Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Sonic Witch’s Brew Slush Float

Mark 3 Comments

For Halloween, Sonic has introduced its Witch’s Brew Slush Float, which consists of a green apple slush, caramel “bubbles” (popping boba), and vanilla soft serve.

No mortal has ever drunk witch’s brew and lived to tell about it, which means food companies can make the flavor whatever they want it to be. I’m really pleased that Sonic opted for a classic Halloween flavor instead of something boring and irrelevant (like marshmallow).

As the cashier handed me the drink at the drive-thru window, I noticed it was a putrid shade of green. Like mold, algae, or ogre snot. That might not be appropriate if it were an elf or leprechaun drink, but for witch’s brew, it’s perfect!

In the fifteen minutes it took to drive home (I don’t eat in my car), the ice cream had lost its freshly extruded grooves, and the slush was browner. But luckily, it was still nice and cold.

I expected the slush to have a strong and fake candy apple flavor, like a Jolly Rancher in liquid form. It was more subdued than I expected, and there was more of a caramel flavor as well. I assume the caramel flavor leaked from the “bubbles,” and I approve. Of course, it doesn’t really taste like an actual caramel apple, but it was still a pleasant combination of caramel and apple flavors.

And those caramel bubbles are so fun! By pressing them between my tongue and the roof of my mouth, they popped their sweet, cold liquid, leaving the skin to dissolve. I liked to imagine they were eyes of newt. Yummy, delicious newts made of candy.

And that vanilla soft serve ensures the whole drink doesn’t become too slushy sweet. I’m glad we don’t have to pick between creamy and slushy!

So far, the only side effect I’ve experienced was the initial brain freeze. No tails have sprouted, no polka dots have appeared on my skin, no appendages have grown or shrunk. This brew will disappoint an actual witch, but for the rest of us, this might be my favorite thing I have ever had from Sonic.

Purchased Price: $7.49
Size: Medium (only available size)
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 420 calories, 6 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 280 milligrams of sodium, 93 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 88 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

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REVIEW: McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac

Marvo 16 Comments

I could’ve sworn we’ve had the Chicken Big Mac in the United States before. Or maybe I’m confusing it with a menu hack I’ve seen online. Or perhaps I was thinking of Burger King’s version of it from years ago. Or maybe I’m confusing it with the international McDonald’s locations that offered it. Or perhaps I had a vivid dream about it after falling into a McDonald’s-induced food coma?

Anyhoo, finally, the Chicken Big Mac is an official thing in the US, and it features two all-chicken patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, no onions on a sesame seed bun. The breaded poultry appears to be the same one used in the McChicken, which makes sense because using the McCrispy fillets, which aren’t as uniformly shaped, would’ve made it harder to wield and much messier. (Update: Via the comments and the press release, I learned these tempura battered chicken patties were specially made for the Chicken Big Mac.) Yes, much like the iconic original, the shredded lettuce and secret sauce can get everywhere with this sandwich. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some sauce on my chin or hair right at this moment.

Unsurprisingly, the Big Mac components work well with the chicken patties. As someone who has probably eaten his weight in McChickens and Big Macs over the past two decades, I think it tastes exactly like I expected. The breaded coating has a slight pepperiness, the American slice adds a slight cheesiness, and the sauce and pickles give the sandwich a jolt of tanginess. The crispy coating also adds a little more crunch on top of what the lettuce provides. With that said, while this sandwich is tasty, there’s something about the all-beef patties that makes the original taste better.

While the Chicken Big Mac is good and is definitely worth a try, it hasn’t got me completely yearning for another one. Instead, while I ate it, it made me wish more for an opportunity to always be able to customize any sandwich with the special sauce in the McDonald’s app. I’d love the option to add it (along with some pickles and cheese) to a McChicken and turn it into a version of the Mac Jr. without beef. Or add it to a McCrispy sandwich. Or create a Filet-O-Fish Big Mac.

Purchased Price: $5.99*
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 700 calories, 37 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 1410 milligrams of sodium, 61 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugar (including 6 grams of added sugar), and 25 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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REVIEW: Wendy’s Under the Sea Pineapple Frosty

Marvo 5 Comments

If you plan to get Wendy’s Krabby Patty Kollab Meal because of the Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty, let me save you some money and tell you that you should skip the meal and just get the Frosty a la carte. The tropical-flavored dessert is leagues more satisfying than the Krabby Patty Kollab Burger, which is just a Dave’s Single with the mayo swapped out for a Thousand Island dressing-like sauce.

The meal comes with a small Frosty by default, and Wendy’s describes it as a Vanilla Frosty with a pineapple puree on the bottom. While the chain calls it a “puree,” don’t expect your Frosty to have any tiny fruit bits floating in it. It’s a sauce. Because mine came in a compostable paper cup instead of a clear plastic cup, I couldn’t see the sauce clinging to the sides of the cup like it does in the promotional drawings.

Actually, with my order, I didn’t see many yellow swirls of pineapple puree, even while trying to excavate it from the bottom of the cup. This somewhat worried me that I might’ve ended up with a dessert that tastes mostly like a Vanilla Frosty. It’s not a horrible predicament, but it’s not what I paid good money for and not what I want after having to say Krabby Patty Kollab Meal out loud.

