REVIEW: McDonald’s The Grinch Dill Pickle McShaker Fries

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McDonald’s The Grinch Dill Pickle McShaker Fries

I hate to be a grinch, but after hearing about the dill pickle-flavored “Grinch Salt” seasoning for The Grinch Meal’s McShaker Fries, I’m extremely grumpy at McDonald’s for not leaning heavily into green pickles for the rest of the meal.

Maybe have a dill pickle-flavored sauce for the McNuggets option, a pickle juice lemonade as the beverage, or maybe add an extra generous serving of pickles to the Big Mac version. But nope. No special nuggets sauce, no pickle-enhanced beverage, and a normal amount of Big Mac pickles. However, the meal comes with a pair of Grinch-themed socks that are only edible to goats.

McDonald’s The Grinch Dill Pickle McShaker Fries packet

Because I’m not in the mood for Grinch-themed socks, I don’t care about menu items I can get any time of year at McDonald’s, and I don’t want to spend Dubai-style chocolate money ($13) for The Grinch Meal, I ended up picking up The Grinch McShaker Fries a la carte. Geez, that last sentence makes me seem like I’m a total grinch. Grumble. Grumble. Grumble. But you know what, just like the Whos’ love and joy for Christmas made The Grinch smile, the dill pickle seasoning on fries turned my frown upside down.

McDonald’s The Grinch Dill Pickle McShaker Fries instructions

To apply it to the fries, the packet comes with a paper bag that you dump your fries and seasoning into, then shake to combine. If you get the meal’s 10-Piece Chicken McNuggets option, I suggest also tossing in the nuggets to get some pickle-ness on them.

McDonald’s The Grinch Dill Pickle McShaker Fries powder

Initially, I was disappointed with how it made the fries look because it doesn’t turn them a bright green. But it’s understandable, because that would’ve freaked the fries out of those familiar with potatoes and solanine. While the seasoning is pale green in its packet, on the fries it appears more white. There are occasional flecks of dill that have a deep green color, but they are as dark as The Grinch’s heart, which makes them look black.

McDonald’s The Grinch Dill Pickle McShaker Fries seasoning on fries pre-shake

McDonald’s The Grinch Dill Pickle McShaker Fries seasoning on fries post-shake

The Grinch Salt is equal parts savory and tangy, and its pickle flavor makes McDonald’s World Famous French Fries taste even better. Being a fan of pickle-flavored products, I couldn’t resist chain-eating them until they were gone. Towards the bottom of the bag, the powder seemed to be applied more thickly to the fries, making them almost too potent.

McDonald’s The Grinch Dill Pickle McShaker Fries seasoning on bottom of bag

When all the fries were eaten, there was a decent amount of seasoning at the bottom of the bag. Seeing the leftover Grinch Salt kind of made me wish I had more fries, spent $13 for the Chicken McNuggets Grinch Meal, or had a lemonade I could dump it into.

McDonald’s The Grinch Dill Pickle McShaker Fries individual fry

The concept of adding a seasoning packet to McDonald’s fries isn’t new. While it has been done in the US before, it hasn’t really caught on here as it has internationally. Experiencing this tasty Grinch Salt gives me hope that McDonald’s might offer new flavors in the future.

Purchased Price: $5.19*
Size: Medium fries (also available with Large fries)
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (medium fries w/seasoning) 340 calories, 15 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 840 milligrams of sodium, 47 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 5 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: Jack in the Box Midnight Chicken Sandwich

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Jack in the Box Midnight Chicken Sandwich whole

I feel like Jack in the Box attempted to get a deal to offer a Stranger Things menu, but didn’t please the Netflix Gods. So instead of promoting the Netflix show set in the mid-1980s, the fast food chain decided to promote a flick that came out in the mid-1980s — Gremlins.

It’s the 41st anniversary of the original Gremlins movie, so, um, it’s a little beyond a right, round time to celebrate the film. Or maybe Jack in the Box decided to jump on the Gremlins promotion train early because Gremlins 3 is coming out in 2027?

