Taco Bell petitions to free trademark from ‘Taco Tuesday’

Who Owns

Taco Tuesday? A phrase that’s regularly been used by thousands of restaurants across America, “Taco Tuesday” is actually a trademarked bit of language that’s the property of Taco John’s, a Wyoming-based chain of nearly 400 quick-service Mexican eateries.

Taco John’s first applied for trademark protection for “Taco Tuesday” in 1989 after a franchisee had several years before coined the phrase while promoting an early-week, two-for-one deal.

Last month Taco Bell, the Yum Brands restaurant subsidiary that has more than 15,000 U.S. outlets, petitioned the United States Patent and Trademark Office to cancel that trademark status, “freeing” the phrase, as Taco Bell put it, “for all who makes, sell, eat and celebrate tacos.”

Taco Bell’s action might sound like a publicity stunt, but the chain says its petition is serious, asserting that “Taco Tuesday” has become so commonly used that it should no longer enjoy trademark status. As holder of the trademark, Taco John’s has regularly sent out “cease-and-desist” letters to unauthorized users of the “Taco Tuesday” tag line.

Regardless of the motives behind Taco Bell’s actions, trademark attorneys suggest Taco Bell has a strong case. Under U.S. law words or phrases that enter widespread usage, no matter who first employs or registers them, become ineligible for trademark protection.

Taco Bell’s action hasn’t been all bad news for Taco John’s, however. Since the story of Taco Bell’s trademark challenge went viral, the Taco John’s chain has reported significant growth in its restaurant sales and a 25% increase in downloads of its app.

Side dishes

• A celebration of all things in Springfield dining, Springfield Restaurant Week is back. An annual citywide event, the 10-day promotion is being organized by the Springfield Restaurant Week Committee and the Springfield Business Improvement District.

Slated to run from Friday, June 9 through Sunday, June 18, Springfield Restaurant Week has as its goal to build Springfield’s reputation as a “foodie destination,” while at the same time boosting business for participating restaurants. Springfield has seen a number of new restaurants open over the past year, and a June restaurant week event spans a time of year that’s well-suited to outdoor dining.

A list of participating restaurants, with links to individual restaurant websites detailing the respective Restaurant Week specials offered, can be found at springfield downtown.com.

TD Bank is serving as the Restaurant Week’s primary sponsor, along with Performance Foodservice, Charlie Arment Trucking, and Westfield Bank.

The Springfield Business Improvement District can be reached at 413-781-1591.

• On Saturday and Sunday School Street Park in Agawam will be the site of a Turkish Food & Cultural Festival.

Held both days from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the festival will feature authentic Turkish foods such as doner, sarma, dolma, and baklava. Other fun foods such as cupcakes, profiteroles, and ice cream will additionally be available.

The festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, will also feature workshops and entertainment.

The Peace Valley Founda- features battered chicken breast strips served over a new white cheddar mac & cheese. Ranch dressing and two dipping sauces are also provided. tion is sponsoring the festival. They can be reached at 413-285-3259.

The build of a Double Oldtimer with Cheese is based on two half-pound beef patties topped with cheddar cheese and an array of traditional burger garnishes. Also this summer, five new margarita variations are also being compounded by barkeeps at participating Chili’s locations.

• Chili’s Grill & Bar locations have made tweaks to their permanent menu, adding two entrees and a hefty-sounding sandwich.

Ultimate Cajun Pasta brings together grilled chicken, shrimp and penne in a chili-spiced Alfredo sauce; shredded parmesan, chopped tomato, and scallions finish the dish.

A Chicken Crisper Combo

• On Friday, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Great Awakening Brewing Co. in Westfield is hosting the Saucy Mama Food Truck at its Riverside Outdoor Beer Garden. Saucy Mama offers a selection of Italian fare, and Great Awakening’s kitchen will be supplementing that assortment with some of their own house creations. Great Awakening’s signature Ice cream beer floats will be available as well.

For more details contact Great Awakening Brewing Co. at 413-875-7868.

• The South Windsor Strawberry Festival & Craft Fair is scheduled for Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Held at Nevers Park in South Windsor, the event will feature a number

CONTINUES FROM PAGE E7 of food trucks as well as vendors offering strawberry soda and strawberry shortcake. A highlight of the Festival will be the 15th annual Miss Strawberry Pageant.

For more details, visit the festival’s website, swstrawberryfest.org.

• The Villa Rose Restaurant in Ludlow is holding a 5 Course Summer Wine Dinner on June 22.

Horizon Beverages of Ludlow, a major wine importer and wholesaler, will be selecting the wines featured at the meal; tickets for the dinner are $85 per person and must be purchased in advance. Live entertainment will also be part of the evening’s fun. For more details on the dinner and the menu (or to reserve tickets), contact Villa Rose at 413-547-6667.

• Tilton Library, the Town of Deerfield’s public library facility, is sponsoring a “Stories on Simmer” event on June 21, starting at 4:30 p.m.

To be held at Quonquont Farm in Whately, the evening will feature James Beard award-winning chef and author Sandy D’Amato cooking and sharing anecdotes from his memoir “Good Stock: Life on a Low Simmer.” D’Amato has cooked for the Dalai Lama and was personally selected by Julia Child to cook for her 80th birthday celebration. He and his wife run a cooking school, Good Stock Farm, in Hatfield.

Light fare, signature drinks and dessert will be included in the presentation. Tickets are $60 plus a “convenience fee,” and they are available at Eventbrite.com.

Stories on Simmer is a benefit to help fund the planned expansion of Tilton Library. The library answers at 413665-4683.

• On June 22, Black Birch Vineyard in Hatfield will be holding the first session of a three-part “Wine 201″ course. The course, which is co-sponsored by Provisions of Northampton and Blue Door Gatherings of Holyoke, will explore the art and science of pairing wine with food.

The June session will focus on appetizers, with session in July and August covering entrees and desserts, respectively. The two-hour classes, which begin at 6:30 p.m., will each include five food and wine pairings.

For details on Wine 201 go to blackbirchvineyard.com or call 413-247-3300.

• Delaney’s Markets, which are operated by the Delaney House/Log Cabin restaurant group, have opened a new location in South Hadley on Granby Road across from the Leaping Well Reservoir. Delaney’s Market in South Hadley joins locations in Longmeadow, Westfield, and Wilbraham in offering chef-prepared, ready-made meal components that include entrees, sides, and desserts. Menu details, operating hours, and contact information for the four Delaney’s Market outlets can be found online at DelaneysMarket. com.

• Taco Bell is reaching back into its recipe development archives for two menu additions this summer.

The chain is bringing back the Enchirito, an enchilada-type creation made from a flour tortilla wrapped around beans, beef, and onions before being finished with red sauce and shredded cheese. Nacho fries return as Steak Chile Verde Fries, with grilled steak strips, nacho sauce, and a new chile verde sauce topping. Grated cheese, sour cream, and crunchy taco strips finish the creation. Both are available for an unspecified limited time.

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.