REVIEW: KFC Crispy Colonel Sandwich

KFC Crispy Colonel Sandwich

I’ve often wondered why KFC doesn’t join the 21st century and put a regular chicken sandwich on its menu. And no, I’m not talking rectangular-ish chicken sliders or carbless heart-attacks-waiting-to-happen, I’m talking about a regular-sized bun with a decently-sized fried, all-white chicken breast in the middle.

The introduction of the new Crispy Colonel Sandwich ends my hypothetical smatterings when it comes to this question; available in variations featuring KFC’s various chicken flavors (Nashville Hot; Georgia Gold; Smokey Mountain) it’s also available in a regular extra crispy version with mayo and pickles, the seemingly now standard fare when someone decides to put fried chicken between a bun.

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The good news is that the chicken steals the show and lives up to its crispy billing. Actually, I was blown away by how good the all-white meat chicken patty was. Granted, calling it a patty is a bit of a misnomer -— think a supersized extra crispy tender, or perhaps a boneless, skinless chicken breast. But the balance of crispy breading and moist interior meat nailed the texture element, while KFC’s much-beloved herbs and spices provided more than enough flavor.

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The problem is that it’s a rather kindergarten-ish attempt at sandwich construction, at least as far my local KFC is concerned. The bun – already ridiculously thin, tasteless, and crumbly – was absolutely murdered with mayo, which both drowned out the pickles and failed to enhance the flavor of those famous 11 herbs and spices.

With the laws of physics working against me, I abandoned the soggy underside, which had already marred the underneath crispiness of the chicken. While I realize mayo can be more divisive than cilantro (which I decline to comment on at this time), I do try to keep an open mind to such things. But I have to say the addition and amount of the globby mayo brought the sandwich down a few notches.

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And yes, for the record, a simpler treatment, such as Chick-fil-A’s buttered bun, would have been preferable. As for the comparison, everyone seems to want when it comes to these chicken sandwich faceoffs? It’s hard to say; Chick-fil-a cooks their chicken differently, in different oil, and with different spices. In some ways, it’s an apples to oranges comparison. I will say, though, that from a chicken element alone, I like KFC’s Crispy Colonel more than similar offerings from Burger King, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s.

All in all, KFC’s rather pathetic treatment of everything outside of the chicken in its long-awaited chicken sandwich answers a lot of questions for me. Namely, why KFC hasn’t committed to a regular sandwich in the past. That said, the execution of a nearly perfect chicken patty — crispy outside, juicy inside, plenty of flavor in the breading — makes me wonder if the colonel just needs to plan a different line of attack — one that pairs his famous chicken with a bun and condiments that enhance and don’t detract from the sandwich.

(Nutrition Facts – 460 calories, 25 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 1170 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of total carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 3 grams of sugars, and 24 gram2 of protein.)

Purchased Price: $3.99 (sandwich); $5 (Fill-up Box)
Size: N/A
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Excellent balance of extra crispy breading and juicy, moist interior chicken. All white meat. 11 herbs and spices. Good value as a $5 Fill-up Box.
Cons: Bun is a complete afterthought. Mayo detracts from flavor of the sandwich and reduces underside crispiness. Expensive as just a sandwich. A bit small. Not being able to give a 7.5 rating.

QUICK REVIEW: M&M’s Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

M M s Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

What is it?

M&M’s Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches are a new alternative to the M&M’s Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches already on shelves. They feature chocolate cookies sprinkled with mini M&M’s and a chocolate ice cream middle.

How is it?

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The chocolate ice cream reminded me of a Wendy’s Frosty and was quite creamy, despite its reduced-fat status. It was dense enough to hold up in the sandwich, but also airy enough to melt easily with each bite. The brownie-like chocolate cookies were perfectly chewy and a solid support for the ice cream filling, which is a challenge for some ice cream sandwiches. The goal is delicate firmness, not so hard as to break a tooth but not so soft that it falls apart after a minute of being out of the freezer.

M M s Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches 3

The cookie had a nice butter note which lends them a homemade taste. Sadly, there were only a few M&M’s on each side of the cookie and they were overpowered by the chocolatey-ness of the cookie and ice cream. The candies were a nice addition, though not elemental as one might expect, so the parse spattering will likely be a disappointment for those choosing this product to get an M&M’s fix.

Is there anything else I need to know?

These look to be a permanent addition in the ice cream section soon. The vanilla version has a shortbread cookie and a vanilla ice cream middle.

Conclusion:

Get the six pack if you like chocolate ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, and/or chocolate cookies, but one sandwich is probably plenty if you’re looking for some M&M’s action.

Purchased Price: $6.19
Size: 6 sandwich/box
Purchased at: Lowes Foods
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 sandwich) 240 calories, 10 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 24 grams of sugars, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: My Oreo Creation Kettle Corn Oreo Cookies

My Oreo Creation Kettle Corn Oreo Cookies

Remember those Looney Tunes episodes where an old lady would put a pie on a window sill, and an offscreen character would literally be lifted off the ground by the heavenly aroma and summoned to it?

