This flavor has got me wondering if I could convince an NBA player to suggest Flamin’ Hot All Dressed Ruffles for next year’s Ruffles/NBA offering. Maybe a Toronto player? (Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)
REVIEW: Ben & Jerry’s Topped Ice Cream
I’m going to make this intro short because Ben & Jerry’s new Topped line has SEVEN flavors, and I cover ALL OF THEM below. Here they are in no particular order:
Strawberry Topped Tart
“Sweet cream ice cream with strawberry swirls & pie crust pieces topped with white chocolatey ganache & candy sprinkles.”
Pulling back the lid reveals the prettiest start to a Ben & Jerry’s pint EVER. The red and green candy sprinkles on the white ganache look like gems on snow. It’s a shame I had to destroy it.
Even though those candy sprinkles are basically sugar clots, they’re the pint’s highlight. I can’t get their crunch out of my mind. It’s at a level that I’ve never experienced with a Ben & Jerry’s pint. These need to be in other varieties. They don’t add any real flavor, but I love how their texture contrasts the creamy ice cream.
While the candy sprinkles sparkle in numerous ways, the pie crust pieces are this flavor’s lowlight because they’re really dry. It’s at a level that I’ve never experienced with a Ben & Jerry’s pint. (Yes, I stole the line from the previous paragraph.) They do add a bit of flavor, but it doesn’t enhance the other ingredients.
The strawberry swirls are plentiful and potent enough that I kept thinking this was made with strawberry ice cream instead of sweet cream. The white chocolatey ganache’s flavor reminds me of white chocolate M&M’s. So all the non-pie crust components combined taste like strawberry-flavored white chocolate M&M’s, and the candy sprinkles provide a crunch similar to an M&M’s candy shell.
I want to give this a higher score because I love the flavor and sprinkles’ texture, but the pie crust pieces were a real downer.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 350 calories, 19 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 80 milligrams of sodium, 41 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 36 grams of sugar (including 31 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.
Thick Mint
“Mint ice cream with chocolate cookie swirls and mint chocolate cookie balls topped with chocolate cookies and chocolatey ganache.”
“OHHHHHHHHH!!! I get it now. It’s somehow a play on Thin Mints,” is what I said out loud after wondering how this flavor got its name for a duration of time I will never admit. My wife followed that up with a “Duh.”
I’m obviously thick in the head.
Do the kids still say that?
If you’re someone who stores Girl Scout Thin Mints in the freezer, then Thick Mint is a flavor you might want to place right next to those frozen minty chocolate cookies. The mint ice cream and mint chocolate cookie balls are roughly the same mintiness as the iconic cookie. The cookie balls’ crispiness is about the same as the popular cookie. Even the ganache will have you thinking about Thin Mints’ chocolatey coating. It takes everything that’s great about Thin Mints and expands it into a pint of ice cream. OHHHHHHHHH!!!! I get it even more now…Thick Mint.
Look, I know Girl Scout Thin Mints have been recreated in frozen treat form numerous times, most notable by Breyers. But, because I avoid Breyers products like I avoid admitting it took me several days to realize it’s a play on Thin Mints (DAMMIT!), I can’t compare this with that. But, because it’s Breyers, I’m pretty sure Thick Mint is a gajillion times better.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 420 calories, 26 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 36 grams of sugar (including 31 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.
Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough
“Chocolate ice cream with caramel swirls & gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough topped with caramel cups & chocolatey ganache.”
I can’t help but look at the words “Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough” on the container and think their font sizes don’t represent the individual components’ impact. Because caramel plays a small role in the flavor, while the chocolate is a choco-lot.
Of course, the font sizes are just font sizes, unless Ben & Jerry’s graphics department wants to say otherwise. But I needed some way to make this review seem longer than it really should be because I can sum up this flavor with the following statement: Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough mostly tastes like what I imagine a Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream would taste like.
Actually, with the ganache layer, it’s more like Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream.
I know what you’re thinking, “But there are caramel swirls and cups.” Oh, the caramel cups on top the ganache are like mini Rolo. I can taste and feel their sweet, buttery innards ooze out when I crack them open with my teeth. But as you can see in the photo above, I didn’t get many. As for the swirls, I see and feel them, but don’t notice any caramel flavor when I’m scooping out anything below the ganache layer into my mouth.
