Panera bakery cafe fast casual restaurants in the United States will debut new Chef’s Chicken Sandwiches nationwide on March 30. The menu addition will feature two offerings priced at $10.99: the “Signature Take” and the “Spicy Take.”
Panera’s chefs aim to redefine the traditional chicken sandwich, beginning with the chicken itself. A juicy quarter pound of 100% all-white meat chicken breast filet is marinated and seasoned with the chain’s signature spice blend. The filet is seared golden brown and topped with a crunchy topping, either parmesan crisps or spicy, crispy pickle chips, and a proprietary garlic aioli sauce – all stacked between a sliced buttery brioche roll.
“This is no ordinary chicken sandwich. We’re launching an exciting new platform that will delight our guests,” said Eduardo Luz, chief brand and concept officer for the St. Louis, Missouri-headquartered company. “This is for customers looking for a delicious, chef-crafted, gourmet-level sandwich made with clean ingredients in true Panera fashion.”
The “Signature Take” Chef’s Chicken Sandwich tops the chicken breast filet with a special garlic aioli sauce made with ingredients like Extra Virgin Olive Oil, garlic, and a secret blend of spices. Savory parmesan crisps add additional flavor and crunch. Finally, it is topped with leafy emerald greens all built on Panera’s lightly sweet and hearty brioche roll made with real butter.
As for the the Spicy Take,” instead of parmesan crisps there are spicy, crispy pickle chips alongside garlic aioli for an added layer of crunch and spice. The chicken breast filet is then stacked on a brioche roll and topped with spicy buffalo sauce made with ingredients including aged red cayenne pepper and roasted garlic balanced with sweet honey and molasses.
Founded 30 years ago, Panera today operates 2,118 bakery cafes in 48 US states and in Ontario, Canada, under the Panera Bread or Saint Louis Bread Co. banners. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant companies in North America.