That’s me with kettle corn.

I pretty much only attend Street Fairs with one objective in mind – acquire kettle corn.

I love it. It’s God’s perfect food. Ambrosia. The only snack I eat by the duffel bag.

So, now that Nabisco has decided to dedicate one of its 436 Oreo flavors (unofficial count) to this amazing confection, you know damn well I had to try them.

I wouldn’t call these the most eye-popping Oreo cookies. It’s a Golden Oreo with off-white kettle corn flavored cream sprinkled with little tan morsels of millet – beige and boring, but in fairness, true to popcorn.

Again, kettle corn stands have a distinct aroma that I can pinpoint within a two-block radius. These cookies attempted to get there, but I got more of a pancake/waffle vibe from the smell. That’s cool though. Who doesn’t love the smell of pancakes?

The first step to eating any Oreo is to remove the top wafer and scrape out half the crème with your teeth. We all eat em that way, right? Not like the weirdos in the commercials who open it, lick it once then inexplicably put it back together?

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The crème tastes buttery at first, but there is an underlying sweetness. I wouldn’t necessarily say they hit on the “salty” aspect of kettle corn, but that’s probably a good thing. I couldn’t shake the pancake thoughts while eating these. I never tried the waffle-flavored Oreo but could’ve been convinced these were them if blindfolded, because of the butter. The sweetness bordered on maple, also.

If I had one word to describe the kettle corn flavor, I’d say “inconsistent.” Every few bites I’d get a brief but perfect combo of cookie, crème, and millet that had a texture similar to kettle corn, and also that burnt sugary amazing flavor only a kettle could create.

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I won’t lie, I wasn’t 100 percent positive what millet even was. I’ve never had straight millet cereal, but the little puffed additions were a smart decision. They’re not quite Rice Krispies, but the spongey, stale texture mimicked popcorn nicely. Oreo adding little pieces to the crème is a trend that I hope continues.

These are pretty tough to nail down. I like ’em, but I don’t know if they met the expectations of the flavor, although I was able to convince myself the aftertaste was “popcorny.”

To wrap it up, I’m going with this as my description – buttery pancakes, with a hint of syrupy sweetness, that tastes like weak kettle corn but only when you get that perfect bite. That make sense?

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Try ’em out, then vote for your favorite #MyOreoCreation. I still need to try the other two before I submit mine, but something tells me these won’t prevail over Cherry Cola or Pina Colada.

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 80 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 12 grams of sugars, and less than 1 gram of protein..)

Purchased Price: $2.98
Size: 10.7 oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: It’s kettle corn, kinda. If not, it still tastes and smells like freezer brand pancakes. Definitely goes well with the Golden Oreo. Adding the millet pieces was a great idea. No kernels!
Cons: Didn’t quite nail all the aspects of kettle corn. Millet pieces might be a tad spongy and stale for some. There are so many Oreo flavors I probably haven’t had a standard Oreo in three years.

REVIEW: Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Salad

Wendy s Southwest Avocado Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Salad

The American Southwest, a lone desert highway…

The boiling Sun is high in the sky as a pair of scorpions duel in the dust. A stereotyped tumbleweed rolls across the hot asphalt and off into the sandy distance. From out of a dust devil a 1968 Mercury Cougar rumbles by, the anonymous driver tossing a barely-touched hamburger out the window…

With a loud splat, a trademarked square patty burns as the covetous mayo sizzles in the heat. A grizzled old buzzard swoops down and starts picking at the errant smokey mushrooms that’ve spread across the road…

After the moderate disappointment of Wendy’s Smoky Mushroom mistake last month, America’s favorite flame-haired burger baroness and her hamburger-haranguing crew have returned from their vaunted test kitchens, ready to proudly present a brand-new limited-time pollo-based product that should very well have the fat lot of us making a run for the border — any border — come lunchtime tomorrow.

Wendy s Southwest Avocado Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Salad 2

Snap those pearl-buttons tight on your favorite Navajo-print long-sleeve, tie that turquoise bolo a little bit higher than usual and do your damnedest to make room for the new Southwest Avocado Spicy Chicken Sandwich, a superb Santa Fe-inspired two-fisted tale of a sandwich that will surely satisfy the haunted hankerings of any random Ghost Rider in the Sky or hungry driver on the road.

Wendy s Southwest Avocado Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Salad 3

Wendy’s has taken their coveted spicy chicken patty — already the basis of one of the best chicken sandwiches on the market — and have brazenly topped it with pepper jack cheese, Southwest ranch sauce, applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato and, best of all, a mega-dollop of creamy guacamole on a high and mighty bun that simply can’t contain all of this desert goodness.

The sheer heat of the spicy chicken provides a much-needed sensual burn, creating a tastebud dalliance with the inherent peppers and well-timed spices that definitely pleased my most masochistic palate. The cool ranch and ample supply of fresh guacamole provided a much needed balm from the burn, giving the Southwest Avocado Spicy Chicken Sandwich an absolutely perfect blend of sheer girth and delicious worth, one that devilishly transcends these “limited-time only” gimmick eats.

