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Fast Food Maven ~ Restaurant news, trends and culture by Nancy Luna.

Don’t forget: Denny’s free Grand Slam event is today

February 9th, 2010, 7:37 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

Denny’s free Grand Slam event is today (Feb. 9) from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Super Bowl ad: Denny’s to offer free Grand Slam, again)

If you go, write in and let us know how it went here at the blog or via my Twitter or Facebook pages.

Update: Here’s a Twitter comment from a reader in Orange:

@FastFoodMaven just finished my Grand Slam. Yummy. Orange location on Lincoln– no line.

Did you know? According to data provided by market research firm Mintel, the average per person check at a midscale, Denny’s-style restaurant is $7.43 during the morning.

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Ruby’s first ‘drive-in’ diner opening soon near Disneyland

February 9th, 2010, 5:55 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

genlkwest

Ruby’s Diner revealed more details this week about the chain’s first-ever “drive-in” diner concept, which is slated to open in a historic area of downtown Anaheim this spring.

The new diner will feature an old-fashioned outdoor carhop with 12 drive-in spaces complete with roller skating servers and a rotating reel of 1940s movies.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Round up: Naugles secret menu, free pretzels, Gabbi’s selling sauces online

February 8th, 2010, 8:53 pm by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

free-pretzelA round up of Fast Food Maven Tweets and Facebook updates from the last few days:

  • Einstein Bros. Facebook page to hand out ‘digital’ coupon Tues. 2/9 for free bagel: http://bit.ly/7tfii3
  • Fresh & Easy Set to Hold ‘Twitter (Wine) Tasting’ [Tuesday, Feb. 9] Night http://tinyurl.com/ya3pq9v
  • Del Taco’s secret Naugles menu via @ocmexfood: http://bit.ly/bd9v10
  • Men’s Health Top 10 Worst Sandwiches come from Cheesecake Factory, Cosi, Arby’s & more: http://bit.ly/dlxzEm
  • Polly’s Pies, and some local KFCs hosting Feb. 9 Haiti fundraiser: http://bit.ly/9nv2ij
  • Gabbi’s Mexican restaurant now selling its sauces online: http://bit.ly/d2ThwG (via @ocmexfood )
  • On Saturday, Feb. 20, all Auntie Anne’s shops will host a Free Pretzel Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Habit Burger updates: Looks like the Habit in Fullerton will open in early April; the Lake Forest location is still going through permit process.

(Original Tweets are edited for the blog. Want all these great food tips, deals and stories when they happen? Follow the Fast Food Maven on Twitter or Facebook.)

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Subway nearly doubles menu of $5 footlongs to 17 sandwiches

February 8th, 2010, 11:14 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

subwayphelpsNot sure if you’ve noticed, but all Subway shops in the U.S. have expanded the $5 footlong special on the menu.

The so-called Everyday Value Menu is typically limited to about nine subs for $5.

Now, every sub on the menu, except the Premium Sandwiches, are $5. That’s about 17 sandwiches, including the Turkey and Ham and Tuna subs –  two popular sandwiches that aren’t normally on the value menu, said Ben Purcell, a Southern California spokesman for Subway.

The expanded *$5 deal launched in stores last week. The special is good for a limited time only in national stores, including Orange County’s 211 Subway shops, said Purcell.

(*taxes may apply)

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Taco Bell in Surf City torn down for ‘bold’ makeover

February 8th, 2010, 6:15 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
This Taco Bell in Orange near Lucille's Rib Shack is among at least 2 serving breakfast in O.C. Do you know of more? If so, write in and let us know.

This Taco Bell in Orange was recently remodeled, and is among at least 2 serving breakfast in O.C. Will the new Taco Bell in Surf City get morning grub?

A concerned reader sent me an email after spotting the demolition of an old Taco Bell in Huntington Beach.

The unit, at 7480 Edinger Avenue, closed and was promptly torn down, the reader said. So what prompted the closure?

Old age, it seems.

The restaurant will be rebuilt as a “completely new Bold Choice Taco Bell,” said Rob Poetsch, a spokesman for the Irvine-based chain.

Bold Choice.

What does that mean?

“The new restaurant will feature a fresh new look, complete with bold color palettes, a more inviting dining room and state-of-the-art technology to deliver speed with service. We expect it to open sometime this April or May,” he said.

Morning Wrap, unwrapped

Taco Bell's 'Morning Wrap, unwrapped. Of all the new breakfast items, I liked this one the most.

The chain recently revamped a Taco Bell in Orange on Chapman Avenue near the Crystal Cathedral. When that unit reopened, it began testing breakfast. So, naturally, I asked Poetsch if the new Huntington Beach restaurant will be equipped to sell morning grub when it reopens.

He didn’t respond specifically to my answer, but hinted that a breakfast update is on the horizon. Hooray. More info: A closer look at Taco Bell’s new breakfast items.

