Corporate strategies align with new menu introductions.
First Watch is expanding its beverage line with two permanent iced coffee options: mint mocha and honey caramel crunch. The mint mocha iced coffee features chocolate and mint, topped with a sweet cream cold foam and mini-Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips, and the honey caramel crunch iced coffee features salted caramel and honey, topped with a sweet cream cold foam and toffee crumbles.
Jimmy John’s brought back wraps for the summer season and added a spicy variety to the line. Rejoining menus is the chicken Caesar wrap and the Thai chicken wrap. And joining menus for the first time is the jalapeño ranch chicken wrap, which features chicken, provolone cheese, jalapeño ranch, crispy jalapeños, and red pepper flakes all served in a flour wrap.
Chipotle Mexican Grill introduced the fajita quesadilla, which is available as a digital-only menu item. The quesadilla, a viral TikTok trend, features Monterey jack cheese, a protein of choice and fajita veggies. The fan-favorite chipotle-honey vinaigrette also will be available as a side for the quesadilla.
Quiznos launched a kimchi Philly sandwich, its new take on a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. The sandwich is topped with spicy Korean gochujang sauce, kimchi, white American cheese and sauteed green peppers and onions.
Qdoba returned its seasonal mango salsa for the first time in four years. The salsa features mangos, tomatoes, red onions, jalapeños, lime juice and cilantro.
“We love and are always listening to our passionate fans; we heard them clamoring for the tropical flavors of our mango salsa and so we brought it back,” said Karin Silk, chief marketing officer at Qdoba. “We are constantly searching for new ways to excite our guests and keep them coming back for more.”
California Pizza Kitchen expanded its summer menu, which features three menu items and two beverages. Among the new menu items are a California fields salad, dynamite shrimp and strawberry shortcake.
The California fields salad features watermelon, strawberries and field greens tossed with a Champagne vinaigrette and topped with feta and pistachios. The dynamite shrimp includes crispy shrimp tossed with a sweet-and-spicy sriracha sauce and topped with scallions and toasted sesame seeds. The dessert is served on warm shortcake biscuit and topped with strawberries, whipped cream and candied lemon zest. New additions to the drink menu include an alcoholic summer fruit sangria and a non-alcoholic sparkling watermelon cooler.
Panera Bread has added two salads — one new and one returning — to menus across the United States. The Southwest Caesar salad features romaine lettuce that has been tossed in Caesar dressing, and topped with chipotle aioli, blue corn tortillas strips, grilled chicken breast, avocado, grated Parmesan and cilantro. The fast-casual cafe also is bringing back its seasonal strawberry poppyseed salad, which features romaine, grilled chicken, mandarin oranges, strawberries, pineapples and blueberries, topped with poppyseed dressing and pecan pieces.
“Panera’s southwest spin on Caesar salad takes the flavor to new levels — adding spice and a unique crunch that turn this classic dish into an exciting new offering I think our guests are going to love,” said Claes Petersson, head chef and chief culinary innovation officer, at Panera Bread. “And of course, we’re always happy to see strawberry poppyseed salad back on the menu for the season — not only is it a perennial guest favorite, it’s a sign the flavors of summer are right around the corner.”
Panera Bread added three sandwiches on toasted baguettes. The three new options include green goddess caprese, pepperoni mozzarella and smoky Buffalo chicken.
The green goddess caprese melt features Peppadew peppers, mozzarella, grated Parmesan, basil, arugula, green goddess dressing, garlic aioli and salt and pepper. The pepperoni melt has pepperoni, mozzarella, and a fontina and mozzarella blend with market sauce. Lastly, the smoky buffalo chicken melt is topped with smoked chicken, American cheese, red onions and Buffalo sauce.
Noodles & Company is testing a new stuffed pasta in select markets, including Colorado Springs, Chicago and Columbus, Ohio. The pasta options, which vary by location, include:
“When we introduced our original three-cheese tortelloni option in 2021, it quickly became our top-performing test item ever and has remained a guest favorite since becoming a mainstay on our national menu,” said Nick Graff, executive chef and vice president of culinary at Noodles & Company. “Since then, rewards members and guests have asked for more and we're happy to deliver. Our culinary team immediately went to work researching and developing new stuffed pasta innovations that included pairings our guests crave, like chicken prosciutto, Italian sausage, smoked gouda, and bacon carbonara. We are proud to have something on the menu for everyone, and now there's even more for our guests to enjoy with these new stuffed pastas.”
