KANSAS CITY — Oversized protein is popping up on restaurant menus, ranging from supersized seafood to bigger bacon to plentiful poultry.
Red Lobster’s new sizeable seafood sandwich, the Crispy Cod Sandwich, features a 6- to 8-oz fillet of battered and fried, wild-caught cod placed on a toasted brioche bun with crunchy slaw and tartar sauce.
“It makes sense for Red Lobster to have an epic fried fish sandwich,” said Dustin Hilinski, executive chef and director of culinary at Red Lobster. “This fried cod is so huge, it hangs off the bun. We are affectionately calling it the Codzilla because we know our guests will not be disappointed by size or taste.”
IHOP is introducing new Steakhouse Premium Bacon, which is cut five times thicker than the restaurant’s regular bacon and is finished with a maple glaze. The bacon is the star of several offerings in the chain’s new Bacon Obsession Menu, including a breakfast plate, burger and BLT sandwich.
“As guests begin to return to restaurants, we know they’re looking for broadly appealing and familiar comfort foods, as well as new ways to enjoy classic favorites, and bacon is the perfect option that fits both needs,” said Jay Johns, president of IHOP. “Our new Steakhouse Premium Bacon and Bacon Obsession Menu continues to position us as the leader in breakfast, and showcases our commitment to innovation throughout the breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. We’re thrilled to offer a new way for folks to enjoy bacon in a form that is most typically seen in fine dining settings, served up at IHOP in affordable combinations that can be enjoyed any time of day.”
Checkers & Rally’s restaurants is debuting the Candied Bacon Mother Cruncher chicken sandwich, made with an extra-crispy, all-white-meat fried chicken breast featuring the chain’s “mega crunch” breading. The chicken is topped with brown-sugar-candied bacon, Swiss cheese, mayo and crispy onion tanglers and served on a toasted bun.
