Random Culture

Taco Bell Automated Ordering

Is it possible that Taco Bell/KFC might not require cashiers anymore? Check out this Flickr photoset of automated touch-screen ordering at a Taco Bell/KFC hybrid in Morrisville, North Carolina.

It even includes an animated Colonel and animated Taco to take your order.

Super Bowl Commercials: Whopperettes

I have to say that the Burger King Whopperettes Super Bowl commercial wasn't amazing in my opinion, but it definitely stood out. And like Diet Pepsi, the Whopperettes effort has a much stronger online component. Simply put, the website is great.

Burger King also did a great job building up buzz before the Super Bowl commercials aired, leaking video footage of the King and Brooke Burke online. All in all, a great integration of online and offline, as well as buzz before and after the Super Bowl.

Visit the Burger King Whopperettes site here.

Watch the Whopperettes commercial now:

McRib Farewell Tour

I've never been a fan of the McRib... The idea of processed meat molded into the shape of a slab of ribs isn't my idea of good food. But McDonalds is betting that it has some fans. They've launched the McRib farewell tour, a chance for McRib McFanatics to voice their opinion about their beloved molded meat product. There's even a "trivia" section with insight such as: "Each McRib sandwich is actually submerged in tangy BBQ sauce. Ummm... that's not trivia.

Gourmet Frozen Food

Iconoculture has a great story about White Toque, a European gourmet frozen food retail store that's about to begin expanding in the US. There are currently 3 stores in New Jersey, offering a selection of around 300 frozen gourmet foods. And as Iconoculture points out, the food really is gourmet, with selections like swordfish, petits fours, salmon tartare and seafood paella just to name a few. These types of stores are seemingly more common in Europe, but are a new concept in the US... I think it will be well received.

McDonald's Plans to Revamp Uniforms

"McDonald’s is recruiting Russell Simmons, P. Diddy and Tommy Hilfiger to perform a miracle makeover: Turn its employees' mundane uniforms into hip street wear."

Link to story on Ad Age.

646 Pounder

Everyone just take the rest of the day off and think about this.  That's what I'm gonna do.

Thais catch 646-pound catfish in Mekong.

Pimp My Burger

Burger King has a preview up for what appears to be a new viral campaign at Pimpmyburger.com. The new campaign centers around the whole parody of shows like "Pimp my Ride." While there certainly hasn't been a shortage of these parodies in the recent past, hopefully this one will be unique. The video alludes that more will be revealed on March 1.

Link via Adrants.