Pizza, tacos, bowls, wings, shakes and desserts—every category is seeing some action as January draws to a close. In the past, healthy options and vegetarian dishes have trended during the first month of the year, but January, 2025 seems to be more about indulgence and flavor exploration.
Pizza riffs
The Spicy Hot Chicken Pickle Pizza is heating things up at Blaze Pizza. The pie features Blaze’s white sauce, shredded mozzarella, chicken, basil and pickles, topped with spicy chili oil. To cool off palates is the chain’s new Green Goddess Chop Salad, a toss of romaine, tomato, red onion, mushrooms, black olives, mozzarella and oregano, topped with green goddess dressing. Customers can order the two together as a Spicy & Fresh Combo for $14.99.
Blaze tops its newest pie with chicken, pickles and chili oil. | Photo courtesy of Blaze Pizza
Cici’s taps an Italian-American favorite for its Spaghetti and Meatballs Pizza. Available through March 16, the nostalgic pizza is topped with spaghetti, meatballs, marinara sauce and melted cheese, all piled on Cicis' signature crust.
Over at California Pizza Kitchen, the Mediterranean Pizza takes center stage. It’s layered with grilled zucchini, slow-roasted tomatoes, red onions, Kalamata olives, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, then finished with creamy feta, wild Greek oregano and a drizzle of house-made tzatziki. CPK also added a Big Greek Salad and Salmon Baked in Parchment to the winter lineup.
Breakfast is taco time
Two breakfast tacos made their debut at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. The Amigas Taco is filled with scrambled eggs, chorizo, pico de gallo, cheese, sliced avocados and tortilla strips, paired with arbol chile salsa, while the Big Bacon & Chorizo Taco features scrambled eggs, bacon, chorizo, cheese and pico de gallo wrapped in a warm tortilla. A frozen Sunrise Mimosa is also on hand to jump-start the morning.
Tacos highlight a new breakfast plattter at Bob Evans. | Photo courtesy of Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen.
A Double Meat Breakfast Tacos Platter is new at Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen. The platter features three flour tortillas filled with sausage crumbles and bacon, then topped with scrambled eggs, cheddar and diced tomatoes and served with salsa and sour cream; hashbrowns, home fries or fresh fruit comes on the side. The family-dining chain also launched hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders, both in a platter and as an appetizer with several sauce options.
Chicken a plenty
Wings are starting to fly onto menus for Super Bowl promotions, with Popeyes introducing Louisiana Garlic Wings—an homage to the big game’s host city, New Orleans. The wings are marinated and tossed in a garlic-infused Cajun-inspired buttery sauce, then coated with the chain’s signature breading and fried. To get the party started, groups of football fans can order Popeyes Game Day Bundle, which includes 24 wings (choice of boneless or bone-in), three sides and four dip cup sauces for $24.99.
Popeyes' Louisiana Garlic Wings honor New Orleans as host city of the Super Bowl. | Photo courtesy of Popeyes.
Sports Bar concept Wings and Rings is offering a Beer Cheese Chicken Sandwich, composed of a crispy, beer-battered chicken fillet layered with bacon, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and house-made Sam Adams beer cheese on a brioche bun. Also available are Beer Cheese Jumbo Tenders with a beer cheese dip and Sam’s Loaded Fries topped with beer cheese, bacon, scallions and blue cheese crumbles.
Wrapping up the week…
Comfort food hasn’t gone out of style as chilly temperatures continue to blanket the country. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant leads off its limited-time menu with Lobster Mac and Cheese made with cavatappi, four cheese cream sauce and Pecorino breadcrumbs. The aptly named “Comfort Food” menu continues with Tomato Basil Soup, Short Rib Grilled Cheese, Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf and Shrimp and Grits, all with beer pairing suggestions.
Chili seasoning gives Graeter's latest ice cream a sweet-hot flavor profile. | Photo courtesy of Graeter's.
Two Ohio-based brands, Graeter’s Ice Cream and Skyline Chili, teamed up on a limited-edition flavor called Graeter’s Skyline Spice Chili. The flavor blends the brand’s French Pot ice cream with oyster crackers and Skyline’s signature chili-spice mix. Graeter’s is promoting the sweet-and-spicy ice cream for Super Bowl watch parties.
Strawberry Shortcake Snowball Slush Float returns to Sonic Drive-In to brighten up winter. It’s a combo of real strawberries, shortcake-flavored slush and a snowball topping of vanilla soft serve. The premium drink, available through the app, joins the Flavorista Favorites Menu curated by Sonic’s flavor experts.
Jamba introduced Acai + Shot packs to give customers a refreshing nutrition boost. A variety of Acai Bowls are available, including the Acai Tropical Bowl with strawberries, bananas, pineapple and granola, and the Acai Peanut Butter with Chocolate Hazelnut Bowl with fruit, granola, hazelnut cocoa spread and peanut butter. Customers can grab a free ginger, turmeric or wheatgrass juice shot with any of the acai bowls.
In a Valentine’s Day preview, Portillo’s has its holiday-themed specials ready to go. The celebration begins with the chain turning its famous chocolate cake into The Portillo’s Heart Shaped Cake, available now for pre-order through Feb. 11 and in restaurants from Feb. 12-16. Fans can also order a Portillo’s Chocolate Strawberry Shake through Feb. 28 at all locations.
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