To be honest, I’m happy with having a pint with chocolate ice cream and chocolate chip cookie dough. But I wish the caramel stood out more. Although, not as much as the number of times the word “chocolate” appears in this review.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 420 calories, 26 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 36 grams of sugar (including 31 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.
Salted Caramel Brownie
“Vanilla ice cream with salted caramel swirls & fudge brownies topped with caramel cups & chocolatey ganache.”
If you’re looking at the Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough one at a store, but think, “I’d like a version of that, except the chocolate ice cream and cookie dough are replaced with vanilla ice cream and brownies,” then shift your eyes a few degrees because there’s a good chance you’ll see this flavor that meets your sweet needs.
The carton describes it as a “sundae in a pint,” and I agree. With the chocolate ganache, fudge brownies, and vanilla ice cream being the most notable components, it reminds me of a hot fudge sundae. The brownies provide a nice fudgy flavor and chewy texture.
Oh, but what about the caramel, you ask?
My experience with it in this pint is almost the same as Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough. Although this time, the ganache was topped with more caramel cups. But I couldn’t detect the sweet and salty swirls, even though they were in the milder tasting vanilla ice cream.
I hate to give this a 6 out of 10 because I’d eat this 10 out of 10 times if this was the only Topped variety. But it’s not, and out of all of them, this one was the least exciting.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 370 calories, 19 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 65 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 45 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 37 grams of sugar (including 32 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.
Tiramisu
“Mascarpone ice cream with fudge swirls & shortbread pieces topped with espresso fudge chunks & chocolatey ganache.”
Full disclosure: You’re not going to get a full cross-section of this flavor like with the previous pints because I ate it with reckless abandon. After the first bite, I decided I was gonna tear-mi-sum tiramisu ice cream. And I did. And I went overboard. And now you have to look at a partially eaten cross-section of my gluttony below. But I guess it also shows how much I love this.
It has the Italian dessert’s flavors — coffee, mascarpone, and cocoa. I also notice something that I think could be liquor, but I might be confusing it with the espresso. Although it tastes like the dessert, the coffee isn’t as potent as an actual tiramisu.
You might think once the espresso fudge chunks are gone, then the coffee flavors goes away. Oh no, that’s not the case, my coffee-loving friend. According to the container, there’s “captivating coffee character” in the fudge swirls, and my taste buds do notice it. And my taste buds don’t lie, even though they’re a part of my mouth, which does a lot of lying. But I’m telling the truth when I say this is my favorite of the bunch.
Almost a decade ago, Ben & Jerry’s offered another tiramisu-flavored variety, the Target-exclusive, Volun-tiramisu. It had a simpler combination of coffee mascarpone ice cream with cocoa dusted coffee rum lady finger pieces. But if you tira-miss-su that, this Topped version is an excellent replacement.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 370 calories, 21 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 65 milligrams of cholesterol, 110 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 37 grams of sugar (including 31 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.
Whiskey Biz
“Brown butter bourbon ice cream with blonde brownies & whiskey caramel swirls topped with white chocolatey ganache & white fudge chunks.”
WhistlePig whiskey. WhistlePig whiskey. WhistlePig phiskey. Whistlepistol wuskey. WhasslePss whassy. Sorry, I was trying to say WhistlePig phiskey, I mean, WhistlePig whiskey ten times really fast. What is WhistlePig whiskey? It’s what’s mixed in with the caramel swirls in this pint.
I could give you the long story about who WhistlePig is. But instead, I’ll just tell you it’s a distillery, and it’s located in Vermont. Oh, hey, that’s where Ben & Jerry’s is.
According to the ice cream company, the whiskey used is called PiggyBack Rye, which, according to WhistlePig’s website, has cocoa, cardamom, and cured leather flavors. It also finishes with spices, vanilla, and hints of citrus. I got none of that while eating the caramel swirls, but they taste boozier than what I remember previous whiskey caramel swirls were like. Although that’s might be because it’s combined with the brown butter bourbon base. Oh, I should clarify there’s no alcohol content, so you can’t get tipsy from Whiskey Biz.
The blonde brownies add a slight brown sugary kick and a chewy texture. As for the white chocolatey ganache and white fudge chunks, as lovely as they are, I kind of wish they were omitted. I really love the flavor combination of the ice cream base, brownies, and whiskey caramel swirls, but the toppings, which again reminds me of white chocolate M&M’s, mutes that boozy combo. So I found myself putting the top layer aside and eating it separately.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 410 calories, 23 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 75 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 38 grams of sugar (including 32 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.
