REVIEW: Burger King Iced Coffee with Cold Foam

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It’s not surprising to see Burger King offer cold foam with its iced coffees. After all, it plopped a cold foam layer on top of a slush last year. What’s surprising is how long it took for said cold foam to eventually end up on BK’s iced coffee. Has it been in a deep freeze for the past year? Burger chain bureaucracy? Ketchup red tape?

Well, whatever the case, BK now plops cold foam on its Vanilla, Mocha, and Black iced coffees. My sweet tooth convinced me to purchase a Mocha one.

This order was the first time I’ve experienced BK’s cold foam, but I’ve had several Starbucks drinks with a creamy top layer, and the burger joint’s version seems to be a little thicker. It has an almost pudding-like texture, and its flavor reminds me of vanilla frozen dairy dessert. While my order came with a straw, I took my first taste by sipping from the cup, just as I would with a Starbucks order. Well, I tried to drink it this way, but the foam’s thickness makes it hard for the coffee to break through, and I ended up with a whole lot of foam and very little java in my mouth. Not ideal when I’m trying to get caffeine into my bloodstream in the morning. After a few more sip attempts, I gave in and used the straw to mix everything.

When combined, the cold foam dilutes the chocolate and coffee, which defeats the purpose of getting a flavored coffee. The sweetness satisfied my sweet tooth, but my taste buds wanted more. Perhaps Burger King should look into developing flavored cold foams. Additionally, alongside cold foam flavors, I would like the chain to offer a Frappe or Frappuccino-type drink again, as I think the creamy layer would pair well with it, similar to the new Starbucks Strato Frappuccino Beverages.

Unless I’m desperate for caffeine, I’m not sure I’d purchase any BK Iced Coffee with Cold Foam again because of how the cold foam dilutes everything. I’d probably just get a standard iced coffee instead, although something else that BK needs to get through the ketchup red tape is to make its large iced coffee as big as McDonald’s..

Purchased Price: $4.89*
Size: Large
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 380 calories, 21 grams of fat, 17 grams of saturated fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 45 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 38 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Cheez-It Wendy’s Baconator Crackers

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Wendy’s has made several forays into the grocery store in recent years, starting with its canned chili, then ground beef patties in select stores, and now it’s entering the cracker and chip aisle. After a recent Takis collaboration at Wendy’s restaurants, we can also find its popular Baconator lending its flavor to Cheez-Its. Does the taste of those bacon-topped square burgers translate to the orange squares of Cheez-It crackers?

Well, like many snacks that try to replicate meat flavors, these are going to be divisive. After opening the package, I didn’t find the smell to be particularly strong, but when I got a little closer and actually sniffed a cracker, I didn’t like the scent of these at all, nor did I think they smelled like something I would choose to put in my mouth. They look much like a standard Cheez-It but have more powdery speckles of seasoning. I expected them to lean into the bacon part of the flavor and have an artificial smoky taste like many things that try to mimic bacon, but I didn’t get much of that here. In fact, I don’t think they remind me of bacon at all. They have a strongly savory, umami aspect to them, and in addition to the regular cheesy flavor, I mostly picked up on onion and garlic. I think those were included to enhance the burger flavor, but a Baconator itself doesn’t actually have onions, so it seems like an odd choice to me that they’d come through this prominently.

I thought I was going to hate these after first smelling them, and there is no doubt they have a strong flavor that will put off many people. My husband is one of those people; he equated the smell to a urinal (I thought it was more BO) and instantly spit the single cracker he tried into the trash can. I can’t honestly say I would pay money to eat these again, but I also didn’t hate them as much as he did. They’re salty and kind of compel me to eat more, even when I’m not sure I actually want to. A look at the ingredients offers a possible explanation for this: these Baconator Cheez-Its contain MSG. I personally have no problem with MSG, and it’s probably the reason I’ve made it through as much of this box as I have.

The back of the box features a code to scan that gives you a coupon for $2 off a Baconator in the Wendy’s app, which could be some consolation if you hate these so much that you have to trash them all and immediately need to eat an actual bacon cheeseburger to cleanse your palate. Will I finish this box of Baconator Cheez-Its that taste nothing like a Baconator? Yes. Will I try to share them with anyone else? No, for fear that anyone I offer them to may no longer trust any food I give them again.

Purchased Price: $5.99
Size: 12.4 oz box
Purchased at: Jewel
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (26 crackers) 150 calories, 7 grams of total fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 270 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 0 grams of total sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Sweet Chipotle BBQ Crispy Chicken Taco

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I know sauces don’t have feelings, but if they did, Taco Bell’s new Sweet Chipotle BBQ Sauce must be feeling insecure because in the new taco and burrito that feature it, it has to share the tight Tex-Mex space with another sauce — Spicy Ranch. I can imagine what this dark colored topping might be thinking, if it could think.

“Am I not good enough by myself?”

“What do I have to do for Taco Bell to believe in me?”

“Should I request a trade and go to another fast food chain?”

Well, all those thoughts are moot because with the Taco Bell Sweet Chipotle BBQ Crispy Chicken Taco, that white creamy topping added nothing in terms of flavor or heat to my order, so I’m not sure why Taco Bell included it in the first place. Along with two sauces, it features the same ingredients as previous Crispy Chicken Tacos: a crispy chicken strip, purple cabbage, lettuce, pico de gallo, and shredded cheese all wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Now, let’s discuss the dark-colored Sweet Chipotle BBQ Sauce, which is good, but I don’t taste anything unique or special. It has the familiar smoky and sweet flavors I’ve tasted with other fast food barbecue sauces. It lacks a Taco Bell-esque flair that evokes the fast food chain. There’s a slight kick, but it’s so mild that I don’t want to say it’s a kick. It’s more like sticking your foot out during the hokie pokie.

