A recent study at McGill University in Montreal, Canada proved that ghrelin, a hunger-inducing hormone in our gut, enhances the image of junk food's yumminess. The stimulant is naturally activated when hungry, causing quarter pounders and greasy pizza to look overwhelmingly tasty and unavoidable, as if we're junkies looking at crack.

Read

Labels: mcdonald's

Conserving water has never been so easy – or delicious. Taco Bell is rolling out its new Grill-to-Order cooking method by installing water and energy saving electric grills that will conserve 300 million gallons of water per year, the equivalent of filling enough 8oz. cups to stretch across the United States 80 times.

Already operating in more than more than 3,000 restaurants—or about half of all Taco Bell® locations—the company plans to have all its 5,600 restaurants using the Grill-to-Order cooking method by 2010. With Grill-to-Order, customers will enjoy the same great Mexican-style inspired tastes, along with a temperature improvement of products containing grilled tortillas and flatbread. While Taco Bell is taking responsible action in improving its food preparation practices, customers have the added benefit of conserving our most precious natural resources with every order.

More info at: Use It Wisely and Taco Bell

Labels: taco bell

Via Serious Eats

Labels: fast food videos

Driving can be tough when eating fries, and that's why we need a French Fry Holder in every car in moving forward into the French Fry Future.

Via Serious Eats

Labels: fast food gadgets

ICKS?

Too good not to post...

The Chain’s Iconic Western Bacon Cheeseburger is Ripped-off Again and it's really no surprise. This is simply one of the best bugers you can get, and everyone wants in on the action. Details below...

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CARPINTERIA, Calif. – April 16, 2008 – The Western Bacon Cheeseburger®, a guest favorite since it was introduced in 1981, has earned iconic status as the most beloved burger in the West and is still the best-selling premium burger on the Carl’s Jr.® menu. So, it’s no surprise that the chain’s competitors would try to copy the unique taste combination of bacon, melting American cheese, crispy onion rings and tangy BBQ sauce on a charbroiled beef patty. To date, Burger King, Jack in the Box and even casual-dining chains, such as Red Robin and Applebee’s, have made repeated attempts to copy “The Western,” as Carl’s Jr. staffers and customers refer to it, but none of the imitators has achieved the success of the original.

To help remind the burger-loving public that “no one does Western like Carl’s Jr.,” participating restaurants will be offering guests a free single Western Bacon Cheeseburger with the purchase of any version of the Western Bacon Cheeseburger on Thurs., April 17. Carl’s Jr. restaurants in the following states, areas or markets will be participating in the event: Texas and Oklahoma; Southern California; Bakersfield, Chico/Redding and Eureka, Calif.; Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma, Ariz.; Boise, Idaho; Reno, Nev.; Spokane and Yakima, Wash.

“First Jack in the Box tried to copy the groundbreaking Carl’s Jr. Six Dollar Burger® line, which we make with big, charbroiled, 100% Black Angus beef patties, with their Sirloin Burgers, which are fried on a flat grill," said Brad Haley, executive vice president of marketing for Carl's Jr. “And now they are trying to blatantly rip-off the Carl's Jr. Western Bacon Cheeseburger, which has been on our menu for more than 25 years," added Haley. "Jack must have decided to turn their new $150 million ‘Innovation Center’ into an employee lounge."

Consumers seem to agree with Haley’s sentiment because a survey in The Orange County Register’s Fast Food Maven blog showed that 73 percent of people preferred the Carl’s Jr. Western Bacon Cheeseburger over the Jack in the Box copycat.

To further celebrate the distinctiveness of the Western Bacon Six Dollar Burger®, Carl’s Jr. has brought back the iconic “Mechanical Bull” commercial from 2004, featuring a woman riding a mechanical bull while enjoying the burger to the strains of Foghat’s “Slow Ride,” with the tagline, “No one does Western like Carl’s Jr.” Los Angeles-based advertising agency Mendelsohn|Zien created the ad and are the masterminds behind other famous Carl’s Jr. ads including the memorable Paris Hilton commercial, “That’s Hot,” from 2005.

