Category: Reviews

QUICK REVIEW: Heinz Mayochup

Meghan 11 Comments

Heinz Mayochup

What is Heinz Mayochup?

Initially only available in the Middle East, this mayonnaise-ketchup hybrid has finally come to the States.

Are you familiar with fry sauce, fancy sauce, Zax Sauce, or even mayoketchup? Great, because this is basically the same stuff as all of those, sold in a no-mess squeeze bottle!

How is it?

If I had to guess, I’d say mayonnaise and ketchup are probably America’s two most beloved condiments, and people have been combining the two for ages. At the very least, I can say this having come from a family that’s always enjoyed a combination of the two spread onto saltine crackers.

Considering Heinz’s position as the purveyor of America’s best-selling ketchup, I don’t think it’s any surprise that its Mayochup is anything other than pretty awesome. Sweet, salty, tangy, and just a bit sour from the vinegar, it takes everything that’s great about Heinz’s ketchup and marries it together with the velvety texture that characterizes a quality mayonnaise.

Heinz Mayochup 2

Given how versatile mayonnaise and ketchup are on their own, I can see using this as an all-purpose condiment. It’s excellent squirted on fries, spread onto crackers, and smeared on sandwiches, among other things. Better yet, it saves you the trouble of having to drag both condiments out of the fridge when your food needs a flavor boost!

Is there anything else I need to know?

Heinz Mayochup 3

Mayo-based sauces tend to be a little on the viscous side, but this stuff is super thick! As in, thick enough to hold its shape thick. It’s great on bread and stuff, but might be a little hard to scoop up like a dip without causing whatever you’re dipping in it to break or bend.

Conclusion:

Even if you’re part of the population that’s never enjoyed a ketchup/mayo combo in any of its many interpretations, Heinz’s Mayochup definitely deserves a spot in your fridge. Once it’s there, you’re going to find yourself reaching for it more often than you think. Trust me.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 16.5 oz. bottle
Purchased at: Kroger
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 tablespoons) 160 calories, 16 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 4 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 3 grams of total sugars, 3 grams of added sugars, and 0 grams of protein.

QUICK REVIEW: White Chocolate Peanut M&M’s

Vin 6 Comments

White Chocolate Peanut M M s

What are White Chocolate Peanut M&M’s?

Mars is continuing its recent rollout of Peanut M&M varieties with an old classic –- White Chocolate.

As far as I’m concerned, they can go years without even thinking of doing anything but new peanut flavors, because Peanut M&M’s are flat out better than regular M&M’s. Go ahead, admit it.

How are they?

The white chocolate is nice, but it’s very mild. It’s not as pronounced a flavor as regular chocolate, so it gets masked by the peanut and shell. I almost wanna call these “boring,” but that wouldn’t be fair.

White Chocolate Peanut M M s 3

The texture and crunch of the peanut in the M&M makes up for the lack of bursting flavor. I still enjoy these a lot despite the fact there’s almost nothing going on flavor-wise.

It’s almost like Mars made a “low sugar” version of Peanut M&M’s, which of course isn’t the case.

These are an enigma. Regular white chocolate M&M’s probably taste better, but when you factor in the texture, and the idea that Peanut M&M’s destroy regular milk chocolate M&M’s, they’re basically on the same level.

Is there anything else I need to know?

White Chocolate Peanut M M s 2

I’ve only seen these in a Sharing Size bag, so if you don’t feel like spending $3 for ten servings of White Chocolate Peanut M&M’s, maybe wait and see if smaller sizes hit convenience store shelves.

Conclusion:

White Chocolate Peanut M&M’s may be the least flavorful M&M’s I’ve ever eaten, but I didn’t want to stop eating them. They went down so easy that my “Sharing Size” bag was practically reduced to “Fun Size” before I knew it. I dig ’em, but wish they were a little sweeter. Maybe mixing these with regular White Chocolate M&M’s might make for a winning combo.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 9.60 oz. bag
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (14 Pieces) 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

QUICK REVIEW: Sonic Footlong Philly Cheesesteak

Louis 11 Comments

Sonic Footlong Philly Cheesesteak

Update: Click here for a review of Sonic’s Extra Long Ultimate Cheesesteak.

