REVIEW: Ragu Supreme Pizza

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When I first stumbled upon the new Ragu Frozen Pizza at a local grocery store, my first thought was, “Oh, now why is this a thing?” A random couple standing nearby echoed my confusion. The guy said, “Honey, look— Ragu frozen pizza.” To which the lady replied, “Um, nasty. No.”

And, like, I get it. Though the idea of the world’s most popular (or second most popular? I don’t know how Ragu stacks up against Prego, sales-wise) jarred spaghetti sauce putting its pizza sauce on a frozen pizza shouldn’t be repulsive, it is a little — pardon the pun — jarring. But the thing is, this is actually a Palermo’s pizza product.

If you’re not familiar with Palermo’s Pizza, well, actually you are, I promise. You’ve probably seen — if not eaten — either a Screamin’ Sicilian, a Connie’s, an Urban Pie, a Surfer Boy (lo of the Stranger Things tie-in), or, god forbid, the recently released Cheez-It Pizza. I’ve had and enjoyed many Screamin’ Sicilian pizzas (they used to have some great specialty ones), and a couple of the Urban Pies and the Surfer Boy pies generally receive pretty favorable reviews. The point is there’s a decent track record.

But, so, what does the Ragu bring to the table in this engagement? Is whatever it adds any better (or worse) than standard frozen pizza sauce?

The new Ragu Pizzas come in four flavors — Cheese, Combination (Italian sausage and pepperoni), Pepperoni, and Supreme (Italian sausage, pepperoni, green, yellow and red peppers, onion, and black olives) — and all are served on “a flaky, pizzeria-style crust.” Weirdly enough, they make sure to call out that all use a “Ragu-inspired” sauce, and not just, you know, Ragu. Interesting distinction! For this review, I tried the Supreme.

This was one of the most boring, uninspired frozen pizzas I’ve ever had. It wasn’t bad; it wasn’t good. It was utterly unforgettable. The crust was bland, of medium thickness, and devoid of any real flavor. The cheese was the same. The toppings were standard, mid-tier frozen pizza fare; I didn’t notice any punch from the onions or peppers — they were mostly just mushy. The pepperoni and sausage chunks were salty and chewy. I think the whole thing had, like, five black olives on it. Ho-hum. But what about the star of the show, the Ragu-inspired sauce? It was… there. It tasted red. It was a little sweet, I guess, but not oppressively so. It was, in a word, generic.

And really, that’s the tale of this pie: the most generic-tasting frozen pizza I’ve had in quite some time. I wouldn’t buy one again; with 8,000 frozen pizza alternatives available — some of which are actually good — there’s no point in this one existing. Sorry, Palermo’s. Better luck next time. (PS. How about “next time” means bringing back the Screamin’ Sicilian that had jalapeños and bacon and chicken with a ranch sauce? That thing was worth buying.)

Purchased Price: $5.99
Size: 23.15 oz
Purchased at: Hy-Vee
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/5th pizza) 320 calories, 16 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 680 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 12 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Fritos Lime & Jalapeno Flavor Twists

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I went on record last year stating that one of the biggest conundrums in the chip world (chip-iverse?) is the lack of new Fritos Flavor Twists varietals, and it seems the powers that be have heard my (our) call.

Less than a year later, after being stagnant for over a decade, the company has now dropped two consecutive new flavors. The first is a Cheddar Buffalo that was exclusive to Dollar General, a store that doesn’t exist where I live, and now, just ahead of summer BBQ season, Lime & Jalapeño.

Since it’s already been established that I’m a Fritos Flavor Twists freak, I’m not going to bury the lede here: these are excellent. For those familiar with the Frito-Lay brand, these are essentially a hybrid of three existing corn chips, and the marriage is divine. Combine Flavor Twists’ immaculate corkscrew form factor with the Tostitos Hint of Lime seasoning and the gentle peppery kick of Spicy Jalapeño Fritos Scoops, and you’ve given your tongue the blueprint.