In a re-creation of the “Mechanical Bull” commercial, a bull-riding beauty will bring traffic to a stand-still at the Hollywood Highland Center in Los Angeles Thurs., April 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to remind customers everywhere why the award-winning Carl’s Jr. Western Bacon Cheeseburger has earned its reputation as a cult classic.

Carl's Jr. offers a variety of Western Bacon Cheeseburgers including the original single, the Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger and the Western Bacon Six Dollar Burger, which joined the menu in 2003. The award-winning Western Bacon Cheeseburger hasn’t left the Carl’s Jr. menu in more than 25 years.

About Carl’s Jr.

Carl’s Jr. is celebrating more than 65 years in the quick-service industry. What began as a lone hot dog cart in Los Angeles, Calif. in 1941 is today an international organization that employs nearly 30,000 people worldwide. Carl’s Jr. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) of Carpinteria, Calif. As of its fiscal 2008 fourth quarter ended Jan. 28, 2008, CKE Restaurants, Inc. through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,067 franchised, licensed or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 13 countries, including 1,141 Carl’s Jr. restaurants and 1,926 Hardee’s restaurants. For more information, or to find a Carl’s Jr. near you, go www.carlsjr.com

Labels: fast food

Macgamestore.com has announced the release of a Macintosh version of GoBit’s Burger Shop, a casual game that costs $19.95. A demo is available for download.

At Macworld | Burger Shop game now available

Labels: games

At Baconator - Wendy's

Labels: fast food

Watch the entire report...

Labels: fast food

Read: The Healthiest Fast-Food Restaurants

Grab-and-go fare has never been healthier. Here are the shining examples
Who knew that among the healthiest places to eat in America, fast-food chains would turn out to be more progressive than many of their sit-down counterparts? The majority post nutritional information on their Web sites, and many are lowering fat, sodium, and calories in their food. Here, our five healthiest places for you to grab lunch (from among the 53 chains we surveyed).

Labels: healthy fast food

Read The Healthiest Chains in the U.S.

The magazine Health has named its healthiest top ten sit-down chain restaurants, top five fast food joints, and the best all-around indie restaurants in the nation. At No. 1 in sit-down chains? Uno Chicago Grill. Say wha? Yeah, it has a load of good-for-you options if you forgo the deep dish. Top fast foodery? Noodles & Company. Best independent? Blue Hill in New York City, run by Dan Barber.

Labels: healthy fast food

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack. And some more. And more.

The L.A. Dodgers were the first to offer the all-inclusive seats in their right field bleachers.

A growing trend in all-you-can-eat seating at sports venues is making baseball's summer chorus sound more like "Take Me Out to the Buffet."

Dozens of arenas, stadiums and tracks have offered tickets that come with unlimited snacks. The seats have been a hit with fans, a moneymaker for the venues and a worry for obesity-conscious health officials.

At All-you-can-eat baseball seats a nightmare for dieticians - CNN.com

Labels: stadium fast food

Simplehuman has a really interesting post about all the Fast Food that is high and low in calories. What's interesting is that Subway isn't that great - and we think perhaps the Subway guy could have lost weight just eating quarter pounders. Mayb not though - the chart doesn't take into account FAT and FIBER. Still - a good reference.

Awhile back, we gave you a few tips on healthy fast fooding (see post here). Now, with swimsuit season a mere few months away already, we decided to consult the AOL article here on the low-cal options available at many of the most popular fast food chains. See a summarized list below. Also, check out DietFacts.com for general nutrition facts on your fast food favorites and the AskMen.com article here on some of the worst, yet most common fast food options available.

Read at simplehuman

Labels: calories

Hamburger with the lot meal from Metzis Tasty Takeaway

Ummm..that's a lot.

We wished some of this London fast food magic would make it's way here to the US.

The RedVeg burger bar in Soho is a traditional takeaway with a twist -- all the food is vegetarian. As well as burgers, you can have vegetarian hotdogs, falafel wraps, fusilli pasta, fries, wedges and snacks such as breaded mushrooms. Prices are very reasonable, ranging from £1.65 for fries to £4.35 for falafel.

