REVIEW: Dairy Queen Snickers Peanut Butter Pie Blizzard

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Dairy Queen Snickers Peanut Butter Pie Blizzard

What is the Snickers Peanut Butter Pie Blizzard?

It’s Dairy Queen’s co-Blizzard of the Month for August with its less fancy cousin Snickers Blizzard, which is a returning flavor. In addition to the titular candy, the Snickers Peanut Butter Pie Blizzard includes peanut butter and graham blended with vanilla soft serve.

How is it?

Straightforwardly solid. There’s not a whole lot of surprise in this Blizzard. If you like Snickers and peanut butter, then you are going to love this. As one who falls into that category, I figured this would be pretty good, and it was. The graham adds a nice layer of flavor, and all three elements blend together without any of them overpowering each other.

Dairy Queen Snickers Peanut Butter Pie Blizzard Closeup

With the peanuts in the Snickers and peanut butter, I thought there might be a little peanut overload, but I didn’t find that to be the case. This Blizzard is the opposite of Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates — you pretty much know what you are going to get…a pretty tasty treat. Nothing more, nothing less.

Is there anything else you need to know?

You are supposed to learn something new every day. I don’t know who made up that rule, and I’ve lived my life choosing to mostly ignore that advice. My brain can only hold so much information. But during this review, I learned Dairy Queen has coffee, or at least I’m pretty sure they do since my Blizzard was served in a generic coffee cup, presumably because my local DQ ran out of mini Blizzard cups.

Dairy Queen Snickers Peanut Butter Pie Blizzard Snickers Bar

OK, the fact that DQ serves hot brown caffeinated water is not an earth-shaking revelation, and perhaps you already knew that. But not being a coffee drinker, I had no idea. I also learned that using an actual Snickers bar as a spoon is a great idea, despite the weird looks I got. So I learned two things today, freeing up my schedule to learn absolutely nothing tomorrow.

Conclusion:

With so many Blizzard combinations over the years, it’s hard for any mixture to rise above the rest without throwing in a truly unique ingredient or flavor. Of course, neither Snickers nor peanut butter qualifies as such. But even so, this is a good addition to the Blizzard lineup and a tasty, if unspectacular, way to wind down summer.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: Mini
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Mini) 450 calories, 21 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 57 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 45 grams of sugar, and 9 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Panda Express Sichuan Hot Chicken

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Panda Express Sichuan Hot Chicken

Panda Express’ Sichuan Hot Chicken is its take on crispy chicken strips, which seem to be all the rage with fast food chains nowadays. The entree is breaded all-white meat chicken tossed in a spicy Sichuan peppercorn sauce and dusted with a secret spice blend.

It’s easily the crunchiest chicken item on the menu, although that texture is on the edges of the pieces where the coating is a bit thicker. The chicken within the breading of the strips I received was juicy. Of course, your results may vary because of someone who was overzealous with the wok tossing.

The sauce isn’t sticky like Orange Chicken or gloopy like what’s on mushroom chicken. Instead, it’s an oil-based sauce with the spices swimming in it. Panda’s Sichuan peppercorn sauce with the secret spice blend is savory, peppery, spicy, a smidge citrusy, and pretty darn good.

Panda Express Sichuan Hot Chicken Make it Spicy

But it’s even better when you “Make it Spicy,” which is an option you have while ordering. If you do, your chicken will get sprinkled with an extra dose of the secret spice blend, which gives the breading an ominous look and amps up the heat AND flavor. To me, the added seasoning makes the standard Sichuan Hot Chicken pieces seem kind of bland. When I order this again, I’ll definitely “Make it Spicy.”

While the word “hot” is in its name, the regular Sichuan Hot Chicken isn’t what I would call “hot.” There’s a burn that slowly builds up to a mild level, but it doesn’t have me reaching for a soothing beverage. The “Make it Spicy” pieces are noticeably hotter, but it’s still not enough to make me want to shovel Panda’s fried rice into my mouth to relieve the burning. Also, whatever heat there is doesn’t linger for long.

Panda Express Sichuan Hot Chicken Side by Side

My biggest issue with this entree deals with size. The pieces aren’t uniform. As you can see in the photo above, the ones on the left, which is a three-piece order of the standard Sichuan Hot Chicken, are dramatically smaller than the ones on the right, which is a three-piece order of the ones made spicy. Looking at those three small pieces on my styrofoam plate, I can’t help but think I’m getting ripped off a little. But if I got three of the ones on the right or more of the smaller pieces, I’d feel a bit better.

