Junk Food News - CARL'S JR. $6000 COMBO MEAL AT THE PALMS - Burgers, Pizza, Hot Dogs, Tacos, Fries, Candy, Fast Food

Baseball great Barry Bonds, right, and Carl's Jr. CEO Andrew Puzder, second right, join the Maloof Brothers
for a Guys' Night Out that featured varieties of the Carl's Jr. Six Dollar Burger with fine wine accompaniment

Can't Afford the New $6,000
Combo Meal at The Palms?

Carl's Jr. and Wally's Wine & Spirits of Los Angeles Host
Guys' Night Out and Showcase Pairings for Less Than $40

Carl's Jr. recently made waves when it partnered with the Palms Casino Resort to debut The $6,000 Combo Meal, offered exclusively on the Vegas hot spot's room service menu. The combo meal earned notoriety via a hip, stylish commercial that ran in all Carl's Jr. markets and featured Palms owners the Maloof brothers -- Joe, Gavin, George Jr. A Double Original Six Dollar Burger from Carl's Jr. and Phil -- enjoying good company, good wine, and delicious Carl's Jr. fare. The 30-second commercial was set at the Palms Mint High Limit Lounge and scored to Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick in the Head," and revealed that a 24-year-old bottle of French Bordeaux is the perfect complement to The Original Six Dollar Burger from Carl's Jr. The idea of fine wine with delicious burgers is certainly appealing, but if you can't make it to Vegas, or if you just can't go "all in" for the extravagant meal, Carl's Jr. has you covered.

Carl's Jr. hosted the ultimate "Guys' Night Out" at Wally's Wine & Spirits in Los Angeles, with Carl's Jr. commercial stars Joe, Gavin and Phil Maloof and celebrity guests including baseball star Barry Bonds, rapper Xzibit, and the voice of Carl's Jr. commercials, Phil Buckman. Carl's Jr. and Wally's Wine & Spirits co-owners Steven Wallace and Christian Navarro introduced a "Recommended Wine Pairings" list for select entries from the Six Dollar Burger line, as well as a few delicious, whole-breast chicken sandwiches.

Carl's Jr. CEO Andrew F. Puzder expressed his excitement for the pairings. "The quality of our burgers and service are paramount at Carl's Jr., and we know we've partnered with the right people -- the Maloofs and Wally's Wine & Spirits -- to showcase our best-in-class burgers in a new way," Puzder said. "We are always looking to do something different and unexpected and hope our loyal young, hungry guy customers will relish these delicious pairings for a perfect 'guys' night out' or special date."

The commercial starring the Maloof brothers is the latest in a string of iconic ads for the brands such as the Paris Hilton "That's Hot" spot and the "If it doesn't get all over the place, it doesn't belong in your face" Carl's Jr. campaign from the mid-90s, all created by agency of record Mendelsohn|Zien.

The Original Six Dollar Burger:
Recommendation: Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon ($35) "Every time I take a bite of this regal, flavorful burger and have a taste of this rich, full-bodied, luxuriously styled Cabernet Sauvignon, I feel as I am dining in a fancy restaurant," Navarro says. "This is a great match."

The Philly Cheesesteak Six Dollar Burger:
Recommendation: Greenpoint Cabernet/Shiraz ($22)
"This dynamic burger has so many mouthwatering flavors that you'll need the boldness of a Shiraz, and yet the burger also deserves the finer aspects of a high quality Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a flavor explosion in your mouth"

The Guacamole Bacon Six Dollar Burger:
Recommendation: D'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz ($18)
"With this full-flavored burger that has a little kick, you need a wine that can kick back. This Shiraz has an exotic spiciness coupled with a texture that provides an oomph - it's a perfect foil."

The Western Bacon Six Dollar Burger:
Recommendation: Vietti Barbera d' Asti Tre Vigne ($20) "The combination of smokiness and onion rings beckons for the company of a slightly rustic, medium-bodied Barbera with flavors of sun-dried black fruits. This Vietti Tre Vigne is an inspired accompaniment."

The Bacon Swiss Crispy Chicken Sandwich:
Recommendation: Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir ($28)
"The pairing of bacon, Swiss cheese, chicken, and Pinot Noir makes for a suave and delicious meal. The fruity, creamy, Domaine Carneros with the flaky, crispy chicken is tasty perfection."

The Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwich:
Recommendation: Newton Red Label Chardonnay ($24)
"Something about the clean flavors of charbroiled chicken and a honey wheat bun allows this Chardonnay to show its very best. Newton's viscous, slightly oaky, and tropical fruit nuances create a 1 + 1 = 3 combination."

This year, Carl's Jr. celebrates 65 years in the quick-service industry. What began as a lone hot dog cart in Los Angeles, Calif. in 1941 is today an international organization that employs nearly 30,000 people worldwide. Carl's Jr. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. of Carpinteria, Calif. As of the second fiscal quarter ended Aug. 14, 2006, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,131 franchised or company-owned restaurants in 43 states and in 13 countries, including 1,072 Carl's Jr. restaurants, 1,945 Hardee's restaurants and 98 La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill restaurants. For more information, or to find a Carl's Jr. near you, go to www.ckr.com or www.carlsjr.com .