Starbucks: Buy One Holiday Beverage, Get One Free (4 Days Only)

The Starbucks website lays out the deal:

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

Celebrate the season together with someone – and something – you love at Starbucks. On November 17–20 from 2–5 p.m., when you buy one holiday beverage, you’ll get a second one free. Warm up with your choice of a Peppermint Mocha or new Skinny Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Gingerbread Latte or the longest-running holiday favorite, the Eggnog Latte.

If you click on the above links for each drink, you can customize the drink to your liking.  In the meantime, here is what each drink is made with:

• Peppermint Mocha - Espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce and peppermint flavored syrup, topped with sweetened whipped cream and dark chocolate curls.
• Skinny Peppermint Mocha - Espresso with steamed nonfat milk and sugar-free bittersweet mocha sauce.
• Caramel Brulée Latte - Espresso and steamed milk flavored with caramel Brulée sauce, topped with sweetened whipped cream and caramel Brulée topping.
• Gingerbread Latte - Espresso with steamed milk and gingerbread flavored syrup. Topped with sweetened whipped cream and nutmeg.
• Eggnog Latte - Espresso with steamed eggnog and milk, topped with ground nutmeg.

McDonald's Adds Two Peppermint Drinks for the Holidays

From now, until January 2, 2012, you will be able to order McDonald's new Peppermint Mocha and Peppermint Hot Chocolate McCafé drinks. According to the press release:

McCafé Peppermint Mocha is the perfect blend of smooth espresso, dark chocolate syrup with a hint of peppermint, and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. Customers can also get into the holiday spirit with a decadent McCafé Peppermint Hot Chocolate. Both beverages are customizable, and available with a choice of whole or nonfat milk, and with or without the whipped cream topping.

Both drinks are available in three sizes and the nutrition based on how the drinks come as ordered is listed below:

Peppermint Mocha - Customize drink at the link

• Small (12oz.) - 260 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein, 32 grams of sugar
• Medium (16oz.) - 310 calories, 12 grams of fat, 8 grams of protein, 39 grams of sugar
• Large (20oz.) - 380 calories, 15 grams of fat, 10 grams of protein, 47 grams of sugar

Peppermint Hot Chocolate - Customize drink at the link

• Small (12oz.) - 270 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein, 32 grams of sugar
  
• Medium (16oz.) - 340 calories, 14 grams of fat, 9 grams of protein, 41 grams of sugar
• Large (20oz.) - 410 calories, 17 grams of fat, 12 grams of protein, 50 grams of sugar

Paradise Bakery Opening in Old Town Scottsdale, Tempe & Tucson

Paradise Bakery & Café, the Scottsdale-based restaurant, is planning to open in the old building at 7145 E. Indian School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 that housed Fuddruckers as recently as last fall. Looking at a November opening, the location will be one of over 70 locations that the growing company has throughout the country.

In addition, Paradise Bakery will be opening two other locations in the state later this fall. One in Tempe at 1825 E. Guadalupe Rd. Tempe, AZ 85283 and Tucson's second location at 4362 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson, AZ 85705.

Check out other Paradise Bakery locations and have a look at the menu of baked goods, sandwiches, paninis, soups, pasta, salads as well as breakfast goods, espresso and smoothies.

Starbucks Bringing Back Pumpkin Spice Latte

Over the past few days on their Facebook page, Starbucks has been having a contest between their over 24 million fans to see which cities would get the Pumpkin Spice Latte first. Tonight, we know the winning cities are Chicago, IL and Calgary, AB Canada.

Not to worry though, while they will be enjoying the drink a week early, the rest of us will be able to get the Pumpkin Spice Latte as of Tuesday, September 6 and throughout the holiday season.

The 16 oz. Pumpkin Spice Latte made with espresso, pumpkin, spices, whipped cream and steamed 2% milk has 380 calories, 13 grams of fat and 14 grams of protein. Check out this link to change the size and ingredients and see the full nutritional information.

Subway Café Concept Opens In Flagstaff

Hoping to dig into McDonald's and Starbucks particularly, Subway has begun testing a new type of restaurant. The Subway Café in Flagstaff is the first reported of its kind in the state. According to Subway, usually people feel like they need to eat and go in a Subway restaurant, but at the Subway Café, the hope is the customers will stick around a little bit longer. To encourage that, the Subway Café has an area with electrical outlets and Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV's and comfortable chairs.

Besides serving up Seattle's Best Coffee, if you are wondering what's on the menu, The East Valley Tribune has some of the items:

Blueberry crumb cake and chocolate chunk muffins are displayed along with marble pound cake and key lime Danishes at the Subway Cafe, while the menu advertises espresso drinks, Panini sandwiches and chicken Caesar salads, among other things.

Checking out this Subway Café brochure in PDF format, you can see some item specifics on the menu, including the fact that they also sell gelato, as well as some interior photos.

The restaurant just opened today and sadly the address is not readily available. Once I have it, I will update the story.

Update (8-25-11): The Flagstaff Business Review has listed the address as 1500 E. Cedar Ave. Flagstaff, AZ 86004