Panda Express Sichuan Hot Chicken Innard

Sichuan Hot Chicken is another yummy sauced chicken selection from Panda Express. The Sichuan peppercorn sauce and secret spice blend are tasty, but they’re not quite good enough to make this limited-time menu item Orange Chicken-tastic or Beijing Beef-abulous.

Purchased Price: $9.20 (2-entree plate)
Size: 3-piece serving
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3 pieces) 400 calories 26 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 910 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 19 grams of protein.

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REVIEW: Krispy Kreme Original Filled Birthday Batter Doughnut

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Krispy Kreme Original Filled Birthday Batter Doughnut

What is the Krispy Kreme Original Filled Birthday Batter Doughnut?

Building off of the success of the Original Filled Doughnuts, Krispy Kreme quickly introduced a vibrantly colored twist to celebrate its 82nd birthday — an Original Glazed filled with birthday cake batter, topped with strawberry icing, and garnished with psychedelic sprinkles. Party hat not included.

How is it?

Krispy Kreme Original Filled Birthday Batter Doughnut 2

Krispy Kreme’s birthday cake batter is second only to its Original Kreme filling, and quite frankly it might be tied for first. I was elated when I heard it was filling its OG with this beautiful concoction, and as usual with KK there’s plenty of it stuffed inside the humbly-sized doughnut. Unfortunately, the strawberry icing is so overpowering that I can hardly taste the filling, and it’s only distinguishable by its slight custard-y texture among the various layers of sweetness.

Speaking of sweetness, this doughnut is absurdly sweet. If you’re familiar with the Original Glazed you know it’s sugary, but the gentle yeast flavor still manages to poke its way through the layers of sweetness. That’s not the case here with the aggressive flavor of artificial strawberry taking over everything in sight. Glaze + batter + strawberry = too much.

Is there anything else you need to know?

I guess it should come as no surprise that a single doughnut clocks in at 39 grams of sugar because that’s damn near all I can taste. With the Original Filled Doughnuts, I had feared that they might be too sweet, but they didn’t go overboard. However, with the Birthday Batter version, KK tried to “have its cake and eat it too” and created a bit of misguided monster in the process.

Conclusion:

This doughnut looks incredible. The two-toned sprinkle explosion with pink-on-tan contrast and squiggle drizzle is stunning, but this birthday treat is all looks and no balance, with the end result being a rush for some water and a pending tummy-ache.

Purchased Price: $1.89
Size: N/A
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts:: 350 calories, 15 grams of total fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 20 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 54 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 39 grams of sugars, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Reaper Ranch Fries Supreme and Reaper Ranch Fries Burrito

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Taco Bell Steak Reaper Fries Supreme and Burrito

As the Reaper-fueled fire in my belly from the Sonic Mocktail the other day had finally become little more than smoldering embers along my digestive track, Taco Bell succinctly took over the gastric position of flavor inciter with a heated pair of delicacies that surely stoked those internal flames with its latest addition to the what-seems-to-be nationwide call for a Carolina Reaper-based line of edibles: the new Taco Bell Reaper Ranch duo of supreme fries and a burrito.

And, unlike the Sonic Reaper Margarita, this one actually does make sense, to me, at least.

Taco Bell Steak Reaper Fries Supreme

Combining the calculated burn of the diabolical Reaper pepper with the cooling vibe of ranch dressing, the Reaper Ranch sauce, as it is called here, is a prime testament to how to make this pepper work without scaring and traumatizing those who usually need to be gently coaxed into the hot tub of spicy goodness. The seasoned spice-user, on the other hand, will love the methodical slow burn of the food items, one that allows you to actually enjoy the heat and the eat.

Featuring a pliable handful of chopped tomatoes, nacho cheese and sour cream – as well as plenty of that Reaper Ranch sauce, mama — this most beautiful mixture is dropped on the chain’s specially-seasoned Nacho Fries, with plenty of largish chunks of steak to make for a dream-worthy meal. Of course, the fries give off their own zippy flavor, but partnered up on the dance floor with the specially-made sauce and you’ve got another short-term classic on your hands, Taco Bell.

