I was a little surprised when I learned of Starbucks’ latest drink, the Juniper latte, because it was released late November but wasn’t a holiday-like drink.
Nonetheless, I was intrigued – the main draw of this new latte is a juniper syrup, which is supposed to add a “light, pine-like flavor with delightful citrus undertones.”
How is it?
My barista told me that customers have either been loving the Juniper latte or hating it, so I braced myself. I wasn’t so sure about the citrus-ness of it, but turns out I didn’t have to worry. At first taste, it tasted like a regular latte – actually not much flavor at all. I smelled the citrus, but didn’t taste it. There was an earthy aftertaste, but it wasn’t overwhelming.
Here’s the best way I can describe my experience: I liked the Juniper latte and I enjoyed it as I drank it, but it’s not something that I’m adding to my standard rotation of beverages. A good one-time try, but not enough to make it to the top of my list.
Is there anything else you need to know?
If you’re looking for something that is NOT sweet, this is your drink. The only sweetness came from the dusting of pine-citrus sugar, but that only lasts for a few sips until it melted into the drink. Still, a nice addition!
Conclusion:
If you go for a standard latte with no added syrups or flavors, or if you just want to try something a little different, I think you’ll enjoy the Starbucks Juniper Latte.
Purchased Price: $4.45 Size: Tall Rating: 7 out of 10 Nutrition Facts: (Tall) 200 calories, 5 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 20 milligrams of cholesterol, 130 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 27 grams of sugars, 9 grams of protein, and 75 milligrams of caffeine.
The Jack in the Box Pannidos hit menu boards in early 2004. This website you’re reading also made its debut in 2004, but we missed out on reviewing the sandwiches before their discontinuation. So this 2018 reboot gives us a second chance to write about them. Can’t say that about many products.
The version that came out almost 15 years ago had three varieties, featured a foot-long bun, and were served in specially made bags so consumers could eat the sandwich straight out of it.
While some things are the same about the 2018 Pannidos – coming in a bag you can eat them from – there’s a lot different.
There are now only two varieties (only the Deli Trio survived the reboot and the new one is the Turkey, Bacon & Cheddar); instead of being a foot long, they’re 9 1/2 inches; and there aren’t any Pannidos commercials starring Eric Stonestreet from Modern Family.
Deli Trio Pannido
The Deli Trio (picture at the top) features smoked turkey, ham, salami, dill pickle slices, and a creamy Italian sauce on toasted ciabatta bread. You might be asking yourself, “Hey, where are those pickle slices?” I wondered the same thing when I slid it out of its bag. But I didn’t have to file a missing pickle report with the Pickle Police. It turns out the person who made my sandwich treated the pickles like loose tobacco or marijuana and used the cold cuts as rolling paper. Although not as advertised, I liked it this way because it was almost impossible for the pickles to fall out.
As for its flavor, I enjoyed the creamy, herbaceous sauce. It beats out mayo by a mile. It tastes as if I’ve had it before, but I could put my finger on what it was. The pickles added a nice tang that cut through the saltiness of the meats and the spice from the salami. The edges of the toasted bread give the sandwich a little crunch.
Turkey, Bacon & Cheddar Pannido
The Turkey, Bacon & Cheddar comes with smoked turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese, and the same creamy Italian sauce on toasted ciabatta bread. When I first saw it, the amount of pork strips excited me. But, despite having many strips strewn along its length, they don’t provide much flavor. No smokiness. No saltiness. They just drape themselves off the side of the turkey like they’re trying to escape from the rest of the sandwich.
Much like the pickles in the other Pannido, the cheddar cheese found itself wrapped in a meat cocoon, instead of lovingly placed on top. I don’t know if this arrangement is the reason for it, but the cheddar cheese stands out while chomping down on this meat and bread tube. Its bite complements the turkey and it makes me wish the bacon stood out a little bit. I also like the Italian sauce with this one.
But, overall, both Jack in the Box Pannidos are mediocre and I wouldn’t care if they disappeared for another 15 years.
While the bread comes toasted, everything else is room temperature or cold. It makes for a Subway-like eating experience, which is something I would not wish upon any other fast food chain, especially one that I like eating at. To be honest, I’d nosh these over something from Subway, but just barely. The Italian sauce ended up being the Pannidos’ saving grace. Thank goodness these didn’t come with mayo because I’d be even more disappointed.
I also like the toasted ciabatta bread because its soft and, again, the crust edges have a slight crunch. But the rest of the sandwich should be warmed up too, especially this time of year when we could use these Pannidos as handwarmidos as we eat them.
Purchased Price: $6.69 each* Size: N/A Rating: 5 out of 10 Nutrition Facts:Deli Trio – 580 calories, 30 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 75 milligrams of cholesterol, 2550 milligrams of sodium, 47 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, and 31 grams of protein. Turkey, Bacon & Cheddar – Not available on website at time of publication.
*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.
What is the Burger King Oreo Cookie Peppermint Shake?
Burger King’s December shake features peppermint syrup and Oreo cookie bits. Apparently, it’s supposed to have a whipped topping on it as well, but I got cheated.
Why don’t more fast food chains utilize the croissant?
I mean, everyone loves croissants. From the buttery, flaky layers to that rich aftertaste and the feeling of international sophistication you get when rolling the “oi” to create what might pass as a French word, croissants are hard to hate on.
There is, it turns out, a lot of good reasons why croissants get shafted in fast food development. They smoosh easily, they’re incompatible with burgers, and their lineage is much more developed in the deli spectrum.
Perhaps that’s what makes Wendy’s new Bacon Maple Chicken Sandwich so intriguing. Not only does it capitalize on the popularity of the sweet and salty fried chicken applications – pairing a maple glaze with Wendy’s homestyle chicken breast and Applewood smoked bacon – but it also uses a “flaky croissant bun” as the anchor.
Forgetting for a second that the artistic representation of Wendy’s croissant bun looks like the emoji for dog poop (SORRY BUT IT’S TRUE), the bun fails to make the sandwich. More like a spongy brioche than a flaky croissant, it lacks the rich croissant aftertaste or light, airy texture. Perhaps most telling, it doesn’t stand out when paired with the heavy ingredients.
And yeah, those other ingredients are heavy. It’s not that Wendy’s homestyle chicken breast is terrible, it’s that its spice blend, extra crispy texture, and saltiness dominate the sandwich. The bacon and swiss cheese are, as they usually are at Wendy’s, on point as individual ingredients, but as a whole sandwich, they come together in a salty, somewhat meaty, and weirdly sweet way that gives new meaning to ambivalence.
Weirdly sweet is, I think, an apt description for the maple glaze. The sweetness is muted, cut by a bit of butter and a dissatisfying bite of apple cider vinegar. What you’re left with is a viscous fluid that doesn’t know if it wants to be a salad dressing, a baste, or drizzle-on-pancake maple syrup. If a sweet and salty sensation is supposed to awaken your taste buds, this is more like hitting the snooze 4 or 5 times before stumbling out of bed.
Ultimately, Wendy’s misses the mark when it comes to the Bacon Maple Chicken Sandwich. Heavy, salty, and without any relief, it’s not so much a guilty pleasure as it is a slightly underwhelming representation of chicken and waffles. And, let’s be real — a fast food croissant “bun” ain’t no waffle.
Purchased Price: $5.69 Size: N/A Rating: 4 out of 10 Nutrition Facts: 680 calories, 34 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 125 milligrams of cholesterol, 1450 milligrams of sodium, 57 grams of carbohydrates, 41grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 38 grams of protein.
