Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Panda Express® Reveals Nutrition-First Panda Cub Meals™ in U.S. and Canada, Created Based on USDA Dietary Recommendations for Children
The new pre-set kids' meals are now available with a healthy fruit snack Tree Top Apple Crisps and a choice of water or juice
ROSEMEAD, CA (StLouisRestaurantReview) Panda Express®, the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in the U.S., today announces its new kids' meal offerings, Panda Cub Meals™, available at restaurants across the U.S. and Canada starting today.  Created based on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) dietary recommendations for children, each of the three set meals has plenty of nutritious vegetables, less than 600 calories, and one serving of fruit.  Panda is the first in the industry to serve Tree Top Apple Crisps made of 100 percent real fruit.  These new kids' meals come with a junior entrĂ©e, junior side, and choice of water or juice:

- The Original Orange Chicken® with ½ Super Greens and ½ White Steamed Rice
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken with ½ Super Greens and ½ Chow Mein
- Broccoli Beef with ½ Super Greens and ½ White Steamed Rice

"At Panda, we strive to offer our guests a variety of balanced and flavorful options that they feel good about," said Andrea Cherng, Chief Brand Officer at Panda Express.  "Our new Panda Cub Meals are thoughtfully assembled with a nutrition-first mindset, using our most popular dishes and introducing a new healthy fruit snack.  We want to make it easier for families to enjoy their favorite American Chinese meals while ensuring kids are getting the nutrients they need."

Staying on top of the latest in nutrition science, Panda Cub Meals are approved by National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell™ Program.  In an effort to make better-for-you options more accessible for families when dining out, this program promotes meals, sides, and beverage options that meet the latest nutrition criteria established by registered dietitians in collaboration with public health and consumer advocates.  Panda Cub Meals offer an excellent source of fiber with at least 11 grams of protein and does not contain high fructose corn syrup.

"We are pleased that Panda Express will be offering Kids LiveWell-certified meals as children's options at their more than 2,200 locations across the country," said Marvin Irby, Interim President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association.  "For nearly a decade, chefs have identified 'kids nutrition' in the top food trends annually, underscoring the importance of our youngest patrons and the choices their parents are seeking from restaurants.  We're proud that the updated Kids LiveWell program reflects the industry's increasing health standards, and we know that parents can be confident the Panda Express Kids LiveWell menu options are delicious and nutritious."

The new Panda Cub Meals are part of Panda's larger focus on elevating the quality of its menu offerings.  Other initiatives include the Wok Smart® menu innovation featuring lighter options and the Panda Promise™ commitment to use high-quality proteins, reduce sugar and sodium, as well as remove artificial colors and flavors.
https://stlouisrestaurantreview.com/panda-express-reveals-panda-cub-meals/
DUBLIN, OH (StLouisRestaurantReview) The Wendy's Company (Nasdaq: WEN) reported unaudited results for the third quarter ended October 3, 2021.

"We are extremely proud of the progress we are making against our three strategic growth pillars," President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Penegor said.  "We continued to grow our breakfast business, digital sales accelerated, and we meaningfully expanded our global footprint in the third quarter.  Global Same-Restaurant sales grew in the high-single digits on a 2-year basis, reinforcing the strength of our brand in a challenging environment.  Our focus on executing against our key priorities and our continued partnership with the best franchisees in the business give me confidence that we will achieve our vision of becoming the world's most thriving and beloved restaurant brand."
Company to Host Virtual Investor Day on March 10, 2022, and Release Preliminary Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Results on February 10, 2022
The Company will host a virtual investor day on Thursday, March 10, 2022, where it plans to provide an update on its long-term strategic vision, re-introduce its long-term outlook, and issue its outlook for 2022.  The event will be available to all interested parties via webcast from the Company's Investor Relations website at www.irwendys.com.

