Sunday, and all menu items are free while supplies last (one item limit per person).

SEE THE COLLAB MENU

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Dunkin’ rolls out breakfast tacos

Dunkin’ has expanded its breakfast options with tacos, available starting March 22. The new item is made with scrambled eggs, melted sharp white cheddar cheese, roasted corn, and lime crema in a flour tortilla at a suggested price of $2.59. Crumbled bacon can be added for around 40 cents.

READ MORE

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Darden CEO says dining out continues to be ‘an affordable luxury’

Despite nervousness in the economy, Darden Restaurants Inc.’s casual-dining concepts continued to perform well in the third quarter ended Feb. 26, and CEO Rick Cardenas said customers continue to see dining out as “an affordable luxury.”

The Orlando, Fla.-based Darden, which owns Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse and other casual-dining brands, reported third-quarter earnings on Thursday, and same-store sales for all Darden brands were up 11.7% in the quarter, with increases of 12.3% at Olive Garden, 10.8% at Longhorn Steakhouse, 11.7% in fine dining and 11.7% in other business.

READ MORE

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9 emerging restaurant chains making their mark on a rejuvenated industry

We've chosen the 2023 Breakout Brands! This year’s Breakout Brands represent a variety of menu items and service experiences, but share immense potential for growth in a rejuvenated restaurant industry.

Learn more about the nine emerging companies on this year’s list

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POLL: How is your restaurant creating value?

With value more important today to drive traffic, how is your restaurant primarily creating value? Let us know in this week's poll!

VOTE

PODCAST: NRN Editors Discuss Menu Innovation, Texas Roadhouse & Ghost Kitchens Plus Hear from special guest Jim Holthouser, CEO of Focus Brands

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Steven Horton

Maker, Founder & CEO of Healthy MUFA Oils- Saves Lives-Yummier Food- Longer Fry Life- Strong Loyalty - increased Market - Bigger Profits - Happier customers

1 年

Remember every oil is like a banana it changes its chemistry with Tome & exposure to changing temperatures, oxygen & water.

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Steven Horton

Maker, Founder & CEO of Healthy MUFA Oils- Saves Lives-Yummier Food- Longer Fry Life- Strong Loyalty - increased Market - Bigger Profits - Happier customers

1 年

You are MISSING the SWITCH DATE JUNE 2023 FROM OXIDANT edible oils to ANTIOXIDANT edible oils. Just look at the difference and tell me what you wish to eat. Then decide whether you want to be a candidate for an NCD - like a stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular, cancer or chronic respiratory disease. Keep consuming the oxidant oils that are so cheap and poisonous at some stage and become that One person in ten that suffers. - Otherwise, support the regulation ELIMINATE from your Diet Oxidant oils - all palm, soybean, corn, coconut, peanut, grapeseed, rice bran, rapeseed, sunflower, every partially hydrogenated oil and every vegetable oil! The solution is to eat foods made by 100% pure, non-GM, non-partially hydrogenated canola (62% Omega-9), Extra Virgin Olive oil only (75% Omegaa-9) and any pure, non-GM 82% Omega-9 MonoUnsaturated oil.

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CHESTER SWANSON SR.

Next Trend Realty LLC./wwwHar.com/Chester-Swanson/agent_cbswan

1 年

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