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

Archive for the 'Carl’s Jr.' Tag

Carl’s Jr. new burger aimed at veggies, but carnivores win out

January 27th, 2010, 11:40 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

carlsjr_grilledcheesesix_After testing in various markets including parts of Orange County,  Carl’s Jr. has added The Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger to its menu.

The burger was initially conceived  as a plain grilled cheese sandwich for vegetarian customers.

“But, being Carl’s Jr., a chain known for its decadent burgers, someone suggested that we try it with a charbroiled burger patty and bacon for our carnivorous customers and the Grilled Cheese Bacon Burgers were born,” said Brad Haley, executive vice president of marketing at CKE Restaurant, parent company of Carl’s Jr.

The sandwich contains four slices of melted American and Swiss cheeses, bacon and a charbroiled burger on a grilled sourdough bread. It sells for $2.49 (single); $3.49 (double burger) $4.49 (Six Dollar Burger).

Tip for Veggies: Vegetarians can still order the burger with no meat or bacon by saying “Veg-it.” This version cost $1.69.

My take: I tried this new burger when it was being tested last fall at a Santa Ana Carl’s Jr. It definitely lives up to the “decadent” status implied by Haley.  The sourdough bread adds a nice touch. My only issue: the burger was a bit dry. I would have loved to have some secret sauce on it, or a slice of tomato.

Tell us: Will you try this burger?

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Latest openings: Elk burgers at Lido Deck & more Tex-Mex food

January 23rd, 2010, 7:17 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

lido-deckHere’s a round up of openings or soon-to-be opened restaurants in Orange County:

  • The Fish House is scheduled to open this spring at 26051 La Paz Road in Mission Viejo, according to the city-run Mission Viejo Life blog. “The menu will reflect the tastes of the owner’s son, who works as the assistant executive chef at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach,” the blog stated.
  • The Lido Deck opened this month in Newport Beach. The restaurant, which took over the space where Blanca operated, is owned by husband-and-wife Don Schoenburg and Christi Carter. Carter is an award winning pastry chef “with a passion for rustic yet elegant desserts,” according to Lido’s website.  Most interesting thing on the menu: Elk burger. The $15 house specialty entree is made with ground Elk and topped with caramelized red onions, remoulade sauce, braised lamb belly, wild boar bacon, tres leche cheese, duck egg (optional) on a Kaiser roll. Yowza. (Lido Deck address/menu) Read the rest of this entry »
  • California trans-fat ban starts Friday

    December 29th, 2009, 7:00 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

    On McDonald's has converted to a trans-fat free oil for French fries, and other fried goods sold at U.S. restaurantsJan. 1, California will become the first state to ban the use of artery-clogging trans fats.

    Restaurants, especially fast-food chains, have been preparing for this day for months. Everything from fried chicken to French fries to tortilla chips are  impacted by the ban.  As of mid-2008, many of the top restaurant chains had already made the switch in anticipation of the 2010 ban, according to an informal survey by the Fast Food Maven. Read the rest of this entry »

    Burger King sexy ad vs. Carl’s Jr. sexy ad — who wins?

    December 26th, 2009, 6:30 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

    Updated 1/6/2010 (Shower Babe link now gone.)
    burgerking-showerbabe

    It looks like Burger King is trying to dethrone Carl’s Jr., the reigning King of the Sultry Burger Ads.

    Making the Internet rounds this month is Burger King’s “Shower Babe” video, which features an unknown, bikini-clad British babe singing in a shower. Burger King encourages viewers to tune in every day, as the Shower Babe sings a new song each morning.

    “Watch our shower babe shake her bits to the hits at 9.30am every morning,”  states the Burger King website.

    kim-kardashian-carlsad_webUnlike Carl’s Jr., the Burger King ad does not promote any food item. In fact, the whole thing looks unprofessional. My co-worker Matt Degen hit the nail on the head when he called the video something you “might see on My Space.”

    I just don’t know what Burger King is thinking with this one. Reps say the United Kingdom-specific promotion is “aimed at promoting a new range of BK breakfast products.”

    The items, available only in the U.K., include: sausage, egg and cheese butties,  mini pancakes with maple syrup and a Breakfast in Bread sandwich.

    Burger King says the “tongue and cheek” bikini ad is  “aimed squarely at 18 - 35 year old men.”