In advance of Investor Day, the Company plans to release its preliminary fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results on Thursday, February 10, 2022.  The Company will host a conference call that same morning at 8:30 a.m. ET, with a simultaneous webcast from the Company's Investor Relations website at www.irwendys.com.
Conference Call and Webcast Scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Today, November 10
The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, November 10 at 8:30 a.m. ET, with a simultaneous webcast from the Company's Investor Relations website at www.irwendys.com.  The related presentation materials will also be available on the Company's Investor Relations website.  The live conference call will be available by telephone at (866) 211-4759 for domestic callers and (647) 689-6752 for international callers. An archived webcast and presentation materials will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website.
https://stlouisrestaurantreview.com/the-wendys-company-reports-third-quarter-2021-results/
Leading fast-casual restaurant is bringing its signature Queso to fans in the form of America's favorite comfort food dish
SAN DIEGO, CA (StLouisRestaurantReview) Leading fast-casual Mexican restaurant QDOBA announced Tuesday it is bringing the crowd-pleasing taste and flavor of its signature 3-cheese Queso to guests in an exciting new way with the introduction of Mac & Queso on its menu in 188 restaurants across the U.S. and Canada markets.  Mac & Queso will be available in Canada and participating locations in Baltimore, Boston, New York, North Carolina, and Philadelphia.  In addition, it will be added to the menu in all Colorado restaurants on Friday, November 12, enabling fans to enjoy more of the flavor they love while satisfying their comfort food cravings.

"We're thrilled to innovate around one of our most successful and beloved items ever – our signature 3-cheese Queso – and begin offering our fans this indulgent comfort food just in time for the fall and winter months," said QDOBA Executive Chef Katy Velazquez.  "Our Mac & Queso is the perfect blend of Mexican flavors with a classic American twist.  We can't wait to see how QDOBA guests of all ages choose to customize their Mac & Queso creations."

Featuring cavatappi noodles and QDOBA's fan favorite, signature 3-cheese Queso, the new menu item will be available as a Create-Your-Own bowl, side dish, or kids meal.  Guests will also have the ability to take their Mac & Queso up a notch by adding it to one of QDOBA's customizable bowls or adding it to their favorite burrito.

QDOBA is also releasing a collection of exclusive chef-crafted Mac & Queso Signature Eats, including:
Cholula® Mac & Queso Bowl or Burrito (available in-restaurant and online)
Macaroni smothered in QDOBA's 3-cheese Queso, topped with Cholula ® Hot & Sweet Chicken, pico de gallo, sour cream, and cotija cheese.
Tex Mex Mac & Queso Bowl or Burrito (available online only)
Slow-Smoked Brisket, roasted tomato salsa, corn salsa, and tortilla strips atop QDOBA's new cheesy Mac & Queso, available as a burrito or bowl.
Loaded Mac & Queso Burrito (available online only)
QDOBA's new loaded burrito gets stuffed with Mac & Queso, Slow-Smoked Brisket, chile crema, pico de gallo, corn salsa, and tortilla strips for extra crunch, all wrapped in a warm flour tortilla.

"At QDOBA, it's important that we continue to drive our mission to make the world a more flavorful place," says QDOBA Chief Marketing Officer Karin Silk.  "Our new offering is just one of several additional items we'll be rolling out in select cities nationwide and in Canada to continue to show our guests we're committed to menu innovation."

QDOBA is offering Mac & Queso after piloting a smaller operational test in Seattle and select restaurants in Ohio and West Virginia this past summer.  The fast-casual brand is leveraging its testing process to encourage guest feedback and opinions before rolling out the menu item on a national scale.

QDOBA Mac & Queso will be available to order in-restaurant, online, or through the QDOBA app for pick-up or delivery at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada.
https://stlouisrestaurantreview.com/qdoba-mexican-eats-tests-mac-queso-in-select-us-canada-markets/

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

St. Louis Restaurant Review launches a new video gallery featuring promotion videos, menu videos, and interviews.
ST LOUIS, MO (StLouisRestaurantReview) St. Louis Restaurant Review is excited to announce the launch of its video gallery, complementing the existing picture gallery.  We will feature promotional videos, menu videos, and interviews with restaurant owners and select staff members.

