Tag: Fast Food

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Dunkalatte

Jenna 3 Comments

Fall is famous for many things: sweater weather, back-to-school season, and the extreme prevalence of pumpkin spice. But for me, the most important thing it brings is a new fall menu from Dunkin’. And while this menu always welcomes returning favorites (refer to my note about pumpkin spice), this year, I had my eye on something new and a little more unique: the Dunkalatte.

I have to behonest, it first caught my attention because I had no idea what this drink actually was. Skimming Dunkin’s latest press release revealed some answers—but also more questions. Okay, this thing is a “coffee milk latte,” but… isn’t “coffee” plus “milk” literally the definition of a latte? What could it possibly mean to put all three of those words together in a row?

Luckily, the press release anticipated my confusion and went on to educate me that “coffee milk,” apparently, is none other than the official state beverage of Rhode Island. More specifically, it is… exactly what it sounds like. A combination of milk with coffee flavoring! Long story short, Dunkin’s new offering combines coffee milk with espresso for a drink that they promise will be extra smooth and creamy. Consider my curiosity piqued!

And my desire reached a fever pitch when I strolled into my local Dunkin and was met by a sign boasting a psychedelic coffee-colored swirl adorned with the bold claim that this product “Tastes like a melty milkshake.” I’m usually a hot coffee girl, but this statement seemed like it would be best tested by the iced variant, and hey, I’m not one to ever turn down anything related to milkshakes.

I must admit that this Dunkin’ order started the same way I start all of my Dunkin’ orders—by horribly underestimating how large its “large” is. Yes, I wanted a caffeine boost to help with my early morning, but I didn’t need quite that much! Luckily, my Dunkalatte was so delicious that I was ultimately grateful for its comically oversized proportions.

As was promised, this thing was indeed noticeably creamier than a usual latte. Iced coffee can quickly become watery, but the richness of the coffee milk base here prevented that effectively, with the pleasant result that my massive beverage went down just as smoothly after an hour on the train as my first sip did immediately after departing Dunkin’s doors. It was wonderfully sweet (I think the mellow flavor of the coffee milk masked the harshness of the espresso, which was a big plus for a Frappuccino fiend like me: the coffee flavor is certainly still there, it’s just not as in-your-face), and the texture felt thicker than a regular latte. All in all, Dunkin’ sure wasn’t kidding: “melty milkshake” is an extremely accurate depiction. But don’t worry, that won’t impact your caffeine fix—despite its dessert-like nature, this Dunkalatte definitely still delivered a buzz.

If you’re able to look past this drink’s vague name, you’ll discover something that will perk you up while also tasting indulgently incredible. Plus, it introduced me to the concept of state beverages, so please excuse me while I dive back down that rabbit hole!

Purchased Price: $5.43
Size: Large
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 410 calories, 13 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 350 milligrams of sodium, 60 grams of carbohydrates, 58 grams of sugar, and 15 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Popeyes Chocolate Chip Biscuits

Vin 3 Comments

Biscuits might be the unsung hero of the fast food world. Sure, they’re empty calories, they’re excessively buttery while somehow still being dry as a bone, and oftentimes they’re as stale as the “jokes” I’m assuredly gonna attempt in this review… but I don’t care because I’m a fan of everyone’s.

While biscuits have thrived as breakfast breads and chicken sides, I can’t recall many instances of them being utilized in a fast food dessert. That is until now with Popeyes’ new Chocolate Chip Biscuits.

This is big news, because I love those biscuits from Popeyes!

When I saw that these new biscuits were about to drop, I was burning with anticipation. Unfortunately, so was my local Popeyes, because it literally burned down. Yeah. It’s gone. Kinda felt like a bad omen.

Thankfully, it happened overnight, and there were no injuries, but driving by the charred husk of the restaurant really made me lose my appetite.

… for a couple days. I found the next closest Popeyes and snagged one. The dough must go on.

Chocolate Chip Biscuits are basically what you think they are. Well, not what our British readers think they are. They’re thinking of cookies, and these aren’t cookies. Popeyes’ Chocolate Chip Biscuits are standard biscuits dotted with chocolate chips and topped with sweet icing. I think our friends in England might call these “scones?”

It’s funny because I was fully expecting this to taste like a scone. An American scone, I guess? Ya know, those hard, misshapen muffin… things. They’re fine. I would’ve been ok with that, but Popeyes did something pretty unique here by just plussing up its standard biscuits.

