Carl’s Jr., Caribou Coffee, Buffalo Wild Wings, The Melting Pot, Rock Bottom and P.F. Chang’s also introduce new menu items.
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has announced plans to introduce two gluten-free items later this year — a cinnamon sugar doughnut and a blueberry muffin — across its 10,500-unit system.
The items had been tested in the chain’s home state of Massachusetts earlier this year and are currently available in the Hartford, Conn., area. Suggested prices for the items are $1.89 for the doughnut and $2.39 for the muffin.
Wendy’s has joined the growing number of chains offering pretzel bread by rolling out the Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger as a limited-time offer for the summer at a suggested retail price of $4.69 in its more than 6,500 restaurants.
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Carl’s Jr. is bringing back a popular “indulgent salad” and also offering a new one.
The 1,369-unit quick-service chain is bringing back its Cranberry Apple Walnut Grilled Chicken salad and is introducing a new BBQ Ranch Grilled Chicken salad, which has tortilla strips, black beans, corn, salsa, ranch dressing, Memphis barbecue sauce, shredded cheese, grilled chicken, and mixed spring and iceberg lettuces. Both salads are priced at around $5.
Caribou Coffee has introduced two quiche varieties as permanent items systemwide: Ham & Cheddar Quiche and Spinach & Swiss Quiche, retailing for about $4 each. There are about 500 units in Minneapolis-based Caribou’s system.
Buffalo Wild Wings is rolling out its signature craft beer, called Game Changer, on July 15. The amber-colored pale ale, developed by Redhook Brewery of Woodinville, Wash., will be available on tap exclusively at the chain’s more than 925 locations, although it might be made available to other Redhook customers in the future.
Redhook Brewery developed Buffalo Wild Wings' signature craft beer.
The Melting Pot has added four new summer cocktails to the menu at its 138 units at an average price of $7.45. They’re available through July 31:
• The Sparkling Rita is made with tequila, lime juice and simple syrup and topped with Moscato d’Asti.
• The Couture Cosmo is made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and blackberry syrup.
• The Luxe Lemonade combines tequila, blood orange flavored vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, lemon wheels and sprite.
• The Sailor Chic is made with spiced rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and blackberry syrup, topped with club soda.
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Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery is adding seven new dishes to its core menu, all of which performed well previously when released as limited-time offerings. They include:
Rock Bottom's Ahi Tuna Appetizer is served rare with wasabi cream.
Selections from P.F. Chang's summer menu
• Housemade Pretzel Stix with a side of warm Tillamook Cheddar beer cheese dip, available in salted or spicy jalapeño flavors for $7.95
• Ahi Tuna Appetizer, which is rolled in spices, blackened and served rare with wasabi cream for $9.95
• Chipotle Agave Salmon, which is salmon brushed with chipotle agave beer nectar, grilled and topped with smoked red pepper sauce, and Mexican crema, served with black beans and red ale rice for $17.95
• Cajun Pasta with grilled chicken breast, Andouille sausage and shrimp tossed with onions, celery and green peppers in Cajun cream sauce and served over linguine for $13.95
• Tillamook Bacon Burger with hickory bacon, lettuce and tomato and barbecue jalapeño ranch dressing for $10.95
has introduced six new menu items, each paired with wine, as well as two cocktails, as limited-time offerings for the summer at its 207 locations.
The Grilled Pineapple-Citrus Swordfish with Summer Rice features the grilled fish served over a mix of rice and summer vegetables, topped with daikon sprouts for $19.95. Its recommended pairing is Silverado Chardonnay.
The $13.95 Korean BBQ Chicken Stir-Fry features the chicken tossed in sweet and spicy red chile sauce with red peppers, onions and green beans, topped with kimchi slaw. Its suggested paring is Penfolds “Thomas Hyland” Shiraz.
The Heirloom Tomato & Thai Basil Salad is dressed in ponzu for $7.95. It’s paired with Brancott Sauvignon Blanc.
The Summer Vegetable Quinoa “Fried Rice” is actually quinoa, wok-toasted with sunburst squash, mango, tomatoes and snow peas and topped with a sunny-side-up egg. It’s $11.95 and recommended with Garnet Pinot Noir.
The Grilled Prawns with Chilled Peanut Noodle Salad, $15.95, features the warm prawns in red curry-peanut sauce and cool noodles with shaved snow peas, crispy shallots, bean sprouts, carrots, cilantro and lime. Its suggested pairing is Fillaboa Albariño.
The Peking Summer Rolls are roasted duck with julienned green papaya, snow peas and carrots wrapped in cool rice paper and served with mango-jalapeño vinaigrette for $8.95. It’s paired with Masi “Campofiorin” Corvina Blend.
Also available for the summer for $9 each is the Long Island Tequila Tea, made with silver, reposado and añejo tequila shaken with sour mix and topped with Coca-Cola; and Long Island Rum Tea, made with mango- and guava-flavored rums and an aged light rum with sour mix, cranberry juice and pink cherries.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @foodwriterdiary
