GrubGrade

Aargh!  What’s with all the flatbreads!  Flatbreads are the latest trend in the quick-serve grub world.  Taco Bell now has their own version called the Chicken Flatbread Sandwich.  So how does this actually differ from the quesadilla?  Well hey there’s chipotle sauce too… “chipotle” being another food industry buzz word in the last couple of years.  Promo priced at just 99 cents.  Nutrition Info: 290 calories, 15g fat, 3.5g saturated fat, 35mg cholesterol, 720mg sodium, 23g carbs, 2g dietary fiber, 5g sugar, 15g protein.

Warm, square-cut flatbread, filled with marinated all-white-meat chicken, and a melty three-cheese blend of cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella topped off with flavorful chipotle sauce and melted to perfection to seal in the flavor.

You should never confuse Taco Bell with authentic Mexican food… ever.  So when the fast food Mexican mega-chain goes for a taste of legit Mexican tacos, we will all point and laugh.  Even though I say this, I take Taco Bell for what it is and have been known to go for a taco or three at 2am.  For a cheap, quick taste of quick-serve Mexican grub… for a lot of people, Taco Bell is the only game in town.  Here’s Taco Bell’s attempt at a “real” taco with the introduction of Cantina Tacos.

It’s no surprise that chicken and steak are two of the available options for the new Cantina Tacos.  A newcomer to the bunch is (thankfully not shrimp) carnitas or as the gringos say “shredded pork”.  Each taco was an overpriced $1.69. I say overpriced because there are far heavier menu items on the cheap Taco Bell value menu.  There’s not too much to say about each one of these so watch how creative I’m about to be… (more…)

With the tagline “A Whole New Taco Awaits”, here’s an attempt at a taste of a more authentic, “real” taco.  New from Taco Bell… Cantina Tacos.

Coming in 3 styles:  Carnitas, Chicken or Steak.  The new Cantina Tacos feature doubled-up corn tortillas, chopped onions, cilantro and served with a lime wedge.  Sold as a single ($1.69), 2-taco bundle ($2.99) or 3-taco bundle with large drink ($5.49).  Prices based on my local Taco Bell in Maryland.  (UPDATE: Read our full review)

• Cantina Taco – Carnitas: Two freshly grilled, warm corn tortillas, filled with new slow-roasted carnitas shredded pork.  (200 cal, 7g fat)

• Cantina Taco – Chicken: Two freshly grilled, warm corn tortillas, filled with marinated all-white-meat chicken. (170 cal, 2.5g fat)

• Cantina Taco – Steak: Two freshly grilled, warm corn tortillas, filled with marinated steak. (160 cal, 2.5g fat)

Coming to Taco Bell in October, two new salsas; Salsa Verde and Salsa Fire-Roasted.  Mild, Fire and Hot “Border Sauce” are the current players… any interest in the newcomers?  Pic and quote taken from the Taco Bell Facebook page.

What do you think about 2 New Sauce Packets (Salsas) at Taco Bell: Salsa Verde & Salsa Fire Roasted? They will be in stores in October. Would you come to the store just to try them?

Bacon Lovers Rejoice… Taco Bell’s Bacon Club Chalupa is back.  Nutrition Info: 490 cal, 32g of fat, 50mg cholesterol, 980mg sodium, 28g carbs, 3g dietary fiber, 3g sugars, 23g protein.

Flavorful bacon, marinated all-white-meat chicken and a tangy club sauce inside our crispy, chewy Chalupa shell.

Uh, what?

On Taco Bell’s Facebook page I came across this picture with a message:

Whattup tomorrow at 4:37pm EST? I don’t know. Just
the epic launch of the Super Delicious Ingredient Force. No biggie. What are you doing then????

http://www.youtube.com/tacobell

So today at 4:37pm EST I guess I’ll be tuning in to this epic launch of the bootleg Super Friends.  Is a new Taco Bell product going along with it?  Any guesses to what it might be?  Super Delicious Ingredient Force?  Better ingredients/new ingredients?

A select item with a medium drink and a bag of Doritos… Taco Bell has introduced $2 Meal Deals.  Your choices are a chicken burrito, a Double Decker taco, a Gordita Supreme, or a Beefy 5-Layer Burrito.  Available for a limited time at participating locations.

Scratch this one up as another rehash of ingredients for a new Taco Bell menu item.  That might sound like a complaint, but it’s really not a big deal.  Just as long as it’s tasty and affordable, you’re usually going to get a thumbs up from me. There’s only so much you can do with the thousands of combinations possible at Taco Bell.  The latest creation has a bit of an identity complex going on.  It’s sort of a Crunchwrap disguised in Quesadilla clothing.  The latest grub to join the TB menu, the Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortada and the Salsa Roja Tortada.

So Crunchwrap in Quesadilla clothing…let me explain.  A semi-hexagonal folded up tortilla, packed with a combo of ingredients would be an OK description of a Taco Bell Crunchwrap.  A tortilla stuffed with cheese or cheese/meat and folded once over and housed in a suffocating paper-plastic sleeve would describe a Taco Bell Quesadilla.  The new Tortadas are folded into squares and diagonally sliced into 2 decent sized triangle pieces.  Once again, just a tortilla stuffed with a mixture of ingredients and presented in a nice handheld package. (more…)

Another new Taco Bell item, to go along with the Bacon Ranch Tortada, is the Salsa Roja version.  ”Tastier Than A Sandwich And Better Looking Too”  The Salsa Roja Tortada offers up a blend of sauces and cheeses to go along with the marinated chicken.  480 calories and 14 grams of fat. Read our full review here.

A warm flour tortilla loaded with fire-grilled marinated all-white meat chicken, crisp shredded lettuce, fiesta salsa, flavorful salsa roja, and a blend of three cheeses – cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella, all grilled together hot and toasty.

Say goodbye to the Pacific Shrimp Taco and say hello to the New Bacon Ranch Tortada from Taco Bell.  Looks sort of like a new version of the Crunchwrap.  Features chicken, bacon and avocado ranch sauce…”Don’t Settle for a Sandwich”.  570 calories and 24 grams of fat.

A warm flour tortilla loaded fire-grilled marinated all-white meat chicken, crisp shredded lettuce, diced ripe tomatoes, crispy flavorful bacon, and avocado ranch sauce, all grilled together hot and toasty.