rolling new food laboratory inventions for american chain restaurants thread

http://www.qsrmagazine.com/reports/2013-year-review?page=2

Perhaps no item captured the public’s attention this year quite like the pretzel bun. These salty-sweet rolls have been carriers at some regional and casual eateries for years, but the Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger at Wendy’s this summer pushed them into quick service in a major way.

“We were able to discover an artisan bakery that could produce a great product and still supply 6,200 restaurants,” Lynch says, noting that the brand first succeeded with flatbread offerings. “We tested [the Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger] in three markets in January, and people began talking about it on social media.”

Sonic followed suit by adding hot dogs on pretzel buns, dubbed Pretzel Dogs. Wendy’s went on to put chicken on its bun, and Dunkin’ Donuts rolled out its Pretzel Roll Roast Beef Sandwich.

“The pretzel bun and other creative bread carriers are an offshoot of the artisnal trend that has been growing,” says Mary Chapman, director of product innovation for Chicago-based restaurant research and consulting firm Technomic. “People are interested in trying different types of breads, and these pretzel buns have a great taste and texture.”

2013: year of the bun

The bun can be an overrated part of the build

But you definitely can't skimp

2013 theme song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm2DVfOzEig

http://bookforum.com/inprint/2004/12470

rolling historical food laboratory inventions for american automats

also contains turn-of-the-century TIPPING CONTROVERSY!

The second part of the lunch problem arose on the other side of the counter, where waiters were paid far less than other workers. Customers, meanwhile, were outraged about tipping, which they saw as involuntary compensation for the low wages paid by employers. A series of unionizing efforts and strikes followed, first by white male waiters, then, most notably in Chicago in 1903, by African American waiters (who made even less than their white counterparts), and finally, in 1910, by the waitresses who had been hired to replace them at still lower wages. Not one of these was successful, but some restaurant owners took notice and decided to simplify where possible. Enter—ta-da!—the Automat.

I'm actually excited to try the BK version of the Big Mac. Looks good

http://www.burgerbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/Jack_TurkeyEggWhite.jpg

Apparently sticking a slice of beetroot on a quarter pounder with cheese makes it Australian

i thought this revive would be about the burrito vending machine in los angeles

i thought that was an ice cream mcmuffin with cheese

Introducing . . . the Burrito Box!

Warning: the article is from Vice, but it's not that Vicey.

Just noticed JBR's comment. It is now!

http://www.burgerbusiness.com/?p=16504

Says one operator: “Only thing we are advertising is Dollar Menu & More. We have 25 items on the Dollar Menu with breakfast and lunch. Why would a customer order anything else? Can get a beef, chicken, potato, soda, or coffee. It kills service time with orders of 2-3 sandwiches at a time. Cannot hit service times.”

i love this

it's like ßß's informant transmitted this information over a drive-thru headset

"Haven’t sold a wrap in so long."

He paused, taking a drag off his cigarette, and gazed painfully over the windswept hellscape. In the distance, saltwaves crashed over the decimated plastisteel skeletons of abandoned high density housing projects. His lips trembled, the admission of failure hard to bear.

"No one remembers how to make one.”

man I love burgerbusiness.com

The August introduction of Pretzel Burgers was the kickoff to the new menu strategy.

woah very handy new page: http://www.burgerbusiness.com/?page_id=15205

GROSS!

http://www.burgerbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/Jack_HotMess2.jpg

http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/296/rorschach1.gif

Only thing we are advertising is Dollar Menu & More. Can get a beef, chicken, potato, soda, or coffee. Cannot hit service times.

i heard joke once: man goes to doctor. says he's depressed, life is harsh and cruel. says he feels all alone in threatening world. doctor says, 'treatment is simple. the great burger hot mess is in town. go see him. that should pick you up.' man bursts into tears. 'but doctor' he says, 'i am hot mess.' good joke. everybody hit service times. roll on snare drum. curtains.

it's like ßß's informant transmitted this information over a drive-thru headset

he talks like a george saunders narrator

http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq313/doctorcasino/rorschachfryer_zps2b6da9f4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/PlRukoi.png

http://www.replikultes.net/medias/uploads/films/robocop_2/robocop2_03_hob.jpg

cajun kick-ass

"Haven’t sold a wrap in so long."
He paused, taking a drag off his cigarette, and gazed painfully over the windswept hellscape. In the distance, saltwaves crashed over the decimated plastisteel skeletons of abandoned high density housing projects. His lips trembled, the admission of failure hard to bear.

