On the Menu: Town House in Chilhowie, Va.

Apr 02, 2009

CHILHOWIE Va. When the husband-and-wife chef team of John B. Shields and Karen Urie moved from the big-city fine-dining scene in Chicago to the mountains of Southern Virginia to take over at Town House, they took advantage of a modern medium to...

Chevys, California Tortilla debut bowl meals

Apr 01, 2009

CYPRESS Calif. Both Chevys Fresh Mex and California Tortilla on Tuesday joined the growing number of chains introducing rice-based menu options with the debut of new meals in bowls. At Chevys, the new Fresh Mex Lunch Bowls are positioned as...

Jack in the Box, Johnny Rockets go mini

Mar 30, 2009

SAN DIEGO The world of mini menu items got a bit more crowded this week with the Monday launch of Jack in the Box’s promised Mini Sirloin Burgers. The introduction followed the rollout last week of Johnny Rockets new Sliders, Mini Hot Dogs and...

MenuMasters panelists: Innovation key to attracting diners

Mar 23, 2009

ORLANDO Fla. —The recession has heightened the importance of menu innovation and accelerated the pace at which it must occur, said a panel of casual-dining operators at the recent Chain Operators...

Under the Toque: Globally seasoned Crenn focuses on the farm

Mar 23, 2009

Dominque Crenn’s mother laughed when she told her she wanted to be a chef. So she put those plans on hold and studied international business instead.After graduating, Crenn still wanted to study cooking, but even as late as the 1980s she says that...

Renewing Rice

Mar 23, 2009

Diners at the Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Park Place are sometimes taken aback when they’re served sushi and the rice is green. “My guests won’t eat it right away because they sometimes think it’s infused with wasabi,” says...

Cracker Barrel debuts Fireside Country Skillets line

Mar 19, 2009

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Port of Subs adds grilled sandwiches

Mar 19, 2009

RENO Nev. The 150-unit Port of Subs sandwich chain on Wednesday launched a line of grilled wraps and sandwiches called Sliced Fresh Grillers. The new line, the largest rollout in the Reno-based company’s 35-year history, reportedly required...

Pollo Campero debuts new chicken sandwich line

Mar 19, 2009

DALLAS Pollo Campero, the 49-unit Latin American chicken chain, will give away free fried and grilled chicken sandwiches on April 2 as it debuts its new sandwich line. The new sandwiches feature Pollo Campero’s citrus-infused grilled...

Carl’s Jr. revisits history with Jumbo Chili Dogs

Mar 18, 2009

CARPINTERIA Calif. Carl’s Jr., the 1,185-unit quick-service chain that grew from a single hot dog cart, is recalling its past by offering for a limited time a new Jumbo Chili Dog. The Jumbo Chili Dog features a large hotdog topped with...