Author: Sean

REVIEW: Ben & Jerry’s Chewy Gooey Cookie Ice Cream

Sean 1 Comment

Ben Jerry s Chewy Gooey Cookie Ice Cream PInt

What is Ben & Jerry’s Chewy Gooey Cookie?

Just in time for Girl Scout Cookie season, Ben & Jerry’s put its own spin on the purple-boxed caramel-y classic Samoas. Chewy Gooey Cookie combines milk chocolate and coconut ice creams with fudge flakes, shortbread cookies, and caramel swirls.

How is it?

It’s good, but not great.

Ben Jerry s Chewy Gooey Cookie Ice Cream Swirl

The coconut ice cream is fantastic. I can’t recall the last time B&J’s used this in one of its dairy pints, if ever. It’s sweet and creamy with pieces of shredded coconut that add little pockets of chewiness to the predominately smooth landscape. I really like it. The milk chocolate base was the right choice over the standard, darker chocolate, as its milky sweetness doesn’t overpower the coconut’s gentler fruity and nutty notes. I don’t enjoy the chocolate nearly as much as the coconut on its own, but there’s no denying they’re a dream team when enjoyed in tandem.

Ben Jerry s Chewy Gooey Cookie Ice Cream Spoon

The mix-ins do a great job of bringing the Samoas experience full circle when they’re present, but I wish there were more! Most notably, the caramel swirls are pretty thin, and I have to hunt to get some on my spoon. Surprisingly the fudge flakes are also relatively light, and as the least interesting inclusion, I didn’t think I would miss them. But I do wish I had more crunch.

Ben Jerry s Chewy Gooey Cookie Ice Cream Unearthed

The shortbread cookies are the most prominent of the three, and they’re crucial to realizing the cookie concept. That crumbly floury texture is pivotal to the Samoas, and while I wish their flavor had a bit more of a buttery and salty punch, I overall appreciate what they bring to the pint.

Anything else you need to know?

I know this isn’t Girl Scouts-branded, but I’m fixating on that because the homage jumped out at me when I read the description. Samoas are my favorite Scout cookie, oftentimes overshadowed by Thin Mints. Coincidentally last year, Ben & Jerry’s released an ice cream called Thick Mint, so someone at the company definitely loves these cookies, and I can get behind that.

Conclusion:

Even though the milk chocolate base is good, I would have preferred a fudge swirl for a more interesting texture and dense flavor and to not take any real estate away from the excellent coconut base. There’s a ton of potential in this pint, but it’s lacking the pizazz that some of B&J’s more effective outings, like Phish Food with its legendary dual swirl, bring to the table. Is this ice cream chewy? Absolutely. Is it gooey? Eh, not quite, but it could be exceptional with a couple of tweaks.

Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: One Pint
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup, 140g) 360 calories, 20 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 41 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 31 grams of sugar, 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift

Sean

Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift Can

What is Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift?

In March of 2021, PepsiCo released Mtn Dew Rise, a series of six Dew drinks marketed to morning coffee drinkers, loaded with 180 milligrams of caffeine, fruit juice, vitamins, and zinc for immune support. After losing a court battle late last year with Rise Brewing, a ready-to-drink coffee company founded in 2014, Mtn Dew was forced to drop “Rise” from its name and return as Mtn Dew Energy, bringing with it a new flavor — Cherry Lime Lift.

How is it?

My love of cherry lime goes way back to the Shirley Temple days. There was nothing quite like that Sprite mixed with cherry syrup when going out for dinner in the 90s before my caffeine addiction and ability to consume alcohol — the pinnacle of drinkable treats. In adulthood, I’ve remained fond of the flavor combo, so I was stoked that Mtn Dew would rise from the ashes with this winning duo, and they pulled it off well.

Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift Top

The flavor is a near perfect 50/50 split of cherry and lime, with distinct cherry candy sweetness on the front and crisp, citrusy lime on the finish. The carbonation is medium, milder and smoother than other energy drinks like Bang and Reign, and I prefer a touch more bubbles, especially when accenting sharp citrus.