"No one remembers how to make one.”
― 龜, Thursday, January 9, 2014 4:01 PM (4 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

a+

yeah, that is truly great. Stephen King's The Burgerflipper.

''Plastisteel'' is what seals it for me.

beautiful

http://gawker.com/mcdonalds-is-at-war-with-a-group-of-gossiping-elderly-m-1501639646

According to the New York Times, the restaurant is upset because the large group — "nattily dressed, in suits or dress slacks, brightly colored ties or sweaters, fedoras and well-shined shoes" — arrives as early as 5 am and stays until after the sun goes down. When police are able to clear out the restaurant, they walk around the corner and come back in.

Members of the group told the Times that they gather every day to gossip and talk about politics, but interestingly, none could specify why they liked that particular McDonalds over other spots, like the nearby Burger King.

senior citizens love breakfast at mcdonalds

gonna make a point of ordering more wraps at mcdonalds.

srry gr80, didn't mean to overlook your perfectly apt thread

http://www.myinspirasian.com/

http://i.imgur.com/D13h1nB.png

game = changed

What... What is going on here?

omg is there pie in there too??!

Something about the colors, and the generic old-school coffee cups, makes me think I'm looking at styrofoam and this is a rejected, archived invention from 1983. Picturing Bruce Kroc, making his way down to Morgan Freeman's forgotten sub-basement laboratory, asking casually whether he has anything that can keep the hot side hot and the cold side cold. For extreme skiing, you understand.

mcbento

i would def buy a few extra value meals if mcdonalds did a a limited edition series of throwback cups/containers

he talks like a george saunders narrator

― the portentous pepper (govern yourself accordingly), Thursday, January 9, 2014 3:31 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Sometimes I feel like life is constantly playing catchup to George Saunders, and may be gaining speed

burger juice cola syrup

http://i.imgur.com/6TRh22I.jpg

For the CNY, McDOnalds rolled out two LTO burgers

The one on the right is two pork patties + a slice of ham (I think) on top

The one on the left is two chestnut-flavored shrimp logs over a chicken thigh patty

I went to three McDonalds today to try and find the shrimp log burger

Unfortunately I think they underestimated demand and all three were sold out. Have been for days, according to the guy behind the counter

Here are some pics courtesy of Baidu

http://i.imgur.com/quC4RIp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GtnLeJK.jpg

The shrimp burger is in general a very underrated burger

I first came to know of them through MOS Burger

http://i.imgur.com/iQmOrdZ.jpg

Feel like it'd never catch on in the States

Are you kidding? I could see my nice midwestern mom who hates sushi but loves tempura inhaling about five of those at a sitting.

*goes to buy small prawns and panko crumbs*

Hah yeah I was thinking more NYC where people go ga ga over the "umami burger" or a ramen burger

Here's my "ham" burger

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae232/daggerlee/SH/BC61364D-52CB-4538-9859-875D2079D4FD_zpsp2ecaxjp.jpg

It was fucking delicious

Actually I think my translation is off

It's either kielbasa or saveloy (apparently a Britishes thing?)

http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/01/14/the-most-influential-burgers-of-all-time/slide/white-castle-burger/

TIME for sure rolled out their deep challops game with this but I support the nom

what do we make of the McDonalds BLC?

I took it for a test drive earlier in the year:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BdKyjZGCMAA1uGl.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BdKy9DhIUAAxnkQ.jpg:large

My verdict: "Post-prandial review: solid burger to be honest, adds a sense of bite to the previously bland Chicken Mayo, bacon a tad invisible...Not sure if it's worth £1.49 but I have just left a pub after two pints because it was busy and making me anxious and I feel a little better"

http://i.imgur.com/igV5Emv.jpg

This graph just about says it all, don't you think?