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Up Next For Wendy's: Boneless Chicken Wings

YumSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:50:20 -0700

Hoping to boost this year's sales - and prove that it's still "waaaay better than fast food" - fast food chain Wendy's has announced plans to unveil a new menu item, boneless chicken wings, later this month. The boneless wings - which will compete head to head with KFC's new Kentucky Grilled Chicken - come in three different flavors: Sweet & Spicy Asian, Honey BBQ, and Bold Buffalo. "Our new Boneless Wings are as far as it gets from fast food," Ken Calwell, Wendy's chief marketing officer, said. "Sweet & Spicy Asian wings are something you'd find at an upscale restaurant."

The new item will set you back $3.99 for seven to nine wings (depending on weight), and will be available in a combo meal for $5.69. Since I'm a buffalo wing fiend, I'll definitely check these out - although I'm skeptical about the idea of them being "upscale restaurant" fare. Still, with McDonald's doing froufrou coffee drinks and Burger King barbecuing ribs, the fast food climate seems to be changing. Do fast food's newest items interest you?

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McDonald's and Wendy's Move Toward Cage-Free Eggs

YumSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:00:13 -0700

It's still debatable whether America's in the midst of a food revolution, but a growing number of the country's biggest corporations are focused on promoting natural and local ingredients.

Late last week, McDonald's announced it will take part in a study in conjunction with animal welfare groups, academics, and egg suppliers that compares battery cage-dwelling hens to free-range hens. The following day, Wendy's proclaimed that two percent of its egg purchases will now come from cage-free hens. The response from the animal rights community has been mixed. Although the Humane Society called Wendy's decision "a modest but meaningful step in the right direction," it also maintains McDonald's is only conducting the study to delay reforms in its farming practices.

Both Wendy's and McDonald's have been under fire for failing to change their practices after many other competing chains, such as Burger King, Quizno's, Hardee's, and Denny's, have already converted to using eggs from non-caged hens.

I'm happy to hear that both chains are making a concerted effort to look into free-range eggs - although it's disappointing that only five percent of eggs in North America come from free-range hens. Do you find yourself hopeful or skeptical about the chains' efforts to go cage-free?

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Hoping to Heat Up Sales, Chains Turn to Jalapeno Burgers

YumSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:00:01 -0800

Last month, we got acquainted with Burger King's Angry Whopper, a spicy take on the chain's bestselling burger. But as it turns out, the highly anticipated, spicy-hot sandwich available for a limited time only isn't quite as unique as it might seem. Restaurant chains across the country have enhanced their menus with jalapeno-laden specials, hoping consumers' fiery appetites will lead to sizzling sales at the cash register.

In addition to the Angry Whopper, which is available in stores through the end of March, casual chain Red Robin recently unveiled its new Burnin' Love Burger, which includes, among other things, pepper-jack cheese, salsa, and fried jalapenos. Because good things can't last forever, the spicy creation is only around through April 5. Fast-food spicy burgers are nothing new, last year Wendy's aimed for something similar with its Spicy Baconator, a twist on its highly successful Baconator sandwich that included pepper-jack cheese, chipotle ranch sauce, and - what else? - jalapenos. The Spicy Baconator was available across all Wendy's locations in the US, but only for about a month.

Have you noticed any other restaurant chains with peppery new sandwich offerings? Do you think the fact that they're all seemingly limited-edition items makes them more coveted?

Arby's Finds the Beef at Wendy's

YumSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:28:39 -0700

Fast-food chain Arby's has been wooing Wendy's for nearly a year, and it looks like it's finally paid off. The courtship ended with Arby's parent company Triac buying Wendy's for a $2.34 billion all-stock deal. The outcome has created the nation's third largest fast-food chain. There is talk of keeping them run independently, but there's been no official word.

So what does Wendy think about all this? (If you don't know, Wendy was the nickname for founder Dave Thomas's daughter Melinda Lou.) It doesn't sound like she's happy at all. Her sister, Pam Thomas Farber, said:

She's feeling horrible. She just is devastated. It's a very sad day for Wendy's, and our family. We just didn't think this would be the outcome.

I can imagine why the family is so bummed. Dave Thomas was the face of the company for so long, it must be awkward to see it all fall apart. So tell me, do you care about this? If your Wendy's becomes an Arby's, will it matter to you?

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Zagat Determines Who Has The Best Fries

YumSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 07:01:18 -0700

Yesterday the results to the Zagat/Today Show Fast-Food Survey were announced. The survey, which was taken by 5,535 people (really? that's all???), declared Wendy's, Panera Bread Company and Outback Steakhouse as their top fast-food destinations. Forty-five fast-food chains were scrutinized and then rated on their food, facilities and service - healthy options were also taken into consideration. In addition to scoring each restaurant, the survey also determined the best burger, fries, etc. So who won best burger and which fast-food place has the best fries? To find out the answers, read more

Best Burger: Wendy's
Best Fries: McDonald's
Best Shakes: Dairy Queen
Best Chicken: Chick-fil-A
Most Child-Friendly: McDonald's
Favorite Mascot McDonald's
Top Food Mega-Chain: Wendy's
Top Facilities Mega-Chain: Wendy's
Top Services Mega-Chain: Subway
Top Overall Mega-Chain: Wendy's
Top Food All Chains: Panera Bread Co.
Top Facilities All Chains: Panera Bread Co.
Top Services All Chains: Chick-fil-A
Top Overall All Chains: Panera Bread Co.
Top Food Full-Service Chain: Outback Steakhouse
Top Facilities Full-Service Chain: Cracker Barrel
Top Services Full-Service Chain: Cracker Barrel
Top Overall Full-Service Chain: Outback Steakhouse

Visit Zagat.com for the top five restaurants in each category.

