Burger King Introduces 10 New Menu Items

Since officially falling behind Wendy's for the first time and becoming the nation's #3 burger chain, Burger King is hoping stem the tide and reverse course.  In what's described as the chain's biggest expansion since it began in 1953, Burger King is now offering 10 new menu items.  The new items include the following:

• Garden Fresh Salads: BLT, Apple and Cranberry or classic Caesar Salad varieties are made fresh to-order, premium ingredients and topped with a choice of TENDERCRISP^® or TENDERGRILL^® chicken (suggested retail price starts at $4.99).
• Chicken Snack Wraps: Honey Mustard Crispy Chicken Snack Wrap and the Ranch Crispy Chicken Snack Wrap are flavorful snack options with less than 400 calories each (suggested retail price of $1.59).
• Real Fruit Smoothies: Tropical Mango and Strawberry Banana smoothies are made with low-fat yogurt, real fruit and juices, providing a full serving of fruit (suggested retail price of $2.29).
• Frappés: Mocha and Caramel flavors are made-to-order with a hint of coffee and ice, topped with whipped topping and a swirl of fudge or caramel (suggested retail price of $2.29).
• Crispy Chicken Strips: Premium Crispy Chicken Strips are made with white meat tenderloin chicken, marinated and lightly battered in seasoned home-style breading, served in three- or five-piece servings and perfect for dipping in one of our classic or bold new sauces, such as new Kung Pao and Roasted Jalapeño Barbecue sauces (suggested retail price starts at $2.99).

Many of you are probably thinking a lot of the new items above sound very similar to offerings at McDonald's, but Burger King has addressed that:

"Burger King doesn’t deny that its new chicken strips, caramel frappe coffees, Caesar salads and strawberry-banana smoothies sound pretty close to those on McDonald’s popular menu. But executives say the company came up with them through its research...'Consumers wanted more choices,' said Steve Wiborg, president of Burger King’s North America operations. 'Not just healthy choices, but choices they could get at the competition.'"

The AZFoodDude's only question is, did Burger King's research go a little something like this?

Cool Gelato Italiano Now Open in Scottsdale

Earlier this week, Alberto della Casa and Letizia de Lucia, a married couple who have worked in the food industry in both Italy and the U.S. for a combined 35 years, opened Cool Gelato Italiano at 7373 E. Scottsdale Mall #125, Scottsdale, AZ 85251.  According to the press release:

Cool will feature 20 distinct flavors designed by Alberto and Letizia in collaboration with Italy’s champion gelato artisan recognized by the Italian Academy of Gelato. Cool will also highlight authentic sorbet made with fresh fruits, gelato sandwiches, gelato affogato and more.

Additionally, Cool is aiming to be as fresh and all natural as possible:

Cool’s gelato is made fresh daily onsite. The gelato is produced in small quantities and because of its freshness requires no preservatives. No artificial colors or chemical additives are used.

Cool Gelato Italiano has indoor and outdoor seating and is open Sunday - Thursday from 11am to 11pm and 10am to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Dairy Queen's Orange Julius Opens in Peoria

Coming on the heels of their opening in Tempe, Orange Julius has opened another location at 10100 W. Lake Pleasant Parkway #1320, Peoria, AZ 85383.  If you've never been to an Orange Julius, you can check out the menu focusing on fruit beverages and smoothies here, but also of note, from the press release: 

The DQ Orange Julius store in Peoria features DQ favorites, such as the iconic Blizzard Treats, MooLatte frozen coffee-flavored beverages, Blizzard Cakes and a wide variety of other soft-serve items, as well as the full line of Orange Julius premium fruit smoothies and fruit-blended beverages.

While known for their original Orange Julius, currently, the smoothie of the month is the Strawberry Delight Light Smoothie, which is made of strawberry and banana, a nonfat dairy blend and Splenda brand sweetener.

The location is open Sunday - Thursday from 10:30am to 10:30pm and 10:30am to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Dairy Queen's Orange Julius Opens in Tempe

Yesterday at the Arizona Mills Mall at 5000 S. Arizona Mills Cir. Tempe, AZ 85282, Dairy Queen's Orange Julius opened their 14th location in the state.  If you've never been to an Orange Julius, you can check out the menu focusing on fruit beverages and smoothies here, but also of note, from the press release:

The location offers all of the amazing Dairy Queen soft-serve treats and cakes as well as Orange Julius products including an array of fruit beverages and smoothies. In addition, the store also will serve Dairy Queen signature Iron Grilled Sandwiches as well as hot dogs.

While known for their original Orange Julius, currently, the smoothie of the month is the Strawberry Delight Light Smoothie, which is made of strawberry and banana, a nonfat dairy blend and Splenda brand sweetener.

The location is open Monday - Saturday from 10am to 9:30pm and 11am to 7pm on Sundays.

Queen Creek Peach Festival's Last Weekend

This Saturday (5/21) and Sunday (5/22) from 7:30am - 4pm, is the last weekend of the Peach Festival out at Schnepf Farms, located at 24810 E. Rittenhouse Rd. Queen Creek, AZ 85142. Along with picking peaches, apricots and other fruits, there is food sampling, celebrity chef demonstrations, carnival rides, tractor rides, a petting zoo, pie eating and even peach pit-spitting contests. Prices do vary for activities and food, such as pancakes, burgers, hot dogs and chicken, but admission to the festival itself is free. The article by the East Valley Tribune states that the fruit is $1.90/lb.

While this is the last weekend for the festival, you can pick peaches, apricots and other fruits every Thursday through Sunday in May from 7:30am - 4pm, which leaves next Thursday - Sunday (5/26 - 5/29).

If you're interested in pricing and the time of different activities please check the event calendar at the Schnepf Farms website.