Some Starbucks to offer breakfast, lunch

Starbucks will now compete against Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast customers. (AP photo)

Eggs Florentine, Starbucks lovers? Or perhaps an Italian grinder with that venti Frappuccino?

Starbucks Corp., the Seattle-based chain of coffeehouses, said that select stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island will debut warm breakfast and lunch sandwiches tomorrow.

Starbucks introduced the program in Seattle in 2003 and has rolled it out to other markets such as San Francisco and New York.

The New England initiative seems to be an attempt to take a bite out of Dunkin' Donuts, which has an established breakfast business in New England.

Perhaps coincidentally, Dunkin' Donuts, operated by Dunkin' Brands Inc., of Canton, said today that it's expanding its all-day breakfast menu to include, for a limited time, a Maple Cheddar Sandwich.

In some New England stores, Starbucks will feature such breakfast sandwiches as sausage, egg, and pepper, and Eggs Florentine with baby spinach and havarti cheese; lunch choices will include the Italian grinder and the tomato mozzarella sandwich.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)