However, my fears were quelled after putting the first spoonful into my mouth. I tasted a slightly tart but fully delicious pineapple flavor with an underlying creaminess from vanilla Frosty. After that initial taste, everything else was a blur that resulted in me shoveling half the small Frosty into my mouth with a bit of it dripping from my chin. I don’t know how many seconds passed, but I do know my taste buds were thoroughly satisfied. But I might be biased because I’m a pineapple-phile and have given positive reviews for a number of pineapple products over the years. After catching my breath and wiping away whatever was on my chin, I finished the rest and thought this Frosty was as delightful as the Orange Creamsicle one from earlier this year.

However, my sugar high was brought down a bit by the thought that when this limited time only offering is gone, I may never be able to taste it again. I hope you bring it back, Wendy’s.

Again, skip the Wendy’s Krabby Patty Kollab Meal and just get the Frosty. Better yet, use the money you’ll save from not getting the meal and put it towards getting a large Under the Sea Pineapple Frosty.

Purchased Price: $12.19 (combo)
Size: Small Frosty
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 330 calories, 8 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 58 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 52 grams of sugar, and 8 grams of protein.

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REVIEW: Popeyes Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich

Marvo Leave a comment

It’s almost Halloween, so it’s the most appropriate time for fast food chains to spook our taste buds with ghost pepper products. We’ve seen Burger King and Dunkin’ get into the Halloween mood over the past few years, and this year, Carl’s Jr.’s Ghost Burger appeared.

Popeyes, which always looks like it’s celebrating Halloween, is getting into the holiday spirit with its new Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich. It features the chain’s buttermilk-battered, all-white meat chicken breast fillet, barrel-cured pickles, and a new Ghost Pepper Sauce on a butter-toasted brioche bun. So it’s basically a regular Popeyes Chicken Sandwich, but with the mayo swapped out for the spicy sauce. There’s also a Bacon & Cheese version that also includes three half slices of hickory smoked bacon and a slice of white Havarti cheese.

The ghost pepper was once the hottest in the world. Of course, that was many years ago, and it’s been surpassed by many much spicier peppers. So, the once proud pepper has been relegated to an ingredient for fast food condiments. However, from what I’ve experienced, the heat that fast food ghost pepper products have had is a far cry from the actual pepper, and that’s what we have here with Popeyes’ Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich.

The first thing I did after opening the sleeve the sandwich came in was to try the sauce on its own, which was applied to both buns. My quick taste test resulted in me coughing from the peppers. Its flavor kind of reminded me of taco seasoning, and its heat was at a level that I’d consider surprisingly mild. But that was when I tasted it by itself. That heat and flavor were even less noticeable when chewed with the other sandwich components. So, I guess the new Ghost Pepper Sauce isn’t as scary as it seems. After finishing the sandwich, I felt a lingering peppery heat in my mouth and on my lips. But it wasn’t anything that made me want to order a Popeyes iced tea or lemonade.

As for the rest of the sandwich, it was everything that I’ve experienced with the dozen or so other Popeyes Chicken Sandwiches I’ve eaten over the past few years. It’s still great. Poultry is still juicy; breading is still pleasantly crunchy; the pickles still bring a tasty tang, and the lightly sweet brioche bun still holds everything together.

With that said, Popeyes’ Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich is my least favorite Popeyes Chicken Sandwich variation. The sauce didn’t wow me with its flavor, and it has a level of heat that’s disappointing for a ghost pepper product.

Purchased Price: $7.49*
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 631 calories, 35 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of trans fat, 95 milligrams of cholesterol, 1990 milligrams of sodium, 50 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugar, and 29 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: Arby’s BBQ Bacon Burger

Marvo 2 Comments

It’s been a while since I last had to come close to unhinging my jaw to fit food into my mouth. But that was the case with the new Arby’s BBQ Bacon Burger stacked with an all-beef patty, bacon, crispy onion strings, American cheese, pickles, and smoky BBQ sauce on a toasted brioche bun.

It joins the Deluxe and Big Cheesy Bacon Burgers on the Arby’s menu. Burgers are selling well enough that the meat chain made them permanent additions to the menu earlier this year, and I imagine we’ll be seeing more variations in the future.

I’ve never had an Arby’s burger before, not even the limited time Wagyu Steakhouse one, so everything was new to me, but this new one looked delicious. What caught my eye after seeing its height and how good it looked was the beef patty’s thickness, which was the primary reason I had to stretch my mandible muscles. It was a patty I’d expect from places like Ruby Tuesday, Chili’s, Applebee’s, TGI Fridays, or other casual dining chains that end with an apostrophe S or have a day in their name.

While it had a nice thickness, it was a bit dry. However, it had a decent meaty flavor and a nice char. But that was when I ate the beef by itself.

My burger was thick but also messy, thanks to the generous heaping of smoky and sweet barbecue sauce that was so plentiful that I needed five napkins to clean my mouth and hands after eating most of it. I don’t know if that’s the usual amount or if the person who made mine wanted to be the Oprah of sauce philanthropy.

There was enough of it that it drowned out the flavors of most of the ingredients. Other than the pickles, everything else pretty much tasted like barbecue sauce. No smokiness from the bacon. No pungent flavors from the crispy onion strings. No cheesiness from the American cheese. And no meatiness from the beef patty. I thought I lost my sense of taste, but after letting my wife take a few bites and asking her what she thought without mentioning my issues with it, she said it mostly tasted like barbecue sauce.

While it looks delicious, Arby’s BBQ Bacon Burger wasn’t as tasty as it looked. I’m not sure it was worth straining my mouth to make it fit in there.

Purchased Price: $10.49*
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 711 calories, 41 grams of fat, 17 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 87 grams of carbohydrates, 1821 milligrams of sodium, 50 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and 37 grams of protein.