ANNOUNCEMENT: The Nosh Show #42 One of the Ingredients is Bubbles

In this episode, Ryan, Dubba, Eric, and I share our thoughts on KFC’s Loaded Potato Bowl, Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Cereal, Lay’s Dark Chocolate Covered Potato Chips, a pumpkin spice burger, Taco Bell’s mobile ordering app, lemon flavored hot dogs from Japan, and much more.

Links to the products we talk about are available at www.thenoshshow.com/42/.

Listen to the episode RIGHT NOW by using the player below:

If you want to listen to us while you’re eating lunch alone, you can also download the episode or subscribe to The Nosh Show on iTunes, Stitcher, or via RSS.

Thanks for listening!

FAST FOOD NEWS: KFC Loaded Potato Bowl

KFC Loaded Potato Bowl

Do you miss KFC’s Cheesy Bacon Bowl? If so, let your taste buds and arteries relive some of the magic with the somewhat similar, but new KFC Loaded Potato Bowl.

The Loaded Potato Bowl features mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet corn, crispy chicken, a three cheese blend, green onions, and a bacon cheese sauce. It comes with a cookie and drink when you order it from KFC’s $5 Fill Up Menu.

If you’ve tried it, let us know what you think of it in the comments.

(Image via KFC’s website.)

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Boulder Canyon Thanksgiving Feast Potato Chips

Boulder Canyon Thankgiving Feast Potato Chips

Remember when Jones Soda used to come out with their Holiday Pack with flavors like turkey and gravy soda? Well, I think those sodas would go great with these Boulder Canyon Thanksgiving Feast Potato Chips. There’s turkey & gravy, stuffing, cranberry, and pumpkin pie flavored potato chips. (Spotted by Karen at Target.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

REVIEW: McDonald’s Mozzarella Sticks

McDonald’s Mozzarella Sticks 1

McRibs, McNuggets, McFlurries — I love ‘em all. Want to know the truth? Just slap a “Mc-” prefix in front of any remotely edible substance and I’ll gladly give it a taste. McPossum, anyone?

And that’s why I’m slightly upset that these McDonald’s Mozzarella Sticks aren’t actually called “McMozzSticks” or a similar clumsily-formed name. According to The Wire, these breaded, fried strips of cheese are currently being test-marketed at select McDonald’s restaurants in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.

Because I happen to live in the state that gave the world Bruce Springsteen, Tony Soprano, and Teresa Giudice, I’ve been granted the privilege of trying these mozzarella sticks. By the way, do you guys want Teresa Giudice? We’ve had enough of her.

McDonald’s Mozzarella Sticks 2

For only a single dollar, I received three tiny mozzarella sticks and a packet of marinara dipping sauce. According to the accompanying cardboard box, the mozzarella sticks are made with “real mozzarella.” I’m glad to see McDonald’s chose to forego using fake mozzarella in their product. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a fake. That’s why I threw out all of my Milli Vanilli CDs, refuse to buy Chanel handbags in Chinatown, and will only look Pamela Anderson straight in the eyes.

McDonald’s Mozzarella Sticks 3

Lucky for me, McDonald’s Mozzarella Sticks were nothing but the real deal. The breading was well-seasoned and evident in each bite, but stopped short of overwhelming the mozzarella flavor. Although the mozzarella sticks weren’t hot enough for the cheese inside to ooze, they were still warm enough to be satisfying. The exterior was slightly crisp from the fryer, and each mozzarella stick maintained its shape when handled. Let’s face it — nobody wants a soggy, flaccid cheese stick. (Ladies?)

Though smaller in size than I had anticipated, the mozzarella sticks had exceeded my expectations, rivaling more expensive versions of the same product sold at other chain restaurants. I was ecstatic, floating in a state of cheesy bliss…

Then, I made a mistake.

I dipped my second mozzarella stick into the marinara sauce.

There are no words to describe the pain.

