Breakfast wars

02 March 2020, 09:45 AM

wtg

Breakfast wars

quote:
Wendy's is finally entering the breakfast battle this week, so McDonald's is trying to throw a knockout blow.

McDonald's has deemed Monday "National Egg McMuffin Day" and it's luring people in with free sandwiches. The chain also said in a press release that the day is intended to celebrate the "best" fast food breakfast sandwich as it is also turning 50 this year. But it's likely not a coincidence that it is the same day Wendy's takes its eagerly anticipated breakfast menu nationwide.

The offer is only valid Monday in US restaurants from 6 am to 10:30 am local time. To get the free sandwich, customers will have to order it through McDonald's app. The company continues to push the app so it can offer personalized offers and promotions directly to customers, McDonald's said in its most recent earnings call.

Increasing the McDonald's app's user base is "key," according to Morningstar analyst R.J. Hottovy, because Monday's promotion could result in building customer loyalty: Customers might be enticed to come back because of future offers.

Hottovy also that said offering free Egg McMuffins will keep the chain "top of mind" because Wendy's is spending big — upwards of $80 million this year — to promote the new menu.
"It's more of a defensive move rather than an offensive move," he said about the promotion.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/01...uffin-day/index.html

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We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home. - Australian Aboriginal proverb

Bazootiehead-in-training

02 March 2020, 10:07 AM

Mikhailoh

Meh. Wendy's used to serve breakfast and they were pretty lame. I'm wondering how their current offerings fare, but, like Taco Bell whose breakfasts are godawful dreck, I don't hold much hope.

McDonald's rocks fast food breakfast, but I have no interest in the app and a free egg mcmuffin does not move me much.

The best breakfast sandwich in the world, though, used to be found at an Arby's in Lynchburg VA in the 90's. I was working there and they served up a country ham egg and cheese croissant that was to die for, especially if you were a bit hung over. All that salt in the ham helped. I still remember the taste.

02 March 2020, 10:11 AM

Mikhailoh

Just looked at their menu. High calorie, low appeal. Plus it is only at some locations so you can't even count on it. They need to commit.

02 March 2020, 10:44 AM

Nina

I've found that Starbucks has pretty decent (for fast food) breakfast sandwiches. Bonus: there are two (turkey bacon and bacon gouda) that are relatively low calorie. The turkey bacon sammich is listed as 290 calories, egg whites only.

My favorite meal out is breakfast, but I'm talking going to the diner, getting eggs, hash browns, toast and coffee, bonus points if the coffee is served in one of those thick white ceramic mugs. It's not that hard to grab something on my way out the door for breakfast. If I'm having breakfast out, I'm doing it right.

02 March 2020, 03:27 PM

RealPlayer

I’m with you, Nina. Sit yer butt down at an actual restaurant and have a much better experience.

BTW there’s a new generation of upscale diners that take breakfast to a new level. We visited the Silver Lining Diner in East Hampton NY...beautiful pancakes with real maple syrup, sophisticated omelets, etc. And not that much more expensive.

The Times ran an article on these places. Will post if I can find it.

02 March 2020, 03:43 PM

wtg

I couldn't tell you the last time I had an Egg McMuffin. The closest I come to fast food breakfast was a trip to Corner Bakery about three months ago. Coupon came in the mail so we thought we'd try it. It was OK at coupon prices, but not worth it at the regular price.

We have a couple of good breakfast type places around here, a little more upscale than the diners.

Our two favoritest places are in Door County. One is Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant (goats on roof place) and the other is the White Gull Inn.

02 March 2020, 04:13 PM

We have some wonderful breakfast places here.

Yum. They compete. Yum!

One even makes a popover for you the moment you walk in the door. Serves it as a surprise, hot!

I'd never get fast food breakfast...yuck.

03 March 2020, 02:06 AM

Steve Miller

Starbucks has the sous vide egg bites. They are excellent and taste just like boiled eggs made in the Instant pot.

If you simply must eat your breakfast on the road, this is what you want to eat.

03 March 2020, 02:23 AM

Steve Miller

OTOH, (and I have posted about this before)

If you want a big, decadent, heavy, full on breakfast, IHOP deserves a chance. I don’t think I had been to one in 20 years before I tried one a couple weeks ago and I’m telling you the breakfast was the equivalent of anything I’ve ever had anywhere else.

It is too big. It is too heavy. There are way too many calories. It is absolutely delicious and you can bring home a box, and that box will feed you for several days. Eat on it for a week. Good coffee too.

Come to my house and I will make you something better, but it won’t be all that much better and you won’t get nearly as big a box to take home.

Decide for yourself on the coffee.

03 March 2020, 08:51 AM

RealPlayer

Steve, I'll have to give IHOP a look...have not been in one in decades.

Also, here's the article on fancy diners...it does make them sound too hipster-ish, but I enjoyed Silver Lining, the one I went to (also mentioned in the article).

New Diners

Menu from Silver Lining Diner

03 March 2020, 09:02 AM

QuirtEvans

quote:
Originally posted by Nina:
I've found that Starbucks has pretty decent (for fast food) breakfast sandwiches. Bonus: there are two (turkey bacon and bacon gouda) that are relatively low calorie. The turkey bacon sammich is listed as 290 calories, egg whites only.

The best thing at Starbucks are the egg bites. I can live on the bacon Swiss egg bites.

quote:
My favorite meal out is breakfast, but I'm talking going to the diner, getting eggs, hash browns, toast and coffee, bonus points if the coffee is served in one of those thick white ceramic mugs. It's not that hard to grab something on my way out the door for breakfast. If I'm having breakfast out, I'm doing it right.

Totally agree, although I can't do the carby parts any more. It's always a meat and cheese omelette for me.