Videos are an excellent marketing strategy for restaurants to promote their establishment, illustrate their featured menu items, and personalize their restaurant.  Consumers love videos, and the number of videos submitted to YouTube continues to grow daily.

Additionally, YouTube is the second largest search engine on the web.  Therefore, a good website will get a restaurant found in Google Search, and a good video will get them found in YouTube search and Google Search, expanding their online presence. Therefore, it is a critical marketing tool for effective digital marketing.
St. Louis Restaurant Review video services include:

- Submit existing video - monthly fee or a one-time lifetime fee
- Create a promo video - fee is based on objectives and size
- Create a menu video - price is based on goals and number of items

For more information, contact Rich@StLouisRestaurantReview.com for a quote.
https://stlouisrestaurantreview.com/st-louis-restaurant-review-launches-video-gallery/
Thai Rama in Crystal City, Missouri, has been added to St. Louis Restaurant Directory.
CRYSTAL CITY, MO (StLouisRestaurantReview) Thai Rama is located in Crystal City, Missouri, offering award-winning online customer reviews.  Online reviews at this level say a lot about the quality of a restaurant.  Consumers are demanding, and some are nasty about the comments in their reviews.  But when you see a restaurant with reviews at 4.5 and above, it is an excellent evaluation of the restaurant's operation.

Thai Rama has a 4.5 Star rating on Yelp, which is unusual.  Yelp is typically the lowest rating of restaurants among all major online review sources.
Thai Rama address and phone:
606 N Truman Blvd
Crystal City, Missouri 63019
Phone: +1 636-937-8424
https://stlouisrestaurantreview.com/thai-rama-crystal-city-added-to-st-louis-restaurant-directory/

Monday, November 8, 2021

Our Featured Restaurant Owner is Andie, founder of Thai Kitchen - offering four locations across the St. Louis region.
ST LOUIS, MO (StLouisRestaurantReview) Finding interesting restaurant owners is not a difficult job.  Most are creative, friendly, and exciting people to be around.  But sometimes the most attractive and worldly are hidden in the kitchen, not looking for fame or fortune, but more concerned about making great food that people love, which helps support staff and family members.

But what defines "interesting?"  Having unique ideas about decorating their restaurant or hiring people to cook the food they sell to the public when they can't cook it themselves?  Is that interesting?  Not to us!

Interesting to me might be a restaurant owner that moved to America knowing very little English with three kids and has opened 15 restaurants since 1997.  Her first restaurant was located in Bangkok, which she operated for five years before moving to the USA.

The founder moved to the USA in 1995 with the encouragement and support of her sizeable Thai family in America.  She opened her first US-based restaurant in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 1997.  She humbly recognizes that without the family's support, she could not have accomplished her overwhelming achievements.

Since opening her first restaurant in the US, she has opened multiple restaurants that have been sold.  Today, she is operating three restaurants known as "Thai Kitchen," located in the following communities:

- Florissant - Started April 2018 (Owned by Andies' brother and sister-in-law)
- O'Fallon - Started January 2013
- St. Charles - Started January 2019
- Wentzville - Started November 2020

This hidden gem is Sasimonthon Ongartsutthikul, but she goes by "Andie."  Andie loved to cook from an early age as her parents, with seven kids, divided the household chores, and she was chosen to cook.  She loved it then and still loves it today.  We visit her at a different restaurant each day, and she is always in the kitchen, cooking, teaching, or monitoring the cooking of her Thai family recipes, which are made from ingredients from Thailand.  The results are a dedicated customer base that loves her food and is not afraid to praise her Thai cuisines with highly rated online reviews on all platforms.

Most of the staff are family members, including Andie's mother, Kularb, a.k.a. Rose, who is 74 years old, standing by her family working each day to make their family recipe Thai dishes for their customers.

