Wendy's NEW Signature Sides: Chili-Cheese Fries, Mac n Cheese, and Sweet Potatoes [Review]

insidepenton.com

Innovation is key to a food chain's survival. Competition is so cut throat, and always changing, that if you don't take the time to re-evaluate your business model and menu, the rival chains could speed by you before you toaster strudel pops. BK followed suit this past month releasing several new items that prior to 2012, didn't seem to fit the old blow out your britches BK style.

Well, Wendy's is back at it again, this time releasing three new signature sides. Wendy's began its overhaul last year, focusing in on quality, and now these premium sides can be added onto a meal in place of the regular fry/baked potato/ side salad option for an up-charge of a dollar. Separately, they can be purchased for $2.49.

Its been quite awhile since I've put on my proverbial eating pants and gone out for a review, so I satisfied my urge and set out on my voyage.

Pizza Hut Bring Back the Cheesy Bites Pizza [Report]

pizzahut.com

It has become more and more clear that Pizza Hut has ran out of ideas.  After a few months of stuffing anything they could find into a box and pricing them randomly, they've now reverted to a recycled gimmick.  The creative team is mailing it in more than the Pittsburgh Penguins defense corps.  But just because it's been used before, doesn't mean that it isn't a worthy gimmick.  Remember that Wendy's did this teeter totter game with their Spicy Chicken Sandwich before eventually bringing it back full time.

Panera Bread: Chicken Tortilla Soup [Review]

Panera Bread's monthly soups have ranged anywhere from tasty cakes to downright corrugated.  As I've found with most of their offerings, they're traditionally hit or miss.  One month we can see some pretty solid tastes roll through while others will just be meh.  This month's promotional offerings include the Low Fat Chicken Tortilla soup, which has been released in the past and is now considered a returning favorite.  I decided to give the soup a go and determine whether or not this reunion tour was even worth following on Twitter.

Wendy’s to Add Three New Sides: Chili Cheese Fries, Mac and Cheese, & Sweet Potatoes [Report]

Wendy’s continues to prove that they’re not messing around and are rolling out three new sides. They recently announced that chili cheese fries will become a permanent addition to the menu as well as two additional “limited-time” only sides: Mac and Cheese and baked sweet potato. All three sides will be listed at $2.49

Sonic: Sweet Potato Tots [Review]

Tater tots have been a long standing cafeteria food in schools for what seems like eons.  Well I guess this was the case until the governing bodies decided that kids weren't smart enough to make decisions on their own and made everything produced in school lunch rooms to taste like sodium free cardboard.  Along similar lines is the sweet potato fad.  Apparently people got so bored with frying regular potatoes, turning to their sweet sultry half cousin seemed like the only reasonable possibility.  Sonic was one of the first to bridge this ideal into the fast food world with their Sweet Potato tots.

Pizza Hut UK Produces the Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza [Report]

time.com

While America has had a long standing undisputed title belt for most ridiculous and ludicrous fast food options, the United Kingdom might have just upped the proverbial ante.  While America still boasts the Double Down from KFC and the Doritos Locos Tacos from Taco Bell, Pizza Hut in the UK has just unleashed the Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza to the masses.

The King is Back, BK to go Public Again

It seems that the titans of the fast food industry have awoken after decades of contented slumber and have all decided to wax their chests and revitalize their lives. The “no more couch potato” attitude has begun to transform Wendy’s and seems to also have struck BK who has just recently unveiled a series of changes to bring their menu into the 21st century. The latest move finds BK jumping back into the public domain after sitting out 2011.

Burger King's Mary J Blige Chicken Snap Wrap Ad Pulled [Report]

Along with Burger King's new menu items, they have planned on packing a celebrity punch.  Jay Leno, Sofia Vergara, David Beckham, and Mary J Blige have all signed on to promote some of the new items in what BK hopes will lead people back into their restaurants.  But before the campaign can even get off the ground, this Rolling Stone article reports that the new Mary J Blige chicken wrap ad has already been pulled.  Controversial among the black community, with criticism raining down on the R&B singer for being too stereotypical.

Subway's April Footlong: Bacon, Egg, and Cheese and BOGO 6 Inchers [Report]

subway.com

Another month has rolled around and Subway has another featured footlong for April.  The Bacon, Egg, and Cheese on flatbread has reared its ugly head.  Using the slogan "everything is better with bacon", Subway has once again stated the obvious.  Despite their position that pepperoni was the new bacon, it seems as though Subway has come to their senses and realized that nothing could ever compete with bacon.  I've never been a fan of Subway breakfast, and this sandwich really doesn't blow me away.  Cheap bacon, refrigerated egg flaps, and cheese provide nothing much to write home about. Plus the sandwich packs 410 calories and 16 grams of fat in only a 6 inch allotment.

Burger King Makes Their Move Adding 10 New Menu Items in Overhaul [Report[

newsday.com

We told you last week that this month saw the burger chain of command has shifted this month.  Wendy's is now #2 with slumping Burger King fading like your pair of acid washed jeans.  Well it appears as though the sleeping giant has awoken.  Burger King has announced it will add 10 menu items, their biggest revamp ever.  The menu items include fruit smoothies, coffee frappes, new salads, chicken wraps, as well as chicken strips.