Mine was warm, sweet, and salty. Incredibly salty. I think it may have been pulled from the saltiest bin in the joint, and as a sodium addict, I kinda loved that. It tasted like a mistake, if I’m being honest.

The crispy salted base of the biscuit was counterbalanced by the sweet generic icing on top almost perfectly. “Salty-sweet” fans should definitely be satisfied, even if theirs isn’t as seasoned as mine.

Now, I say that, but you’ll notice how I didn’t highlight the chocolate. The chips are supposed to be the stars of the show, and they kinda get lost. These aren’t bursting with chocolate flavor. It’s there, but I think the dry biscuit batter dehydrated the chocolate, and the icing was so sweet it didn’t give the chips room to really shine.

I guess I was ultimately disappointed in how light the chocolate was. Honestly, it wasn’t premium chocolate anyway, so maybe it was for the best. I kinda wish mine was a bit softer as well, but it probably worked out better structurally. A softer biscuit would’ve been a crumbly, sticky mess.

Popeyes’ Chocolate Chip Biscuit is imperfect, but I still enjoyed the balance, and I think it’s unique and tasty enough to chase your chicken dinner with. It’s too bad they aren’t open early because these would probably make a great breakfast.

I say give ’em a try, but just make sure your local Popeyes is still standing first.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 310 calories, 14 grams of fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 340 milligrams of sodium, 44 grams of total carbohydrates, 24 grams of total sugars, 1 gram of fiber, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Popeyes Sweet ‘N Smokey Chipotle Wings

Marvo Leave a comment

With football season here, it’s time to be disappointed with who you drafted for your fantasy football team and eat some grub while watching a game. And Popeyes is offering something new to drown your sorrows of having a quarterback who scores negative fantasy football points — Sweet’ N Smokey Chipotle Wings.

According to Popeyes, the new menu item is available with bone-in or boneless wings, which are tossed in a sauce with a blend of smokey chipotle and guajillo peppers with a sweet and bold BBQ base that has a hint of honey for some sweetness that balances out the heat. I ended up getting a six-piece boneless wings order.

Tiny chipotle pieces are floating in the reddish sauce, and its smell instantly pops barbecue sauce into my head. Like I’ve found with previous Popeyes wings orders, I have to drag the pieces through the sauce dregs at the bottom of the container to coat them properly. Much like its scent, its taste brings a sweet, smokey, and spicy barbecue sauce to mind, which is a bit disappointing because, with its name, I expected a flavor that wasn’t barbecue-like.

Yes, I know what I wrote in the description above, so I shouldn’t be surprised, but I only found out it had a barbecue base after some digging in the Popeyes app while typing this review. I will admit that Sweet ‘N Smokey Chipotle would be less confusing than calling it Sweet’ N Smokey BBQ, which might be confused for the Honey BBQ and Sweet’ N Spicy sauces.

There’s a kick with the viscous goo, so if you’re heat adverse, you might not like it. The honey’s sweetness definitely helps cut through the spiciness. But it’s a mild burn that, for me, doesn’t require any cool liquids or me running to the cashier at Popeyes to order a lemonade with an urgency similar to asking for a restroom lock code with a toddler who says, “I need to go to the bathroom.”

Beyond the sauce, the chicken itself was what I expected from the chicken chain — a very crispy exterior, tender meaty inside, and those Cajun spices that aren’t noticeable thanks to the sweet and spicy coating.

Popeyes Sweet ‘N Smokey Chipotle Wings would be a great addition to your game day spread, and I wouldn’t hesitate to order them again if I want a bit more of a kick than what the chain’s Honey BBQ Wings provide. They’re definitely not as disappointing as a quarterback who throws for four interceptions, has two fumbles, and zero touchdowns.

Purchased Price: $7.99*
Size: 6-piece order
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 730 calories, 35 grams of fat, 17 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of trans fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 2710 milligrams of sodium, 79 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 49 grams of sugar, and 27 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: Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai

Marvo 3 Comments

Feel free to take these horrible t-shirt ideas for chai lovers:

  1. I’m the CHAIrperson of the Board.
  2. Chai all the CHAIme.

I do not love chai so much that I’d wear one of these shirts, but if offered a chai tea, I usually won’t refuse. Although I will admit, I prefer mine to be CHAIlled. I mean, chilled. I’m sorry.

