chains

More and more restaurants have followed in the footsteps of Jamba Juice and Starbucks by counting on customers at the grocery store. The latest? Joe's Crab Shack.Yesterday, the casual seafood chain unveiled a new line of eat-at-home dinners that steam in the microwave.

The meals, which range from $7 to $9 and are designed for two, include dishes like Cajun cod and green beans, honey Dijon salmon with broccoli, and mahi mahi with tropical salsa and coconut rice.

Right now, the dinners are available in select Walmart stores, with plans to expand further in 2011 as well as roll out a line of frozen Joe's Crab Shack appetizers come Spring. While other famous restaurant names like California Pizza Kitchen and P.F. Chang's have seen success, I'm still skeptical of frozen, microwaveable seafood. Does it have potential?

Source: Flickr User Javier Vidal

Starbucks is starting to branch out — both figuratively and literally. The largest coffee roaster and chain in the world has announced it's going to plant coffee trees in China — the corporation's first attempt to grow its own coffee in its 40-year history.

China has welcomed Starbucks coffeehouses with open arms, once even boasting a store inside its venerated Forbidden City. Now, the Chinese government will help Starbucks to develop, farm, and process coffee beans in the country's southwestern Yunnan province, a region known for its fertile soil, weather, and water. "We've discovered a part of the area there that can produce the world's best coffee," CEO Howard Schultz said. "And in three to four years, we will bring coffee from Yunnan to the world."

Sounds like the coffee titan wants to have more control over every step of the coffee-making process. What do you think of Starbucks not only being a coffee roaster, but also a grower?

Is there anything better out there than tacos? Not that we know of — except, well, maybe free tacos.

Today only, mosey over to your nearest Jack in the Box anytime after 2 p.m. and score dos tacos, gratis. Although there isn't much explanation in the promotion's advertisements, officials did say it's intended to highlight improvements made to the menu item.

Want to know if Jack's tacos are better? Find out for yourself and get to a participating location.

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While the country's most celebrated chefs ready themselves for global restaurant expansion, nationwide chain Red Lobster wishes to stay afloat by lowering its prices. Darden Restaurants executives hope the roughly half-dozen new menu items — which will run customers $13 to $17, as opposed to a current average tab of $19 — will combat declining sales.

The new menu, which debuts Nov. 16, will "allow guests to experience lobster in a new and affordable way," executive Salli Setta said. "It has become incumbent that we have a wide variety of affordable entrées on the menu." The lineup includes lobster bisque, shrimp flatbread, and a New England lobster roll with lobster, mayonnaise, lemon, and spices on a buttered roll for $14 at lunch and $15 at dinner.

Hopefully, Red Lobster won't fall prey to the bad budget lobster roll. Does the menu sound like it has promise?

Source: Flickr User me and the sysop

Now that Burger King's gone after the breakfast market in a big way, it wants to make sure consumers know all about it. So, for every Friday this month, the chain will offer free 12-ounce coffees during breakfast hours — along with a free coupon for a 22-ounce iced vanilla or mocha coffee with the purchase of a value meal.

Coffee is good, and free coffee is even better. But exactly how palatable is Burger King's new Seattle's Best Coffee? To find out, I hopped into our nearest Burger King to sip it. To my surprise, the coffee tasted fresh, with a nice medium-bodied, roasted flavor and a sweet finish.
Coffee that's fast, free, and pretty darn tasty? I'd say that's a good deal.

Love Chipotle Mexican Grill? Then get excited for next year. Yesterday, Steve Ells, the company's founder, chairman, and co-CEO, revealed plans to debut a similar Asian fast-casual concept by the middle of 2011.

Although the company, which simultaneously announced plans to partner with Facebook Deals, wouldn't reveal details about the new fast-casual eatery, representatives did confirm that the menu will have a pricing structure similar to Chipotle's and follow the same focus on naturally and sustainably raised ingredients. The restaurant will open in one of approximately 40 existing Chipotle markets.

With the Mexican chain's future foray into Asian fast-casual food, maybe it's time it considered hopping on the Latin-Indian fusion bandwagon. What do you think of an Asian-themed Chipotle?

Source: Flickr User Mr. T in DC

Now that Starbucks is in 49 countries, its next step is expanding its presence to the high seas. Yesterday brought news that the coffee chain will set sail with its first Starbucks outlet at sea, on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas. The move is undoubtedly geared toward consumers who count on Starbucks for a dependable morning drink.

Like any other location, the ship's store will be staffed with baristas, a full line of Starbucks drinks at what's being called "directionally similar" prices to those on land, and a wide array of Starbucks Via products. "We want that experience to be seamless," Starbucks executive Chris Carr told USA Today.

I must admit that I like the idea. What do you think of a Starbucks presence at sea?

As vice president of culinary development for the sandwich chain Quiznos, Zach Calkins spends the majority of his time in the test kitchen with two other people and amidst various recipes for bread, stocks, and sauces. But he also spends time out in the field, researching the way locals eat and keeping an eye out for new trends.

At a recent beer pairing dinner, Zach gave us insight into how a nationwide eatery translates the food world's biggest hits into menu items that successfully appeal to Quiznos's customers. See case studies — including what works and doesn't — when you read on.