While the barbecue sauce tasted familiar, I enjoyed the flavors it added to the chicken and the taco. But it also gives everything a standard chicken nuggets/strips dipped into BBQ sauce vibe. I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being a sauce for the chain’s dippable chicken offerings. Despite the two sauces within the tortilla, my chicken strip had a decent crunchiness, which was enhanced slightly by the colorful purple cabbage. The tomatoes and onions in the pico de gallo added bursts of flavor that complement the condiment. However, the Taco Bell-obligatory smattering of cheese didn’t make a difference.

The $2.79 advertised price for Taco Bell’s Sweet Chipotle BBQ Crispy Chicken Taco is twenty cents less than McDonald’s Snack Wrap, but it appears to be more than twenty cents less substantial than the Snack Wrap. Even with all the colorful toppings and sauces, it still seems a tad pricey when compared to McDonald’s wrapped chicken strip. However, while I do wish it were a little cheaper, this barbecue sauced taco is still something I’d order again.

Purchased Price: $3.99*
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 270 calories, 13 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 690 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar (including 2 grams of added sugar), and 11 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. The advertised price is $2.79.

REVIEW: KFC Kentucky Fried Pickles

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The Colonel has entered the (pickle) chat!

As mentioned in my Popeyes Fried Pickle review, I’m a proud pickle enthusiast. While I’ve since run out of pickle toothpaste, I’ve moved on to delights like pickle de gallo and pickle chips. Shake Shack’s version recently let me down, but that’s a review for another day.

Let me rewind for a moment. The Colonel and I go way back. As a kid, KFC was my go-to. Apparently, it’s slipped to #4 nationally now, but back then, it was my #1 weekly tradition. I loved the silky, overprocessed mashed potatoes and especially those biscuits. KFC was a summer staple in my household.

Fast-forward to today. I hadn’t been to KFC in a minute, but when I heard about its new fried pickles, I was drawn in like a magpie to something shiny. This time, the shiny thing was golden-fried pickle coins.

These pickles are part of KFC’s new “Comeback Era” menu, a refresh inspired by customer feedback. They’re described as “golden-fried dill pickle slices that are the perfect crispy bite.” No signage was up yet at the location I visited, but the staff kindly clued me in: 8 pieces for $3.79 or a 45-piece family pack for $14.99. The family pack was tempting, but I hesitated. What if they weren’t good?!

I played it safe and chose the 8-piece. They arrived hot and fresh in a nugget box. I had hoped for something more pickle-themed, but not a big dill.

First test: shape. Coin-shaped, not spears. That’s a win; I’m firmly in the “coins have better crispy-to-cuke ratio” camp. They were also properly golden-fried – so far, so good.

The breading was flavorful, similar to Popeyes’, but without the Cajun kick. That tracks, since Cajun isn’t really KFC’s thing. I chose ranch as a dipping sauce, but it wasn’t really necessary. The pickles held their own. I did feel noticeably thirstier after eating them, though, which hadn’t happened with Popeyes.

However, there was a bit of sogginess between the breading and the pickle, and they were definitely oily. My napkin had the receipts after just eight pieces.

All in all, Popeyes still holds the S-tier fried pickle crown among national chains. But since theirs were limited-time only, KFC will do for now. I may even spring for the 45-piece!

Unfortunately, it’s also a limited-time item, so I’ll be on the hunt for my next fix soon. One of these chains really needs to make it permanent already!!

Purchased Price: $3.79
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 8pc – 290 calories, 16 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 1400 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Popeyes Chicken Dippers with new Signature Sauce

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Popeyes has probably come up with more ways to present fried chicken than the number of letters in Louisiana. There’s the Signature Fried Chicken, chicken wings, boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken, and several others I’ve missed. The latest addition is Chicken Dippers, which are thin strips of all-white breast meat that’s hand-battered and breaded with Popeyes’ signature Louisiana herbs and spices. It’s served with your choice of dipping sauce, but the chain wants you to try its new Signature Sauce.

When my order arrived in its sleeve, its presentation made me wonder if this was Popeyes’ attempt to offer a competitor to Burger King’s Chicken Fries. Some of the thin, long strips were curvy, while others were straight. The Chicken Dippers also somewhat remind me of the chain’s Rip’n Chicken (R.I.P.), but not rip’able.

Sans sauce, the breaded poultry has the same Popeyes flavor that we all know and love, and it’s tasty enough that I could eat these without dipping them into anything. Also, there was a good amount of Dippers in the sleeve. However, their crunch was underwhelming. Maybe mine were made wrong? There were crunchy moments, but I remember the chain’s tenders being more crunch-tastic.

However, I came away more impressed with Popeyes’ new Signature Sauce. According to the chain’s website, it’s “inspired by New Orleans food culture” and that it “packs a kick of heat, a hint of sweet, and our signature Cajun spices.” It’s like a concentration of what goes into the batter of Popeyes’ chicken. It amps up all those spices and makes these Chicken Dippers, which are already tasty, even tastier. And if you’re concerned about spiciness, the sauce has a little fire, although I’d consider it more of a smoldering.

Speaking of heat, unlike some of Popeyes’ other options, there isn’t a spicy version of this limited time offering.

Popeyes Chicken Dippers are just Popeyes chicken in a different format, but it’s a format that’s more shareable than the chain’s tenders. While I don’t think you’ll feel any FOMO with the thin chicken strips, the Signature Sauce is something you shouldn’t miss. Fortunately, it’s a permanent addition, so you’ll have plenty of time to try it, and you can do so with whatever fried chicken du jour Popeyes offers at the time.

Purchased Price: $5.99*
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Chicken Dippers), 10 out of 10 (Signature Sauce)
Nutrition Facts: 540 calories, 24 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 125 milligrams of cholesterol, 1950 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 33 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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