But this new Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai is so wonderful that I’d slip on a t-shirt that boldly says, “Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai all the CHAIme.” Unfortunately, it seems to be a seasonal beverage, so I’ll only be able to drink it part of the CHAIme.

The coffee chain says this beverage was influenced by a popular customer customization and features the warming spice flavors of chai combined with creamy oatmilk and topped with nondairy apple crisp cold foam, which produces a sip that tries to replicate homemade apple pie. With Starbucks saying it tastes like the dessert, I wonder why it didn’t call this the Iced Apple Pie Nondairy Cream Chai. It rhymes, for goodness sake!

First off, it smells wonderful. If I could get that scent combination of apple and spices in an essential oil, I’d use it in my diffuser while I fall asleep. Oh, wait. Will pouring this beverage in my diffuser also work?

As I mentioned earlier, Starbucks says this is supposed to taste like apple pie, and it eventually tastes like a baked good, but my first sip (and a few others) had me thinking egg nog, which makes sense since chai has some of the same spices. Although I should admit that by the time I got my first sip, which was delayed due to a car ride and followed by a quick photoshoot, much of the foam had seeped into the rest of the drink. So the flavors might’ve been blended better than if I drank it straight from the barista’s hands.

The apple in the cold foam is noticeable, but that’s not the only flavor that gives this pastry vibes. Some of the chai’s spices and the cinnamon and brown sugar notes in the foam create a crust-like taste, which was a delightful surprise. On top of those flavors, the oatmilk and the nondairy cold foam give the drink a pleasant creaminess, which helps this sweet beverage feel more like a dessert than a drink. Despite all that’s going on with the cold foam, the chai spices don’t get lost at all. You still know you’re drinking a chai, but one that tastes like an apple pastry was blended in.

If you like chai and apple pie, I won’t lie. You should try this Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai.

Purchased Price: $6.75
Size: Grande (16 fl oz)
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 370 calories, 12 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 64 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 46 grams of sugar, 4 grams of protein, and 95 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Starbucks Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte

Heather Leave a comment

My favorite time of the year is here: Fall-flavored goodies time. I’m firmly on the “I don’t care how early in August you bring back the pumpkin drinks” train because, for me, it’s never too early. And now that this time of year is here, Starbucks has introduced several new beverages, including an app-exclusive drink, the Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte. This latte features the Apple Brown Sugar Syrup along with Salted Caramel Cream Cold Foam.

The first thing I noticed when my drink came out was how milky it looked – much more so than the normal latte I get from Starbucks (one of my non-seasonal go-tos is an iced vanilla latte). Either the barista was heavy-handed on the milk, or the cold foam had already begun its descent to the bottom… it was hard to tell. It did have a creamy flavor that I didn’t mind, but it definitely masked the espresso. Granted, a tall only has one shot, but to me, there was no coffee flavor at all. It could be a good drink to ease a non-coffee drinker in! Or consider adding an extra shot if you want that espresso to shine.

As I sipped, the biggest thing I noted was that despite the salted caramel in the cold foam, the apple flavor steals the show here. There were small notes of caramel, but otherwise, it was apple all the way. If you’ve never had a drink with the Starbucks Apple Brown Sugar Syrup before, it has a nice spice to it, and that came through here.

I’m not used to cold foam on a latte – historically, it’s the cold brew beverages that tout it. So, adding the Salted Caramel Cream Cold Foam was an interesting touch. Again, I would have liked to taste more caramel, which is the main reason for my rating below. I wonder if toning down the pumps of Apple Brown Sugar Syrup would make a difference or if it’s just too strong of a flavor profile. Either way, I do enjoy the apple, and it’s fun to have a latter option that’s a little jazzier than the norm.

My last note here is that this is very much a dessert-like drink. At 320 calories for a tall and 36 grams of sugar, they’re not messing around. I don’t envision this as a “morning coffee to get my day going” drink but more of an afternoon treat. If you’re like me and fall flavors always win, I’d say give it a try.

Purchased Price: $5.95
Size: Tall
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 320 calories, 15 grams of total fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 470 milligrams of sodium, 38 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 gram of dietary fiber, 36 grams of total sugars, 7 grams of protein and 75 milligrams of caffeine.