"FreeFood" news and stories

Americans will do crazy things for free food; it's part of our national character. We'll dress up like a cow for a free chicken sandwich (at last month's "Cow Appreciation Day" at Chick-fil-A), stand for hours in a Soviet-style bread line just for a free cup of frozen yogurt in New York, or, at truck stops like the Big Texan outside of Amarillo, attempt to eat a 72 oz. steak in an hour.

We like a challenge -- or, at least, some of us do. The rest of us just like to watch as a guy who probably spent $30 to dress head-to-hoof as a cow relishes his free Chargrilled Chicken Club -- a sandwich that normally sells for $4.

Which is why it's somewhat disappointing to see free food given away so, well, freely.

Case in point: Whataburger celebrated its 60th anniversary on Tuesday with a free burger giveaway. And what silly, Flickr-worthy stunt did customers have to do in order to take advantage of the offer? Wear orange.

UPDATE: To ensure continued supply and meet customers' needs due to overwhelming popularity, McDonald's USA announced today that it will not be executing the national in-restaurant sampling event of McCafé Real Fruit Smoothies on July 22-24.

Back in early June, we told you about a product-tasting event we attended where McDonald's unveiled its new McCafé Real Fruit Smoothies (in addition to other products) as an extension of their McCafé line. The smoothies, available in Strawberry Banana or Wild Berry (chosen as the favorites during rigorous consumer testing), launched nationwide on Tuesday.

Our initial reaction was that both flavors (Wild Berry contains blueberries, strawberries and blackberries) were quite fresh-tasting, thanks to their natural ingredients (fruit, fruit juice, low-fat yogurt and ice). Danielle Paris, the Director of Product Innovation and Development at McDonald's, told Slashfood that McDonald's "sources strawberries directly from strawberry farmers, and selects particular varieties that will offer a specific flavor profile" for the smoothies.

As promised, our official taste test is coming soon, but next week you can try out the flavors yourself, at no cost. From July 22 to July 24, McDonald's will be giving customers free samples of both smoothie flavors. This promotion is reminiscent of their offer from just over a year ago for a free sample of their McCafé Mocha, with the early rollout of their McCafé line.

If you taste the smoothies next week, let us know what you think, and stay tuned for our official taste test!

To celebrate the holiday season, Whataburger is offering its customers 12 menu items on the house.

But don't cancel dinner plans just yet: The dozen freebies will be meted out one at a time over a three-week period.

Diners who register at Whataburger's Web site will receive 12 coupons good for fries, drinks and breakfast taquitos via e-mail between Dec. 1 and Dec. 24. As spokeswoman Natalie Silva explains, each coupon expires at the end of the day. The promotion will culminate on Christmas Eve with a coupon for a free burger.

According to a 2007 report by the Corpus Christi Caller, the burger chain considered rolling out the deal two years ago, but canceled its plans when e-mails were leaked in advance of an official announcement. "The '12 Days of Whataburger' were just too good to be true," the paper lamented, explaining why electronic coupons already in circulation wouldn't be honored.

When the Detroit Red Wings failed to score hat tricks (three goals by one player in a single game) for parts of two seasons, they weren't only failing to score points. They were disappointing fans who were promised a free box of curly fries from Arby's.

The fast-food chain has kept Detroit-area sports fans satiated with free grub by tying giveaways to sports feats. For Tigers baseball fans, it's a free roast beef sandwich for three or more home-game home runs, says Tina Hering, marketing manager for Arby's in Michigan.

The baseball team was able to achieve that goal 18 times this season. But it's been a waiting game for hockey fans who've dubbed the lack of hat tricks as "the Arby's Curse." The curse was finally lifted last week.

Wahoo's Fish Taco, the West Coast fast-food joint known both for its tacos and California surfer sensibility, celebrated its 20th anniversary in February with a party at its original Costa Mesa, Calif., restaurant. At the party they served 20-cent tacos and the first 200 guests won raffle prizes and an autograph session with professional skater Ryan Sheckler.

But the party isn't over yet. On Saturday, the company's beloved fish tacos will have their own 21st birthday shindig at all 38 California Wahoo's locations.

It's unclear what it means for a fish taco to turn 21, but customers who get free food and prizes, probably won't be complaining. (At 21, can fish tacos now finally be cooked with alcohol?)

The first 21 customers at each restaurant will get a swag box of prizes, including gifts from Tony Hawk Inc., the pro skateboarder's action-sports company. Everyone who eats at a California Wahoo's on Saturday will be rewarded with a free meal or gift card.