Food and Beverage
PANERA TAKES BREAKFAST INTO ITS NEW ERA WITH SAVORY AND SWEET NEW BREAKFAST MENU
Items including Bacon Double Take and Protein-Packed Steak & Wake Breakfast Sandwiches, along with Limited Edition CinnaTops and CinnaScrambles now available at bakery-cafes nationwide
ST. LOUIS /PRNewswire/ — From savory to sweet, Panera Bread is bringing the “Cinna-mmm” this June as it continues its menu transformation with a suite of new and limited-edition breakfast items sure to wake up any morning meal. Now available at bakery-cafes nationwide, the new breakfast responds to guest preferences, bringing more bacon, new proteins and offering creative spins on popular bakery items.
New Breakfast Sandwiches Deliver Crave-Worthy Flavor
Panera Bread’s commitment to delicious and satisfying breakfast options continues with the introduction of new breakfast sandwiches.
- Bacon Double Take: We heard our guests wanted more bacon, and this sandwich delivers! This sandwich boasts double the bacon of a traditional Panera breakfast sandwich, along with two types of cheese for an extra layer of flavor.
- Steak & Wake: This limited time, premium offering features marinated, thin-sliced steak served on Panera’s artisan Ciabatta bread. Be sure to try this limited-time option before it’s gone!
- Rounding out the new breakfast offerings is the Ham Egg & Cheese, providing a new protein option for those who enjoy a more classic breakfast sandwich experience.
Savory and Sweet Collide with All-New CinnaScrambles
Panera Bread is shaking up the breakfast menu with the introduction of CinnaScrambles. This innovative offering combines classic breakfast sandwich ingredients with the chain’s beloved warmed cinnamon roll for a unique and delicious sweet and savory experience. Available starting at $5.39*, CinnaScrambles come in two varieties:
- Sausage CinnaScramble: Featuring savory sausage, scrambled egg, and melty American cheese, all nestled on a warm cinnamon roll and finished with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. This option can be customized with bacon for those who prefer a different twist.
- CinnaScramble: For those who crave a sweeter start to their day, this CinnaScramble features fluffy scrambled eggs and melty American cheese on a warm cinnamon roll, finished with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Summer Just Got Even Sweeter with Limited Time CinnaTops
The menu Cinn-ovation doesn’t stop there – The brand has taken also its iconic cinnamon roll to the next level with the introduction of CinnaTops. These abundant, over-the-top treats feature a delicious cinnamon roll base topped with icing and your choice of an iconic Panera bakery item – there’s a variety for every sweet tooth including Candy Cookie, Choco Chipper Cookie, or Fudgy Brownie.
Starting at $4.79*, CinnaTops are a limited-edition summer treat, so don’t miss out! Guests will love this rich and flavorful new way to experience some of Panera’s most popular bakery items.
“We’re thrilled to introduce exciting new breakfast items to our bakery-cafes nationwide as part of our ongoing menu transformation,” said Alicia Mowder, SVP of Product Strategy & Insights, Panera Bread, “These delicious offerings will feature sweet, savory and protein-packed options to kickstart your day, including options that feature our signature cinnamon rolls – a customer favorite that are baked for guests in our cafes. This is just the beginning of our commitment to providing an even more delightful breakfast experience for our guests.”
Want to fuel your mornings and quench your thirst all summer long? Panera is currently offering their most valuable Unlimited Sip Club deal yet. New subscribers who sign up by August 31 will get 3 FREE MONTHS of endless drinks to pair with delicious new breakfast menu items!**
In April, Panera began its largest menu transformation ever, refocusing on innovating and enhancing the core Panera items guests love the most: Soups, Salads, Sandwiches and Mac & Cheese. Filled with more than 20 new and enhanced menu items, the brand’s New Era offers guests better value through enhanced portions and lower price points. The launch of these breakfast items is another step in the brand’s ongoing transformation process, focused on giving guests the right combination of taste, quality and value.
To join MyPanera to receive the latest updates on Panera’s exciting menu innovations, visit PaneraBread.com.
About Panera Bread
Our first bakery-cafe opened in 1987, founded with a secret sourdough starter and the belief that the best part of bread is sharing it. That vision led to the invention of the Fast Casual category with Panera at the forefront, serving as America’s kitchen table centered around our delicious menu of chef-curated recipes that are crafted with care by our team members. We make food that we are proud to serve our own families, from crave-worthy soups, salads and sandwiches to mac and cheese and sweets. Each recipe is filled with ingredients we feel good about and none of those we don’t because we are committed to serving our guests food that feels good in the moment and long after. While our company is now nearly 2,200 bakery-cafes strong, our values and belief in the lasting power of a great meal remain as strong as ever. We spend each day filling bellies, building empowered teams and inspiring communities. Nothing beats breaking bread together.
As of May 28, 2024 there were 2,182 bakery-cafes, company and franchise, in 48 states and Washington D.C., and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant companies in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) Instagram (@panerabread) or TikTok (@panerabread).