McDonald’s Mozzarella Sticks 4

I’ve eaten a lot of McDonald’s products over the years. Many of them were delicious, many of them were tolerable, but very few were truly awful. Alas, this single packet of marinara sauce is the undisputed worst-tasting item I’ve ever experienced at a McDonald’s restaurant. (As a disclaimer, I’ve never tried that strange-looking black hamburger McDonald’s Japan recently launched.)

Each taste of McDonald’s marinara sauce brings to mind overcooked tomato sauce saturated with excessive amounts of oregano in an attempt to cover up the flawed flavor. As opposed to the smooth, tomato essence of a slow-cooked red sauce, McDonald’s marinara is slightly bitter, producing a mild burning sensation at the back of the throat. In short, McDonald’s has failed to replicate any positive aspect of an Italian marinara sauce. Their bastardization would make your little Italian grandmother cry for an hour, beat Ronald McDonald with a rolling pin, and then beat you with a rolling pin — just for good measure.

Disregarding the botched marinara sauce, these McDonald’s mozzarella sticks are worth a try. Sure, they might be small, but their low price makes the temptation of buying twenty-five boxes hard to resist. If these become a regular item on the McDonald’s menu, I will definitely order them again.

But take heed of my warning: if you ever purchase these mozzarella sticks, please, for the love of God, just throw out the sauce.

(Nutrition Facts – No nutritional info available on McDonald’s USA website.)

Item: McDonald’s Mozzarella Sticks
Purchased Price: $1.00
Size: N/A
Purchased at: McDonald’s
Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: Mozzarella and seasoned breading evident in each bite. Not limp and flaccid. Only one dollar for three. None of that fake mozzarella nonsense.
Cons: Cheese doesn’t ooze. Marinara sauce is indescribably awful. Rolling pin beatings.

FAST FOOD NEWS: Pizza Hut’s New Flavor of Now Menu

Pizza Hut The Flavor of Now

On November 19th, Pizza Hut will revamp its menu with new ingredients, sauces, crust flavors, drizzle sauces, and specialty pizzas. They’re calling the menu, “Flavor of Now.”

But what about the flavors of the past, you ask? Don’t worry, those who fear change. Pizza Hut will still offer their classic pizzas, like Meat Lover’s, Supreme, Veggie Lover’s, and Cheese Lover’s.

WARNING: There are a lot of lists below.

Pizza Hut Flavor of Now Ingredients

The Flavor of Now Menu has five new ingredients:

Premium Salami – Cured and seasoned with a traditional Italian blend of red pepper, anise, and fennel.

Classic Meatballs – Seasoned pork and beef combined with onions, mushrooms, and bread crumbs.

Fresh Spinach – Crisp and sprinkled on top of the pizza as it comes out of the oven.

Sliced Banana Peppers – Pickled and sliced to add a mild tang.

Peruvian Cherry Peppers – Sweet and spicy peppers harvested from the highlands of Peru.

There are eight new crust flavors:

Hut Favorite – A garlic buttery blend with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and hint of Italian herbs.

Toasted Parmesan – A sprinkle of all-natural Parmesan, toasted to perfection.

Salted Pretzel – A freshly baked soft pretzel crust edge.

Honey Sriracha – A sweet heat fusion of real honey and red chilies.

Fiery Red Pepper – A blend of cayenne and crushed red pepper.

Toasted Cheddar – A dash of shredded cheddar baked on.

Toasted Asiago – A touch of shredded, savory Asiago for a unique toasted flavor.

Garlic Buttery Blend – A garlic buttery blend with a hint of oregano, parsley and basil.

Pizza Hut Flavor of Now Sauces

There are six sauces you can use as a base layer:

Classic Marinara – Classic tomato sauce seasoned with garlic, black pepper and Italian herbs.

Premium Crushed Tomato – Bright and slightly sweet. 100% vine-ripened California-grown tomatoes crushed and lightly seasoned with garlic and onion.

Creamy Garlic Parmesan – Combines Parmesan and Romano cheeses, butter and a hint of garlic.

Honey Sriracha – A fusion of real honey with red chilies.

Barbeque – Sweet and smoky sauce made with real honey and molasses.

