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KFC Braves Another Grilled Chicken Giveaway

YumSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:50:23 -0700

Now that KFC's finally named a winner in its search for the right grilled chicken spokesperson, the chain is ready for yet another Kentucky Grilled Chicken giveaway. Declaring next Monday, Oct. 26 "UNFry Day," KFC will be handing out one free piece of grilled chicken to customers at more than 5,000 restaurants across the US.

The fast food company's last grilled chicken giveaway, which was backed by none other than Oprah Winfrey, caused quite a stir when KFC, faced with overwhelming demand, was forced to issue an apology and staggered rainchecks to customers who were turned away.

Considering what happened during the last giveaway, I'm not sure I'm ready to show up for this one. Did you have a bad experience with the last promotion? Would you be willing give KFC another try?

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KFC Closing Stores For a Good Cause

YumSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:00:36 -0700

Is KFC trying to make amends for the Double Down, its infamous sandwich made with chicken patties instead of bread? The chicken chain is taking a break from inventing indulgent new foods to fight hunger, starting next Tuesday. Over the next few weeks, KFC will temporarily close more than 15,000 locations during the lunch rush and convert them into "World Hunger Relief Kitchens."

The kitchens will serve free grilled chicken meals to needy families while also raising awareness with charitable food drives and car washes at the shuttered stores. Fighting hunger is a pet cause of parent company Yum Brands, which launched a World Hunger Relief fund in 2007. Though there is some irony to KFC giving away free grilled chicken while it's being sued for grilled chicken, I can definitely get behind this good cause.

What do you think about the store closings: publicity stunt or sincere do-gooding?

KFC Being Sued Over Kentucky Grilled Chicken

YumSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:50:37 -0700

KFC's Kentucky Grilled Chicken made quite the headlines when it first hit the market - and the media attention doesn't look like it's about to stop. Yesterday vegetarian advocacy group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, or PCRM, announced its plans to sue KFC, alleging the chain failed to warn customers that its grilled chicken contains a carcinogen.The cancer-causing compound in question? PhIP, an amino that can be found in grilled meat. PCRM says it submitted samples to an independent lab that confirmed the presence of the carcinogenic compound in all pieces.

The suit follows a similar 2008 PCRM case against McDonald's, Burger King, Chick fil-A, Chili's, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse, and TGI Friday's. Burger King, the only chain that wound up settling with the advocacy group, now posts signs inside its California locations warning against the possible presence of PhIP.

Do you believe these findings? Are they enough to deter you from eating Kentucky Grilled Chicken?

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Yummy Links: From Julia Child to Grilled Cheese

partysugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:50:19 -0700

Julia Child was not impressed with Julie Powell's blog. - Eat Me Daily
The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile has crashed into a home in Wisconsin. - The Feedbag
Learn how to become a regular. - Grub Street
Former New York Times Magazine food editor Amanda Hesser is launching a new food website. - Serious Eats
Ten tips for taking food outside. - Bon Appétit
A man in Long Island has found the recipe to KFC's secret 11 herbs and spices mix. - NY Post
Tips for making the perfect grilled cheese Laura Werlin style. - Chow

What Do You Know About KFC?

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:30:11 -0700

As if you needed an excuse to enjoy deep-fried thighs and drumsticks, yesterday was National Fried Chicken Day! To honor America's favorite poultry preparation - which is served at breakfast with waffles, at picnics with coleslaw, or just straight out of a paper bucket - I thought I'd test your familiarity with America's most famed fried chicken outfit, Kentucky Fried Chicken. What do you know about KFC - besides the fact that it's finger-lickin' good? Take our quiz to find out.

Photo by Brent and MariLynn

Take the quiz

KFC Looking For Grilled Chicken Spokesperson

partysugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:00:10 -0700

With the recent debut and scandal - involving Oprah's offer for free chicken - KFC's Kentucky Grilled Chicken has been having a moment in the spotlight. If your heart so desires, you too can have 15 minutes of KFC fame. The fast food chain has just launched a global search for a new spokesperson to represent the brand.

