Food Fun Family

Dunkin’ Donuts Sweet Black Pepper Bacon Breakfast Sandwich

Lolli — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 01:33:04 +0000

This post is sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts but all opinions are my own.

Think breakfast sandwiches are just for breakfast? Not at Dunkin’ Donuts! Dunkin’ Donuts’ full menu, including breakfast items, are available all-day. That means that when I’m heading home from dropping kids off at school, I can pick up a Dunkin’ Donuts Sweet Black Pepper Bacon Breakfast Sandwich…..and I can grab one for lunch when I’m out running errands in the afternoon, too (who else has some last minute Christmas shopping to finish up??).

I tend to eat at wacky hours. Most days, I work straight through lunch, not even realizing that I haven’t eaten (don’t worry – I always eventually eat…just not on a schedule). I’m also a night owl, so I end up getting hungry a few hours after dinner while I’m working on the computer after the kids’ bed time.

It’s a 24/7 world out there, especially for families like ours that don’t have conventional 9-5 clock-in/clock-out jobs. I know we’re not the only people who manage a lot of what we do – work, food, and sleep – without regard to the time on the clock. I do work whenever, so isn’t it awesome to have breakfast whenever, too?

This past week, my husband and I headed out for a quick lunch together at Dunkin’ Donuts. I ordered the Sweet Black Pepper Bacon Breakfast Sandwich and he ordered a Turkey, Cheddar & Bacon bakery sandwich. We each added on a side of hash browns because…yum!

My first impression of the Sweet Black Pepper Bacon Breakfast Sandwich, after taking my first bite, was that they got the “sweet” right! I loved the caramelized pepper bacon. It was the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Because it has bacon, egg, and cheese, it’s a perfectly filling meal for breakfast or lunch or a mid-day (or midnight!) snack.

About the Sweet Black Pepper Bacon Breakfast Sandwich – a unique combination of sweet and savory featuring egg, a slice of American cheese and four strips of bacon coated in a brown sugar and black pepper seasoning served on a croissant. The Sweet Black Pepper Bacon Breakfast Sandwich is also available as a Wake-Up Wrap®, with ½ egg, a slice of American cheese and two slices of the special seasoned bacon, served on a small flour tortilla. Both are available at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide now through early 2017.

Connect with Dunkin’ Donuts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DunkinDonuts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DunkinDonuts
Instagram: https://instagram.com/dunkindonuts

Roti Modern Mediterranean

Lolli — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 21:44:53 +0000

Last week, we celebrated my husband’s birthday with a delicious assortment of food from Roti Modern Mediterranean. All food was provided by Roti, but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I don’t know the last time we’ve had such an amazing birthday dinner. In fact, I think Roti might need to be our new birthday dinner tradition. Everyone in the family was raving about the flavors. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that we LOVE Mediterranean foods.

Here’s what we got from Roti:

Chicken Roti
Salmon Kabobs
House-baked Pita Bread
Tomato & Cucumber Salad
Mediterranean Chopped Salad
Fresh Vegetables
Assorted Cookies

Sauces:

Roasted Red Pepper
Spicy S’hug
Roti Vinaigrette
Dill Yogurt & Cucumber

I stopped in the local Roti Modern Mediterranean in Bethesda, Maryland to pick up our food and instantly fell in love with the restaurant, even before I had taken a bite.

Roti has a relaxed, casual atmosphere that would be perfect for lunch or a date night dinner. I was able to quickly find a dozen things on the menu that I wanted to try (and lucky for us, we did get to try about a dozen things! YUM).

Roti does catering, too! You can place your order ahead of time and either pick up your food from the restaurant or have your food delivered to your home or event location. Roti might just be our new favorite place for catering (I wish we had known about Roti when we were planning our daughter’s local post-wedding get together!).

The bold flavors and the freshness of everything we ate were enough to hook me, but I love the mission of Roti so much that I wanted to share what they had to say about the foods that they serve.

Roti Modern Mediterranean was created…”to share our love of the Mediterranean’s delicious flavors, wholesome ingredients, and bright spices. This is food you’ll love to eat and makes you feel great.”