    That’s fine. But none of the food items are even mentioned in the video. So, I just don’t see what the point is.

    Tell us: Watch Shower Babe, and let us know what you think. (Link no longer valid)

    New Carl’s Jr. ad: Kim Kardashian eats salad in sudsy hot tub

    December 21st, 2009, 5:43 pm by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
    YouTube Preview Image

    carlsparishilton_1Last week’s preview of Kim Kardashian’s new Carl’s Jr. salad ad left out one sultry detail: the bubble bath.

    No doubt, the reality show celeb felt the need to compete with the suds in Paris Hilton’s famous burger ad.

    Tell us: Which Carl’s Jr. ad do you like better? Paris Hilton’s or Kim Kardashian’s?

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    Sneak peek: Carl’s Jr.’s Kardashian ‘hot’ salads ad

    December 16th, 2009, 11:00 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
    YouTube Preview Image

    Today, Carl’s Jr. released a behind-the-scenes look at celebrity Kim Kardashian’s new  “Salads are Hot” commercial.

    At one point, the preview shows the buxom brunette wiping salad dressing from her cleavage using an apple slice.  Not surprisingly, she’s filmed eating her salad (without a fork) while sitting on top of a luxurious bed. Read the rest of this entry »

    Kim Kardashian is Carl’s Jr.’s next buxom beauty

    November 19th, 2009, 11:33 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

    kim-kardashian-carlsad_web

    Reality show celeb Kim Kardashian joins the lineup of buxom beauties to flaunt their sex appeal for a Carl’s Jr.  ad.

    The chain confirmed Thursday that Kardashian will be featured in a seductive salad ad that will premiere next month on TV.

    Yes, that’s right — Carl’s Jr. is trying to make salads sultry.

    Once again, the Southern California-based burger chain is using Hollywood’s latest gossip girl to help lift sales. Read the rest of this entry »

    Carl’s Jr. debuts a deeply discounted Six Dollar Burger

    November 18th, 2009, 12:01 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
    Six Dollar Cheeseburger cost $2.49, a $1.50 less than other Angus burgers

    Six Dollar Cheeseburger cost $2.79.

    In another smack aimed at McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr. will debut today a discounted Six Dollar burger that claims to be nearly twice as big as a Quarter Pounder.

    Carl’s Jr.’s Angus burgers normally cost $3.99. But the new Six Dollar Cheeseburger will cost $2.79.

    The price is the “lowest we’ve ever gone with the Six Dollar” burger,  said chain spokeswoman Beth Mansfield.  “It’s a big deal to offer it at this value.”

    The Six Dollar Cheeseburger contains almost a half pound of charbroiled 100 percent Black Angus Beef, two slices of American cheese, onion, dill pickles, ketchup and mustard on a seeded bun.

    Read the rest of this entry »

    Hardee’s biscuits spotted in more O.C. Carl’s Jr. restaurants

    November 13th, 2009, 8:44 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

    hardeesbiscuits

    In September, Andy Puzder, chief executive of CKE Restaurants, revealed plans to expand selling Hardee’s “Made From Scratch Biscuits” in some Carl’s Jr. markets after testing the item in Buena Park.

    Now, thanks to reader James, we know of a few more restaurants where the biscuits are appearing: Fullerton, Newport Beach and Laguna Hills.

    Read the rest of this entry »

    Carl’s Jr. blames discount wars for poor sales

    November 11th, 2009, 4:32 pm by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

    Exclusive: McDonald’s McRib is back!
    carls-jr-burgers-medium

    The unrelenting fast-food discount wars have left CKE Restaurants battle scarred.

    CKE reported dismal sales for October. Here’s the financial report via Reuters.

    CKE  same-store sales fell 5.4 percent, sending its shares down as much as 7 percent on Wednesday.

    “Unemployment rates have continued to worsen while our competitors have escalated the deep discount burger wars. Both these events are having an adverse impact on same-store sales results for everyone including us,” Chief Executive Andrew Puzder said in a statement.

    Comparable sales in October fell 7 percent for Carl’s Jr and 3.4 percent for Hardee’s brands.

    Mafia ad update: Carl’s Jr. responds to reports that they “pulled” their mafia-style Parmesan Chicken sandwich ads due to backlash from Italian groups. CLICK HERE or see thread below

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