Taco Bell Launching 'Gourmet' Menu: Weird or Wonderful?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/06/08 16:00:00

Related Topics: Food, Fast Food, taco bell, Gourmet, Taco Bell Gourmet, Onion, Style, TV, Gross, Green, New York, News, Chicken, Salad, Eat, America, Salsa, Life, Fast-food

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	Weird	224 votes	36%
	Wonderful	396 votes	64%

When you think of Taco Bell, you probably think of getting a quick, cheap Mexican food fix, often at, say, 2 in the morning. But the fast-food chain no longer wants to be known as a greasy spoon. To compete with Chipotle (considered a "premium" chain), Taco Bell has launched a new "gourmet" menu -- designed by a TV chef -- that includes fancier ingredients like whole black beans, cilantro rice, fire-roasted corn salsa and pico de gallo. The best part? The new items at Taco Bell are still $5 or less.

Developed by chef Lorena Garcia, who has appeared on NBC's "America's Next Great Restaurant," the new Cantina Bell includes: whole black beans with Mexican spices; cilantro rice with onion, garlic, and parsley; citrus and herb-marinated chicken with tomatillo; new guacamole made with Hass avocados, jalapenos, cilantro and tomatoes; fire-roasted Corn salsa with red and green peppers and spices; creamy cilantro dressing; pico de gallo, diced tomatoes and onions with cilantro, lemon juice and vinegar; vegetarian versions of salad bowls and burritos

The gourmet menu at the fast food chain launches July 5 across the U.S. Will you check out the new eats? Or do you avoid fast-food places like Taco Bell -- even with its added gourmet style?

+24

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cmdrbnd007 2012/06/08 16:33:04

Wonderful

+5
Sounds delicious. I'll have to try it after it rolls out. In the restaurant business, like any other business, if you aren't moving forward you are falling behind. I applaud Bells initiative.
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More polls by SodaHead Living

PapaBC 2012/06/11 17:04:27

Weird

+1
fast food and Gourmet do not belong together.

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ed to PapaBC 2012/06/12 14:01:46 (edited)

No but healthier Fast Food is a step in the right direction. Anything is better than "Pink Slim"

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Louis Contreras 2012/06/11 17:01:13

Wonderful

Good luck to the Taco Bell chain.

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shadowcat_2 2012/06/11 16:53:31

Weird

+3
it dont matter what they call it if they are still using that grade F meat.. IF the quality of EVERYTHING isn't good some better ingredients won't help.

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bennett.dunn1 2012/06/11 16:29:57

Wonderful

also a little weird, but in general I think it's a good thing.

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Boo 2012/06/11 16:29:52

Wonderful

It can only be a good thing,since their qualify on the original menu has suffered in recent years! My husband has already told me he wants to try it.

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The Bee Guy 2012/06/11 16:25:25

Wonderful

It's about time fast food moved a little toward healthy.

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Rob Williams 2012/06/11 15:36:38

Weird

+1
Next thing you know Sandra Bullock will be in the police and Sylvester Stallone will be chasing Wesley Snipes around!

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QueenOf... to Rob Wil... 2012/06/11 23:09:22

And what's wrong with Sandra Bullock being in the police? She's a nice person, and police needs more nice people

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gocar 2012/06/11 15:16:04

Wonderful

+1
Let's get real eh? Nothing in the world could remotely describe a taco as gourmet.

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dragonf... to gocar 2012/06/11 17:53:02

ANYTHING can be made 'gourmet' :)

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Alencon 2012/06/11 15:13:08

Weird

+2
Rule #17, never, ever, eat at Taco Bell.

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Steve 2012/06/11 14:53:54

Wonderful

Fast food is so boring, anything to help spic it up is great.

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Kali 2012/06/11 14:51:04

Wonderful

As long as they don't quit creating wonderful things like nacho chz burritos also, go ahead! Appeal to both crowds!

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CarrieAnne 2012/06/11 14:48:43

Wonderful

But can you still get the old menu items?? Because I have my addiction to CrunchWraps to think about.....

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Hidden ... to CarrieAnne 2012/06/11 15:13:40 (edited)

I think Taco Bell will keep their old menu the same at the moment, because they're still testing the gourmet menu. Later on, they might chop off or upgrade some menu items to bring in some change. It sounds like the new gourmet menu is an addition to the already-familiar menu for now. If Taco Bell just chopped off their old menu, we all know that chaos would ensue and we'd all have to use Old El Paso to get a similar Mexican food fix :P

Personally, I'm happy about the change because gourmet usually means there are more wholesome ingredients used and fresher & more unique flavours. Let's cross our fingers that McDonald's learns from this~

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bennett... to Hidden ... 2012/06/11 16:31:16

We can dream, huh?

