McDonald’s had been teasing the return of its chicken Snack Wraps on social media, but Popeyes beat them to the punch with the launch of similar wraps of their own.
That was the big menu news this week that was discussed by hosts Pat Cobe, senior menu editor of Restaurant Business, and Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor of Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality.
Bret disdained the term “chicken wars” to describe the scenario: It’s the sale of food to customers, which in no way resembles the horrors of war. Nonetheless, people do enjoy referring to the situation that wy, so there you have it.
In other food news, several chains rolled out cookies this week, including a new lemon cookie from Jimmy John’s, chocolate chip cookies enrobing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Oreos from Great American Cookies and an Espresso Martini-inspired cookie at Chip City Cookies that was only available for the June 6-7 weekend. There were also several beverage introductions of note, particularly Starbucks’ new Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
Chef Bret Lunsford of Sally's Apizza
Then the co-hosts discussed the trend of pizza regionalization, particularly Connecticut’s push to attract New Yorkers to the suburbs to try that state’s coal-fired pies. That led them to Pat’s interview with Bret Lunsford, executive chef and culinary director of Sally’s Apizza, a small chain based in Connecticut, who has expanded the menu with creative pizza toppings, salads, and more. Give a listen.
Menu Talk is a collaboration between Restaurant Business Senior Menu Editor Pat Cobe and Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor of Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. You can subscribe to it wherever you listen to podcasts.
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