PB Over the Top
“Chocolate ice cream with peanut butter swirls & peanut butter cups topped with mini peanut butter cups & chocolatey ganache.”
If you look at this flavor, you might think this pint is misnamed because it appears there’s a lot more chocolate than peanut butter. But I assure you peanut butter lovers that, while your eyes see a sea of chocolate, your taste buds will, um, still get a sea of chocolate, but waves of peanut butter will crash into them.
Yes, there’s a lot of chocolate here, but the peanut butter swirls, peanut butter cups on top, and peanut butter cups in the ice cream bring a triple flavor punch. What also helps is that the peanut butter is a bit saltier than what you might taste in a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup or any big brand peanut butter, so it stand out a bit more.
There are seven Topped varieties, but this is the only one with the topping on the ganache and in the ice cream itself. This is something I wish occurred in other pints, especially with those candy sprinkles found on the Strawberry Topped Tart one and the caramel cups on top the Salted Caramel Brownie and Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough varieties.
While I love this flavor, I do wish there was a gooeyness to the peanut butter swirl. But overall, if you’re craving the peanut butter and chocolate combo, this will satisfy you.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 410 calories, 23 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 75 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 38 grams of sugar (including 32 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.
DISCLOSURE: I received a free product samples from Ben & Jerry’s. Doing so did not influence my review.
REVIEW: Limited Edition Orange & Lychee Oreo Cookies (China)
What are Limited Edition Orange & Lychee Oreo Cookies?
In celebration of Chinese New Year (a.k.a., Lunar New Year or Spring Festival), Oreo has released a limited edition orange and lychee flavored cookie in China! These flavors have symbolic meanings for New Year – oranges are good luck and lychees are family togetherness.
This isn’t the first time either flavor has graced an Oreo – Orange Creamsicle Oreo hit the US in 2011, Orange Tang Oreos have been spotted in Dubai, and China has had an Orange & Mango Oreo for almost a decade. China also released a Lychee Rose cookie in 2019. But this is the first time orange and lychee have come together. You got lychee in my orange! No, you got orange in my lychee!
These Oreo have red cookies, which makes total sense since red is the primary color of New Year’s celebrations and symbolizes luck, joy, and happiness. Couldn’t we all go for a lucky-happy Oreo right now? I stalked them on eBay and had them shipped.
How are they?
The cookies had an earthier brick hue than last year’s fire-engine red Supreme Oreo. The aroma in the package was a really strong orange with a hint of lychee. It was inviting. The cookies were decorated with Chinese Hanzi characters like fortune and happiness, and cartoon versions of the zodiac signs – 2021 is the year of the Ox.
At this point, I had somehow managed to never eat an actual lychee, despite tasting and enjoying multiple lychee-flavored foods, so I bought some fresh ones. Turns out they tasted exactly like every lychee-flavored thing I’ve ever had, which was a relief – how often do artificial foods taste identical to the real thing?
As I alternated between lychee and Oreo, again – the lychee flavor is spot-on, sweet and fruity with a strong (but good) floral taste. The orange here was a lot like the Chinese orange-mango Oreo – artificial but bright and tasty like a candy without being too tart. Both flavors took up equal real estate, which I liked. Overall, they worked really well together.
Anything else you need to know?
As I’ve stated in other reviews, I’m a fan of the Oreo packaging philosophy in China. Instead of a single large pack, the cookies are separated into 5-cookie mini-packs. I bought an 8-pack box (40 Oreo total), which was more than I expected, but I can share them or keep some for later. I’d prefer all the novelty/limited edition Oreo this way – so much more practical. While the box here wasn’t as elaborate as others in the recent past, it was lovely and the mini-pack wrappers were beautiful in gold and red.
Conclusion:
These are delicious and worth the wait and expense to buy online – although probably wise to get a friend/friends to go in on a box with you to split the cost. It’s an unusual Oreo flavor combo, and so tasty.
Happy Lunar New Year!
Purchased Price: $22.99 + $3.00 shipping
Size: 388 gram box/40 cookies
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 100 grams) 490 calories, 21.5 grams of fat, 260 milligrams of sodium, 69.5 grams of carbohydrates, and 4.3 grams of protein.