Buffalo – A classic medium Buffalo sauce.

Then there are four new drizzle sauces (three of which you’ve already read about) :

Balsamic – A slightly sweet reduction of Modena, Italy, balsamic vinegar, aged in oak and chestnut casks.

Honey Sriracha – If you’ve read the previous Honey Sriracha descriptions, say it with me, a fusion of real honey and red chilies.

Barbeque – If you’ve read the previous Barbecue description, say it with me, sweet and smoky sauce made with real honey and molasses.

Buffalo – If you’ve read the previous Buffalo description, say it with me, a classic medium Buffalo sauce.

Now here’s a list of the 11 specialty pizzas that’ll be using a variety of the new ingredients:

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger – Barbeque sauce topped with classic meatballs, hardwood smoked bacon, fresh red onions and diced Roma tomatoes with a toasted cheddar crust edge and a barbeque sauce drizzle.

Old-Fashioned Meatbrawl – Classic marinara sauce topped with classic meatballs, fresh red onions and diced Roma tomatoes with Hut Favorite edge crust.

7-Alarm Fire – Crushed tomato sauce topped with pepperoni, sliced jalapeño peppers, Peruvian cherry peppers, sliced banana peppers, and fresh green bell peppers with a fiery red pepper crust.)

Sweet Sriracha Dynamite – Honey Sriracha sauce topped with grilled chicken, sliced jalapeño peppers, sweet pineapple and Peruvian cherry peppers with Honey Sriracha on the crust edge and a Honey Sriracha drizzle.

Cock-A-Doodle Bacon – Garlic Parmesan sauce topped with grilled chicken, hardwood smoked bacon and diced Roma tomatoes with a Toasted Parmesan crust.

Giddy-Up BBQ Chicken – Barbeque sauce topped with grilled chicken, hardwood smoked bacon and fresh red onions with toasted cheddar on the crust edge and a barbeque sauce drizzle.

Buffalo State of Mind – Buffalo sauce topped with grilled chicken, sliced banana peppers and fresh red onions – flavored up with toasted cheddar on the crust edge and a Buffalo sauce drizzle.

Garden Party – Premium crushed tomato sauce topped with fresh green bell peppers, fresh red onions, fresh mushrooms, diced Roma tomatoes and fresh spinach – flavored up with our Hut Favorite on the crust edge and a balsamic sauce drizzle.

Pretzel Piggy– Creamy garlic Parmesan sauce topped with hardwood smoked bacon, fresh mushrooms and fresh spinach flavored up with a salted pretzel crust edge and balsamic sauce drizzle.

Cherry Pepper Bombshell – Crushed tomato sauce topped with premium salami, Peruvian cherry peppers and fresh spinach with a Toasted Asiago crust and a balsamic sauce drizzle.

Hot and Twisted – Crushed tomato sauce topped with premium salami, sliced jalapeño peppers, and fresh red onions with a salted pretzel crust edge.

And, finally, Pizza Hut will also be offering five Skinny Slice Pizzas that use a thinner version of Pizza Hut’s Hand-Tossed Crust. All five Skinny Slice Pizzas are 250 calories or less per slice.

Skinny Beach – Crushed tomato sauce with grilled chicken, fresh red onions, Peruvian cherry peppers, and fresh spinach.

Skinny with a Kick – Crushed tomato sauce topped with pepperoni, sliced jalapeño peppers, Peruvian cherry peppers, fresh green bell peppers, and fresh red onions with a Fiery Red Pepper crust.

Skinny Italy – Marinara sauce topped with classic meatballs, diced Roma tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, fresh red onions, and fresh spinach with a balsamic drizzle.

Skinny Luau – Crushed tomato sauce topped with grilled chicken, slow-roasted ham, fresh green bell peppers, and sweet pineapple.

Skinny Club – Creamy Garlic Parmesan sauce topped with grilled chicken, slow-roasted ham, diced Roma tomatoes, and fresh spinach with a Toasted Asiago-flavored crust.

(Images via Pizza Hut’s website.)

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