000536 Bonanza/Ponderosa New “Flame-Grilled Over Hickory”May 28, 2000Dallas, TX - Just in time for the outdoor grilling season, Bonanza and Ponderosa Steakhouses are offering an incentive for steak lovers who crave that backyard, home- style flavor, but not the hassle of a cookout. At participating locations, the two family steakhouse chains are now flame-grilling over hickory -- the way dad does at home to give steaks and chicken that extra special taste. And on May 30 and every Tuesday in June, guests can sample a free six-ounce sirloin with the purchase of any adult buffet. “With hickory, we're taking the extra step to give our guests the best- tasting steak for the price, and once they sample it, they'll love it,” says Doug Barber, president of Metromedia Family Steakhouses, which includes Bonanza and Ponderosa. “We're the first major steakhouse chains to grill over wood on such a large scale.” Bonanza and Ponderosa invested more than $1 million to upgrade existing flame broilers or install new broilers fitted with wood grilling components, but not before extensive consumer research. MFS experimented with the idea in 1998 at two prototype restaurants before testing it extensively in eight Kansas City-area restaurants earlier this year. A critical part of this research process was selecting the right wood. “We tested a variety of woods, each with a distinct flavor profile,” says Jim Doak, senior director of culinary product development. “We chose hickory because it's plentiful, it's neither too sweet nor too sour like other varieties, and it produces a somewhat nutty taste, which guests liked during the market test. Burning hickory also produces a pleasant aroma.” Prices for wood-grilled steaks generally range from $7.99 for a six-ounce sirloin to $13.99 for a 14 oz. T-bone. Other cuts available include a half- pound sirloin, half-pound ribeye, half-pound chopped steak and 10-ounce prime rib. Additionally, Bonanza and Ponderosa are now offering Grilled Chicken Monterey and grilled shrimp. Bonanza and Ponderosa Steakhouses, aligned under Metromedia Family Steakhouses, serve guests in more than 600 locations in the U.S. and eight other countries. MFS is part of Metromedia Restaurant Group, one of the world's largest multi-concept, table-service restaurant groups.
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