News

LTOs on the menu at Salsarita's, Cowboy Chicken, HuHot, Earl of Sandwich

October 1, 2012

October marks the start of Fall in the minds of many, and several fast casual chains chose today – Oct. 1 – to roll out limited-time offers, including Cowboy Chicken, HuHot Mongolian Grill, Earl of Sandwich and Salsarita's.

Cowboy Chicken
Cowboy Chicken, a Dallas-based wood fire rotisserie chicken brand, has re-introduced an old-time favorite, Southern Blackberry Cobbler, for a limited time. Thirty years ago the chicken brand debuted its homemade peach cobbler, and after many awards and decades later, the chain is incorporating the season's best blackberries into its cobbler recipe, Sean Kennedy, president of Cowboy Chicken, said in a company press release.

"Our Southern Blackberry Cobbler is one of those super simple and delicious recipes from the old days," he said. "Folks seemed to really understand the value of 'simple' back then, and we haven't changed the recipe but the new Southern Blackberries really make it even more delicious."

Blackberries ripen from mid-summer to early fall and go from green to red to dark blue or black in color. They have one of the highest antioxidant levels of fruits regularly tested. Blackberries are also rich in Vitamin C and fiber, which have been shown to help reduce the risks of certain cancers.

HuHot Mongolian Grill
HuHot Mongolian Grill is offering a new dessert called Gobi-Nanas, a play on the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and the phrase "Go bananas." The dessert will be available through the end of November.

Gobi-Nanas are real bananas dusted in cinnamon-sugar, wrapped in wontons and lightly fried, then drizzled with caramel and served with a side ice cream.

"They're crunchy, they're sweet, and they're shareable," Andy Vap, CEO, said in a press release. "Gobi-Nanas fit well with our strategy to gain interest in ancillary offerings, like dessert, when typically our grill meal is what shines."

Earl of Sandwich
Earl of Sandwich is also rolling out a new line of menu items in celebration of the fall season, including its Holiday Turkey Sandwich, which is made of oven-roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mayonnaise and warm gravy served on freshly baked bread. Other LTO items include:

• Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese, topped with buffalo and ranch sauces made fresh in a tortilla wrap.
• Turkey Chili: A combination of turkey, red kidney beans, bell peppers, braised onions and diced green chilies in slow-simmered tomatoes with Southwestern spices.
• Peppermint Brownie: Freshly baked, peppermint-infused Ghirardelli brownie topped with candy cane crumbles.

Salsarita's
Salsarita's has launched a new menu item: smoked brisket tacos. The hardwood smoked brisket, available for a limited time only, marks a distinct contrast from Salsarita's existing menu options, president and COO Larry Reinstein, said in a company press release.

"The bold flavors of this promotion signal the future direction of Salsarita's," he said. "We want to be top of mind for our guests when it comes to unique choices and creative specials."

The brisket taco begins with a soft corn tortilla, a nod to traditional Mexican street fare. The brisket's smoky flavor is complemented by the roasted tomatoes in the salsa charro. Caramelized onions offer a sweet contrast to the heat of the salsa, and the final product is topped with a light sprinkling of cilantro for a pleasantly bitter note, said Tom LaFauci, the brand's menu development manager, who created the new menu item.

"The smoky flavor of the brisket and the roasted sweetness of the caramelized onions make this an outstanding flavor combination for our guests. I'm excited to share this creation," LaFauci said.

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