Among the things that lobsters and people have in common is that both go to the beach to mate in the summer.
People sometimes lose weight for the occasion, and female lobsters do one better and molt their shells. With their new, softer shells they don’t ship as well, and some locals in the Northeast say their flesh is softer and less flavorful, but they are abundant in New England and eaten with gusto regardless.
Friendly’s, which is based in Massachusetts, is celebrating the season with a line of new and returning lobster items (plus a steak quesadilla for those who don’t want lobster), and Panera is offering a lobster roll and lobster mac & cheese, but only in the Northeast.
Arby’s is celebrating the approaching summer with its first burger, made with a beef blend including American wagyu, and Sonic is offering a slush-soft serve blend topped with Sour Patch Kids candy.
Every season is fried chicken sandwich season, and so there re new items from sister chains Checkers & Rally’s Chester’s Chicken and PDQ as well as Shake Shack (although theirs is just being teste in one location).
Velvet Taco’s Weekly Taco Feature is made with fried chicken strips, too.
Chopt’s summer lineup has California-themed specials, Norms has new barbecue themed items among other specials, Epic Burger has a chocolate covered banana shake, Pretzelmaker has a seasonal lemonade, and Jack’s Family Restaurants has a new bun.
Rutter’s has spiked tea with lemonade, and Sprinkles has a collab with La Barbecue in Austin, Texas, and is marking that partnership with a donation to the barbecue concept’s charity of choice, Allgo, which “nurtures and celebrates queer people of color,” according to Sprinkles.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
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