Taco Bell Steak Reaper Fries Burrito

But it’s still missing something, and it’s brutally found and made mercilessly better in the tempestuously transcendent Reaper Ranch Fries Burrito. Wrapped loosely in a wide flour tortilla, this burrito showcases all the same supreme fries ingredients above but, you know, all in a wholly convenient two-handed carrier. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: nothing can force me to give any foodstuff an extra point like a tortilla, be it corn or, in this case, like I said, flour.

Taco Bell Steak Reaper Fries Burrito Innards

The Reaper Ranch gives the burrito a mature kick I wasn’t expecting, even more adult than the Rattlesnake Fries released a few months ago. Maybe it’s because all the tastes are bunched up together, but when the Reaper hits — and, man alive, does it hit — it makes for even better eating by allowing the meat, cheese, and sour cream — rather than just the potatoes — to never overpower it, instead working with it for a deliciousness that truly represents what the Reaper Ranch should be about.

The prices — $3.09 for the burrito, $3.59 for the fries — may seem a little steep at first glance, but, as these goods are available for the dreaded limited time only, now is the time to dig deep into that piggy bank and, at the very least, give one of them the ol’ college try. Don’t fear the Reaper…Ranch, that is. Cómpralo ya!

Purchased Price: $3.59 (Fries) $3.09 (Burrito)
Size: N/A
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Fries) 9 out of 10 (Burrito)
Nutrition Facts: Fries – 470 calories, 29 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 950 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 3 gram of sugar, and 12 grams of protein. Burrito – 490 calories, 24 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 1060 milligrams of sodium, 53 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 4 gram of sugar, and 16 grams of protein.

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REVIEW: Burger King Pulled Pork King

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Burger King Pulled Pork King

After trying its hand at seemingly every possible variation of the King burger imaginable, the suits at Burger King finally decided to get rid of the flame-broiled patty altogether and try something radically different with the fast food flagship.

Enter the Pulled Pork King, which as the name suggests, is a Sloppy Joe-like sandwich consisting of BBQ-sauce-slathered shredded pork, crispy onions, and a handful of pickles…all underneath a toasted sesame seed bun, as apparently required under a decree of the Burger King himself. (An aside, but does the titular Burger King even have a first or last name?)

I went into this with pretty low expectations, but I have to say I was very surprised by its overall quality. The shredded pork was flavorful and unexpectedly smoky, giving it an authentic taste and texture you wouldn’t expect to come out of a fast food kitchen.

Burger King Pulled Pork King 4

Burger King Pulled Pork King 3

Likewise, the BBQ sauce itself was very good, packing enough vinegary tart and sugary sweetness to placate seemingly all of your tastebud’s domains — although I’m disappointed to report that said sauce was nowhere near as “hot and spicy” as advertised. But the crispy onion and pickles certainly did their part, bringing enough mouthfeel and flavor diversity to the product without taking away from the marquee pork taste.

At $5.79, the Pulled Pork King is a hefty investment for a BK offering, so your mileage may vary on whether or not the L-T-O is worth that kind of moolah. That said, the sandwich itself is fairly large and filling, so if volume is a priority, you probably won’t be disappointed by this one unless you have the stomach of a competitive eater or something.

Of course, this being a King burger relative, the usual caveats about salt and squishiness do apply: with more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium, this thing will starch your throat fast, and heaven help you if you drop this thing on your lap — good luck EVER getting the BBQ sauce stains off your Dockers there, buddy.

Burger King Pulled Pork King 2

Burger King’s Pulled Pork King checks off just about all the boxes you would want a summertime, L-T-O sandwich to check off. It’s unique and ephemeral, and smacks of instant nostalgia, but at the same time, it’s also a stunningly flavorful item that tastes way better than you’d expect it to be. Never in a million years would I have thought Burger King of all restaurants would’ve figured out the secret sauce to crafting a great, on-the-go pulled pork sandwich, but here we are.

Long story short, if you’re a fan of BBQ or plain adventurous when it comes to fast food, you would be wise to give the Pulled Pork King a try. Heck, it’s so good, it kinda’ makes me wonder how BK would fare at an L-T-O brisket-burger next.

Purchased Price: $5.79
Size: N/A
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 690 calories, 25 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 95 milligrams of cholesterol, 1,190 milligrams of sodium, 82 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 34 grams of sugar, and 35 grams of protein.

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