Whatever the deal is with Jack in the Box and Gremlins, the fast food chain is going all in on the collaboration, offering an entire menu. There’s the Gremlins Midnight Meal (Crispy Chicken Strips, Tacos, Onion Rings, Halfsie Fries, Midnight Sauce, a drink, and a Gremlins Air Freshener), the Midnight Snack Shake (a vanilla shake with M&M’s, salty pretzel pieces, mini marshmallows, and graham cracker crumbles), and this Midnight Chicken Sandwich.

Jack in the Box Midnight Chicken Sandwich pickles

The menu item is basically Jack’s regular Cluck Sandwich (crispy chicken filet and pickles on a brioche bun), but with the Good Good Sauce swapped out for the mysterious-sounding Midnight Sauce. Yup, as much creativity went into this sandwich as coming up with the name Good Good Sauce.

Jack in the Box Midnight Chicken Sandwich split

While it sounds mysterious, the Midnight Sauce is just a sweet barbecue sauce with a slight spicy kick. It tastes similar to other barbecue sauces, and, not surprisingly, it goes well with the chicken filet and pickles. Unfortunately, not all was enjoyable with my order. While my filet had a crispy exterior, the poultry inside was noticeably dry. I guess that’s the Russian Roulette we play with fast food.

While it tastes fine, because it’s pretty much just a Cluck Sandwich with a different sauce, I can’t help but feel underwhelmed by it. Since it’s topped with a barbecue sauce, maybe adding a few mogwai-colored onion rings would’ve made everything a bit more interesting. Or if Jack in the Box wanted to be a bit extra, and expand on the midnight theme, it could’ve added a purple cabbage coleslaw.

Purchased Price: $7.99*
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 680 calories (Other nutritional numbers are not available on the Jack in the Box website or app.)

*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: Papa Johns Salted Caramel Blondie

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Papa Johns Salted Caramel Blondie Tray

As someone who developed a chocolate allergy as a teenager, I frequently battle cravings for brownies. Blondies sound like an appealing alternative, except for the fact that they’re often studded with pesky chocolate chips. That’s why I felt like I was receiving a personal present from Papa John himself when I learned that the pizza chain had released a new limited edition Salted Caramel Blondie, a delicious dessert with nary a speck of chocolate in sight.

The ingredients it does contain, though, are up for debate. The name seems to make it quite clear, as does the Papa Johns website, which specifically cites “caramel chips.” But I confess: I’m not buying that story. That’s because the rich, orange-y brown chips happen to look, smell, and taste exactly like butterscotch chips. I wasn’t upset by that exactly, but I was confused!

I thought that if the chips (which are embedded in the top layer of the blondie but don’t permeate throughout) didn’t scream salted caramel, then maybe the blondie itself would, but that wasn’t the case either. The blondie had perhaps a speck of saltiness, but I couldn’t detect any caramel. It had a sweet, buttery taste that could call to mind a lot of things, but, strangely enough, it reminded me most of a syrup-drenched waffle.

Papa Johns Salted Caramel Blondie thinness

Though a bit uncanny, the blondie tasted great, and its texture was just as good. While it wasn’t very thick, it was impressively dense. The fudgy texture of the inside contrasted appealingly with the perfectly crisp outer layer. I would have appreciated a bit more moistness—this thing was more solid than any blondies I’ve made (which, believe me, is a lot!)—but on the whole it felt closer to a homemade baked good than I expected.

If you want to maximize bang for your buck, you can get the Salted Caramel Blondie as part of the Papa Pairing combos menu, which offers a discount if you purchase this dessert alongside at least one other item, but I enjoyed it even at full price.

Papa Johns Salted Caramel Blondie closeup

If you’re a die-hard salted caramel fan or an opponent of false advertising, you might be disappointed, but if you’re someone who just loves a good non-chocolate dessert, I think you should check the Salted Caramel Blondie out…even if its flavor is a little ambiguous.