The profile leads with a strong, citrusy lime jolt before leaning into a mild but flavorful garlic-y spice that makes way for a strong corn chip finish with a touch of creaminess. As more addictive twirly chips get devoured, the lime takes a bit of a backseat, and the peppered spice starts to build, with that buttermilk-y creamy tang developing more and more.

These chips aren’t sweet in the way that Honey BBQ are, but there’s enough of a sweetness emanating from the lime that makes them extremely dynamic. If you dislike lime-flavored chips, and I know that can be divisive, then these won’t be for you. But for anyone who enjoys that distinct fruity taste with a touch of creamy heat and the perfect snackable crunch, these are pure Fritos fusilli fun that should be picked up before they’re inevitably gone.

Purchased Price: $5.89
Size: 9 1/4 oz
Purchased at: Nob Hill
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (23 pieces, 28g) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 140 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of total sugars, 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Pop-Tarts Frosted Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches

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It’s the biggest news in Pop-Tarts since Jerry Seinfeld inexplicably got every comedian on Earth to appear in a movie about the great toaster pastry war of the 1960s. Have you seen that movie? To misuse Jerry’s iconic joke set-up, “What’s goin’ on with this?!” (We have to pay him royalties if we use the real line.)

That extremely strange film aside, I’ve got a better question for ya — Have you seen these new Pop-Tarts Ice Cream Sandwiches? Well, let me tell ya what’s goin’ on with this!

Whether you’re a toasted Pop-Tart fan or a “straight out the box” Pop-Tart fan, I’m afraid you’ve been living a lie because Pop-Tarts taste best frozen.

Frozen Pop-Tarts are my jam (pun probably intended), and I think the good folks over at Kellogg finally had the same realization. A frozen Pop-Tart is the best Pop-Tart. Now, picture two frozen Pop-Tarts with some ice cream between them. To quote Cosmo Kramer, “Ohhhh, mama!”

Yeah, despite having a box of P-T’s in my freezer next to some ice cream numerous times, I never once thought to combine the two. It took this drop to make me realize I’ve been missing out for years.

Do they live up to the hype I literally just created in my head?

Yup. These sammiches are really good, but they’re pretty small. If you want the “Big Pop-Tart,” you’re gonna have to go to Monk’s Cafe. They must have been in the pool, because we’ve got a little shrinkage happening. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Seinfeld!

I’ll get my one knock out of the way and say that the size actually acts as a deterrent. These aren’t the most satisfying bites. When I freeze my Tarts, I find that the icing and the filling develop a really pleasant chewy texture. With these adorable mid-sized pastries, there’s not enough of those elements, so the crumby bready part kinda just tastes like a dry Pop-Tart. These Pop-Tarts… are making me thirsty!

That’s a nitpick because, beyond that, I really like these. They’re building off the iconic Strawberry Frosted Pop-Tart and slapping in some light Strawberry ice cream that’s not as cloyingly sweet as you’re probably expecting.

The little block of ice cream is a great mimic of the Strawberry Pop-Tart flavor, even down to the strawberry jelly ribbons that play on the filling. Again, there isn’t much, so, no scoop for you! … but there’s enough. Anything more would have been overkill.

So yeah, mini Pop-Tarts don’t make for the best ice cream sandwich bread, but the flavor is good enough to make up for it. If you have even a little love for Strawberry Pop-Tarts, these should be right up your alley. You won’t be screaming “Serenity Now” after a couple of bites.

Before leaving, I should note that I tried to toast one of these and I would not recommend doing that. It made an absolute mess and ruined my toaster. The cleanup was definitely spongeworthy.

(Might have to pay royalties on that one.)