*Participating cafes only. Substitutions or customizations may increase cost. Prices and items vary by cafe. Menu price for delivery is higher and fees apply.
**Offer valid only for a new subscriber, which is a person that has never had an Unlimited Sip Club subscription through any name, email address, address, or phone number, who signs up for a monthly Unlimited Sip Club subscription through 11:59 p.m. CST August 31, 2024. Eligible new subscribers who sign up for a monthly Unlimited Sip Club subscription through 11:59 pm CST August 31, 2024 will receive their first three months for free. Offer will be revoked if Panera determines, in its sole discretion, that person has ever had an Unlimited Sip Club subscription for any amount of time. Offer may expire without notice due to error, fraud, computer error, electronic or technical malfunctions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Other restrictions may apply. Unlimited Sip Club subscription is available for registration and redemption in participating U.S. cafes. Must be MyPanera member and at least 18 years of age to register. Registration available online only (including in-cafe kiosk). You may cancel at any time. If you do not cancel either before your renewal date or the expiration of any promotional or trial subscription offer, your stored payment method will automatically be charged $14.99 plus tax for a monthly subscription and will be charged on a recurring monthly basis every 30 days thereafter. To cancel subscription online, visit Manage Subscription section at www.panerabread.com/UnlimitedSipClub or on the Panera Bread app. Subscription provides eligible subscribers the following subscription benefits: drip hot coffee, iced coffee, hot tea, fountain soda beverages, and bubbler drinks (e.g., iced teas, lemonades, and other bubbler beverages) once every two hours during normal bakery-cafe business hours, including unlimited refills. Beverages may vary by location and time of day. Excludes all other beverages, including, without limitation, packaged beverages, smoothies, frozen blended drinks, hot chocolate, cold brew iced coffee, and espresso and cappuccino beverages. Customizations, including, without limitation, added espresso and syrups (e.g., vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, and caramel) are not included in subscription monthly or annual price. Upcharges apply. Other additions (e.g., milk, skim milk, almond milk, half & half, and sweeteners) are included in monthly or annual subscription price, but availability may vary by location and time of day. Limit one subscription per person. Excludes catering orders and orders placed on third-party delivery sites. Panera reserves the right in its sole discretion to offer additional or different subscription benefits to members based on geographic location, home bakery-cafe, program participation, period of recurring subscription, or other criteria. Other restrictions may apply. Visit here for complete terms: https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/mypanera/subscription/terms-and-conditions.html.
SOURCE Panera Bread
(Feature Impact) Game day is about more than the big plays, touchdown-saving tackles and final score. Whether you’re gathering in the stadium parking lot or hosting friends for an at-home watch party, a memorable experience begins long before kickoff.
Start your pregame festivities with an MVP-worthy spread that’s simple to serve, easy to eat and keeps fans full through the final whistle. For example, the flavor of Buffalo is a game-day staple, but wings aren’t the only way to enjoy it.
For less mess, Buffalo Chicken Caesar and Celery Wraps pair convenience with the cool crunch of Dandy Celery, a year-round superstar ingredient for many of your favorite football-inspired dishes. It’s packed with flavor and low in calories, making it a smart choice for snacking.
The contrasting tastes and textures offer a satisfying bite, whether you slice the wraps into smaller portions for appetizer-style serving or leave them whole for fans with hearty appetites.
Nervous nibblers during the game’s most tense moments may prefer a lighter bite, and that’s where a dependable dip can come through in the clutch. This Buffalo Hummus recipe puts a tailgate-spin on the familiar favorite, combining creamy texture with a little heat.
Serve it alongside crackers, chips or crisp vegetables like Dandy celery dippers, fresh-cut celery sticks that are pre-washed and ready to eat at your convenience – a true time-saver when the clock is ticking.
Design your own winning game plan by finding more tailgating recipes at DudaFresh.com.
Buffalo Chicken Caesar and Celery Wraps
Servings: 4
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce
- 2 cups Dandy romaine hearts, chopped
- 1 cup Dandy celery, chopped (about 4 ribs)
- 1/3 cup Caesar dressing
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 large flour tortillas (10 inches)
- In bowl, toss shredded chicken with Buffalo sauce. Set aside.
- To make salad: In separate bowl, combine romaine, celery, Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Mix well.
- To assemble wraps: Spoon about 1/4 cup Buffalo chicken along center of each tortilla, leaving small border at each end; top with Caesar salad. Fold up bottom of tortilla over filling then fold in sides and roll up tightly. Slice in half diagonally.
Buffalo Hummus
Prep time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2-3 tablespoons ice water
- dairy-free blue cheese, for garnish (optional)
- chopped chives, for garnish (optional)
- paprika, for garnish (optional)
- olive oil, for garnish (optional)
- Dandy Celery Dippers
- pita chips
- In food processor, puree drained chickpeas, tahini, Buffalo sauce, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Add water through lid until desired consistency is achieved.
- Spread hummus onto serving plate or bowl. Garnish, if desired, with dairy-free blue cheese, chopped chives, paprika and drizzle of olive oil. Serve with celery dippers and pita chips.
