In the U.S., where comparable sales were up 4.4%, consumer traffic in restaurants was driven by menu items such as the McRib and McCafe items like the caramel mocha, as well as promotional games like the Monopoly sweepstakes.

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In its statement, the North Eastern board said: "We would like to reassure parents that the meat used in our school kitchens is supplied locally and all menu items such as spaghetti bolognese, or meatballs, are prepared by the school catering staff using fresh, steak minced".

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An October menu included items such as pork dumplings, sweetbreads and diver scallops.

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Taco Bell Grille was an experimental restaurant the company opened in Garden Grove, Calif. to test higher-end menu items, such as smoothies.

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Taco Bell Grille was an experimental restaurant the company opened in Garden Grove, California to test higher-end menu items, such as smoothies.

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Core menu items, such as French fries and the Whopper, have also been tweaked as part of the company's efforts to improve food quality.

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Its novel menu has featured items such as steamed glutinous rice with duck jus.

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