July 18, 2013

Are You Ready to Have Your Taste Buds Rocked? It is TIME to "Pocket" Like its HOTT #Hotterpockets


It’s finally time for me to share some really exciting news from Hot Pockets. Today kicks off the re-launch of Hot Pockets. They are getting a makeover. How exciting, right? There are new flavors, new crusts and new meats. I personally thought Hot Pockets were great as is, but I am very excited that they will only be better. I have tons of information to share. I have been keeping this secret since May when I had the opportunity to visit Nestle Headquarters and learn more about Hot Pockets.

First, I wanted to share with you that Hot Pockets has a new spokesman. It’s Jeff Mauro who is a celebrity chef and star of the show The Sandwich King on The Food Network.


I love that he went out in the community and had people try them. Did you know 3 out of 5 people prefer the new Hot Pockets?

In this photo released by Nestlé Prepared Foods/Hot Pockets brand sandwiches on July 16, 2013 - Food Network's "Sandwich King" Jeff Mauro is seen on location with the new Hot Pockets brand sandwiches in Los Angeles. (Photo by Casey Rodgers/Invision for Nestlé Prepared Foods/Hot Pockets/AP Images)
I know that Chef Lucien Vendôme and his team have been working hard on preparing the new Hot Pockets. 

“As the ‘Sandwich King’, I know what elements go into making the perfect sandwich,” Mauro said. “I’ve always enjoyed HOT POCKETS sandwiches, but the new and improved varieties are incredibly good. Offering a sandwich trifecta – with new premium cuts of meat, new buttery seasoned crusts and real cheese, it’s the perfect combination of quality ingredients and delicious flavor. The new HOT POCKETS sandwiches taste great, and I look forward to reintroducing them to fans everywhere.” 

Noted Chef Vendôme: “HOT POCKETS sandwiches are made in the same way as I would make a great tasting hot sandwich in my own kitchen, just on a larger scale. We don’t make frozen food here – we make great tasting hot sandwiches with quality ingredients, bake them fresh daily, then freeze them. And we promise you will love the new HOT POCKETS sandwiches – your satisfaction is guaranteed.” 

In this photo released by Nestlé Prepared Foods/Hot Pockets brand sandwiches on July 16, 2013 - Food Network's "Sandwich King" Jeff Mauro and Chef Lucien Vendôme, Director of Nestlé Culinary Innovations, reveal the new Hot Pockets brand sandwiches at the Nestlé kitchen in Chatsworth, Calif. (Photo by Casey Rodgers/Invision for Nestlé Prepared Foods/Hot Pockets/AP Images)
Since Hot Pockets is celebrating its 30th Birthday, I wanted to share with you a brief history of these beloved sandwiches.

 
One of the most interesting things I learned during my Hot Pockets Blogger Advisory Board meeting is how Hot Pockets compares to other similar foods nutritionally. I was kind of surprised when they compared them on charts. Check out the Sandwich Showdown!


 



I am sure you are curious about the new flavors of Hot Pockets.

All new sandwiches with descriptions: 

BBQ Recipe Beef - 100% Angus beef with sweet and tangy bbq sauce in a crispy buttery seasoned crust

Cheeseburger - Cheeseburger with sauce in a crispy butter seasoned crust 

Chicken Bacon Cheddar Melt - Chicken bacon cheddar cheese melt with white meat chicken and sauce in a crispy buttery seasoned crust

Chicken Broccoli & Cheddar - Chicken, broccoli and cheddar cheese with white meat chicken and sauce in a crispy buttery seasoned crust 

Ham & Cheese - Hickory ham and cheese with sauce in a crispy buttery seasoned crust

Steak & Cheddar - 100% Angus beef and cheddar cheese with sauce in a crispy buttery seasoned crust 

Ham & Cheese  - Hickory ham and cheese with sauce in a croissant crust

Four Cheese Pizza - Four cheese pizza with Parmesan, cheddar and reduced fat provolone and mozzarella cheeses in a garlic buttery seasoned crust 

Four Meat & Four Cheese Pizza - Four meat and four cheese pizza with signature pepperoni, sausage, Canadian style bacon, hamburger and cheeses in a garlic buttery seasoned crust 

Meatballs & Mozzarella - Meatballs and mozzarella cheese with sauce in a garlic buttery seasoned crust

Pepperoni Pizza - Signature pepperoni with reduced fat mozzarella cheese in a garlic buttery seasoned crust