Andie visits Thailand each year and frequently finds new ideas to add to her menu.

Andie has the loving support of her three daughters, Pam, Nickie, and Katie.

We have not spent as much time with Andie as we want, but that will come in time.  She is creative, dedicated, and not afraid to work.  Disciplined, creative, and the desire to satisfy her customers will ensure that her restaurants attract award-winning online customer reviews, which in todays' technological-driven society, is the secret to success in business.

CLICK to ORDER ONLINE from one of the Thai Kitchen locations.


https://stlouisrestaurantreview.com/featured-restaurant-owner-thai-kitchen-founder-andie/
KFC Releases Limited-Edition "Finger-Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger" And Holiday Bucket For Your Fried Chicken Festivities
KFC customers can receive the limited-edition "Bucket Hugger" with the purchase of a qualifying bucket meal at KFC.com or on the KFC app November 9-11, while supplies last*
LOUISVILLE, KY (StLouisRestaurantReview) To celebrate the upcoming holiday season, Kentucky Fried Chicken® is unveiling winter's hottest dining accessory – a limited-edition and original (like our fried chicken recipe) Finger-Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger – to turn your bucket of KFC's world-famous fried chicken into the ultimate holiday must-have.

What is a Finger-Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger, you might ask?  Well, it's a one-of-a-kind knitted sweater featuring a festive KFC holiday design that slides cozily onto a bucket of our world-famous fried chicken.  What's more, slip your hands into its built-in mittens to safely carry your beloved fried chicken to the holiday potluck or to keep your fingers toasty while enjoying your bucket meal outdoors with friends and loved ones.

Starting November 9 through November 11, while supplies last, customers who order a qualifying KFC bucket meal for delivery or pickup on KFC.com or the KFC app will receive a confirmation email to claim their very own Finger-Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger this holiday season.

This offer is only available online. No Finger-Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Huggers will be available in restaurants.

Customers can follow the below steps to claim their free Finger Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger beginning November 9:

- Go to KFC.com or the KFC app and order a qualifying KFC bucket meal for delivery or pick up at your local KFC restaurant.
- Once your KFC bucket meal order is placed, you will receive a confirmation email with a unique code and a link to claim your free Finger Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger.
- When you click the "CLAIM NOW" button in the confirmation email, you'll enter your unique code and shipping information to receive your Finger Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger.  You must claim your free Finger Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger by November 13.
- All claimed Finger Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Huggers will be shipped in December, so that you can enjoy the holidays in style!

For those who may miss out on the Finger Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger, never fear – more holiday fun from KFC is here.  KFC's 2021 limited-edition holiday bucket design will arrive in U.S. restaurants by the end of November, which will add even more Extra Crispy™ warmth to your holidays.  Since the 1960s, KFC restaurants around the world have created unique, holiday-themed buckets to celebrate the season.

In the spirit of continuing this time-honored tradition, the 2021 KFC holiday bucket features a "Winter Chickenland" scene celebrating the fun of the great outdoors fried chicken-fied! In Winter Chickenland, everything is finger lickin' good—crispy drumsticks hang from the trees like icicles as children play in the fluffy white mashed potato snow.

However you celebrate this year, you can get your favorite KFC bucket meals by visiting your local KFC restaurant or ordering ahead for delivery or pick up where available.

*Terms & Conditions: To qualify for a free Finger Lickin' Chicken Mitten Bucket Hugger, purchase a qualifying bucket meal through KFC.Com or the KFC app between 11/9/21 at 10:30 am EST and 11/11/21 at 11:59 pm EST; and claim the Bucket Hugger through the link in the email confirming your purchase no later than 11/13/21 at 11:59 pm EST.  Limit of 1 bucket hugger per person.  Only available in the 50 U.S. states + D.C.  Void where prohibited.  While Supplies last. Click this link for a list of eligible bucket meals.
https://stlouisrestaurantreview.com/kfc-finger-lickin-chicken-mitten-bucket-hugger/