"vanilla bean coolatta" news and stories

Like every chain hailing from a specific region, Dunkin' Donuts is especially dear to many New Englanders. Once upon a time before the dawning of Starbucks, it was the only place to go for a Sunday morning coffee-and-donuts run -- usually with a groan of "time to get the donuts." In Boston, directions to Logan Airport are given via its locations: "Turn left at the first Dunkin', right at the second."

Although the chain has since gone national, it was no surprise to us that some folks -- probably New Englanders -- were furious when the Vanilla Bean Coolatta was discontinued over a year ago. It's a mysterious creation of ice and what DD's senior director of brand marketing, Scott Hudler, calls a "dairy-based cream" and the "taste of vanilla bean."

And although it's a "trade secret" as to whether there's actually vanilla bean in there, the thing has crazed fans. A quick Internet search reveals one enraged customer visited four separate shops the day the Coolattas were discontinued more than a year ago.

Happily enough, they're back, starting Wednesday.

Well, maybe once in a great while, but don't make it a daily thing, OK?

HungryGirl.com has the list of the five summer drinks that will destroy your diet. Sometimes we don't think of the massive amount of calories and/or sugar and/or fat that are in those seductive cold drinks. For example, Krispy Kreme's Mocha Dream Chiller has 670 calories, 28 grams of fat, and 58 grams of sugar (that's for the 12 oz). Dunkin Donuts' Vanilla Bean Coolatta has 440 calories, 17 grams of fat, and 69 grams of sugar.

The other drinks on the list are from Starbucks, Fatburger, and Dairy Queen.