GrubGrade

Meh, just 12 seconds but here it is.

…and just because 12 seconds isn’t enough, here is another 12 seconds of King James grubbing on some fries from a fan.

Spotted in Nebraska, the KFC Doublicious Chicken Sandwich.  Details are a bit scarce but the Doublicious includes cheese, bacon some zesty sauce and available in Original Recipe or Grilled chicken. The best part seems to be that it’s served on a sweet Hawaiian bun.  I’m a big fan of Hawaiian bread.  The Doublicious combo meal was around the $5.00 area in Nebraska.  Here’s hoping for a nationwide release at some point.  Thanks to GrubGrade reader Chris Heidtbrink for the heads up.

Super Bowl 44 is this Sunday, February 7th.  Papa John’s has a “Toppings for Touchdowns” promotion going for the big game.  For every touchdown scored by the winning team, customers will receive a Free Topping on a $9.00 Large Cheese Pizza. So chances are we’ll be seeing maybe 3 or 4 free toppings coming our way.  The offer will be good for the 3 days following the game (Monday February 8th through Wednesday February 10th). Maybe Papa John’s will make up a little money for all they will miss out on because of this east coast blizzard that’s approaching.  One of the biggest pizza days of the year and I’m sure sales in the Mid-Atlantic states will be crushed because of the weather.  Super Bowl predictions anyone?  I’m kind of pulling for the Saints but my prediction is Colts 31 Saints 27.

Jack in the Box is introducing New Grilled Sandwiches.  A nice break from the burgers and chicken sandwiches, JITB is setting it’s sights on taking a bite out of the local deli sales.  Price: $3.99 each plus tax.  Keep an eye out for a new Jack in the Box ad during the Super Bowl this Sunday.

Turkey, Bacon & Cheddar: Roasted turkey, two slices of cheddar cheese and two bacon strips topped with a sundried tomato sauce on grilled artisan bread.  (647 calories, 30 grams of fat, 93 mg cholesterol, 2128 mg sodium, 53 grams of carbs, 5 grams dietary fiber, 4 grams sugar, 39 grams of protein)

The Deli Trio: Genoa salami, sliced ham, roasted turkey, two slices of provolone cheese and two pickle fillets topped with a creamy Italian sauce on grilled artisan bread.  (627 calories, 28 grams of fat, 80 mg cholesterol, 2461 mg sodium, 54 grams of carbs, 4 grams dietary fiber, 3 grams sugar, 37 grams of protein)

I’ll put this down in the “I really don’t know about this” category.  I guess it was inevitable, but Taco Bell seems to be close to releasing Shrimp Tacos as a featured item this March.

From the Taco Bell Twitter feed:

Good catch!  Shrimp Tacos coming in March! Double take @tacobell today. They have fish/shellfish warning stickers up!

So there you go.  My investigative journalism has paid off.  Just follow Taco Bell on Twitter and you might catch some news.  Or you can just follow me on the GrubGrade Twitter account to keep yourself informed.  As far as these Shrimp Tacos go, they were a test item last year in certain areas.  Please check out my good friends at WouldIBuyItAgain.com because the Shrimp Tacos made an appearance in Indiana in 2009 and they have a review waiting for you.  Also keep an eye out for the Taco Bell Mexican Cheesesteak…also found in Indy.

It’s February, which means love (and chocolate) are in the air.  What fast casual business venture isn’t apt to capitalize on the season of sweet treats? Einstein Bros. Bagels sure is, as the Colorado-based chain continues to roll out distinctly ’seasonal’ offerings for both their cafe and breakfast menus. Among the winter offerings? Double Chocolate Bagel Poppers, Twisted Bagels, and the new Double Chocolate Chip Bagel.

I loved EBB’s Pumpkin Bagel poppers with all the intensity of a fat kid contemplating on a Twinkie, but I’ve yet to try the Double Chocolate Poppers. While I’m not nearly the chocolate fiend as some in my family are, I recently did try their Double Chocolate Chip Bagel. It was a fairly adventurous choice considering my usual “go-to” are more on the savory side (Pumpernickel, Potato) but a free coupon — courtesy of the restaurant’s new and dare-I-say swanky Facebook page spurred me on.

If you liked their regular Chocolate Chip Bagel, the Double Chocolate Chip bagel should go down well. Otherwise, I can’t say it was very distinguishable for the company’s ‘regular’ product, except for what seemed to be a slightly musty and darkened color that may have hinted of cocoa. While the ingredients and nutrition of the bagel have not been disclosed, it’s more than likely that the only “double” chocolate part of this bagel is the addition of cocoa powder to the plain bagel base. Still, it’s an Einstein Bagel so you can’t go wrong (especially for 99 cents), although I would recommend a trip in the toaster (to melt the somewhat small and scattered chocolate chip pieces) and the application of your favorite sweet cream cheese (I like their pumpkin flavor) to boost the flavor.

Einstein Bros. Bagels’ Double Chocolate Chip Bagel is only being offered for a limited time, so get them for your sweetheart before the season is over!

It’s now February and that means a new Blizzard of the Month over at Dairy Queen.  This time it’s the Midnight Truffle Blizzard.  You might remember this Blizzard treat as being the featured Blizzard back in April 2009.  We have our impressions if you’re interested.  This Blizzard combines rich chocolate truffles and chunks of cocoa fudge with silky vanilla soft serve ice cream. 770 calories and 38 grams of fat for a small. Go ahead and skip lunch.

When it comes to pizza, Logan, Utah might as well be the infamous Star Wars planet of Hoth. Not only does the college town rival the fictitious sci-fi orb in terms of climate, but Logan has placed itself so far away from the Pizza nexus of this country that Utah State University students are inclined to actually view the atrocious five dollar “Hot and Ready” pizzas at the local Little Caesar’s as an accurate representation of the Italian classic.

Hyperbole? Maybe, but you get the point.

Fortunately, Logan does have its share of saving graces when it comes to fine dining.  Elements Restaurant is not only my favorite local institution, but it’s an oasis of contemporary American cuisine and fine dining set in an otherwise fast-food and fast casual culinary climate (not that there’s anything wrong with those kinds of locations, but c’mon, a foodie needs some variety, right?). Providing a “refined and sophisticated” approach to a bevy of American classics, chef Dustin McKay has done a terrific job in shaping Elements into Cache Valley’s most affordable and one of its most enticing-foodie friendly destinations.

One can order all kinds of dishes at Elements, which boasts a menu featuring items ranging from a Sweet Cola Glazed Meatloaf to an amazing and hearty Chicken Bolognese pasta. Their list of appetizers and desserts is extensive and no-less impressive, but when I head to Elements I almost always order a personal Wood-fired Pizza. Read the rest of this entry →