The fruit juice plays a minimal role. In this case, it’s white grape, and I think it’s there more as a marketing ploy than to provide depth of flavor. If anything, the actual juice is less sweet than the artificial sweeteners that make up the rest of the ingredients and most products in this category, which pulls back a bit on the sugariness and punchiness of the cherry lime.

Anything else you need to know?

Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift Red

In addition to the even split of cherry and lime, there’s a very distinct Dew flavor that rounds out the profile. If you’ve had any kind of Mtn Dew product, you’ll know what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t, well, then you need to try it to know! It’s in all the flavors from original to Baja Blast to this brand new Dew Energy, and it’s less of a specific flavor note than it is an underlining essence. You’ll know it when ya taste it, trust me. It’s not a bad flavor at all, I actually enjoy the familiarity of it, but it does slightly lessen the purity of the other key flavors.

Conclusion:

It may not take the throne from my two favorites of the original Rise launch — Pomegranate Blue Burst and Tropical Sunrise — but it’s a great addition to the Energy line and very true to its name.

Purchased Price: $1.79
Size: 16 oz can
Purchased at: Lucky
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Oreo Thins Extra Stuf

Sean 4 Comments

Oreo Thins Extra Stuf Pkg

Oreo Thins debuted in 2015 as a thinner, crispier iteration of America’s Favorite Cookie. Initial reactions were varied — are these the Diet Coke of Oreo? Are these supposed to be marketed as a higher volume, lower calorie cookie? Or something else entirely?

While it is true that Thins carry a greater caloric bang for your buck, with four cookies equaling the calories of two regular Oreo, I view these as something entirely different: a satisfying crispy bite that falls somewhere between an OG Oreo wafer and an airier, Kit Kat-adjacent bite.

Their gentle crunch is notably unique when compared to the more abrasive classic wafer, and I really enjoy it. As much as I enjoyed the Thins and their various flavor offshoots, I’ve always had one qualm — I want more creme filling! Nearly seven years after their debut, Nabisco has answered my (silent) call with Oreo Thins Extra Stuf.

Oreo Thins Extra Stuf Stack

Notably, these aren’t Double Stuf, but “extra.” So exactly how much is extra? My gut feeling is that it’s even more than double the creme amount from original Oreo Thins, which is interesting because why not call it Double? Double Stuf is the pinnacle of Oreo perfection and applying that iconic title to the Thins line simply makes sense. But perhaps it’s too tricky because these don’t have the same amount of filling as full-sized Double Stuf. Okay, I’m confusing myself now. Either way, I’m not going to complain, there’s more than enough creme in there, and it’s great.

Oreo Thins Extra Stuf Top

The creme is so much more pronounced than original Thins. It pushes against the thin and crispy wafer and really lets its presence be FELT. The taste is the same that you’ve known (and worshiped?) for your entire life, and the cookie has a gentle crunch, but it isn’t crumbly or lacking structural integrity. Bittersweet crunchy cocoa meets smooth sweet and sugary creme filling. What’s not to love?

The most exciting aspect of this overdue upgrade to the Thins line is the possibility of Extra Stuf’d limited offerings down the road. Thins have had a handful of more “adult” flavors never offered as full-sized big bro Oreo, most notably Coconut and Pistachio, that I would love to see beefed up with some extra creme.

Oreo Thins Extra Stuf feels like the rare product that has the potential to win over both fans and skeptics of the original release. If you liked the original version, you’d probably dig these, and if you didn’t, that extra Stuf might make you a believer.

Purchased Price: $3.49
Size: 13.97 ounces
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3 Cookies) 130 calories, 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 70 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Goldfish Mega Bites Cheddar Jalapeno

Sean 6 Comments

Goldfish Cheddar Jalapeno Mega Bites Bag

What are Goldfish Mega Bites Cheddar Jalapeño?

Like many of us, Goldfish came into the new year with a resolution — to get JACKED. Pepperidge Farm’s classic cheddar cracker goes Mega, doubling in size and bringing the heat with Cheddar Jalapeño seasoning.

How are they?

Goldfish Cheddar Jalapeno Mega Bites In the Bag

They’re good, but not super exciting. I was really surprised by the intensity and accuracy of last spring’s Frank’s RedHot collaboration, and with those lingering in my memory, I want a more robust taste from something with the word “mega” on it. The jalapeño is definitely there, bringing a nice heat to the tried and true cheddar flavor of the standard Goldfish cracker, but it doesn’t really wow me.