Pepperoni & Sausage Pizza - Signature pepperoni & sausage pizza in a garlic buttery seasoned crust 

Philly Steak & Cheese - Slow cooked beef steak, reduced fat mozzarella cheese, peppers, onions and sauce in a seasoned crust 

I had the chance to try some of the new flavors out in May. My favorite one is the Four Cheese Pizza with the Garlic Buttery crust. I actually crave them. I wish I had some right now. I convinced my mom to try Lean Pockets again, once she learned that they use fresh ingredients and it is prepared and then frozen. She tried the Spinach and cheese Lean Pocket and she loved it. I am also extremely excited that Cheeseburger Hot Pockets are new as they are my original favorite. I am sure the buttery crust will be amazing. 

Hot Pockets feature “Better Taste, Better Quality.™” with new premium cuts of meat, new buttery seasoned crusts, and real cheese, the new and improved HOT POCKETS sandwiches are “Irresistibly Hot™” and now available at participating retail stores nationwide with a money-back guarantee. If consumers aren’t completely satisfied with the new and improved HOT POCKETS sandwiches, their purchase will be refunded.

For more information, go to hotpockets.com/HotterPockets.

HOT POCKETS is truly making over everything – from ingredients to flavor to look and aroma – and the new improvements are front and center in brand-new television/advertising efforts in addition to changes in packaging. HOT POCKETS also showcases the new and improved changes in all of its social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and on its official website, with even more exciting news in the pipeline. 

We would like to express our special thanks to Sheila, who went on the Nestle trip on behalf of Mama of 3 Munchkins. She rocks, right? Sheila is a professional mom blogger. Her blog is Sheilacakes (sheilacakesblog.com). She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with her six year old son. When she isn't blogging she loves to travel, cook, spend time with her family and hang out at the beach. 

Disclosure: I am a member of the Hot Pockets Blogger Advisory team. I was sent an all expense paid trip to the Nestle Headquarters in Solon, Ohio. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

33 comments:

  1. I would like to try the Philly Steak & Cheese. :)

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  2. I'm loving these new improvements in Hot Pockets - our family has always been a fan of them, but they taste even better now!

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  3. I'd love to try the Meatballs & Mozzarella! All of these flavors sound delicious!

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  4. Sounds like I need to try the new Hot Pockets!

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  5. I was thinking the same thing, they are already good. I love the Pretzel bread ones!

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  6. I often purchased the 'old' Hot Pockets, so I am excited about the makeover!

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  7. They all look good, and philly steak sounds awesome.

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  8. I never really liked these, but I may just give them another chance with these improvements.

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  9. I had not idea that they had so many flavors!

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  10. believe it or not I've never tried this but I just may have to. So many varietys and tempting flavors

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  11. I really want to try the Philly Steak and cheese, it sounds delicious!

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  12. I want the cheddar bacon one, like 5 minutes ago!

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  13. I can't wait to try the new hot pockets! I'm already a huge fan of the "original", so I'm sure they're even better!

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  14. I have had the philly steak and cheese many times...I love them and seem to stick with them because they're so good. My son-in-law has had many of the others recently

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  15. I have to check these out. They look so much better than the old ones.

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  16. My husband loves the Meatballs and Mozzarella ones. One of the stores near us has already put out the new version of it and he says it's even better than it used to be.

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  17. I'll be on the lookout for these when I'm grocery shopping!

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  18. Hmmm...glad they are making taste improvements. I wonder if they have any reduced sodium ones. Some of those are really high.

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  19. Yummy! I haven't had a Hot Pocket for AGES!

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  20. Love Hot Pockets! Can't wait to try some of these flavors.

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  21. Yum! I can't wait to try these.

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  22. I haven't had a hot pocket in ages, will have to try one of the new ones.

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  23. They look so yummy. I need to try them, I haven't had a hot pocket in forever.

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  24. I have no frame of reference as to the flavor (new or old) of Hot Pockets. I don't think I've ever tried one!

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  25. The Philly Steak and Cheese flavor is one I'd love to try!

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  26. My hubs loves them! I will have to ask if he notices a difference when he comes home!

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  27. I haven't had a hot pocket in years!

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  28. I think all of the new crusts sound extremely good!

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  29. I love that they have so many new flavors to choose from.

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  30. I haven't had these in a while, but I'm going to check them out next shopping trip!

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