They're looking for the ultimate KFC fan to promote and be the iconic face of the grilled chicken line. Interested participants must submit a video explaining why he or she is the biggest KFC grilled chicken fan. Three finalists will be selected on July 25 and the public can vote for the winner starting on Aug. 1. The winner will receive a lifetime supply of Kentucky Grilled Chicken and could potentially appear in commercials or print ads.

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KFC President Issues YouTube Apology, Offers Raincheck

YumSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:00:41 -0700

Oprah's KFC promotion for a free Kentucky Grilled Chicken meal has not only caused a lot of controversy, but sky-high demand also has KFC stores across the country turning away customers. In response, KFC president Rogert Eaton has taken a strikingly similar approach to Domino's by issuing an apology to patrons via YouTube. In exchange for the inconvenience customers have gone through, Eaton offers a raincheck for a grilled chicken meal, plus a free Pepsi.

Do you think Eaton did the right thing? I question whether customers who've already redeemed the free chicken will simply cash in on more gratis grub. Will you redeem KFC's raincheck offer?

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Oprah Stirs the Pot With Free KFC Offer

YumSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:00:57 -0700

Two days ago, Oprah offered her viewers a free coupon for KFC's new grilled chicken - complete with sides and biscuit. The promotion took off, and by the next day, Oprah's KFC coupons were the fifth most popular search on Google. But rather than getting recognition for offering her viewers bargain bites, Oprah's fallen under fire for the move.

Last year, the talk show guru was named PETA's Person of the Year for exposing the cruelty of the factory farm industry. But KFC buys its meat from Tyson, a company that has come under attack for supporting CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations). This conflict of interest has sent environmental media outlets into outrage; sustainable food blog Civil Eats called the free KFC offer "Oprah's most hypocritical move yet."

Moreover, the free KFC coupons have caused upheaval in stores. The demand for free chicken has overwhelmed many KFC franchisees: one manager at a midtown Manhattan outpost told customers the promotion was over for the day, prompting patrons redeeming coupons to hold a sit-in, refusing to leave the store until they received free chicken.

After all the backlash, I can't help but wonder whether Oprah regrets promoting the offer. Did you partake in the promotion? Do you think the free grilled chicken giveaway was a mistake on her part?

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Free Today: KFC's New Kentucky Grilled Chicken

YumSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:30:39 -0700

To celebrate the highly anticipated launch of its new Kentucky Grilled Chicken, fast food chain KFC is giving away gratis pieces of grilled chicken to customers today.

Apparently, the new recipe is just as top-secret as the Colonel's original fried chicken recipe. It's marinated and seasoned with a blend of six herbs and spices, then slow-grilled in a proprietary oven. I've been curious about this healthier version of chicken ever since it first came out a few weeks ago, so today will be the perfect chance to put it to the test.
What about you: Have you tried the chicken yet? If not, will you be sampling it for free today?

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KFC Goes Grilled

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:30:00 -0700

As posting calorie counts becomes mandatory in more and more places, many fast food restaurants are trying to lure health-conscious customers back in an effort to boost slumping sales. Following its competitors that have been offering grilled fare for years, Kentucky Fried Chicken is now serving up buckets of grilled chicken, which is much healthier than its fried counterpart. The grilled chicken will cost the same as KFC's Original Recipe, but the caloric price is considerably lower.

To see how these two types of KFC chicken compare, read more.

Depending on the piece, the grilled chicken contains 70 to 180 calories, compared to 110 to 370 calories found in pieces of Original Recipe. The difference in fat and sodium content is even more striking. The grilled chicken, once again depending on the piece, contains four to nine grams of fat while the Original Recipe pieces contain seven to 21 grams of fat. The grilled chicken sodium tops off at 440 milligrams, while the fried version can contain up to 1,050 mg per piece. While I am not a fan of fast food, I recognize the need to occasionally eat on the run, and appreciate that KFC is offering healthier options. Many of the participating franchises will be offering a free piece for customers to try on April 27. Will you be trying it?