I’ve found with the Flavor Blasted line that the dusty seasoning applied is never as potent as a proper junky potato chip, and that applies here. I want a bit more bite from the fish as a whole.

Goldfish Cheddar Jalapeno Mega Bites Spill

One of the elements I really enjoy about Goldfish is their volume, and I’m not sure the bigger size adds anything positive to my preferred snacking experience. They’re not bad or stale, but the texture is ever-so-slightly less enjoyable than the original size. The crunch isn’t quite as tight, and I can’t get as many into my mouth at once, so there’s a less satisfying crunch.

Anything else you need to know?

A serving of regular Goldfish clocks in at 55 pieces for 30 grams, whereas the Mega Bites come in at 22 for 30 grams, officially making them MORE than twice the size of the classic fishies. While there’s also a 10 calorie boost for the Mega Bites, I would say it’s safe to assume each Mega is about 2.25 times the size. For reference, here’s a Mega next to a classic Golden Oreo.

Goldfish Cheddar Jalapeno Mega Bites Size

Conclusion:

While this review may seem negative, I actually think Goldfish are underrated. Cheez-Its are my favorite cheesy cracker, but right behind them are Goldfish, and they’re frequently on hand as a go-to snack for my partner. These fishies will absolutely be devoured, but I wouldn’t repurchase them, as I don’t think the bigger size leads to bigger satisfaction.

Purchased Price: $2.49
Size: 5.9 oz
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (22 pieces/30 grams) 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 320 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Ultimate Chocolate Oreo Cookies

Sean 4 Comments

Limited Edition Ultimate Chocolate Oreo Cookies Pouch

While we may be many years removed from the peak experimentation that delivered divisive flavors like Swedish Fish and Cotton Candy, Nabisco has yet to miss releasing a new Limited Edition Oreo during the first week of January for as long as I can remember. This year’s theme seems to be, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, with the introduction of the Ultimate Chocolate Oreo.

Following in the tradition of last January’s Brookie-O Oreo, Ultimate Chocolate ups the ante of Oreo’s iconic creme filling via a triple stack that pushes it beyond the density of Double Stuf. The layers have three distinct colors, although the actual cookie has much less separation between the tones than the packaging implies. The stack goes from light-ish brown to brown to black.

Limited Edition Ultimate Chocolate Oreo Cookies Colors

When thinking of chocolate types, my brain goes to milk, dark, and white, which Nabisco claims these flavors to be, despite the clear absence of a white creme. I also don’t really get a directly sweet white chocolate taste, but rather chocolate with varying bitterness levels. The package proudly boasts a massive chocolate cake slice, and as someone who just had a birthday and ate four cupcakes for breakfast, I think that’s spot on. The layers remind me of a cake with three types of chocolate – a standard chocolate sponge, a lighter chocolate buttercream, and a richer darker chocolate ganache topping.

There’s not nearly as much nuance in an Oreo cookie as there is in an actual slice of layer cake, but the beefed up creme filling sandwiched between two bittersweet wafers draws a fairly accurate comparison for a five-dollar bag of cookies. All the cremes become one concentrated flavor, and if I had to guess, I would say the stack is Oreo’s regular chocolate creme paired with the excellent dark chocolate creme and one we haven’t had before.

Limited Edition Ultimate Chocolate Oreo Cookies Side

The squishy filling oozing out against the firm and crumbly cookie conjures memories of diving my fork into the end of a cake slice with the perfect concentration of rich frosting. It’s delicious. Even better yet, take the top wafter off and you’re talking a legit 2-1 creme-to-cookie ratio, heading into double dark chocolate Dunkaroo territory (Betty Crocker…let’s work!)

Limited Edition Ultimate Chocolate Oreo Cookies Open

What these cookies lack in originality or newness, they make up for with their decadent satisfaction. No matter how hard companies try to experiment with new flavors, and don’t get me wrong, I LOVE creativity, there’s nothing quite like chocolate, and this cookie proves sometimes it pays off to simply play the hits.

Purchased Price: $4.49
Size: 13.2 oz
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 cookies) 180 calories, 9 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.