Via RedVeg Vegetarian Fast Food Preview at SmartPlanet.com

Labels: vegetarian

Bob’s BBQ & Grill of Pattaya, Thailand has smashed the current record for producing the world’s biggest cheeseburger. The landmark in cheeseburger history was created in celebration of the king of Thailand’s 60th year accession to the throne and was part of a wide range of events being held all year in Thailand to mark the occasion.

Read World’s Biggest Cheeseburger Photos

Labels: cheeseburgers

Yum. There's even a dollar off coupon on the main Carl's JR site.

“DRIP HAPPENS” WITH RETURN OF CHILI CHEESE BURGERS & FRIES AT CARL’S JR.®

Messy and Delicious, A “Win-Win” for Chili Lovers and Drycleaners Everywhere

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – February 21, 2008 – Grab a napkin. Actually, grab a few. Beginning this week, Carl’s Jr.® brings back two deliciously messy items to its menu with Chili Cheese Burgers and Chili Cheese Fries. The winning combination of warm chili and melted cheese is sure to please hungry customers who crave a little mess in their lives, and drycleaners across the country are also thrilled with the menu additions.

Carl’s Jr. Chili Cheese Burgers and Fries are endorsed by the international Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, which believes that chili and cheese should be added to all burgers, fries, and everything else for that matter.

”Indulge yourself at Carl’s Jr. and enjoy your chili. Don’t worry about the mess — leave that to us,” said William Fisher, CEO of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute based in Laurel, Maryland. “Our latest poll reveals that four out of five drycleaners recommend eating Carl’s Jr. chili and cheese laden creations at least once a week.”

To get chili stains out of that favorite cotton T-shirt or jeans, the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute recommends wiping off the excess chili and cheese, and using a laundry pre-spotter before washing. And if you’re on-the-go and make a mess in the car, they suggest scraping it off and spot-treating using an upholstery cleaner. But for that great silk tie or fine linen blouse, get it into the hands of your DLI drycleaner right away for the TLC it’s going to need.

“We love adding menu items that people crave and our Chili Cheese Burgers and Fries definitely fit the bill,” said Brad Haley, executive vice president of marketing for Carl’s Jr. restaurants. “While some fast-food chains would be nervous about selling a menu item that’s bound to be messy, we think that’s part of what makes a great chili cheese burger and great chili cheese fries. To paraphrase the old adage, when it comes to eating a chili cheese burger, ‘drip happens.’ And, as one of our advertising campaigns once proudly proclaimed, ‘If it doesn’t get all over the place, it doesn’t belong in your face,’ so it’s no surprise that the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute supports our efforts.”

Starting this Sunday on the Academy Awards broadcast in most Carl's Jr. markets, a series of television commercials taking a “messy and drippy” approach to advertising will debut. The ads depict various individuals enjoying Chili Cheese Burgers and Fries from Carl’s Jr. but “spillage” occurs. The commercials carry on a decade-long strategy at Carl’s Jr. to utilize innovative advertising intended to appeal to young, hungry guys. The ads were created by Los Angeles-based advertising agency, Mendelsohn|Zien, also the masterminds of many iconic Carl’s Jr. ads including the memorable Paris Hilton commercial, “That’s Hot,” from 2005.

Customers can choose from a variety of chili cheese burger options with the Single Chili Cheese Burger, Double Chili Cheese Burger, and The Chili Cheese Six Dollar Burger™ versions available.

All of Carl’s Jr. Chili Cheese Burgers start with a charbroiled beef patty, topped with beef chili, crowned with American cheese, tomatoes, yellow onions, dill pickles and mustard – all packed between a seeded bun. Single, Double, and Six Dollar Chili Cheese Burgers will sell for $2.99, $3.99, and $4.79, respectively, or as part of a combo meal for $4.99, $5.99, or $6.79. Prices may vary.

Carl’s Jr. Chili Cheese Fries are smothered with the same beef chili, topped with melted jack and cheddar cheeses and served with a fork. Chili Cheese Fries will sell for $2.79 or can be substituted in any combo for an additional charge. Again, prices may vary.