REVIEW: Sonic Extra-Long Ultimate Cheesesteak
I haven’t had a cheesesteak since I made a pilgrimage to Geno’s and Pat’s in Philly almost a decade ago.
I remember nervously asking for my “whiz without” like an apprehensive George Costanza ordering soup, and enjoying both sandwiches about the same. It was a tasty little trip, but I drove home feeling like an absolute slob.
Two cheesesteaks in one sitting?! Gross, dude!
I mean, one wasn’t quite enough, but two was definitely overkill. If only someone nearby could just make one, I don’t know, extra-long cheesesteak? That… that would be the ultimate cheesesteak.
As it turns out, I’ve somehow managed to miss the cheesesteak on Sonic’s ice cream truck style menu for years now. It took them introducing the “Extra Long Ultimate Cheesesteak” for me to finally notice.
So, what exactly makes a cheesesteak, “ULTIMATE!?” You take a foot-long bun and stuff it with sirloin steak and grilled onions, then drizzle them with “melty” cheddar and a “zesty” cheese sauce! Oh, and hold the side of tots, because they’re inside the sandwich now!
I was a bit skeptical about the idea of a fast food cheesesteak, but ten years is a long time, and I was ready to dive back into the whiz.
That sounded better in my head, and to be honest, this menu item looked better in my head.
I could tell immediately the onions weren’t grilled well, and there might not be enough cheese. Also, the steak looked like dry greyish shawarma shavings they wouldn’t even serve on a street corner. Should I have just made the two-hour drive back to Philly?
I can happily say I’m glad I didn’t because this is actually pretty damn good.
That crumbly sirloin ended up being well-seasoned and moist, and there was just enough “whiz” to lubricate each bite.
The bun’s soft texture was ideal for a cheesesteak, and just long enough that it didn’t feel excessive.
Adding tots into the sandwich was a real “why didn’t I think of that” move that added a perfect amount of crunch and salty starch that tied everything together.
Despite it tasting good, I couldn’t really distinguish between the cheddar and the so-called “zesty” cheese sauce. It was just a generic Cheez Whiz flavor, which was fine, but I was hoping for maybe a little added provolone bite or something along those lines.
The onions were basically raw as expected. I appreciated the flavor, but the texture was a minor buzzkill.
Even with those flaws, I found it to be a completely substantial and satisfying meal. It’s not Pat’s or Geno’s, or any of the other Philly spots I’m sure are better, but it’s really solid for a fast food cheesesteak.
I’d say definitely give it a try, but maybe check out the app and see if you can’t hack in some fried onions and extra cheese. There’s also a spicy version you can try, but hurry up because the Extra Long Ultimate Cheesesteaks are only available through the end of February.
Remember to tip your carhop!
Purchased Price: $4.29
Size: N/A
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 970 calories, 63 grams of fat, 19 grams of saturated fat, 1.5 grams of trans fat, 110 milligrams of cholesterol, 2240 milligrams of sodium, 62 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 40 grams of protein.
Click here to read our previous fast food reviews.
REVIEW: Chobani Coffee Cold Brew
Before this assignment, I didn’t actually know that Chobani did more than yogurt. But then I Googled and it turns out that it’s got its hands in a bit of everything. (Okay, well everything dairy-based except ice cream. And cheese. And cottage cheese. Fine, I guess by “everything,” I mean all manner of yogurts, and coffee creamer, and now this. And something called “Chobani Coconut” which is billed as a non-dairy treat. Oh, and oat milk. So… some things that are also non-dairy based.)
Anyway, it’s 2021 and cold brew coffee is still all the rage (I think?) so Chobani figured, why not?
I’m a cold brew novice. It’s not that I’m anti-cold brew, I’ve just always chosen hot coffee. Especially now because it’s winter, and we’ve had multiple days this week where the high was in the single digits; iced anything is a hard sell.
But you know what’s worth the mild discomfort and probably turning the thermostat up a degree? This product.
Chobani introduced four varieties, but I was unable to procure “Pure Black.” So for the sake of this review, we’ll look at the remaining three.
