I’ve noticed a few super creative menu-mashup LTOs lately. It’s time to revisit this engaging in-your-face seasonal spectacular. Anything that draws a doubletake is also a good social media buzz generator.
My favorite recent mashup is from Smokey Bones. It’s a House-Smoked Brisket Sundae served in stemware. Say what?! They describe it as Texas-style smoked brisket over mashed potatoes and roasted corn and garnished with red wine sauce, fried onion tanglers and scallions. While the chain is at it, it also has a BBQ Pork Sundae, which is mac & cheese layered with pulled pork, jalapeno cheddar sausage and bacon coleslaw topped with scallions and Carolina BBQ sauce. When you invoke a dessert theme on an entrée, you could wind up with a swing and a miss. So it must be craveable. This looks to be. On the other hand, it could be something that brings guests in the door where you could upsell them.
I also see two examples that turn breakfast carbs into sandwiches. IHOP has a Magnificent French Toast Sandwich, which is folded egg, sausage patty, hash browns, American cheese and chipotle mayo on French toast. Meanwhile, Walk-On’s Sports Bisteaux offers a Beignet Cheeseburger Slider.
Beverages are surely a low entry point for a mashup. Dutch Bros is running a Churro Freeze LTO, which is coffee blended with ice and caramel and garnished with a cinnamon sugar soft top (sweetened aerated milk) and churro bits.
If breakfast is one of your slow times, these LTO breakfast-dessert hookups might be what you need to drive traffic and sales.
- Cinnamon Roll Pancakes: Combine the comfort of pancakes with the flavors of a cinnamon roll. Prepare pancake batter and swirl in a mixture of cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter before cooking. Top with a creamy cream cheese glaze instead of traditional syrup.
- Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast: Elevate French toast by stuffing thick slices of bread with a sweet cheesecake filling. Dip in egg mixture, cook until golden and serve with a berry compote.
- Apple Pie Oatmeal: Mix the nostalgic taste of apple pie with the wholesomeness of oatmeal. Cook steel-cut oats with diced apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg, topping with a crumble of oats, butter, and brown sugar baked until crispy.
- Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding: Use buttery croissants as the base for a luxurious bread pudding, incorporating dark chocolate chunks and a vanilla custard. Bake until the chocolate melts into gooey pockets and serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Tiramisu Crepes: Fill delicate crepes with a mascarpone espresso mixture, mimicking the classic flavors of tiramisu. Dust with cocoa powder and serve with a drizzle of coffee-infused syrup for an indulgent breakfast treat.
If you’re trying to find late morning or afternoon snacking mashup LTO ideas, consider these two:
- Sweet Potato Donut Holes: Fry sweet potato donut holes until golden and toss them in a cinnamon-sugar mix. Serve with a side of whipped cream or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream for dipping. The combination of the earthy sweet potatoes with the sugary coating offers a delightful snack that’s not too heavy.
- Matcha Popcorn Balls: Create eye catching popcorn balls bound with a matcha-infused marshmallow mixture. This not only adds a vibrant green color but also a subtle tea flavor that complements the sweetness of the marshmallow.
Mashup LTOs can energize your menu, draw customer interest and showcase your operation’s on-trend creative flair.
Jody
