Pei Wei Spices Up October With Highly Anticipated 'Sriracha Chicken' And Invites Fans To Try It For Free

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, Monday, October 8, Pei Wei Asian Diner fans will be able to experience the fiery kick and bold flavor of the fast-casual restaurant's new dish, Sriracha Chicken. The highly anticipated dish was created following Pei Wei chefs' exploratory trip to Asia in search of culinary inspiration. Fans voted on three exotic flavors, and sriracha, a red chili-based ingredient named after the city in Thailand, was named the winner.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121008/CG87534)

"Sriracha has an amazingly passionate fan base, which was obvious in the voting, and we can't wait for them to try the new dish," said KC Moylan, President of Pei Wei Asian Diner. "Our talented chefs have taken sriracha's signature spice and complemented it beautifully with ingredients that give Sriracha Chicken its bold flavor."

To create the dish, Pei Wei chefs developed an exclusive blend of sriracha, and balanced out the spice with cooling ingredients like pineapple and tomato. The dish can be ordered "Stock Velvet," in which the chicken is poached in vegetable broth instead of wok fried, reducing fat by over 30 percent.

Looking for a deal? Pei Wei is offering a buy-one-get-one offer for fans that visit the Pei Wei Market website at www.peiweimarket.com, log into or sign up for the Passport Program and earn the "Sriracha Seeker" stamp. On the Pei Wei Market site, passport holders will be asked to visit Thailand, the home of Sriracha, to learn more about the spicy ingredient and new dish. They then make the pledge to "eat boldly", which earns them the Sriracha Seeker stamp. Passport holders who earn the stamp will receive their offer via email within one business day.

To create a new dish at Pei Wei takes a long time. With Sriracha Chicken, it started with a journey around the world. The Pei Wei Innovation Team explored the marketplaces, local restaurants and signature cuisine of Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. That trip sparked an inspiration for Pei Wei chefs, who wanted to share how their idea for a new dish goes from inspiration to plate. During the trip, fans could follow along online at http://www.peiwei.com/srirachachicken/ to witness the research and development process. Photos and videos illustrated the discovery process, including ingredients such as sriracha that are inspiring Pei Wei's bold, flavorful dishes. To view a summary video of the Thailand experience, visit the Pei Wei YouTube channel.

Pei Wei, a concept by P.F. Chang's, offers a cooked-to-order menu featuring over 35 fresh ingredients. Pei Wei uses an authentic wok-cooking process and features cuisine from five Asian countries: China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand. All of Pei Wei's menu items are priced under $10.

Offering a sophisticated, casual dine-in experience or a quick, convenient take-away option, every Pei Wei meal delivers a touch of exotic flavor. Designed with a vibrant, contemporary and urban-inspired style, Pei Wei provides a quick getaway to five intriguing Asian cultures through its innovative, pan-Asian-inspired menu.  

About Pei Wei
Pei Wei Asian Diner, owned and operated by P.F. Chang's China Bistro, offers a menu of fresh, high-quality Asian cuisine. The restaurant provides a comfortable, quick and casual dine-in experience as well as the flexibility, speed and convenience of take-away service. From the exotic aromas rising from the sizzling 600-degree woks to the hip décor, Pei Wei Asian Diner serves freshly prepared and made-to-order dishes from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam in a modern diner environment. Pei Wei currently operates 174 restaurants in 24 states. For more information please visit www.peiwei.com.   

SOURCE Pei Wei