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Register contest: $75 gift cards for cheap easy food recipes

February 7th, 2010, 7:45 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

As a food and restaurant writer, some people think I enjoy cooking.

Not really.  While I dabble in the kitchen, I prefer ordering over cooking.

But, if you like to cook and have a few easy recipes to share, you should consider entering the Register’s Calling All Cooks contest:

Details: Recipes need to be easy, and quick meals for a cost of less than $20. (30 minutes or less is recommended). The contest ends Feb. 19. One winner will be determined by popular vote, and the other determined by Register appointed judges. Winners will be announced in the Food section of the Register on Thursday, Feb. 25.

What You Win: $75 gift certificate for Sur La Table; $75 gift certificate for Builders Surplus; $150 gift card to Old Vine Cafe.  (FULL DETAILS)

CLICK HERE to watch a local chef create a dish to go with a recipe that Register readers have submitted.

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Heinz debuts new ‘dip & squeeze’ ketchup packet

February 6th, 2010, 10:08 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

heinz_north_america_bw10

A few days ago,  H.J. Heinz Co. debuted a new ketchup packet shaped like a shallow cup — a design made specifically for scooping while in the car, the company said.

The so-called Heinz Dip & Squeeze package can be used two ways: either peel back the lid for dipping, or tear off the tip and squeeze with ease. The new package holds three times as much ketchup as a traditional packet, Heinz said.

The company, whose ketchup is found in dozens of restaurant chains across the country, sheinz_north_america_bw8aid it is testing the new packaging at some fast-food chains in the Midwest and Southeast.  Heinz reps declined to name specific chains involved in the pilot program.

Will Southern California fast-food chains get the new packets anytime soon?

“While we can’t disclose the specifics, the new product will be available nationally at QSRs in the fall,” company spokeswoman Jessica Jackson told me via email. “We’re still in negotiations with our customers so we can’t comment on which ones will be carrying the product in the fall.”

Traditional packets, which have been used in restaurants for years, will not be eliminated.

My take: I would love to see these dipping cups in local chains. I recall Del Taco offering similar cups for its ketchup and hot sauces years ago.

Tell us: What do you think of the new ketchup packet?

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Bad year forecast for alcohol sales in bars, restaurants

February 5th, 2010, 7:00 am by PAUL HODGINS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

paulportraitI’ve been harping a bit about restaurants with overpriced wine lists and inflated corkage fees. Both are longstanding practices that have transformed from merely annoying to infuriating as the recession takes its toll on disposable incomes.

I haven’t been picking on bars as much because Happy Hour seems to be making a healthy comeback, but I know many people who don’t give a place a second chance after they’ve been charged $14 for a simple martini — even with call liquor.

Well, I’m not the only one carping. It looks like the restaurant and bar industries nationwide are doomed to lose liquor business this year, big-time, even as America’s per capita wine consumption increases and people are buying up lower-priced liquor in record numbers.

Technomic, a consultant firm for the food service industry, just released some sobering predictions for 2010 (sorry, that pun was too irresistible to pass up). Technomic’s Forecast for On-Premise Alcohol Growth is pointing due south for the rest of 2010.

Read the rest of this entry »

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SoCal McDonald’s offering extra value menu, $1 deal perks

February 4th, 2010, 1:41 pm by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

extra-value-menus

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but McDonald’s restaurants in Southern California are giving fast-food eaters more value menu perks, including an expanded Dollar Menu and discounts on combo meals.

Some McDonald's are offering combo deals on Snack Wraps

Some McDonald's are offering combo deals on Snack Wraps

After spotting the “Extraordinary Value Menu” recently, I confirmed with local McDonald’s representatives that Southern California residents are being treated to more value deals compared to other regions.

Here’s what to look out for: Read the rest of this entry »

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BJ’s pizza in downtown Surf City gets big makeover for Saturday reopening

February 4th, 2010, 6:25 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

bjs-pizza-slicebjs-exterior

Fans of BJ’s Pizza & Grill in downtown Huntington Beach will be relieved to learn that the restaurant will reopen Saturday after a major remodel.

bjs-bar-area-laguna-hills

This BJ's in Laguna Hills sports a full-size bar

The Chicago-style deep dish pizza joint shutdown its small downtown location on Main Street in mid-January to expand the eatery to include more seating, and a full bar.  The 3,000-square-foot corner location is adding an extra 1,000 square feet.

“When the retail location next door to us became available we took the opportunity to expand our existing restaurant,” said Matt Hood, a spokesman for the Huntington Beach-based pizza and brew house chain.

The makeover includes additional patio seating, more flat panel high-definition TVs, including a new 103-inch plasma screen.  The format of the store will follow the look of some of the chain’s more modern brew-house eateries found in other parts Orange County.

The restaurant is at 200 Main St., Huntington Beach.  Saturday hours: 10 a.m. to midnight.

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