IHOP is bringing back the Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruit combo that includes two eggs, bacon or sausage and two pancakes with strawberry, blueberry, mixed berry or apple cinnamon topping.
Menu design and development in today’s restaurant world represents a balancing act. Independent operators and chains alike are challenged to keep their offerings fresh and exciting so as to attract and retain customers, yet operational imperatives demand that menu expansion be kept in check.
Major chains deal with this conflict between variety and efficiency of execution in several ways. Some develop and introduce new items, then quietly recalibrate the menus by removing less popular offerings down the road.
“Limited-time-only” items have become a common approach to keeping menus interesting, with many brands maintaining a seasonal or even more frequent calendar of such introductions.
This January has seen a rash of menu reworks, with many restaurant brands introducing new items and reprising old favorites. What follows represents a representative subset of the mainstream menu tweaking that’s currently underway.
Arby’s Restaurant locations are featuring two seafood sandwiches during these winter months, with both on-bread builds featuring a fish filet in a crispy crust.
The Crispy Fish Sandwich, served on a toasted sesame bun, is finished with shredded lettuce and tartar sauce. The King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe is additionally garnished with sliced tomato and cheddar cheese; a toasted King’s Hawaiian roll serves as assembly platform.
Also returning to Arby’s this winter is a Mint Chocolate Shake. Flavored with chocolate syrup and Andes Mint pieces, the shake is topped with whipped cream before being served.
There is an Arby’s location Chicopee at Route 33 and Granby Road.
Inventive grilled cheese variations have dominated the limited-time-only menu at Sonic Drive-Ins of late, with the most recent iteration being a Steak and Bacon Grilled Cheese. Made with Texas toast bread, it has a filling of shaved steak, grilled onions, American cheese and bacon. It will be available through Feb. 26 or while supplies last.
Sonic does business locally at 1057 Boston Road in Springfield.
IHOP is reintroducing, as a limited-time, value-priced menu option, its Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity breakfast combo. The package deal includes two eggs, bacon or sausage, and two fruit-topped pancakes, a Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity can be enjoyed in three new variations in addition to the original glazed strawberry version.
There are IHOP restaurants at the Five Town Plaza in Sixteen Acres, Springfield, and on Riverdale Street in West Springfield.
Popeye’s Louisiana Chicken restaurants are turning up the heat by bringing back, as a limited-time-only offering, the chain’s Ghost Pepper Wings. Marinated in a ghost pepper spice blend for 12 hours or more, the wings are hand breaded, deep-fried, and served with buttermilk ranch dip.
Popeye’s can be found on Route 33 in Chicopee, on both State Street and Boston Road in Springfield, and on Route 9 in Hadley.
Panera Bread Bakery-Cafes have launched a new line-up of “toasted baguette” sandwiches. Formulated to resemble the toasted baguette sandwiches that are a staple of cafe menus across Europe, the new handhelds are prepared on Panera’s “French-style” baguette bread.
Starting this month, three such sandwich variations are being offered: a Pepperoni Mozzarella Melt that delivers a pizza-like flavor profile, thanks to a filling of pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, and cheeses; Spicy Buffalo sauce is the flavor headliner in the Smoky Buffalo Chicken Melt; and “meat-free” is the idea behind a Green Goddess Caprese Melt, a sandwich filled with peppadew peppers, fresh mozzarella, basil, arugula, and garlic aioli.
Panera has locations in East Longmeadow, Chicopee, West Springfield and Hadley.
For its first flavor feature of 2023, Starbucks is promoting pistachio in two coffee drinks.
A new Pistachio Cream Cold Brew is cold brew coffee flavored with vanilla syrup that’s served topped with pistachio cream cold foam and salted brown butter sprinkles.
The Pistachio Latte, which is returning for its third season, has pistachio and brown butter flavors blended in. The drink can be enjoyed hot, iced, or as a Frappuccino beverage.
Drawing on the new year’s self-improvement meme, Chipotle Mexican Grill has introduced seven new Lifestyle Bowl combinations. The chain’s press materials describe the new lineup as “inspired” by Millennial and Gen Z consumers, who, in the chain’s words, “eat clean” and “eat mindfully.”
Among the new bowl offerings are a Wholesome Bowl made with chicken, fajita veggies, and “supergreens”; a low-gluten Grain Freedom Bowl; and a High Protein bowl that features cheese, black beans, and a double portion of chicken.
One interesting aspect of this Lifestyle Bowl menu is that it’s only available through Chipotle’s digital channels (app and website). Chipotle is also heavily promoting the lineup using SnapChat’s social media space.
To promote the new Lifestyle Bowls, Chipotle launched their marketing effort on Quitter’s Day (Jan. 13), the tongue-in-cheek date by which most New Year’s resolutions are supposedly shelved.
Side Dishes
On Jan. 24 the Cedar Street Grille in Sturbridge will present a Diner De Tapas – a French small plate dinner.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m., it is designed to apply a French appreciation for ingredients and techniques to the idea of “small plates.” Priced at $59, not including tax and gratuity, the dinner will be accompanied by a special regional cocktail, wine or beer. Reservations may be made by calling the restaurant at 508-347-5800.
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Atkins Farms Country Market in Amherst is presenting a series of “Tastings in The Loft” events with the next one slated for Jan. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Each tasting provides participants with the chance to taste selected wine, beer, or ciders; complimentary light snacks are also provided. For more information, contact Atkins Farms Country Market at 413-253-9528.
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The Student Prince Cafe and Fort Restaurant in downtown Springfield has announced the dates of the annual Hunters Dinners. A tradition that dates back to the 1950s, the five-course wild game dinner this year will be featuring wild boar belly, bison oxtail, python and more.
The first will be held Feb. 9 starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75, a price that includes tax and gratuity. Tickets can be purchased online at studentprince.com/huntersdinner; the Student Prince answers at 413-734-7475.
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Holyoke Community College’s Business and Workforce Development Department is presenting a series of personal enrichment programs at the HCC-MGM Culinary Arts Institute in Holyoke.
A three-session “Diabetes Lab” series is designed to help those with diabetes select and prepare good food choices. Conducted by registered dietitian Marissa Chiapperino, the cook-along sessions will include nutritional breakdowns as well as recipes.
The first session, “Snacks & the Power of Protein,” will be held on Jan. 19, starting at 6 p.m. Additional programs, also held on Thursday nights, will include “Breakfast & Fabulous Fats” on Jan. 26.
The series will be repeated starting April 6. Registration information can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/yky5e6fb. HCC’s Business and Workforce office can be reached at 413-552-2324.
Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
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