What is the Sonic Footlong Philly Cheesesteak?

This month’s order of footlong coney buns must’ve been way over because Sonic is obviously trying to get rid of all that bread before it goes bad. The solution? Throw some chopped steak and melted cheese in there and, Hell, just call it a Philly cheesesteak. Add a reasonable $3.99 price-tag while you’re at it.

How is it?

While not the best Philly cheesesteak you’ll ever have in your life — not even close, bud — it’s still a pretty good attempt by a fast food chain to basically reverse engineer a cult sandwich to fit their own deliciously perverse vision of what a cheesesteak is and should be.

Sonic Footlong Philly Cheesesteak 3

I ordered the Classic option, consisting of grilled steak and onions, “melty” cheese sauce and warm mayo all slapped together, Philly-style, on a footlong coney bun.

Sonic Footlong Philly Cheesesteak 4

While it might not sound great — it doesn’t look that great either as you unseal it from its paper tomb — it actually is a delicious mess of meat and cheese. But the most surprising development from all this…that mayonnaise here is fan-freaking-tastic. I thought it wouldn’t work but, you know, it really brought the whole sandwich together.

Is there anything else I need to know?

There’s also a “Spicy” variation, containing the grilled meat and onions and the “melty” cheese, but with the extra addition of “zesty” Baja sauce and “spicy” jalapenos. I was intrigued, sure, but if I want to Baja sauce my food, I’m going to make a run for the border and trust the bad hombres at Taco Bell for that. Lo siento, Sonic.

Conclusion:

Sonic Footlong Philly Cheesesteak 2

Available for an oh-so limited time, the Sonic Footlong Philly Cheesesteak is a tasty little treat that’s worth trying at the very least once. It won’t replace your Geno’s or Pat’s, but what possibly could? Still, it’s one of the better fast food attempts at a Philly cheesesteak around; just ask for a little extra mayo on the side for some lascivious dipping.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: N/A
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 750 calories, 39 grams of fat, 16 grams of saturated fat, 125 milligrams of cholesterol, 1710 milligrams of sodium, 53 grams of carbohydrates, 1 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar, and 46 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Nestle Coffee-mate The Cheesecake Factory At Home Strawberry Cheesecake Creamer

Marvo 3 Comments

Nestle Coffee mate The Cheesecake Factory At Home Strawberry Cheesecake Creamer

Like beer and Brussels sprouts, strawberry milk is an acquired taste.

For me, the artificial fruit flavor that flings itself across my taste buds isn’t my first choice for flavored milk. But after being stuck with a container of strawberry Nestle Quik in the 1980s (yes, it used to be called Quik, I’m old, get off my lawn), and not being able to get my usual chocolate Quik until I used up the strawberry one, I grew to enjoy its flavor. I like it to the point where I buy a bottle of Strawberry Nesquik from time to time for nostalgia’s sake.

I bring that up because Nestle’s Coffee-mate The Cheesecake Factory Strawberry Cheesecake Creamer reminds me of the month I spent slowly going through the Strawberry Quik tin. They both have a similar flavor that won’t appeal to everyone.

Case in point, I liked it in my medium roast iced coffee but taking her first (and only) sip of what I was drinking caused my wife to grimace so hard that I didn’t recognize her for a moment. While my wife is my only sample size, that look on her face makes me think I might be the ONLY person on Earth who enjoys this creamer.

By itself, the white-colored creamer tastes excellent. It has a flavor that’s part-natural (thanks to the strawberry juice concentrate) and part-artificial (thanks to food scientists). It reminds me of strawberry ice cream that’s heavy on the dairy.