Purchased Price: $9.49
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 square) 200 calories, 10 grams of fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Berry Sangria Refresher

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Snowflakes are in the air, turkeys are on sale at the grocery store, and festive decorations are starting to spring up all around my neighborhood. That can mean only one thing: holiday seasonal menu items are BACK!

With that declaration having been made, it was time for me to venture out to the wilds of my own (literal) backyard and head over to Dunkin’ to see what Santa brought me.

Along with the usual cookie and candy-themed items on offer was something new and distinctly different from the other holiday items: the Berry Sangria Refresher.

If you aren’t familiar with Dunkin’ Refreshers, they are non-coffee ways to get a nice caffeine boost, in fruit flavors, and they can be mixed with either tea, sparkling water, or lemonade, depending on your particular store’s selections. I tried both sparkling water and lemonade in the new Berry Sangria flavor so I could compare and contrast for you.

Sparkling Water Version

Light, carbonated, and berry-forward, this was an absolute delight to drink. As the name implies, it was very refreshing, with blueberry as the most prominent note, then a gentle mixed berry flavor, and a nice, slightly bitter finishing note that really did remind me of wine.

The sparkling water was an excellent accompaniment to the bold flavors. I thoroughly enjoyed this beverage, and it surprisingly fits in with a holiday-themed menu. It’s almost enough to make me forgive DD for discontinuing my beloved Halloween Blood Orange Refresher a few years back… almost.

Lemonade Version

While I did like this version, I have to admit I liked the sparkling water one a bit more. Something about the lemonade’s sweetness detracts from the sangria’s flavor. That bitter end note was diminished, and the whole drink felt a bit heavier, a bit less refreshing.

That said, it wasn’t bad at all, and if you like lemonade, this is an interesting new twist on an old classic with a burst of caffeine added—basically, a win in my book.

Purchased Price: $3.39 (Sparkling Water), $3.89 (Lemonade)
Size: Medium
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Sparkling Water), 7 out of 10 (Lemonade)
Nutrition Facts: Sparkling Water – 130 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 20 grams of total sugar, and 0 grams of protein. Lemonade – 250 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 20 milligrams of sodium, 60 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 56 grams of total sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla

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Taco Bell Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla sleeve

Flat burrito.

That was the first thought that rolled into my head when I pulled out Taco Bell’s Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla from its sleeve. Despite accurately describing what I received and what the promotional photos show, “flat burrito” would obviously be a worse name for a Taco Bell menu item than “rolled quesadilla.”

However, it might be a decent name for a pop punk band. If you’re trying to come up with one, feel free to take it. You can always change it later.

Just like pop punk chord progressions, the ingredients list here is very simple: seasoned steak, a three-cheese blend, spicy ranch, and fire-roasted poblano peppers in a warm tortilla.

Taco Bell Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla innards

I presume this is the first time poblano peppers have been put in a Taco Bell product, which is particularly surprising because I had the perception that the Tex-Mex place had incorporated every possible pepper at this point into its products. But I’m glad the green vegetables are there because they add some color, crunch, and a mild peppery flavor that’s somewhat similar to standard green bell peppers.

At first, I thought the poblano was spicy, but it turned out to be the spicy ranch sauce we’ve seen in many other Taco Bell products. The tangy, mildly spicy sauce complements the other ingredients without overwhelming them.

I’m not sure if this rolled quesadilla had more or the same amount of meat as the standard quesadillas, but it sure tasted and looked super meaty in every bite. As for the three-cheese blend, it provided a hint of cheesiness in the flour tortilla.

Taco Bell Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla length

Overall, it’s a fine tasting menu item, and the addition of the poblano peppers is nice. However, let’s get back to its flat, long burrito shape. Because it’s not fanned out like Taco Bell’s standard quesadillas, it looks less substantial. And that would be fine if it had a less substantial price than the other quesadillas, but it’s just slightly cheaper.

Purchased Price: $6.59*
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 530 calories, 28 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 1280 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar (including 2 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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