Wendy s Southwest Avocado Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Salad 4

Meanwhile, there is also a salad-based variation available that substitutes grilled chicken breast and adds two scoops of avocado seasoned with lime juice and salt to top off the lettuce, tomatoes, shredded pepper jack cheese, Southwest ranch dressing and, yes, applewood-smoked bacon, that makes up the most of the green concoction.

Calorically and nutritionally, while I’m not exactly sure who this salad is for — I would’ve much rather had these accoutrements on top of a steaming hot baked potato, wouldn’t you? — it’s nowhere near as bad as it probably could’ve been. It’s got a great crunch to it and the double avocado is a mean green treat, but don’t go chasing waterfalls thinking it’s a viable part of any health-based diet-plan.

The American Southwest, a lone desert highway…

As the opening riff of ZZ Top’s “La Grange” blares from the factory original stereo, a 1968 Mercury Cougar pulls over to the barren side of the road. Pulling off his shades, our hero looks down the front of his black leather jacket, most which is covered in guacamole.

“Dammit…” he laments as he can’t find a clean napkin in his Wendy’s bag. With mild shame, he starts licking it clean, but it’s finally worth it. Cómpralo ya!

(Nutrition Facts – Sandwich – 690 calories, 34 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 95 milligrams of cholesterol, 1480 milligrams of sodium, 57 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of sugar, 6 grams of fiber, and 38 grams of protein. Salad (Full) – 600 calories 41 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 135 milligrams of sodium, 1220 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of sugar, 7 grams of fiber, and 42 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $5.79 (sandwich) $6.69 (salad)
Size: N/A
Rating: 10 out of 10 (Sandwich)
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Salad)
Pros: Extra spicy. Surprisingly large portions. Doesn’t skimp on the guacamole
Cons: The salad is kind of pointless, would’ve worked better on a baked potato.

REVIEW: My Oreo Creation Cherry Cola Oreo Cookies

My Oreo Creation Cherry Cola Oreo Cookies

Oreo cookies are kind of like the Barbie doll of mass-produced cookies.

They’re simple, but never convincingly imitated. Just like how a Dollar Tree “Fashion Doll” is a poor imitation of the real thing and a Great Value Twist ‘N Shout would never be mistaken for a real Oreo cookie.

At the same time, though, they’re both also flexible enough to become anything imaginable. Just like how you can buy a Barbie that’s a veterinarian, astronaut, president, or whatever else, you can get your Oreo double-stuffed, thin, chocolate-covered, in ice cream, in Cool Whip, AND in any kind of off-the-wall flavor the mad scientists over at Nabisco can dream up!

Three varieties were released from the Flavor Lab this time around: Cherry Cola, Kettle Corn, and Pina Colada. Being that I hate kettle corn and I don’t know what a real pina colada tastes like, the Cherry Cola one ended up in my cart.

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Breaking open the seal, I instantly picked up on a distinct cherry aroma with a few hints of cocoa coming through. I don’t think many people take the time to fully appreciate the smell of deliciousness when they first tear into a bag of junk food, but that’s a mistake. Just think: all that flavor has been sealed inside for a while, waiting for you to enjoy! Wouldn’t it be a terrible waste to not savor every part of it?

My Oreo Creation Cherry Cola Oreo Cookies 3

The cookies themselves use standard chocolate Oreo wafers with a red and white filling to carry the cherry cola flavor across. The filling has little popping candies inside, which I guess is to mimic the carbonation aspect of soda.

At first, the Dutched cocoa in the wafers dominated my palate, but the fruity flavor popped in after a minute, and the whole cookie actually tasted like a cherry cola.

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And by “popped in,” I mean the cherry flavor popped in! The popping candies in the crème are cherry flavored, and they start popping all over the place once you really get to chewing. You can’t wolf these down if you want to get the full effect, but they’re awesome if you take the time to savor each bite and let all the little candies mirror the bubbliness of soda.

While munching on them, they got me thinking: If Oreo is Milk’s Favorite Cookie, is this one cherry cola’s favorite?

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After dunking a few into some Cherry Coke Zero, I think the two are better enjoyed apart from one another. Dunking them ruins the popping candies, which makes them tastes less like the beverage, weirdly enough. They do make pretty good buddies, though. So while I wouldn’t recommend you dunk your Cherry Cola Oreo Cookies into actual cherry cola, having a glass on the side complements it perfectly!

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 140 calories, 60 calories from fat, 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 13 grams of sugars, and less than 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: $2.98
Size: 10.7 oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: Actually tastes like a cherry cola! Cherry cola flavor doesn’t overpower the Oreo-ness of the Oreo wafers. Super fun popping candies to imitate carbonation!
Cons: Dunking ruins the popping candies. Most likely only available for a limited time. A whole row isn’t considered a proper “serving”.