Purchased Price: $6.87
Size: 16 oz. box/4-pack
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 230 calories, 9 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 85 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of total carbohydrates, 19 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of dietary fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Lay’s Do Us a Flavor Valentina & Lime Potato Chips

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Do Us A Flavor is back! If you missed the previous years of this Lay’s flavor contest, it’s a crowd-sourced chip challenge where the winning idea earns its creator $1 million. I was completely locked in when it first started – tracking down every. Single. Flavor. Shoutout to the fever dream that was Lay’s Cappuccino.

Valentina & Lime by Araceli Huerta from San Jose, California, is one of 2025’s flavor finalists. The inspo was her favorite childhood snack made by her mom: a bag of Lay’s Classic potato chips tossed with Valentina hot sauce and fresh lime.

If you’ve never had Valentina, it’s a mellow, chili pepper-forward Mexican hot sauce. Compared to Tapatío, which is spicier, Valentina leans into depth. Honestly, they’re pretty interchangeable to me, but I know people who are ride-or-die. I mean, I always have a bottle of Valentina in my pantry. Tapatío? Not so much. So, do with that info what you will.

Out of the bag, the chips look like Lay’s Barbecue – reddish-brown and familiar – but the taste definitely hits differently. That tangy Valentina heat comes through first, and then the lime sneaks in for a clean slam dunk. Paired with Lay’s signature thin, salty crunch, it’s the kind of chip you keep reaching for. I didn’t even realize I’d nearly polished off the bag until my eyes started watering from the heat.

Naturally, I tried recreating the original snack at home. And honestly, I preferred the Lay’s version. The seasoning is just more consistent – every chip delivers that same punchy combo of heat and citrus.

I haven’t gotten to the other finalists yet (Lay’s Wavy Korean-Style Fried Chicken is calling my name), but this one is absolutely worth a try. Vote by June 13 if you want it to stick around too!

Purchased Price: $3.50
Size: 7.75 oz
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (28g – about 16 chips) 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 140 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of total sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Loaded Steak and Jalapeno Fries

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Taco Bell’s latest topped fries du saison are the Loaded Steak and Jalapeno Fries. It features marinated steak, nacho cheese sauce, jalapeno peppers, and creamy jalapeno sauce on a bed of nacho fries. With the twin jalapeno toppings, maybe this should’ve been called the Loaded Jalapeno and Steak Fries. Or perhaps it should’ve kept the name Taco Bell gave it in 2019 — Steak Rattlesnake Fries.

If you want to read our review of those fries, click here. Read on if you want to live in the present.

Some of you might be wondering what the bleep is with that white bloop of reduced-fat sour cream. It’s not supposed to come with this, and I didn’t customize my order to get it. So, um, a bonus? But I transplanted the white topping to a taco so that I could experience the fries as the Taco Bell Gods intended.

Although it’s a previous product with a new, less cool name, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s savory and tasty for the most part, which I’ll get to in a moment. The double strike of jalapeno ingredients brings the peppery flavor to the forefront, but both bring less heat than one might expect. I don’t know if the nacho cheese sauce had anything to do with the lack of spiciness, but if you’re looking to singe your taste buds, you won’t get that feeling from this unless you’re very sensitive to spiciness. The pickled pepper slices also have a satisfying crunch that the seasoned Nacho Fries wished they had.

The bites I enjoyed most were those where the meat took a back seat to the fries and sauces. I’ve had Taco Bell’s steak over a dozen times by now since it comes standard with every loaded fries, but the more I eat it, the less I like it. I know I shouldn’t expect much from Taco Bell, but I feel as if the meat tasted much better when the chain first updated it years ago. Now, it has a flavor that doesn’t excite my taste buds, and I’d rather eat Taco Bell’s seasoned beef than the steak.

Taco Bell’s Loaded Steak and Jalapeno Fries are a mixed bag of yum and meh. I enjoyed dipping my fangs into the fries, jalapenos, and sauces. But if I order this again, I’ll probably substitute the meat to create the Loaded Chicken and Jalapeno Fries or Loaded Black Beans and Jalapeno Fries.

Purchased Price: $5.49*
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts:470 calories, 27 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 1420 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 13 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

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