Oat Milk
So, I just got through talking about how I love this product, and now I’m going to tell you that I don’t care for this particular version. But, I’m gonna blame the oat milk. See, I don’t even know that I’ve had oat milk prior to this. But something about this just wasn’t doing it for me. The beginning of the drink is decent, but the back end hits you with a sensation that makes me think of slightly tangy chalk. It’s not repulsive, it’s just… unwelcome.
Vanilla Creamer
Simply put, this is heavenly. The vanilla is strong, muting the medium roast a tad. The rich coffee undertones are still there, but it’s a little like you maybe accidentally spilled a bit of your vanilla shake into a cup of Joe. (And no, I’m not sure how that might happen either, but play along.) From start to finish, it’s creamy and indulgent, which makes this the first time I’ve described something as such and meant it.
Sweet Creamer
Remember everything I said about the Vanilla Creamer? This is that, only without the vanilla. The coffee flavoring is a bit more noticeable, but not aggressively so. Each drink manages to stay rich while remaining light and silky. While the vanilla one brought forth visions of spilled vanilla milkshakes cascading into coffee cups, this is a little like someone dumping chocolate milk into your coffee. It is, in a word, scrumtrulescent.
The two prohibitive things I could say about Chobani’s foray into cold brew coffee is that it’s not nutritionally great, and I could use a little more caffeine (it has 85 milligrams per serving). While I applaud the simplicity of the ingredients, 170 calories and 22 grams of sugar per 12 ounce serving keep this from being a daily indulgence for me. But is it worth it for a weekend treat? Absolutely.
Purchased Price: $2.99 (on sale)
Size: 32 fl oz.
Purchased at: Hy-Vee
Rating: 9 out of 10 (Sweet Creamer), 9 out of 10 (Vanilla Creamer), 6 out of 10 (Oat Milk)
Nutrition Facts: (12 oz.) Sweet Creamer & Vanilla Creamer – 170 calories, 5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 110 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 22 grams of sugar (including 15 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein. Oat Milk – 110 calories, 6 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 11 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 7 grams of sugar (including 7 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein.
REVIEW: Kellogg’s Special Edition Krave Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cereal
What is Kellogg’s Krave Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cereal?
Well, it’s NOT Krave cereal stuffed full of cookie dough so, sigh that breath of disappointment now. You probably should have been able to figure that out from looking at the box, though, so I’m not going to let you mope about it for very long. This new special edition Krave cereal has a cookie dough flavored outside and the signature chocolate inside that Krave enthusiasts, uh, crave.
How is it?
For a cereal to attempt to be cookie dough in a world where there are literally cereals made of tiny little cookies is pretty brave, Krave. The sugar saturated air that escapes when you open the box is familiar, expected, and isn’t unlike cookie dough aroma. The little cereal pieces themselves have tiny chocolate freckles on the outside sugar coating, which is unique to this flavor and appreciated by this reviewer for the appetite appeal when trying to convince me that this tastes like cookie dough.
Trying the cereal plain, the crunchy pieces are definitely chocolatey, and the sweet sugar coating adds a different flavor, but it’s not overwhelmingly cookie dough-like. The biggest challenge is that the taste of cookie dough goes hand in hand with the texture of cookie dough. These cereal pieces are yummy, but I’m not getting very much of the raw flour, raw vanilla, gooey butter flavors of cookie dough.
How is it with milk, though?
It’s a pretty remarkably different experience when you eat this with milk. The cereal buoys take on milk like a sponge, and the texture shift makes each bite so much closer to the texture of cookie dough. The flavor is still not spot on, but there are hints of eggy doughy notes that come through. Like most Krave cereals, it’s sort of a race to eat it before the whole bowl turns to one amalgam of soft, but who isn’t up for a speed challenge in the morning, right?
Anything else you need to know?
Upon reviewing a cross-section, I’m sure it’s no shock that the chocolate insides definitely don’t “ooze” out of the cereal the way the image on the box depicts. Maybe if you microwaved it? Don’t do that.
Conclusion:
All in all, I’m more convinced than ever that the taste profile of cookie dough is elusive and complex. This special edition Krave is grasping at straws trying to hit that flavor if you eat it dry. But try it with milk and I think most people will think to themselves, “Yeah, okay, sure,” while merrily gobbling down these sugar nuggets.
Purchased Price: $3.79
Size: 16.7 oz box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10 (dry), 7 out of 10 (with milk)
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup dry) 170 Calories, 4 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 135 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 16 grams of sugar (includes 15 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein.