Spicy Food News: Popeyes Adds Spicy Shrimp and Brings Back Cajun Flounder, Jack in the Box Gets Hot and Messy Again, and More

Popeyes Kicks Up Its Seafood Menu

Lent season is upon us, and that means that fast food chains are beefing up their seafood selection to appeal to those following the fast.  A regular at Popeyes around this time is their Cajun Flounder sandwich with includes a spicy version (you can read my review of that here).  And this year the Louisiana-based chain is kicking up its butterfly shrimp which includes two flavors that promise some heat.  Here is the rundown:

Flounder Fish Sandwich: A hand-battered Alaska flounder fillet marinated in Popeyes’ signature herb blend, available in classic or spicy. ($5.99)

Butterfly Shrimp Tacklebox: Eight pieces of butterfly shrimp covered in Popeyes’ signature spice blend. It’s also available in four new dry rubs — garlic parmesan, lemon pepper, buffalo shrimp, and ghost pepper — and includes a side and a Popeyes biscuit. ($5.99)

Surf & Turf: Four pieces of butterfly shrimp, two chicken tenders, a regular side, and a biscuit, available with an upgrade of new dry rubs. ($5.99)

Note that the prices will vary by region and these are limited-time-only selections that will swim away by the end of April.

Jack in the Box Brings Back Hot and Messy Menu

Jack is participating in Lent fare as well, bringing back his Moby Jack, but there is not a spicy version of that available (if you add some hot sauce, though, that kicks it up quite nicely).  He does have another option returning to the menu that promises some heat, and it is rather messy as well.  Appropriately named Hot and Messy, Jack is once again adding white cheese sauce, shredded pepper jack cheese, pickled jalapeños, and onion rings to his Sourdough Cheeseburger.  You can also just get an order of Hot and Messy Onion Rings (those include melty shredded cheddar cheese, cheese sauce, ranch & bacon crumbles), and apparently some locations have Hot and Messy Fries as well.  This is another limited-time deal will be leaving stores early in April.

Einstein Bagels Brings Swicy to Breakfast

This national bagel chain is jumping on the “swicy”–sweet and spicy–trend with a new addition to its menu.  They are adding a Hot Honey Shmear to their lineup which mixes that spicy condiment with their double-whipped cream cheese.  According to Chief Marketing Officer Jessica Serrano, “the Hot Honey Shmear delivers that perfect sweet-heat punch that makes every bite worth paying attention to.”  This is, or course, a limited-time option, so if you want to add a kick to your morning bagel, you will want to pay a visit soon.