For coffee drinkers, the cup has never quite looked so half-full. A daily cup of coffee can be an expensive habit, but thankfully, now it doesn’t have to be. Panera Bread announced its new unlimited coffee subscription, and if you’re a caffeine addict, it’s likely to save you hundreds. Beginning March 2, the popular bakery-cafe will offer unlimited cups of coffee at its nearly 2,200 locations to MyPanera+ Coffee subscribers. To join, you need to sign up for the free loyalty program and pay the $8.99 monthly subscription fee, plus tax. Yes, you read that right. For $8.99 a month, you can enjoy nearly unlimited cups of coffee at Panera. If you usually get at least four coffees per month, you’d be getting your money’s worth. If you stopped once a day (per month), you’d be paying about $0.30 per cup. The promotion offers one cup of hot drip coffee…
How to order Keto-friendly at Panera Bread
Panera might have “bread” right in its name, but that doesn’t mean you can’t order keto-friendly at the popular fast-casual food chain. The restaurant welcomes modifications to most menu items, so you can easily eat keto, as long as you know what to ask for, and since most restaurants are open from 6 a.m. until 9 or 10 p.m., you can count on finding an acceptable meal there no matter the time of day. (Find a Panera near you.) Of course, you know to pass on the bread bowls and baguettes, but here are a few high-fat, low-carb options that will perfectly fit your diet. Panera also posts all nutrition online, so if you’re unsure, check the frequently updated site. Asiago Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Bagel (no bagel) Don’t think breakfast has to be all about carbs. Order a sandwich, but skip the bread. Try this Bacon, Egg, Cheese sandwich…
How to order gluten-free at Chick-fil-A
If you’re gluten-free, you know eating out at a restaurant presents challenges. You’re not sure what fits your diet, and taking a guess can be all too risky. If you’ve just made the switch, you often end up skipping out on your favorite restaurants. Thankfully you don’t have to pass on Chick-fil-A. The beloved chicken chain has some gluten-free options on its menu. Here’s what to order: In 2017, Chick-fil-A introduced its gluten-free bun. It’s made with a mix of ancient grains, including sorghum, amaranth, millet, and quinoa. This new bread option made eating sandwiches on-the-go easier for those with gluten issues. Order any sandwich with a gluten-free bun. But what else is gluten-free at Chick-fil-A? These items are sealed to so cross-contamination will never been an issue: Honest Kids Appley Ever After Organic Juice Drink Cinnamon Apple Sauce (Buddy Fruits) Milk Simply Orange Orange Juice Waffle Potato Chips (catering only)…
Panera to offer a more plant-based menu in 2020
Whether it’s animal welfare concerns, climate change, nutrition, or just preference, it seems everyone nowadays has a reason for eating less meat. In response to the cultural shift, Panera is the latest restaurant chain to announce it would introduce more plant-based offerings to its menu. In fact, the popular quick-service restaurant and bakery said it plans to have half of its menu be plant-based within the next few years. Consumers can expect to see a new plant-based item added in every category by 2021. Panera’s bakery-café is also onboard with the switch-up. While 25 percent of its menu is already plant-based, the offerings will increase to make up at least half of the entire menu by 2021. Other fast food chains have responded to consumer demand by offering meat-like substitutes from Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, but Panera will dish out more plant-based whole foods like quinoa and edamame. Two new…
In-N-Out Burger voted America’s favorite fast-food restaurant again
One fast-food joint continues to attract fans from all across America — even if they’re only found on one coast. For the second year in a row, In-N-Out Burger has topped Market Force’s annual customer survey of the nation’s favorite quick-serve restaurant chains. Despite being famously limited to the West Coast, the beloved California-based burger chain earned a 76 percent rating in customer loyalty — higher than any restaurant in any category. In-N-Out has more than 300 locations, all in western states. But there’s competition on the horizon. While In-N-Out Burger won Market Force’s survey last year, Five Guys won out in the separate Harris Poll last year. Chick-Fil-A fans voted the chicken chain second place with an overall ranking and 73 percent in customer loyalty. Other big winners include Culver’s, a burger chain originating in Wisconsin now found in 24 states with 66 percent loyalty, and Raising Cane’s, another specialty chicken restaurant.…
Chipotle announces highly anticipated arrival of queso
Cheese lovers rejoice! Starting today, you can finally add queso to your Chipotle burrito bowl. Earlier this month, America’s favorite fast, casual Mexican chain announced that starting September 12 queso would be available on its U.S. menu nationwide. “Although queso was the number one requested menu item, we never added it to our menu before now because we wouldn’t use the industrial additives used in most quesos,” said CEO Steve Ells in a press release. The new Chipotle queso is what they’re calling a “complex and slightly spicy flavored” cheese sauce. It’s made from aged cheddar cheese, tomatillos, tomatoes and several varieties of peppers. And, staying true to their core mission, no preservatives were used — except for lemon and lime juice, which are used for flavor, but can also serve as a natural preservative. Customers can order queso on their entrée (for about $1.25), or on the side as a dip for tortilla chips…
Honeygrow opens first restaurant in Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh restaurant scene is growing up. Once known in the culinary world mostly for it’s gut-busting, french fry-topped sandwiches — and perhaps its love affair with ketchup — the Steel City is finally getting more healthy, fast-casual restaurants. Hot on the heels of new eateries Pittsburgh Poke, Plate & Bowl and Earth Inspired Salads, Philly-based Honeygrow is the latest restaurant to bring simple yet sophisticated meal-in-a-bowl style eating to The ‘Burgh. Honeygrow Pittsburgh offers a menu full of seasonally-sourced produce that customers can use to create customized stir-fry bowls or salads. A menu hangs on the wall listing exactly which local farms particular produce came from. (On this day, I was pleased to know the broccoli in my stir-fry came from a town nearby to where I grew up.) “People are control freaks, and I’m certainly one of them,” said Honeygrow CEO Justin Rosenberg, “And especially today. There are…