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Tanner Hansom 2012/06/11 14:40:09

Wonderful

+1
You had to have one about Taco bell?
♫ I'm at the pizza hut, I'm at the Taco Bell, I'm at the combination of pizza hut and taco bell!♫

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Nate Hu... to Tanner ... 2012/06/11 17:54:42 (edited)

♫ I'm at the pizza hut, I'm at the Taco Bell, I'm at the combination pizza hut and taco bell.. ♫
♫ I'm at the pizza hut, I'm at the Taco Bell, I'm at the combination pizza hut and taco bell.. ♫
♫ I'm at the pizza hut, I'm at the Taco Bell, I'm at the combination pizza hut and taco bell.. ♫
♫ I'm at the pizza hut, I'm at the Taco Bell, I'm at the combination pizza hut and taco bell.. ♫
♫ I'm at the pizza hut, I'm at the Taco Bell, I'm at the combination pizza hut and taco bell.. ♫
♫ I'm at the pizza hut, I'm at the Taco Bell, I'm at the combination pizza hut and taco bell.. ♫

On and on and on and on............ >-<

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ruthannhausman 2012/06/11 13:02:48

Wonderful

I think it's wonderful. It allows the folks who can't often frequent gourmet restaurants to be able to enjoy well-made, delicious foods at an affordable rate. Terrific. I plan on partaking for sure. That picture you have provided literally excites me with all the different, wonderful flavors in combination. Ahh, I can hardly wait!

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Cookie 2012/06/11 11:04:37

Wonderful

I like Taco Bell and trying new things,But I haven't seen a Taco Bell down here on the coast.I would try this new menu as long as it's not loaded with hot sauce or hot peppers.

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martin28 2012/06/11 07:21:51

Wonderful

Doesn't phase me.

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Ms Missy 2012/06/11 04:42:54

Weird

it dosent matter what they call it if they are still using that grade F meat....the stuff they used to use wasent even good enough to be dogfood.

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WOODMAN34 2012/06/11 04:01:50

Weird

+1
It is just another gimmick to get you to come in and buy something. 6 months from now it will probably be gone.

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Claybern 2012/06/11 01:02:57

Wonderful

Way to go Taco Bell.

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kudabux 2012/06/10 23:30:23

Weird

+2
Gourmet tacos? An oxymoron if ever I heard one. Yuk!

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Anthony... to kudabux 2012/06/11 00:01:44

+2
well real tacos you can do it, taco bell, not even.

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BOOGIE-WOOGIE-MUSIC-MAN-ROC... 2012/06/10 23:21:14

Weird

+3
It just another idea and people are too intelligent to pay more money for a gourmet corporate brainstorm.

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Jalysa Ellis 2012/06/10 23:20:33

Wonderful

That's nice, but Taco Bell is basically trying to be like Chipotle; and Bowie, MD doesn't need another Chipotle. -_- Unless it's cheaper, but then it'll become California Tortilla... >.>

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✿Britt ❤'s Steven Tyler✿ 2012/06/10 23:11:07

Wonderful

+1
i think its a good idea. restaurants are changing all the time. so why does it matter what they serve. their only making additions, not getting rid of all their original stuff, so i say let them do waht they do. ^_^

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hasher 2012/06/10 22:32:56

Wonderful

i like taco bell a lot and will probably try one of theirnew creations. yum!!1

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bob h. 2012/06/10 22:16:57

Weird

+4
They can't even make it look good in pictures.

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kudabux to bob h. 2012/06/10 23:31:02

+2
You are so right. LOL

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Osaka 2012/06/10 21:39:26

Wonderful

+2
Though I hope they fix their habit of employing people that can't do the job they are hired to do.

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WOODMAN34 to Osaka 2012/06/11 03:57:50

+2
Yes and they need to learn to speak English to!!!

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Kali to WOODMAN34 2012/06/11 14:54:08

Too not to

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Brosia 2012/06/10 21:28:13

Wonderful

I eat at Taco Bell almost every day, mainly because I know how much it is going to cost me in the wallet and the waist. But I love Chipotle's fresh food and awesome ingredients...but they are so freaking expensive, it is a rare treat to eat there.

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Sarah Alexander 2012/06/10 20:47:26

Wonderful

It kind of seems they may now be able to have a vegan option.. just no cheese or chicken, maybe.

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wutwut 2012/06/10 19:45:55

Wonderful

just got a job working at taco bell.
my body is ready.

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Frank 2012/06/10 19:29:14

Wonderful

I can eat taco bell, probably cheapest dinner you can get, but gourmet is a little overboard I would think....

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