IHOP released its largest menu update to date, according to the company. New menu items feature both breakfast and lunch items, including eggs benedicts, sweet and savory crepes, steakburgers, salads and more.
“Starting with the launch of burritos and bowls in 2021, IHOP has been on a journey to rethink our menu by leaning into our equity of breakfast,” said Kieran Donahue, chief marketing officer at IHOP. “The introduction of our most thoughtful, innovative menu evolution to-date offers new ways to enjoy everyone’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner favorites. Every decision we made for this menu was driven by our guests and their continually evolving feedback and needs so they can enjoy our menu items how they want them, when they want them.”
Chipotle is added a chicken al pastor protein option to its menus, which features adobo flavors, Morita peppers and ground achiote, with pineapple and lime.
Breakfast chain First Watch released a seasonal menu, which features items like tacos al pastor hash, crab and avocado toast and bananas foster french toast, as well as a tropical sunrise juice.
The tacos al pastor hash are made with pork al pastor, pineapple, seasoned potatoes, and topped with eggs, avocado, pickled red onions, cotija cheese, cilantro and lime crema. The crab and avocado toast features lump crab and smashed avocado served on top of whole grain toast and topped with red onions, herbs and extra virgin olive oil. The sweet item added for a limited time is bananas foster french toast, which feature thick-cut challah bread that is topped with sliced bananas, pecans and caramel sauce. The newest juice, tropical sunrise, is made from a blend of mango, pineapple, strawberry and lime.
“Every seasonal menu at First Watch brings with it years of testing and refining, but we’ve been chasing this particular one for nearly half a decade and we’re proud to finally give these recipes the spotlight they deserve,” said Shane Schaibly, senior vice president of culinary strategy for First Watch.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store refreshed its menus for the spring season, with new dishes like cheesy bacon homestyle fried chicken and mini strawberry cheesecake.
The cheesy bacon homestyle fried chicken is topped with cheese, bacon, crispy onion strings and a drizzle of buttermilk ranch. The mini strawberry cheesecake features a graham cracker crust and is topped with strawberry sauce, whipped cream and a strawberry slice.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill brought back three dishes including toasted ravioli, shrimp scampi and eggplant Parmesan.
“While seasonal menus can be an opportunity to provide guests with innovative and fresh takes on classic dishes, we know that many of us are craving the comfort that can only come from the familiar,” said Holly Wagstaff-Bellomo, chief marketing officer at Dividend Restaurant Group. “With this in mind, and after listening to the overwhelming demands of our incredible guests, we are thrilled to be able to bring back three of our most requested dishes for a limited time.”
Qdoba introduced brisket birria, which is slow cooked in chiles and garlic. Consumers may create their own combination with the birria or choose from the “quesabirria” quesadilla or the quesabirria burrito.
Panda Express brought its Beyond Orange Chicken back to menus across the United States. The partnership between Beyond Meat and Panda Express began in 2021, when the companies first launched the plant-based option.
“Our team has been overjoyed by the undeniable excitement and incredible demand generated when we first introduced Beyond The Original Orange Chicken last summer as an innovative twist on our most iconic dish,” said Andrea Cherng, chief brand officer at Panda Express.
Noodles & Company launched menu options in collaboration with alternative protein company Impossible Foods. The plant-based panko chicken is featured in two dishes: Impossible Orange Chicken Lo Mein and Leanguini Rosa with Impossible Chicken.
The Impossible Orange Chicken Lo Mein features Asian-style noodles in an orange sauce with snap peas, napa and red cabbage, topped with panko-breaded Impossible Chicken, green onions, black sesame seeds and cilantro.
The Leanguini Rosa with Impossible Chicken features the Leanguini noodles topped with a spicy tomato cream sauce, mushrooms, Roma tomatoes and spinach, as well as panko-breaded Impossible Chicken and Parmesan cheese.
Applebee’s is bringing back its all-you-can-eat boneless wings, riblets and double crunch shrimp, each coming with endless fries, according to the company. Available for a limited-time, consumers may choose one of the three options, but can refill with a different option.
Panera Bread added a toasted baguette sandwich: the Black Forest ham and gouda melt. The sandwich features Black Forest ham, country mustard, arugula and smoked gouda on a toasted baguette.
Nov
2023
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