About Carl’s Jr.
Carl’s Jr. is celebrating more than 65 years in the quick-service industry. What began as a lone hot dog cart in Los Angeles, Calif. in 1941 is today an international organization that employs nearly 30,000 people worldwide. Carl’s Jr. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) of Carpinteria, Calif. As of the second fiscal quarter ended Nov. 5, 2007, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,036 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 43 states and in 14 countries, including 1,121 Carl’s Jr. restaurants and 1,915 Hardee’s restaurants. For more information, or to find a Carl’s Jr. near you, go to www.ckr.com or www.carlsjr.com.

About the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute
The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) has been the premier international trade association for garment care professionals since 1883. Representing over nine thousand retail drycleaning facilities in the United States alone, DLI is the world's leading professional garment care organization. Through legislative & regulatory policy development, education, professional training, information, garment analysis, research, and textile testing, DLI offers solutions to help member businesses remain on the competitive edge. Visit DLI at www.ifi.org.

Hannah Kaminsky of BitterSweet didn't intend to make donut sandwiches filled with maple frosting, but when her homemade baked donuts came out flat-topped, it was the only way to salvage the fat donut bottoms. Some of the best ideas come out of mistakes!

Via Serious Eats: Photo of the Day: Donut Sandwich

Labels: fast food

kogal fashion in Shibuya

Why doesn't my local McDonald's have this much character - or characters. Hmmmm....

I think I need a multi-level hamburger-shaped lunch box. Imagine all the multi-level food I can carry around. Not only is it microwaveable and in the shape of a hamburger, but it's got three compartments and comes with a fork and spoon. I need this. Surely I do.

Via Popgadget available for $9.99 from Shop Happy Trails

Labels: fast food toys

This has to be the best thing in fast food convenience since the freakin' straw: A cup that holds your chicken nuggets AND your soda. Nuggets on top, soda on bottom—hand to nugget, straw to face. AT THE SAME TIME. Amazing.

Read Gizmodo at Serious Eats

Labels: fast food

Britain's 2000AD is known for cutting its scifi with satire, but occasionally even the Galaxy's Greatest Comic can go too far. Such was the case with four episodes of Judge Dredd in 1978, which set out to prove just how dangerous fast food could be, and ended up demonstrating that it's not a good idea to mess with copyrights of international corporations if you're looking to avoid lawyers writing nasty letters. Who knew that Ronald McDonald could be so disagreeable?

Read 2000AD: Fast Food is Bad for Comics, Says Judge Dredd

Labels: comics

Swiss-based company Katadyn began in 1926 when its founder (Professor Georg Alexander Krause) found a way of harnessing the disinfectant qualities of silver and began his pioneering work in portable water purification units. The 80 year old company’s core business is still mobile water sterilization and desalination equipment but over the last decade it has used its dominant global market share and distribution to diversify into a range of other products servicing the special requirements of adventure travelers, campers and the marine industry. Given that its products will be found in the kit of any international relief organization, military Special Opps unit or extreme adventure athlete, it is somewhat of an irony that this company should produce the world’s first cheeseburger in a can.

Via gizmag

Labels: canned fast food

KFC

I've got the craving...very bad...very bad craving for KFC.

KFC HDR-4

Yep - hdr has hit KFC.

New research shows that people who live in areas with more full-service restaurants tend to be thinner.

Those whole live in areas with a high ratio of fast-food restaurants tend to be heavier.

So it seems it's not just about eating out - it's the way we are eating out.

In 1940

15% of food dollars were spent at restaurants

In 2005

40% of food dollars spent at restaurants (three-quarters of which were at a fast-food restaurant).

Via Fast Food vs Full-Service Restaurants: Which is Better?

Labels: fast food health

Labels: Cheeseburger, Crazy Fast Food Creation, Fries, McNuggets, Pizza

In fact, many of our employees go on to be McBrain Surgeons

McDonald's launches a "word battle" against the Oxford English Dictionary to amend the definition of McJobs, which the OED currently describes as an "unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects." The goal, according to a company vice president, is to change the citation to "reflect a job that is stimulating, rewarding, and offers skills that last a lifetime."

At 101 Dumbest Moments in Business - McDonald's (67) - FORTUNE

A video clip showing hordes of rats in a closed-for-the-night KFC/Taco Bell outlet in New York City gets nearly a million hits on YouTube

At 101 Dumbest Moments in Business - KFC/Taco Bell (8) - FORTUNE

Labels: taco bell