Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Taco Bell Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme with Two Big Cheez-It Crackers

Marvo 2 Comments

I was a little underwhelmed with Taco Bell’s Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme when it first came out earlier this year. The giant cracker that Taco Bell claimed was 16 times larger, cheesier, and crunchier than a regular Cheez-It wasn’t 16 times cheesier or crunchier, according to my mouth. It didn’t seem like it wasn’t even close to two times cheesier or crunchier.

But the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme is back with Version 2.0, which comes with TWO Big Cheez-It Crackers, seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream in a flour tortilla. That second cracker adds a dollar to what the original version cost. So, does the second cracker make the Cheez-It more noticeable?

Yes, it does.

However, it didn’t have a Cheez-It flavor or crunch as big as the cracker itself. But it’s better than what was offered during the original release. With the first rollout, due to the cracker being pulverized with heat and moisture while trapped in a flour tortilla, its crunch was nonexistent with almost every bite. With this updated version, they’re still being pulverized in the tortilla, but having two crackers to support each other helps delay the inevitable sogginess. When I got to sink my teeth into it, the two crackers still had a slight crunch. It wasn’t there with every bite, maybe about half, but it was noticeable with more bites than I remember with Version 1.0. As for the Cheez-It flavor, it also got a boost from the second cracker, but not enough to make it seem like they were a headlining ingredient. With that said, the addition of the second cracker did make an improvement.

However, I don’t know much about Taco Bell engineering, but wouldn’t it have been better if the two crackers were sandwiching the other ingredients in the flour tortilla? The crackers would be the first thing the mouth experiences when taking a bite. Yes, there’s the flour tortilla, but its mild flavor wouldn’t get in the way of the crackers like all the other ingredients.

Maybe that’ll happen if there’s a Version 3.0.

Purchased Price: $6.49*
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 670 calories, 27 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 1720 milligrams of sodium, 87 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugar (including 4 grams of added sugar), and 20 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.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Pumpkin Vanilla Oatmilk Iced Latte

Erin Leave a comment

The realm of fall coffee beverages is very much a thing, and there is a hierarchy in it. Starbucks has long dominated with its iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte, but there’s always room at the table for a new and interesting take on caffeinated squash. This year, Dunkin’ says they’re “Uppin’ the pumpkin” with its Pumpkin Vanilla Oatmilk Iced Latte – a blend of espresso, pumpkin swirl, vanilla flavor, and oatmilk over ice. This sounds pretty straightforward, and as someone who hasn’t been counting down the days until I can put up a 16-foot skeleton in my yard, all I was looking for was a good standard coffee that hinted at the change of seasons.

There are no whipped cream or cookie crumble additions here to make this photo-worthy; it’s just a regular tan-colored iced latte. The best things are sometimes the simplest, though, and I hoped this might have the sincerity of Linus waiting in the patch for the Great Pumpkin to come. Unfortunately, there is no Great Pumpkin here. Oddly, there is hardly any pumpkin at all. I know that pumpkin is a fairly mild flavor on its own and needs a boost of spice to become what we all associate with “Fall,” but I expected to taste a little more of it here. Or really, a little more of anything.

This drink is very sweet and not very flavorful. The espresso gets lost, and the oatmilk lends a nice creaminess, but it’s too sweet for me to enjoy as a coffee, and it lacks the flavor to make it a fun Fall indulgence. I don’t think there’s anything truly wrong with it, and it isn’t offensive, but at almost six dollars and 300 calories for a medium, I can’t see myself being inspired to purchase this again and I’m not sure why it exists. I suppose it’s an easy way to order an oatmilk beverage without having to customize your order, but I almost feel like that’s doing the oatmilk a disservice. If you’re looking for a coffee to get you into the Halloween spirit, I would look elsewhere because the only thing you’ll be haunted by here is a lack of pumpkin.

Purchased Price: $5.78
Size: Medium
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 300 calories, 4 grams of total fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 62 grams of total carbs, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 42 grams of total sugar, and 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Ben & Jerry’s Churn Out the Vote Ice Cream

Sean 1 Comment

Turning out to vote this November is very important. Also very important? Trying every new flavor that Ben & Jerry’s churns up. It is my duty to hunt the freezer aisle for any new chunky concoction the boys in Vermont grace the shelves with. Don’t you feel left out when a new one doesn’t quickly pop up in your local Target or grocery store? I know I do. It kind of makes me wish this pint came with an “I Scooped” sticker to showcase how proud I am that I have a new Limited Batch Ben & Jerry’s pint.

Anyway…

Churn Out the Vote is vanilla ice cream with pretzel swirls, fudge chips, and swirls of chocolate mousse.

The vanilla ice cream is your standard slightly floral, sweet, and creamy base that you’ve had a dozen times, yet it largely gets transformed by the presence of the chocolate mousse swirls. A good amount of it bleeds into the base, creating a lighter chocolate flavor with little pockets of pure vanilla. Initially, I was a little disappointed, but as I kept digging, I found more pockets where the mousse stayed more intact, bringing a gooey chocolate texture and richer fudge-like flavor to the profile. It’s a fun, albeit very predictable (classic?) flavor pairing that, when joined with the gently crunchy and melty fudge chips, tastes about as vintage-scoop-shop as can be.