They go on to say that, “the Mediterranean diet has sustained people for centuries. Rich in vegetables, olive oil, wholesome grains, and lean protein, this is a delicious and healthful way to eat. At Roti, we source only the finest ingredients, prepare them simply and with pride, then serve them exactly how you want them.”

I could tell that everything we ate from Roti was fresh and perfectly seasoned. But beyond the wonderful flavors, Roti goes a step further by serving only farm-fresh, antibiotic-free chicken from Pennsylvania, salmon from the Gulf of Maine (from sea to the table in less than a week), 100% grass-fed beef, non-GMO blend of basmati and wild rice from California, whole wheat, handmade pitas (with gluten free pita bread also available), and more.

I could go on and on about how good the food tasted (the family particularly loved the Chicken Roti and the rice. Oh, and the sauces! We couldn’t get enough of the Roti vinaigrette and the dill yogurt and cucumber sauce). Or I could go on and on about Roti’s top notch “food that loves you back.” But I think you’ll get the best experience by trying Roti Modern Mediterranean for yourself. Check the restaurant locator to find the Roti nearest you!

Johnny Rockets Georgetown Restaurant Refresh

Lolli — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 03:10:47 +0000

My family and I were invited to experience Johnny Rockets’ new look at their DC Georgetown location last week. This post has been sponsored by Johnny Rockets, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and my family’s.

Johnny Rockets has a special place in my heart. After my daughter got married this spring…after the wedding and the pictures and the reception were over, the kids went home to grandma and grandpa’s house and my husband and I crashed from exhaustion – both physical and emotional. Being the mother and father-of-the-bride is a big deal.

Because we ended early in the evening and knew that we’d need to eat some real food before the night was over, we decided to walk around the hotel to see if we could find something to eat. Our walk took us to Johnny Rockets, where we were finally able to decompress, relax, and fill our bellies.

We left Johnny Rockets that night feeling so content. It was the perfect way to end the wedding day.

Fast forward to last week, when we finally got the vacation that I had so desperately needed all summer. We were driving home on Friday afternoon, but quickly realized that the DC-area traffic was not going to make it easy for us to get home before we stopped by the media event at Johnny Rockets. We headed to Georgetown straight from our vacation and walked along the canal until it was time for us to check in at the restaurant.

A funny thing happened when we sat down for our dinner. We were tired from our 4+ hour drive. We were sweaty from spending 30+ minutes walking outside in the oppressive heat and humidity that we had last week. But when we started eating, the heat and the fatigue washed away. It was the most perfect way to end our 4-day vacation. Instead of arriving home tired from hours in the car, we got home feeling rested and well-fed.

While we were at Johnny Rockets, we had the chance to sit down with Joel Bulger, Chief Marketing Officer. We got a little off topic as we chatted with Joel – for the first 15 minutes or so, he asked us more questions about us than we asked him about the restaurant! Here are 10 things we learned about Johnny Rockets while we chatted with him:

Johnny Rockets is a global restaurant chain that has been around for 30 years and is in 28 different countries with over 350 restaurants. The Georgetown location has been there for 18 years.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary year, Johnny Rockets is debuting a brand refresh, with a new logo and a “modern evolution” of the iconic images, style, food, and experience that we’ve known and loved for the last 30 years.
Johnny Rockets’ hand-spun shakes are made with premium ice cream – a proprietary blend made just for Johnny Rockets by Blue Bunny.
“If you’re going to go get a burger and fries, get the best one you can get.” (my favorite quote directly from Joel Bulger)
Johnny Rockets’ cooked-to-order burgers are available in 4 protein options: fresh, never frozen 100% domestic farm-raised beef, farm-fresh chicken, ground turkey, and Boca Burger.
Everything – from the classic made-to-order burgers to the new design – is inspired by lots and lots of consumer testing. They really care about what their customers think and want.
In the new restaurant design, they’ve included elements of the classic diner, including counter seating. But they’ve updated the layout so that everything is not fixed in place. There are communal tables for friends and family, and room for many different sized groups.
The 50s diner look that Johnny Rockets has been known for – complete with jukeboxes and servers dressed in soda fountain uniforms – has been replaced with remixes of classic music an pop music of today and new uniforms for the servers.
Johnny Rockets trains their team members with easy to access online training guides as well as on-location training.
If you order a burger in China, you’ll get the same burger you’ll get here in DC. That’s because the chefs make sure to develop recipes that are easily replicated, no matter where they are.