SOURCE:
Food and Beverage
ALDI Rolls Out Its First-Ever Line of Ready-Made Meals
ALDI is entering the ready-made meal market with seven fresh, refrigerated dishes priced under $15. The rollout begins in October, with nationwide availability expected by January 2027.
Busy shoppers looking for a quick dinner option will soon have something new waiting in the refrigerated section at ALDI.
ALDI is launching its first-ever collection of fresh, ready-made meals, introducing seven single-serve and family-size dishes designed to combine convenience, affordability and familiar comfort-food flavors.
The new meals begin rolling out at select ALDI stores in early October, with additional markets receiving them throughout the fall. ALDI expects the entire collection to be available nationwide by January 2027.
Seven New Meals — Ready to Heat and Eat
Unlike frozen dinners, ALDI says its new meals are delivered fresh and sold refrigerated in easy-to-heat trays.
The initial lineup includes five single-serve meals priced under $8:
- Beef Bolognese Spaghetti
- Beef Brisket with White Mac & Cheese
- Butter Chicken & Rice
- Chicken Burrito Bowl
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Two larger family-size meals will be available for under $15:
- Chicken and Bacon Mac n’ Cheese
- Meat Lovers Pizza Bake
ALDI says the recipes were developed around ingredients including chicken breast, smoked beef brisket, real cheeses and made-from-scratch sauces.
The single-serve meals contain between 30 and 46 grams of protein per serving, according to the company. Family-size offerings provide between 16 and 22 grams per serving.
Convenience Without the Restaurant Bill
The move puts ALDI more directly into the growing market for prepared refrigerated meals — an increasingly attractive option for consumers who want something more substantial than a frozen dinner but don’t necessarily have the time or desire to cook from scratch.
ALDI cited the 2026 International Food Information Council Food & Health Survey, which found that 61% of Americans consider convenience an important factor when purchasing food.
“Our shoppers are looking for meals that fit into busy lives without sacrificing quality or stretching their budgets,” Joan Kavanaugh, Vice President of National Buying for ALDI U.S., said in the company’s announcement.
ALDI supplier Kitchen Food Company said hundreds of recipes were tested while developing the new collection.
Dinner in Just a Few Minutes
Convenience is a major part of the concept.
Depending on the variety, ALDI’s single-serve meals require roughly 3½ to 4½ minutes in the microwave. The company instructs consumers to heat the meals until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
The larger family meals can be prepared in a conventional oven at 350 degrees, with approximately 40 minutes of total cooking time.
Shoppers will find the meals in the refrigerated meals section near the front of participating ALDI stores.
More Meals Are Coming
The seven dishes are only the beginning.
ALDI says it plans to introduce additional ready-made meals through its rotating ALDI Finds selection every month during the next year. That could allow the retailer to experiment with additional recipes, flavors and seasonal offerings while expanding its presence in prepared foods.
The timing also makes the rollout noteworthy. With restaurant meals and takeout competing for household food dollars, prepared grocery-store meals occupy a middle ground: more convenient than cooking from scratch while potentially costing considerably less than feeding a family through restaurant delivery or takeout.
For ALDI shoppers, that means the familiar question of “What’s for dinner?” may soon have a few more answers — and they could be waiting just inside the front door.
Source: ALDI, September 22, 2026
Sources & Related Links
- ALDI — Official Announcement: ALDI Launches First-Ever Collection of Ready-Made Meals
- Original Press Release: ALDI Ready-Made Meals — PR Newswire
- Consumer Research: 2026 IFIC Food & Health Survey — Convenience Outranks Healthfulness
- More ALDI News: ALDI U.S. Newsroom
- More Food & Drink Coverage: STM Daily News Food & Drink
Hungry for More?
Looking for more easy dinner ideas, meal-planning inspiration, and affordable meals? Explore STM Daily News Food & Drink for the latest recipes, food news, restaurant stories, culinary trends and more.
A poached egg may look fancy, but it is surprisingly easy to prepare. With a tender egg white and warm, runny yolk, it makes a delicious addition to toast, salads, breakfast bowls or avocado toast.
Ingredients
- 1 large fresh egg
- Water
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar, optional
- Salt and black pepper
- Toast or English muffin for serving, optional
Instructions
Fill a saucepan with about 2 to 3 inches of water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Avoid a rolling boil, which can break the egg apart.
Crack the egg into a small cup or bowl. Add the vinegar to the water if desired—it helps the egg white hold its shape.
Gently slide the egg into the simmering water. Cook for about 3 minutes for a runny yolk, or 4 to 5 minutes for a firmer center.
Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and place it briefly on a paper towel to absorb excess water. Season with salt and pepper, then serve immediately.
Quick Tip
Fresh, cold eggs usually produce the neatest poached eggs because their whites are thicker and stay closer to the yolk while cooking.
Simple, satisfying and ready in minutes, a poached egg is an easy way to make an everyday breakfast feel a little more special.