What makes this pint stand out beyond a straight 40s-style throwback are the pretzel swirls. I am a big fan of Ben & Jerry’s pretzel swirl. It’s a key component in one of my all-time favorites, Glampfire Trail Mix, as well as this year’s simple yet impressive Impretzively Fudged. I believe this is the first time the swirl has been used in a vanilla base, and it helps elevate the flavor to something more unique yet still pretty classic.

The swirls don’t pop as much as in Glampfire Trail Mix but are sprinkled throughout the pint. Their presence brings a salty depth and gritty texture to the experience that, when taken all in one spoonful, starts to taste like another old school parlor staple — a chocolate malt. Something about the lighter chocolate, in tandem with the molasses-adjacent pretzel taste and touch of salt, comes together like a throwback funky malt, making the whole scooping experience much more dynamic than I anticipated going into it.

Ultimately, this is a flavor that tastes as traditionally button-down as the act of voting itself. While it may not be the most inventive or the most satisfying for gob-loving mix-in hounds like myself, it’s inescapably tasty and salty enough to avoid being too basic.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample from Ben & Jerry’s. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: One Pint
Purchased at: Received from Ben & Jerry’s
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup, 138g) 390 calories, 23 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 65 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 32 grams of total sugars, and 6 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Starbucks Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte

Heather 4 Comments

Despite temperatures still close to the 90s in the Midwest, I’m still on the fall-flavored drinks train, and Starbucks has a new one: the Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte. This beverage, offered hot or cold, has Starbucks Blonde Espresso, oatmilk, pecan syrup, and a pecan crunch sugar topping. I tried this one as a hot latte.

I’m not even going to (pecan crunch) sugarcoat it here. This latte is AMAZING. I don’t think I’ve ever been more confident giving a drink a 10 out of 10 rating.

Right when I picked up the drink, I could smell the strong pecan flavor. It’s very strong and very nutty. The pecan syrup and the oatmilk are a perfect pair. Even though oatmilk doesn’t have nuts, my taste buds always pick up a bit of nuttiness. The latte is smooth and creamy, and the pecan syrup isn’t overly sweet. A tall has three pumps of syrup, and while I’m usually recommending to tone down the syrup pumps, I think you could actually add a little more here and still have a great drink.

The pecan crunch sugar topping is a nice addition and was still very present in look and flavor. Sometimes, I find the toppings can lose themselves in hot beverages, but I could detect this one with no problem. Overall, the flavor remained strong in the time it took me to finish it.

If you were to pair this with a treat, I’d go with the Cinnamon Coffee Cake. If I didn’t know this was pecan syrup, I’d guess it had some cinnamon since there’s a nice hint of spice.

This really is a perfect fall drink and a super nice alternative if you’re not a huge fan of the beloved PSL. Next time you see me, I’ll be hitting up my nearest Starbucks to try this one iced.

Purchased Price: $5.75
Size: Tall
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 200 calories, 7 grams of total fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of total carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 20 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein and 85 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Starbucks Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White

Tiffany Leave a comment

Starbucks Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White 1.

As part of the fall launch lineup, Starbucks added two additional non-pumpkin flavored beverages to the mix. These are app exclusives: the Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte and the Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White.

Let me start by saying that I am all about fall, y’all. I celebrate the PSL season like it’s an official holiday. This year’s celebration included driving about 500 miles round trip on launch day to experience the Ultimate Pumpkin Spice Experience at a Starbucks Roastery.

That aside, I don’t discriminate when it comes to fall delights. While I revel in pumpkin spice, I equally love apple cider, apple cider slushies, apple cider donuts, and apple picking. But I’m adding Starbucks’ new Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White to my fall delights list.

Coffee snobbery aside about the merits of Starbucks making a “real flat white” or that flat whites can’t be iced, it’s a perfect fall beverage to sip on.

Starbucks Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White 2.

Per the coffee chain, it features “almondmilk and Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast, poured over ice with a hint of honey – topped with silky, nondairy cold foam infused with apple brown sugar-flavored syrup.”

This drink works beautifully to create a perfect fall experience. The apple brown sugar syrup is a thing of beauty. Though it’s only in the nondairy cold foam, apple dominates the flavor, followed by the floral notes of sweet honey. The cold foam adds an incredibly creamy texture. I was amazed by the silky texture of the nondairy cold foam. I couldn’t believe it wasn’t dairy! Incredible.

Starbucks Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White 3.

Blonde espresso is the perfect choice, offering a mildness – compared to the regular dark roast – that lets all the flavors shine and ties everything together with that distinct espresso finish.

If you’re torn between this and the new Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai, they’re both really tasty beverages and actually tastes fairly similar except for the end note (apple pie from the chai vs. espresso), so it really is up to whether you feel like drinking coffee or tea!

Purchased Price: $5.95
Size: Tall
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 180 calories, 7 grams of total fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 105 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 24 grams of total sugars, 3 grams of protein and 150 milligrams of caffeine.