In the near future, all Johnny Rockets franchises will be updated to the new design and logo. As for our family, we can’t wait to head back to our local Georgetown location!

My Behind-the-Counter Experience

Shortly after we arrived at Johnny Rockets, I was taken behind the counter to see where all the magic happened…and to see the new cooking equipment in the kitchen. The grill was impressive – it’s computerized with a tablet-like touch screen and everything. But perhaps the most impressive part was how fast it cooked the burgers! If only I had a massive grill like that in my kitchen so that I could make my family’s dinner in just a few minutes…

About Johnny Rockets

Johnny Rockets is an international restaurant franchise that offers high quality, innovative menu items including fresh, never frozen 100% beef cooked-to-order hamburgers, veggie burger, chicken sandwiches, crispy fries and rich, delicious hand-spun shakes and malts. This dynamic lifestyle brand offers friendly service and upbeat music contributing to the chain’s signature atmosphere of relaxed, casual fun. Founded in 1986, Johnny Rockets operates more than 350 franchise and corporate locations in 28 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.johnnyrockets.com.

Lobsterfest is Back at Red Lobster #LobsterWorthy

Lolli — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 03:03:30 +0000

Lobsterfest is back at Red Lobster! I’m sharing some of the #lobsterworthy moments in my life as part of a Red Lobster sponsored series for Socialstars, but all thoughts are my own.

I don’t get out with friends as much as I should, so when I had the opportunity to join some friends on a girls night out this past week, I jumped at the chance. I was thrilled when I heard that we’d be meeting up at Red Lobster…especially because I knew that Lobsterfest was back with some pretty amazing menu items.

What’s so amazing about Lobsterfest? Oh, it’s just the year’s largest variety of lobster dishes – that means even more ways to enjoy lobster…grilled, baked, topped, and paired with even more lobster.

I typically enjoy lobster as an ingredient in a dish (like Lobster Scampi Linguini or my favorite appetizer at Red Lobster – the Langostino Lobster-Artichoke-and-Seafood Dip. Seriously, guys….if you haven’t tried this, you need to get to your nearest Red Lobster and try it right away!). But this past visit, I decided to let lobster take a front seat and shine on its own.

You want to know a secret? I didn’t know I LOVED lobster until I started ordering it at Red Lobster. Let me tell you…it’s something I crave now. Red Lobster KNOWS lobster!

Check out some of the lobster dishes you can order during Lobsterfest:

Lobster Lover’s Dream®
NEW! Steakhouse Lobster Surf & Turf*
NEW! Langostino Lobster-Topped Tilapia with Mushroom Cream Sauce
Roasted Maine Lobster Bake
Wood-Grilled Lobster, Shrimp, and Salmon
Ultimate Feast®
Lobster Scampi Linguini
Seaport Lobster & Shrimp
NEW! Chilled Lobster-and-Shrimp Cocktail
Lobster Punch
NEW! Red Lobster Sunset

See the Lobsterfest menu here.

On my latest visit, I ordered the Steakhouse Lobster Surf & Turf. I was in HEAVEN. Listen to this description: “Split Maine lobster tail medallions with our seafood stuffing, paired with a grilled sirloin topped with Cliean langostino lobster in a three-cheese sauce with roasted mushrooms. Served with mashed potatoes, roasted green beans and sundried tomatoes.”

I think I may have a hard time ordering anything else on the menu after having that….although the Wood-Grilled Lobster, Shrimp, and Salmon IS looking pretty tempting!

Share your favorite way to enjoy lobster on social, and include the hashtag #lobsterworthycontest when you do. When you share, you’ll be entered to win some pretty cool prizes throughout Red Lobster’s Lobsterfest.

What’s Your Lobster-Worthy Moment?

Lolli — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:14:22 +0000

This post is sponsored by Red Lobster, but all thoughts, opinions, and #LobsterWorthy moments are my own.

How do you like to celebrate your family’s happy moments….birthdays, good grades, a promotion, etc? I admit – I love celebrating even the smallest achievements with dinner at a favorite restaurant. You don’t have to twist my arm to find an excuse to eat out!

