Last week I asked yet another Barista about the elusive Berry Stella and was told that Starbucks would be coming out with their new seasonal menu on Tuesday--meaning today. Obviously I had to go in today to investigate. As for this "new seasonal menu", I found exactly one change in the pastry case. The artist formerly known as the "Berry" Stella is now the "Seasonal Fruit" Stella. I am suspicious. The new Stella is star-shaped like its predecessor, but rather than being topped with deep blue berries, it is topped with some anemic-looking yellow fruit.
Apples? Pears? I couldn't tell (and thought that it would be impolite to press my face up against the glass to get a better look). Pending further investigation I decided to forgo the new Stella and just get my beverage of choice.
When I go home I logged on to the Starbucks website to see what else I could find. Not only is there no new information, the Stella--"Berry", "Seasonal Fruit" or otherwise--is not even listed in Nutritional Information area. What is up with that?
The other things not listed on the site? The new Starbucks Gold cards ($25? Really?) that are in stores and the new Thanksgiving Blend were missing, too. Additionally, the Starbucks that I was in today had the Advent calendars out and was using the holiday cups for hot drinks. Something is wrong here because Starbucks usually "goes holiday" in one fail swoop. I love coming into the store when it has been "holiday-ified". That means the full deal--cups, decorations, seasonal blends, peppermint hot chocolate on the menu and carols playing on the PA. I don't want to see the holiday stuff trickle in. Wow me, Starbucks. Wow me!
I need to understand what this is about. Further supply chain issues? A rogue Barista team just putting stuff out willy-nilly? I don't understand, but you can be sure, I will find out more!
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Seeellllaaaahhh!--10/29/08
As most of you know, I am a Starbucks fan. Some may say "addict", but that is impolite, and for that, I chide you. Every day at some point in the afternoon I like to head out to my local Starbucks for my favorite drink, an iced grande five pump soy chai. (Yes, I have become 'that person', the one who actually scientifically knows how many pumps of syrup I need to have the perfect beverage. At least I am not one of those people who can tell you the exact temperature to which their drink should be heated. That is just weird.) Occasionally I like a snack with my chai. Are we all familiar with the Starbucks new "healthy" food options? There are a number of things like oatmeal, some strange multi-grain dinner roll that they are trying to pass off as a great breakfast option (notice how there are always plenty of those in the case?) and, my personal favorite, the Berry Stella.
"That is intriguing. What is a Berry Stella?", the uninitiated of you ask? According to the Starbuck's website it is "Bursting with 100% whole grains plus juicy berries and omega-3's." Mmmmmmm. Who wouldn't want that? So yummy. Last week I went in for my daily constitutional, and there were no Berry Stellas in the case. "Hmmmm," I thought to myself. "They must have sold out." The same thing happened the next day. I asked my friendly neighborhood Barista "what up?" He told me that no Stellas came in that day. The same thing happened the next day--and the next day--and the next day. What is up with that?! Starbucks has tempted me with juicy berries and omega-3's (not easy for a fish-denying herbivore like myself to get, might I add), and then they don't deliver--literally??!! Starbucks seems to be having some distribution issues as evinced by the no Splenda situation of a few months ago, the week of domed-lids only this summer and the unfortunate soy shortage one weekend. Somebody in the supply chain needs to get on the stick here.
On another note, has everyone seen the new signature Hot Chocolates offered as a seasonal favorite at Starbucks? I decided to try a tall salted caramel h.c. last week. Delicious. Then I went on to the Starbucks website (where, like the shop, I am clearly a regular), and saw the calorie content. Sweet Mary mother of God! There is enough sugar and fat in that one tall drink--made with 2% milk and no whip, mind you--to provide life-sustaining calories to an African village for the better part of a week. It should be delicious! Yikes.
Finally, though I would like to get through one message without an OT reference, unfortunately I cannot. I feel like I am being stalked by the Olsen Twins via the media now. Last night I tucked myself in and decided to read my Vanity Fair magazine before bed. Right there on page 112 is Ashley Olsen featured in the "My Stuff" column. This is a regular feature in which various celebrities--and not-so-privacy-loving-twins apparently--list their favorite jeans (vintage), gadget (FAX machine--seriously. Because apparently it is 1987 for A.) and shampoo (Kerastase--how very Courtney Cox Arquette of you A.) Please, someone, make them go away.
On a side note, the most recent In Touch cover has a picture of the aforementioned C.C. Arquette and Jennifer Aniston looking chummy and smiling for the camera with the title "Yes, We Have Had Cosmetic Surgery!". I am thinking that this may not be a sanctioned article by the Pilates-loving twosome. I may have to invest the $1.99 ("$1 Less Than People!") to get the scoop.
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