As autumn approaches the pumpkin offerings (often with spices including cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and also sometimes cardamom, and this year a little chile) are rolling out in droves.
They can be had at Black Rock Coffee Bar, Caribou Coffee, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Cousins Subs, Dunkin’ (which now has coffee milk, a distinctly New England thing), Dutch Bros, First Watch, Häagen-Dazs, Rush Bowls, Tous Les Jours, and White Rhino Coffee.
But apparently not at Dunn Brothers Coffee, which is focused on a new line of dirty sodas, nor at Philz Coffee, which has cardamon, cinnamon, and nutmeg, but no pumpkin. Fiiz Drinks, for its part, is focused on its new partnership with Red Bull.
So be it.
Black Tap, based in New York City, is focused on the Feast of San Gennaro, a 10-day celebration in that city’s Little Italy, and has developed a signature CrazyShake in its honor.
There are also other seasonal items at chains such the Caramel Apple Cheesecake at Carrabba’s, the maple flavored sandwich at Casey’s, and the Salted Caramel Spice Cake at Portillo’s.
Scooter’s Coffee has something called a Mystery drink.
Burger King has frozen pink lemonade that is somehow tied in to the MTV Video Music Awards.
Chipotle is the latest chain to test a version of hot honey.
Cowboy Chicken has mashed potatoes with gravy, Buffalo Wild Wings has found three different ways to put bacon on a burger, and Del Taco has a whole lineup of al pastor items.
Friendly’s has its latest monthly Conehead sundae, and Baskin-Robbins is mixing banana ice cream with Oreo cookies and peanut butter.
East Coast Wings and Grill has added a variety of items to its permanent menu, and Jamba serves frozen coffee now.
Chicken wings are now so popular during football season that even Jinya Ramen Bar has them now.
Surcheros, a chain in Georgia, has two new items in a NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal with University of Georgia wide receiver Luke Bennett, and Village Burger Bar, a little Texas chain, is selling hot dogs.
Whataburger, a considerably larger Texas chain, has Nashville hot sauce for its chicken nuggets, and Wingstop, an even bigger chain, is combining Nashville hot and sweet Kansas City barbecue in a new flavor.
Kyuramen is using rice cakes as burger patties, Sonic Drive-In has queso now, and Velvet Taco’s Weekly Taco Feature is inspired by the gyro.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