Source: Zagat

Where's The Beef?

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:03:45 -0800

It turns out that January is a big month for hamburgers. Not only is January the month that the word hamburger first appeared in print, but it's also the month when Wendy's famous "Where's the beef?" commercials began. Twenty-three years ago little ol' Clara Peller received a burger with a massive bun causing her to ask "Where's the beef?"

You can checkout the commercial over at GiggleSugar, or you can indulge with the secret recipe for a juicy Wendy's Original Burger. read more

Wendy's Original Burger
From Secret Restaurant Recipes

Serving Size: 1

1/4 pound ground chuck
1 plain jumbo-sized sandwich bun -- (potato kind)

=== CONDIMENTS ===
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Heinz ketchup
Mustard -- as needed
3 slices Heinz genuine dill pickle - (thin slices)
2 iceberg lettuce leaves - (to 3)
2 white onion rings - (to 3)
1 tomato slice
Cheese -- (optional)

Cooking Directions:
Using waxed paper, form the 1/4 pound of beef into a 4-inch square patty.
Refrigerate until you're ready to cook.

Pre-heat an electric griddle to 375 to 400 degrees. After it's ready, toast the bun faces lightly...about 30 seconds. Don't brown as much as the McDonald's or Burger King buns. Set the bun(s) aside.

Cook the fresh or thawed burger patty about 3 minutes on the pre-heated griddle, salting the top immediately after laying it down. After 3 minutes, turn the patty over, salt again, and cook for 3 more minutes.

While the burger is cooking, dress your toasted top bun in the following order: 1 tablespoon mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon Heinz ketchup; 3 thin slices Heinz genuine dills; 2 to 3 rings of fresh sliced white onion; 1 tomato slice; 2 to 3 iceberg lettuce leaves; 5 to 6 squirts of yellow mustard, evenly spaced.

After the meat is finished cooking, drain the excess fat by tilting to the side and applying pressure with your free hand. Place the patty on top of the dressed bun, and add the toasted bottom bun.

Turn right side up, and eat -- or wrap in a 12- by 12-inch sheet of foil and allow to sit in a warm place 3 to 5 minutes before eating.

This recipe yields 1 burger.

Comments: If you'd like the classic Wendy's double, cook two patties, and dress the bun the same. If adding cheese, use only "real" American cheese and place it on top of the dressed bun prior to adding the cooked beef. Double cheese? Do the same.

For Wendy's classic bacon cheese burger, cook the burger and dress the bun as directed above. For the bacon, use Oscar-Mayer Ready-Made pre-cooked bacon. Simply microwave 2 slices for about 30 seconds, and add to your burger between the cheese and the beef patty.

Print recipe with images | without images

Yummy Links: From Poached Eggs to Merken

partysugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:30:46 -0700

Learn how to perfectly poach eggs. - Serious Eats
Get your grill on with these healthy recipes. - Epicurious
Check out Wendy Ding's Food Girl series, a fun depiction of females and food. - Eat me daily
Find out the best way to wash fresh fruit. - Chow
Dabney Lee allows you to create your own customized serving tray. - Hostess with the Mostess
Meet merken, a versatile Chilean spice that's delicious on everything from lamb to pasta. - The Atlantic

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What's Cooking at Slashfood

YumSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:50:22 -0700

We love Slashfood so much that every Thursday we round up their most delicious stories. Here are this week's finds:

Caesar's, the Tijuana joint credited for inventing the Caesar salad, has closed.
Former 007 Roger Moore boycotts anything foie gras - including friends who eat it.
Luggage-themed cakes are looking to be the next big dessert trend.
Doctors discover a Wendy's plastic utensil in one man's lung.
A taste of the elusive churros from Rick Bayless's newest street-ery, XOCO.
The dirty little secrets of the restaurant industry that may make you never want to eat out again.

Source: Flickr User stu_spivack

Must-Read: The Fortune Cookie Chronicles

YumSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:15 -0700

If you've ever cracked open a fortune cookie - and I bet you have - then see this book in your future. Far more satisfying than those sugary slips of paper, The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, by New York Times reporter Jennifer 8. Lee, explores the American obsession with Chinese food, from delightful trivia to dark realities.

Considering the US has more Chinese restaurants than McDonalds, Burger Kings, and Wendy's combined, it makes sense that the cuisine comes with a stir-fry of great stories. Lee begins her journey with the tale of how the Powerball lottery was once almost brought down by a set of lucky numbers printed in dozens of fortune cookies. She follows with fun facts about the origins of the cookies, as well as of chop suey and General Tso's chicken. But this book isn't as lighthearted as you might think

Wendy's

harry — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:55:12 -0700

That's Right.