There are a bunch of new cheese-oriented items this week, including Panera’s new Grilled Mac & Cheese Sandwich, new queso sauce from Einstein Bros Bagels and Taco John’s, pizza options from Cicis and Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, a seasonal taco with local goat milk cheese from Tacodeli and four-cheese-stuffed mushrooms from Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar is the latest chain to team up with PepsiCo to introduce a proprietary MTN Dew Drink and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is the latest chain to add a whole slice of pumpkin pie to milkshake.
Jack in the Box is expanding its fried chicken sandwich line with two items dressed in barbecue sauce and Wing Boss, a virtual concept by Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, is offering Buffalo chicken items. Fatburger, meanwhile is going the non-chicken route with Impossible Foods’ new nuggets made with plant-based chicken analog.
Panda Express is sort of going into the chicken sandwich game, but not really: It’s offering a sandwich version of its signature Orange Chicken, but only at its Innovation Kitchen in Pasadena, Calif.
Mendocino Farms has legitimately entered an entirely new menu segment with the introduction of grain bowls, while Krispy Kreme has stuck to its seasonal doughnut path with a line of maple items.
Little Caesars has new brownies, Ziggi’s Coffee has pumpkin treats and Velvet Taco’s Weekly Taco Feature has fried chicken thighs.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
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