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Blog: Nostalgia, classic American fare, value trending on summer menus

Taking inspiration from the desserts your mother packed into your lunch and the graham cracker crust baked into your grandmother's pies, QSRs are twisting classic sweets to form new ice cream flavors, iced tea and slushy drinks to cool down your summer.

June 22, 2015

Lemon, lime and the nostalgic American Ding-Dong snack are a few of the flavors QSRs are adding to their summer dessert menu. Value is still the focus as well, with more-for-your-money offerings of multiple beef patties and value meals.QSRs are combining flavors, healthy foods and classic American fare like fried-green tomatoes to grab interest from customers this summer. Taking inspiration from the desserts your mother packed into your lunch and the graham cracker crust baked into your grandmother's pies, QSRs are twisting classic sweets to form new ice cream flavors, iced tea and slushy drinks to cool down your summer.

The Krystal Company is stacking flavors this summer with its Single-Double-Triple menu offerings starting June 29, the company announce.

Nationwide locations will offer single, double and triple stacked patties at a special price as part of Krystal value meal combos, which include your selected sandwich, fries and a beverage for $3.99.

Krystal is also offering a new milkshake flavor starting June 29, the Lemon Cream Pie Milkshake, a blend of Minute Maid Lemonade and vanilla ice cream.

The Single-Double-Triple sandwiches are here to stay, but the value pricing is only for a limited time, the company said, as is the Lemon Cream Pie milkshake once summer is over at participating Krystal restaurants.

Captain D's LLChas launched a limited-time summer menu through Aug.t 15 that features a twist on flavor and preparation.

According to a press release, the company will debut the Parmesan Crusted Tilapia Meal served on a bed of rice with choice of two sides and a breadstick, to its grilled menu. Additionally, the chain reintroduced its fish tenders to include a new breadcrumb topping intended to be both light and crispy. The Home-Style Fish Tenders include whole muscle white fish filets that are breaded by hand and served with a choice of two sides and hush puppies. The tenders are also available Southern Style as part of a $4.99 full meal deal.

Also for the summer, Captain D's is bringing back its Fried Pickles and Fried Green Tomatoes, each served with a creamy dipping sauce. Summer sweets include Key Lime Pie, Strawberry Lemonade Tea and the Mango Cooler.

Bruster's Ice Cream chain is also serving Key Lime Pie flavor this summer alongside its Jamaican Me Crazy for a limited time, the company announced.

Key Lime Pie is created with a blend Key Lime ice cream and ribbons of graham cracker, while Jamaican Me Crazy blends coconut ice cream and ribbons of fudge and almonds.

Mexican QSR Del Taco is adding fresh Hass avocado to its summer menu. The new addition sprung from the company's partnership with the California Avocado Commission, which will provide sliced avocado in the new Epic Grilled Chicken Avocado Burrito or to any existing menu item.

Now available at Carl's Jr., is the company's Hostess Ding Dong Ice Cream Sandwich featuring the chocolate snack cake split in two and sandwiched around vanilla ice cream

Brad Haley, chief marketing officer of Carl's Jr., said in a statement, "Since starting with Oreo Cookie a few years ago to, most recently, the Strawberry Pop-Tart Ice Cream Sandwich, we've introduced some pretty imaginative creations using the real vanilla ice cream that we scoop out of tubs by hand, and it's pretty fun to dream up new ones that no one has thought of before. After looking at many other options, Hostess' iconic Ding Dongs, with their chocolate-coated, cream-filled cakes, made the most delicious 'carrier' for our latest ice cream sandwich."

"The Ding Dong Ice Cream Sandwich is a delicious and innovative collaboration between two of America's favorite brands, and we couldn't be more thrilled to partner with Carl's Jr. to create this perfect summer dessert," Senior Director of Marketing Ellen Copaken,  Hostess Brands LLC, said. "It's a wonderful example of how Hostess treats, while delicious on their own, can be used to make an entirely new and unique creation."

The Hostess Ding Dong Ice Cream Sandwich is available for $1.49. Prices may vary by location, according to the press release.