Culinary Mash-Ups of 2014
Many restaurants found great success this year with mash-ups, taking two crowd-pleasers and merging them into one menu item. Last year’s croissant-doughnut hybrid, the Cronut, at Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City, was imitated this year by the Croisbun at Au Bon Pain, the Croissant Donut first at Jack in the Box and then at Dunkin’ Donuts and the Doh! Ring at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.
Many other restaurants brought different flavors together in hybrid dishes. Taco Bell in June debuted its long-awaited Quesarito (pictured) — a quesadilla rolled into a burrito and filled with meat, rice and sauce. Friendly’s Ice Cream introduced Bananas Foster Pancakes as well as red velvet waffles. Bruegger’s Bagels rolled out a bagel burger, and Baskin-Robbins offered Movie Theater Popcorn ice cream. At Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, chicken was breaded with both waffle batter and biscuits, and Cinnabon introduced a cinnamon roll-flavored coffee. Boston Market introduced a rotisserie chicken burger, Applebee’s had a nacho burger, California Tortilla offered a cheeseburger burrito and Boloco made a burrito out of a Thanksgiving dinner.
Pradnya 
Bruce Leininger is TOP NOTCH! 