Lobster-worthy celebrations come in all shapes and sizes…and we’ve had a ton of them this month!

My daughter and I decided to celebrate one of those moments – her 13th birthday – with lunch out at Red Lobster. Everything about the day was perfection – from the time we had together, one-on-one, to the sunshine, to the excellent smiling service that we received, to the delicious food that we ate.

Reese, my new 13-year-old, ordered clam chowder (one of my favorites!) and shrimp Caesar salad with a Shirley Temple to drink (her latest obsession!). I ordered the wood-fire grilled shrimp tacos with rice pilaf. We shared a classic shrimp cocktail to start.

And who can forget Red Lobster’s famous cheesy biscuits? Those things are to-die-for delicious! They are a highlight of any meal at Red Lobster, big or small.

No, I’m not sharing these!

A Mom-and-Me Birthday Tradition

When I was little, my mom started a birthday tradition with her kids. Every birthday, she would pick us up from school and take us out to lunch – just the two of us. I loved those mom-daughter dates so much that I decided to continue them with my own children.

Every birthday, I pick my kids up from school, if their birthday lands on a school day, and treat them to a lunch together. Their choice. When their birthday lands on the weekend or a holiday we just escape together whenever we can (my oldest was born on Christmas Eve, so she definitely got the short end of the stick on this tradition!).

No matter how big or small your special moments are, you can make them even better by celebrating them at Red Lobster.

How do you enjoy celebrating your lobster-worthy moments?

Share your lobster-worthy moment on social media and include the hashtag #lobsterworthycontest. When you share, you’ll be entered to win some pretty cool prizes throughout Red Lobster’s Lobsterfest campaign.

Oooh…It Has Bacon In It! #6SecondsFlat

Lolli — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 19:01:18 +0000

Thanks to Wendy’s for sponsoring today’s discussion and lunch out with my daughter. All thoughts (and video productions) are my own. Learn more about Wendy’s new Flatbreads and the #6SecondsFlat Sweepstakes here.

Wednesdays are my oldest daughter, KitKat’s afternoons “off.” If you haven’t heard about her schedule yet, here’s a quick run-down of her day:

5:45 am – Leave for before-school seminary (religion class)
7:20 am – Drive to the high school for 4 classes
11:00-11:30 am – Leave the high school and drive to the elementary school for internship
2:00 pm – Leave the internship to drive to work (after-school care at another elementary school)
7:00 pm – Come home for the night to study, eat, and sleep

We don’t see much of her. So when she doesn’t have internship every Wednesday, she’s got a couple of hours where we’re able to hang out together…we typically grab some lunch together and watch a little bit of Call the Midwife (I’m attempting to scare her off from wanting a baby any time soon).

Kidding.

Today, we ran out for a quick bite at Wendy’s and each tried the one of the new Flatbread sandwiches. KitKat was quite impressed:

Honestly, we had a lot of fun making the video (it produced more laughs than video footage in the end, especially after her comment about the Flatbread sandwich with bacon in it) and the time together was priceless.

Hurry to try Wendy’s Flatbread Chicken Sandwiches – they are back only for a limited time. We tried both flavors, Asiago Ranch (it has bacon in it!) and Smoky Honey Mustard (only 370 calories). Both were fantastic! KitKat preferred the Smoky Honey Mustard but I was a fan of the bacon. Who can resist a sandwich with bacon in it?

About the #6SecondsFlat Sweepstakes:

It’s pretty simple: 6 seconds could win you $6,000 in Wendy’s #6SecondsFlat Flatbread Sweepstakes.

Tell Wendy’s what you think about their flatbreads in a Vine or Instagram video then send it @Wendys (through twitter, Instagram or Vine) with the #6SecondsFlat tag and then my custom hashtag #betterinbulk6.

Each week of September, one lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a $6000 prize. Since I can’t enter the sweepstakes, do me a favor and enter in my honor and use the #betterinbulk6 hashtag, K?

Wendy’s is handpicking the best video entries to re-post from their official Wendy’s social media accounts to be featured on the contest website. You could be famous AND rich.

What would YOU do if you won $6000 this month?

Visit the sweepstakes landing page for more information and view the “official rules” at the bottom of the page.