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Taste Tracker

Pat Cobe

Every week, Senior Menu Editor Pat Cobe takes a look at the latest new menu news from major chains and menu trends. The column features extensive work from RB Art Director Nico Heins on a visual presentation.

Food

Dog Haus, Jimmy John's and Firehouse Subs innovate between the bread

 By Patricia Cobe on Oct. 12, 2023

Taste Tracker: Lou Malnati’s and Portillo’s tag team a pizza; drive-thru steaks to go at Aussie Grill; Legal Sea Foods hosts an oyster fest; and Shake Shack tests sundaes.

Food

Bowls take the spotlight at KFC, Ruby Slipper, Honeygrow and Freebirds

 By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 28, 2023

Taste Tracker: The Melting Pot celebrates Oktoberfest; Auntie Anne’s sweetens pretzel nuggets; IHOP goes all in on waffles; and Zaxby’s does a chicken Philly.

Food

What comes after pumpkin spice? All the other fall flavors

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 21, 2023

Taste Tracker: A Pop Tart cookie for Crumbl; Hardee’s heats up chicken; Just Salad and Mendocino Farms harvest fall; it’s apple time for Krispy Kreme; and we’re not done with pumpkin quite yet.

Food

Burgerville, Shake Shack, the Habit and Cowboy Chicken beef it up for fall

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 14, 2023

Taste Tracker: New spins on bowls at Playa Bowls; Fazoli’s bakes pizza into pasta; mushroom mania hits Blaze; Rubio’s new fish taco won a contest; and more menu news of the week.

Food

El Pollo Loco and Tacos 4 Life go bold with quesadillas

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 05, 2023

Taste Tracker: Apples star at Wayback but pumpkin endures at Dutch Bros, Ziggi’s, Hungry Howie's and Denny’s; Bojangles and Jinya wing it for football season; and Fogo de Chao goes all in on veggies.

Food

White Castle, IHOP and First Watch bring it on at breakfast

By Patricia Cobe on Aug. 28, 2023

Taste Tracker: Domino’s innovates with pepperoni; CPK and Farmer Boys choose chicken; Smoothie King, Ziggi’s, Scooter’s and Nekter keep the pumpkin patch growing; and more menu news of the week.

Food

The pumpkin tsunami hits Caribou Coffee, IHOP and Another Broken Egg

By Patricia Cobe on Aug. 21, 2023

Taste Tracker: Dunkin’ and Perkins tap maple along with pumpkin; Del Taco sweetens the heat; it’s still summer at Sweetgreen; and meaty news from Smokey Bones and Bob Evans.

Food

Wendy's, McAlister's and Snooze give breakfast a boost

By Patricia Cobe on Aug. 14, 2023

Taste Tracker: Bar Louie raises the bar on dinner; tacos take off at Rubio’s and Smokey Mo’s; Quiznos goes Greek; Nando’s sticks to summer; and more menu news of the week.

Food

Burger King and Sonic lean into snacking

By Patricia Cobe on Aug. 07, 2023

Taste Tracker: Brag-worthy burgers at Ruth’s Chris and Culver’s; Pei Wei and bb.q Chicken play with wing flavors; Indian cuisine inspires Dog Haus; and Wayback goes to the dogs.

Food

Wendy's, Fuzzy's and Wayback welcome August with new menu items

By Patricia Cobe on Aug. 01, 2023

Taste Tracker: Taco John’s embraces crunch; plant-based eggs arrive at Veggie Grill; Baskin-Robbins has a new flavor of the month; and Just Salad turns to tandoori.

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