But what I don’t get is the cheesecake. It’s there in the aftertaste, lingering like a cheesecake ghost. However, it’s so faint that I’m not sure the word “cheesecake” should be attached to this. But, let’s be honest, having cheesecake’s tang in a coffee would be weird. Then again, some folks mix butter and salt with their cup of joe.

To be honest, I’m surprised I liked it in coffee. I’ve tried many creamers, but none have been fruit flavored. They’ve all come from the three primary coffee creamer groups — chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. I thought this would give off a weird fruity flavor, but it didn’t. Okay, some of you will find it odd. Also, any hint of cheesecake tang is gone.

While I enjoyed Nestle’s Coffee-mate The Cheesecake Factory Strawberry Cheesecake Creamer, I can understand how folks, like my wife, won’t. I guess it’s an acquired taste. But if you also thought it was tasty, tell me in the comments so I know I’m not the only person on Earth who liked this.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 tbsp – 35 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 5 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $3.29
Size: 32 fl. oz. bottle
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Surprisingly tasty with coffee. It reminds me of Strawberry Quik. Missing the cheesecake’s tang might be a good thing.
Cons: Strawberry-flavored coffee won’t be everyones’ cup of tea, I mean, coffee. Missing the cheesecake part (although that might be a good thing). Seeing your wife grimace to the point where you don’t recognizer her.

REVIEW: Jack in the Box Blue Cheese & Bacon Ribeye Burger

Marvo 3 Comments

Jack in the Box Blue Cheese Bacon Ribeye Burger

Blue cheese is known for its funk. But for those of you in the “Ow, we want the funk. Give up the funk. Ow, we need the funk. We gotta have that funk” crowd when it comes to blue cheese, Jack in the Box’s Blue Cheese & Bacon Ribeye Burger might not satisfy your funkadelic taste buds.

The burger features blue cheese crumbles, a blue cheese sauce, grilled onions, hickory-smoked bacon, and a 100 percent ribeye beef patty on a soft potato bun.

Jack in the Box Blue Cheese Bacon Ribeye Burger 2

I’m not in the plentifunk group because I’ve had burgers and salads that had so much blue cheese that, to make them palatable, I had to do some fast food surgery to extract some. But that’s not the case with the burger I received, which had the right amount of funk that allows the other ingredients to come through.

The white crumbles add a noticeable creaminess and saltiness but don’t add an overpowering blue cheese flavor. Because of the lack of a strong funk, the bacon and blue cheese make a wonderful couple, but not because the two headlining ingredients start with the letter B and not because both can make people smile. Their different flavors and saltiness meld together to create a pleasantly balanced savoriness that I like eating.

The grilled onions also enhance the burger’s flavor and add a slight vegetable snap to go along with the cheese’s creaminess, the bun’s fluffiness, the patty’s soft chew, and the bacon’s, um, I can’t say crispiness because it wasn’t. Um, I’ll say well doneness.

Jack in the Box Blue Cheese Bacon Ribeye Burger 3

I know it’s a premium burger with a premium price. But when I took it out of its clamshell box and paper wrapper, I couldn’t help but think I overpaid for it because it’s on the small side. Also, to be honest, I don’t know what’s so special about these Ribeye patties. I had a Ribeye Burger when it debuted last year, and I felt the beef wasn’t better than the usual meat Jack in the Box uses for its Jumbo Jack. The patty in this burger didn’t change my feelings. Maybe it’s just me.

Overall, Jack in the Box’s Blue Cheese & Bacon Ribeye Burger is tasty. Of course, your results with the blue cheese may vary. You may get one made by someone who’s a little overzealous with the distribution of the crumbled cheese, making the funk freaky. But, of course, you can fix that with some fast food surgery.

(Nutrition Facts – 650 calories, 40 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 1.5 gram of trans fat, 100 milligrams of cholesterol, 1220 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, and 35 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $6.89*
Size: N/A
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: My burger had a nice savoriness thanks to the one-two punch of blue cheese and bacon. Not overly funky. Soft bun.
Cons: Well done bacon. Kind of small for the price.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.